The inspection, sponsored by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), marks the first pedestrian spot check conducted in the neighborhood. The survey will take place three times this month, starting from July 8.
The survey commenced at the intersection of 5th and Virgil, where Shawn Kuk, KYCC Director of Community Development and Planning, distributed questionnaires with checklists to participants before embarking on the survey.
The questionnaire covers various concerns related to walking or using public transportation in the area, including pedestrian presence, availability of shade at stops, and sidewalk cleanliness. The objective is to adopt a pedestrian’s perspective, record their complaints, and gather suggestions for improvement.
The group, consisting of four KYCC staff members and six participants, proceeded to walk towards the bus stop at Vermont and Sixth Street. As they approached Vermont, they noticed that the sidewalk had become discolored and dirty. Public trash bins were overflowing with coke cans and trash bags, while broken glass littered the ground. Across from the benches at the stop, a homeless man sat wrapped in a thick sleeping bag, making faces.
Tammy Yu, a survey participant accompanied by her high school child, expressed concerns when her son mentioned his desire to bike to school in the area. “I never realized it because we always use the car, but riding on the sidewalk is more dangerous. It’s dirtier than before the pandemic, and there are more homeless people. It’s not safe for my student son to ride his bicycle to school every day,” she stated.
After an 18-minute wait, a DASH bus—an intra-Koreatown village bus—finally arrived. The air-conditioned bus provided a comfortable ride. Two Korean seniors were already onboard, and at the 7th and Vermont stop, three female Korean seniors joined them. They mentioned that they were heading to a stop near Koreatown Plaza in town. “The fare is free, and it’s cooler and cleaner than we expected,” they commented, adding that it was an improvement over regular buses. However, they also pointed out the need for better wait time management.
The team disembarked and conducted another pedestrian safety check on Harvard Boulevard. As they entered a residential neighborhood, the streets grew quieter, surrounded by dense trees.
Upon returning to the DASH bus stop, the team timed the wait for the next bus. It took 40 minutes, twice the frequency indicated on the LA Metro website, despite it being a relatively light traffic weekend.
Samir Allen, a survey participant who rides the bus up to five times a week for work, suggested conducting the survey at different times of the day, stating, “This is during the middle of the day, but buses can be dangerous in the evening and at night.” He also emphasized the need for improvements in public transportation, noting, “Lack of shaded stops and long wait times are issues that require change.”
Brittany Law, a frequent participant in KYCC events, expressed her observation, saying, “Depending on the neighborhood, there are many places in town that can be intimidating for seniors. This somewhat aligns with the perception that public transportation in LA is unsafe.”
KYCC will compile the data collected on that day and publish the analysis on the organization’s website and social media platforms. The goal is to establish an accessible database of on-the-ground data that can be accessed by anyone and provide valuable insights for future town policy development and improvement.
Shawn Kuk, Director of Community Development and Planning, highlighted the significance of the current survey, stating, “Following the recent finalization of the Downtown Plan, which outlines the future operations of downtown LA, the next focus will be Koreatown. The last plan update for Koreatown was in 2001. The results of this survey will be crucial in determining the neighborhood’s future for decades to come.”
Kuk added, “The reality of the town is that streetlights are often absent, and the police struggle to respond to the growing homeless population. We need to create an environment where residents feel comfortable rather than fearful.”
In the coming days, KYCC will conduct online surveys to gather public opinions on street conditions. Additionally, on July 22 and 29 at 10 a.m., KYCC will conduct two more inspections, one from 8th and Western to Pico and Menlo, and another from Seoul International Park to the intersection of 4th and Catalina.
BY HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]
