Operation Firefly: Bike LA, Waymo promote bike safety

One of Bike LA's volunteers educates a passerby about the importance of front bike lights. (Bike LA/Submitted)

For more than a decade, Bike LA has been fighting to keep cyclists safe in LA with Operation Firefly. Bike LA's bike light distribution program, dubbed Operation Firefly, consists of regular pop-up events set up in areas with a high concentration of cyclists, inviting passersby to pause and receive bilingual bike safety information in addition to free front and rear lights.

"We’ve handed out over 15,000 lights over the last 11 years," said Eli Kaufman, the executive director of Bike LA. "The project is really meant to be in service to the community. It's a chance for us to interact with our constituents and make sure they leave us a little bit safer and a little bit more educated about how to keep themselves rolling without fearing for their lives as much."

Bike LA's vision is to make Los Angeles a haven for year-round bicycling, so people can live healthier and safer lives while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As an organization, they advocate for better bike infrastructure and promote bicycle safety with programs like Operation Firefly.

This year, Bike LA has a new partner in safety with Waymo, the first autonomous ride-hailing service. Waymo recently expanded into the Westside and has chosen to be Bike LA's title sponsor for Operation Firefly's 2023-2024 season.

"Waymo's mission is to get from point A to point B as safely as possible. That's not just for those who are in the vehicle, but those outside the vehicle as well," said Alexander Hall, a spokesperson for Waymo. "Part of the reason we are partnering with Bike LA is because Los Angeles is dangerous for cyclists, and we want to make sure everyone is as safe as possible."

Hall agreed that it might seem odd for a company that creates driverless cars to promote bicycle safety. But he said that the pedestrian and cyclist community is one that Waymo wants to connect more with moving forward. Kaufman was equally excited by Bike LA and Waymo's partnership, saying that the technology has great implications for safety.

"We’ve been impressed by (Waymo's) commitment to the safety of others on the road," Kaufman said. "Initially we had some concerns about driverless cars, but they don't have bad days in the same way people do. They don't drive sick, tired, drunk, distracted or with bias. And we have found in LA, there's a disproportionate number of Black and Brown cyclists who find themselves on the wrong end of road rage."

Operation Firefly targets communities where cycling is popular and communities known for high accident rates. According to Bike LA's statement on its commitment to equity, bicycles symbolize how transportation reinforces inequality; communities of color are more likely to have less access to transportation while having poorer walking and bicycle infrastructure.

Bike lights are also a gateway for volunteers who run Operation Firefly pop-up booths to engage with cyclists regarding their safety. Most people don't know that in California, bicycles must, by law, have a white headlight attached to the front and a red rear reflector, Kaufman said. Just that simple fact draws cyclists in to receive more safety information.

Kaufman said Bike LA used to promote its pop-up events, but most people who stopped by were already passing through on their bicycles. Usually, they flag people down with the prize of baked goods and free lights. They ask people to fill out a quick survey, which helps Bike LA learn about the lived experiences of cyclists in Los Angeles. The pop-ups also let cyclists connect and learn about Bike LA's mission and vision.

"I was at the distribution event," said Hall, referring to Bike LA and Waymo's last pop-up event on April 26 at Dickson Court on the UCLA campus. "So many people ride their bikes, which is amazing, but you also want to make sure that they’re at least equipped with the right tools."

The information distributed at Bike LA's pop-up events encourages cyclists to increase their visibility and inform them about the light requirement. Other ways cyclists can promote safety include wearing a high visibility vest or reflective bands on their shoulders or legs, placing reflectors on their bike, helmet or shoes and adding more lights to the wheels or other locations on the bike.

Bike LA has more distribution events planned soon, including in West Hollywood, Echo Park, Culver City and MacArthur Park, though they haven't set any dates. Each year they host six to 12 distribution events. All their information is bilingual and presented in English and Spanish.

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