Pictures from today's LA Marathon...a ped planner's dream and a traffic engineer's biggest nightmare

Juan and I walked over to Mile 26 to cheer on the first group of runners to finish the 25th annual Los Angeles Marathon, which ended about a mile from our apartment at the Santa Monica Pier.

The event was remarkable for several reasons.

This was truly an event for people, who had to walk their bikes through the finish line area.

Parking by the finish line was $40, which was too high since the occupancy rate was about 50%.

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This event was supposed to attain green certification from the Council of Responsible Sport, according to the memo submitted to the Santa Monica City Council by the Deputy City Manager, Elaine Polachek

Yes, cars + a wonderful festival at the 1550 Lot


Photographic proof that Juan and I were there.

We saw Mayor Villaraigosa and LA Dodgers owner Jamie McCourt (aka the parking king from Beantown) pass by in a Startours van. Presumably they were still offering colorful commentary on KTLA 5.

Mayor V: She's running so fast. She's like a gazelle.

Of course, an event that was a dream for pedestrian planners was a total nightmare for traffic engineers. I foolishly traveled eastbound to Rosemead to join family for dim sum, and was stuck in traffic on Pico, by the Westside Pavillion, that was Level of Service Z/Google red-and-black. What an error in judgment. And given how bad that whole experience was, I would've paid $200 for a fast-trak ticket back home.