Operation Elephant

Community Safety

County of Los Angeles

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative

The issue we seek to address is the high rate of injuries to bicyclists in Los Angeles County, particularly at some of the most dangerous intersections, including multi-lane diagonal intersections. In these areas, cyclists are forced to ride alongside traffic and struggle to be noticed by other vehicles, which puts them at a higher risk of getting into collisions that result in severe injuries. The data reveals the urgency of the problem, with 1,813 bicycle accidents and 27 tragic deaths reported in Los Angeles County in 2021 alone, according to TIMS (Traffic Incident Management System). By equipping bicyclists with loud digital bells, we provide a more effective way for them to make their presence known to other road users. These devices are crucial in keeping cyclists safe by enhancing their "visibility" and communication with surrounding vehicles. Addressing this issue is vital to improve cyclist safety and reduce avoidable injuries and casualties on our roads.

Operation Elephant is a digital bike bell distribution program to ensure people riding bikes in LA County can protect themselves from other road users, especially distracted or compromised drivers. By providing bicyclists with digital bells closer in volume and sound to a car horn, we can help prevent crashes. Each recipient will receive a bilingual informational flyer in English and Spanish with safety information, including bell etiquette. We survey all recipients to collect data and distribute the bells in the following ways: Two Large Distributions: We will organize two major distribution events near LA's high-injury network and transportation hubs, engaging the entire team and creating impactful community events. One distribution will occur in winter, and the other in summer, ensuring year-round coverage and accessibility. Tabling Events: Throughout the year, we will distribute the bells during tabling events such as CicLAvia (9 events), Finish the Ride, Golden Streets Ride, and Sunset4All. BikeLA Chapter System Engagement: We will make the bells readily available to our countywide Chapters. This will enable individual chapters to access the bells and distribute them at events like Bike Culver City's Pride Ride. This decentralized approach will expand the reach and impact of the project. These activities ensure the widespread distribution of the bells and educational materials, targeting key events where bicyclists gather and providing ongoing support to our chapters.

If our work through Operation Elephant is successful, LA County will be a safer place to play via bicycling. We hope that the digital bells give Angelenos the confidence to bike recreationally and experience all the mental and physical health benefits of biking for pleasure. In the short term, we will see enhanced cyclist safety through this innovative approach by ensuring each bicyclist can effectively gain the attention of road traffic, reducing the risk of collisions and promoting safer road interactions. These bells will serve as a proactive safety measure, alerting drivers to the presence of cyclists. Additionally, Operation Elephant will increase awareness of cyclists' need for improved communication with other road users. In the long term, we aim to cultivate a cultural shift where using digital bells becomes a standard safety practice in LA County. Thus instilling the understanding that bicyclists are legitimate road users who deserve attention and respect.

Operation Elephant aims to distribute 4,000 digital bells to Angelenos who ride bicycles, encouraging them to stay safe. The team will measure outcomes by having recipients complete a digital survey to provide feedback on the bell, indicate whether they have traditionally felt comfortable riding with traffic, and express the extent to which the bell will make them more confident and safe on the road. The team will continue to track how many digital bike bells and bilingual safety flyers are handed out at each tabling event, Chapter event, and large distribution. BikeLA conducts several distribution events throughout the year, including our widely successful Operation Firefly/Operacion Luciernaga program, which has provided over 15,000 free bike lights to Angelenos since 2012. Lights are distributed along with bilingual and bike safety tips to help bicyclists follow the law and increase their safety by making them more visible on the streets of LA.