Four Years of Community Advocacy Delivers Long-Awaited Safety Upgrades in Griffith Park
Group photo at press conference
After years of organizing, public outreach, coalition building, and relentless advocacy, Streets Are For Everyone gathered with Los Angeles officials for a press conference to celebrate the completion of Phase 3 of the Griffith Park Safety and Active Transportation Improvement Project. The project provides park visitors with protected Class IV bike lanes, speed humps, traffic-calming measures, improved signage, and various safety improvements along Crystal Springs Drive and Zoo Drive.
Cyclists prepare to bike through Griffith Park, Damian Kevitt alongside Catrans Staff
Advocates and community members celebrated after the press conference with a victory lap through Griffith Park, biking on the streets they helped transform through years of dedicated advocacy.
For far too long, Griffith Park had been used by drivers as a high-speed cut-through to avoid traffic on the 5 Freeway, creating dangerous conditions for runners, cyclists, and equestrians in the park. These safety improvements directly address this problem and separate bikes from cars. New traffic-calming measures are designed to slow vehicle speeds and create a welcoming and safe experience for people walking, biking, running, and enjoying Griffith Park.
While city leaders are rightfully celebrating this milestone, it is important to recognize YOUR help and the years of community advocacy that made it possible.
SAFE’s advocacy efforts began after the tragic death of 77-year-old cyclist Andrew Jelmert, who was killed by a speeding driver while riding on Crystal Springs Drive in April 2022. His death devastated the cycling community and raised concerns about how dangerous Griffith Park truly is for people walking, biking, running, and enjoying the park.
In response, SAFE launched the #ToNotThroughGriffithPark campaign and helped organize a broad coalition of advocates, community groups, and residents committed to making Griffith Park safer.
SAFE organized vigils, press conferences, memorial events, community rides, speed studies and reports, petition drives, public comment campaigns, and meetings with city officials. We worked tirelessly to keep attention focused on the urgent need for change.
Andrew Jelmert vigil and memorial
These efforts helped secure major victories, including the closure of a portion of Griffith Park Drive to through traffic, the creation of the Griffith Park Safety and Active Transportation Improvement Plan, and the allocation of $4 million in state funding to implement critical safety improvements.
When the project was stalled by bureaucratic red tape, SAFE refused to let it be forgotten. We continued organizing advocates, met with agency staff and elected officials to ensure the project remained a priority until construction finally began.
This victory would not have been possible without the dedication of the Griffith Park Action Team. For years, volunteers showed up to meetings, participated in advocacy efforts, attended events, contacted elected officials, and helped build public support for a safer Griffith Park.
We are also grateful to Nithya Raman, Assemblymember (now Congressmember) Laura Friedman, LADOT, Recreation and Parks staff, and the many partner organizations and advocates who helped move this project forward.
Most importantly, we remember Andrew Jelmert. While no infrastructure project can undo the loss his family and loved ones suffered, his life made a difference, and Griffith Park is safer today for the thousands of people who walk, bike, run, and ride through it every year.
Bike parked in front of Petition to Make Griffith Park Safer for all Road Users posted on gate
This is a victory worth celebrating because no matter how long it takes for us to fix our city, meaningful change can happen when communities speak up and organize against traffic violence.