E-Mail : Angels Walk

I appreciated your coverage of Angels Walk (Going for a Stroll, Oct. 17). A little bit of effort to improve the walking environment will do wonders for Downtown. Kudos to Nick Patsaouras and his vision.

The plan would be even better with three additions. First, include bicycles. Adding bike lanes to the Angels Walk streets will help pedestrians by providing a buffer between the sidewalk and the roar of the cars. It will also encourage bicycle riders to stay off the sidewalks and help the many bicycle couriers working Downtown.

Secondly, traffic signals through Angels Walk should be synchronized at speeds compatible with pedestrians. Although the speed limit Downtown is 25 m.p.h., many signals are set for higher speeds. Eastbound 1st Street allows 45 m.p.h. traffic through Little Tokyo. The danger and noise from these fast-moving cars discourages walking. In Portland, Ore.--a very walkable city--traffic signals are set for 14 m.p.h. Traffic gets through, but without the disruption to other users of the street.

Finally, the city should adjust the timing of the mid-block pedestrian crosswalk signals. Many of them give little green time for pedestrians.

Working in Downtown L.A. is a joy. MTA’s efforts to connect transit centers to where we work and lunch will pay big dividends.

PETER JACOBSEN

Pasadena