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Focus on a Member

My LAAHU Hero

By David Benson, Co LAAHU VP of Legislation 

Last Saturday evening Shauna and I along with a family friend set out to join some other friends for a picnic and concert (Fantasia) at the Hollywood Bowl.  We decided to take the bus from the Federal Building in Westwood to avoid dealing with traffic and the parking lots at the Hollywood Bowl.  While waiting in line to get on the bus we bumped into fellow LAAHU member and good friend, Barry Sikov.

Our plan was to meet our friends at the Hollywood Bowl at 7:00 p.m. so we would have plenty of time to enjoy our picnic before the show started.  Our bus was scheduled to leave the Federal Building at 6:10 p.m.  We left at 6:12 p.m.

The normal bus route from the Federal Building is to go north on the 405 freeway to the 101 Ventura freeway east to the 101 Hollywood freeway south and exit at the Hollywood Bowl.  This drive normally takes 40 to 45 minutes.

As our bus driver exited the Federal Building parking lot she turned right onto Wilshire Blvd. and drove past the on ramp to the 405 freeway.  That was my first clue that we were in for an interesting ride.  We took Wilshire Blvd. east to Santa Monica Blvd. east.  As we approached the intersection on Santa Monica Blvd. and Doheny Blvd. there was a big sign that said Sunset Blvd (going east) was closed due to a street festival that was taking place.  Our bus driver had 3 viable choices, continue going east on Santa Monica. Blvd with lots of traffic, turn south east onto Melrose Ave., or turn right and go to Beverly Blvd.  Our bus driver turned left and headed north on Doheny toward Sunset Blvd. where the road was closed.

The bus driver had to turn left (west) on Sunset Blvd.  We needed to go east to get to the Hollywood Bowl.   After driving about a half mile with everybody on the bus screaming that she was going the wrong way, she parked the bus and was ready to call her dispatcher for new directions.

This was when my LAAHU HERO, Barry Sikov sprung into action.  Barry calmly walked to the front of the bus and convinced the driver that he could get us to the Hollywood Bowl. 

The first step would be to make a u-turn on Sunset Blvd.  It took the driver over five minutes to turn the bus around which caused a traffic jam on Sunset Blvd. 

With Barry navigating we ended up on Beverly Blvd going east.  Barry told the driver to turn left on Highland Ave.  As we were driving down Beverly Blvd. Barry felt that the situation was under control, so he went back to his seat.  This was a big mistake.  Our driver had a better idea.  She was going to turn on Cahuenga Blvd. which does not go through to Beverly Blvd, so we drove past 3 main intersections where she could have turned left.  She finally turned left onto Larchmont Blvd.  As she was driving north on Larchmont Blvd. she drove through a 4 way stop sign and a red light.

Our hero, Barry Sikov figured it was time to return to the front of the bus and resume his duties as the chief navigator for the remainder of the trip.

We finally pulled into the Hollywood Bowl parking lot at 7:40 p.m.  I can honestly say that this was one of the most interesting rides to the Hollywood Bowl that I ever experienced.

I want to say a special “THANK YOU” to my LAAHU HERO, Barry Sikov.  If it was not for him we would still be on the bus today trying to figure out how to get to the Hollywood Bowl.