from the latimes



Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan rode a bicycle this morning, hoping to encourage drivers to carpool, use public transit or bike to work to lessen traffic during the four-day Democratic National Convention.

Accompanied by three city employees on bicycles, a security guard driving his bright red Ford sport utility vehicle and a press deputy in a municipal car, Riordan rode his Italian Moser 12 miles from his Brentwood estate to the restaurant he owns downtown.

Just before Riordan started, his press deputy reminded him to stop at the intersection of Wilshire and Beverly Glen boulevards for a quick interview with Fox Channel 11 News. The mayor nodded.

By the time he reached the intersection five minutes later, he forgot and merely waved at the reporter holding the microphone toward Riordan as he and his entourage whizzed by.

Could it be that 50 bikeriders were arrested for upstaging the mayors public relations event?