Don’t surrender sidewalk space

Re “Santa Monica’s electric scooters to keep rolling,” June 14

For decades Los Angeles has handed over its public realm to the automobile, relegating pedestrians to slivers of already cluttered sidewalks. And now bicycles and scooters will snatch up more of that space.

If bikes and motorized scooters are intended to replace car trips, then let’s play out that scenario a step further. Instead of requiring users to park bikes and scooters on the sidewalk, let’s dedicate one or two curbside car parking spots per block to bicycle and scooter parking only.

Let’s reclaim our public realm from the almighty automobile and retain our sacred sidewalk space for people. Emilia Crotty

Los Angeles The writer is executive director of Los Angeles Walks.

The historic focus of transit policy is wealth transfer. Providing a connected, subsidized transportation service ensures everyone with at least a minimum level of mobility and ability to work.

There is no need to use public resources to deliver services that the market is ready to provide cheaply. There is no reason to shield Metro bike services from competition, because there is no reason for Metro to be in the bicycle business at all.

Metro and L.A. City Hall should set rules to help private ventures solve transit’s last-mile problem, and reserve public transit resources for where they are needed. James E. Moore II

Los Angeles The writer is director of USC’s transportation engineering program.