Don Hayashi wrote:
> There was a shooting last year where Centinela creek crosses under the
> Ballona bike trail. Centinela creek is the Eastern edge of the Mar Vista
> Gardens housing project. The guy was shot twice but survived. I rode by
> a few minutes after it happened
> <http://www.cicle.org/cicle_content/pivot/entry.php?id=657>.
>
> http://www.nearfield.com/~dan/sports/bike/notes/hazards/bcmg.htm
>
> Personally I've been attacked twice at that same area but both times it
> was kids less than 14 years old and not very serious. I think of it as
> muggers in training. It has been over five years since the last
> incident. Bored kids trying to spook you as you pass or throwing rocks
> is more common.

At that bikepath bridge today, I was screwed with:

Wed, Aug 15th; approx 1:30pm; riding southbound, alone on Ballona Creek bike
path just south of Mar Vista Gardens, I was assaulted by a group of four young
men, who were standing against opposite sides of the bridge crossing the
Sepulveda Channel where it feeds into Ballona Creek. (This is just south of the
south-eastern-most corner of Allin St, which circles through the Gardens).

At least one looked Hispanic, wearing a "wife beater" and baggy shorts; I didn't
notice any details about the others, except that they all appeared to be of
similar age. As I approached, he looked up and smiled; I smiled and said "Hey,
guys"; I didn't hear any response, but as I passed between them, this young man
rushed me, reached up and grabbed me around my shoulders, apparently attempting
to knock me off my bike. He didn't succeed, and sort of fell away; I looked
back, and saw several of the other young men attempting to run after me, so I
increased speed as quickly as possible and got away with no damage to me or my
bike. Thinking back, that seems fairly lucky.

I'll be heading to the LAPD Pacific Division and filing a report; I've also sent
email to Rusty Redican, an officer now working in the Newton Division who used
to work in the Pacific Division which patrols that area, asking if he knows of
any specific contacts in Pacific to talk to.

Not sure what this means, except "be extra vigilant on that path, and watch for
groups of loitering youths".

[bikepaths Ed. note: Cyclists should bring a cell phone that is turned on at all
times, and if assaulted as described here, get to a public area clear of where
the incident occurred and dial 911 to dispatch a police officer to the
location.]