Driving back from the Salvation Army Thrift Store today (where I had gone to drop off a car full of donations) I chanced to drive through the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

Both of these are major streets, (Topanga Bl is a state highway, in fact) with speed limits of 40 mph for both boulevards (most cars take that as a challenge: start at 40 and damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!). Victory Bl, however, drops from 40 to 35 mph west of Topanga, though few motorists adjust their speed. [50 feels so good, let's do 55.]

As I drove by I saw a lineup of 5 Los Angeles Police Department officers on...bicycles, uniforms, helmets, equipment belts, the works. The bicycles had the lights for traffic stops clamped to the handle bars.

This is an intersection where you see Hummers quite frequently--major testosterone vehicles--blasting through in both directions, scattering chickens and Ford Focuses right and left. (Note: They say that part of the standard equipment on a Hummer is a zippered case in the glove box which holds a magnifying glass and tweezers).

Today, one of the bicycle officers had made a traffic stop with the bright yellow Hummer, the small light on his handlbar flashing its imperative red, and the Hummer dutifully pulled over to the curb. The driver looked stunned. I waved as I went by in my Ford Focus.