| | Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter May 2, 2013 |
Happy Bike Month!
 
It's May, which means we have beautiful weather, and everyone wants to get on their bike! We hope you'll join LACBC and tons of others organizations and groups to celebrate biking and encourage others to join in on the biking fun.
Also, if you are a business or organization in L.A. County, please consider hosting your own Bike Week event like a bike repair workshop and/or a Bike to Work Day pit stop. You can get more information about events at la-bike.org/bikemonth. Bike to School Day When: Wednesday, May 8 Where: throughout L.A. County and the U.S. Encourage kids at schools across the country to bike to school safely! Check the website for Bike to School Day activities in L.A. County, including those at schools in Brentwood ,Compton, Culver City, Glendale, Downey, L.A., La Canada Flintridge, and Santa Monica. Metro's Fix Your Bike Day When: Monday, May 13 Where: throughout L.A. County Want to hold a bike repair workshop or event? Sign up! Good Samaritan's Blessing of the Bicycles When: Tuesday, May 14; 8 AM to 9:30 AM Where: Good Samaritan Hospital - 616 S. Witmer Ave., Westlake Get blessed! Get breakfast! Get a free bike checkup! More info. LACBC Fundraiser at The Counter in Studio City When: Tuesday, May 14; 11 AM to 10 PM Where: The Counter Studio City - 12117 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, 91604 Give this flyer to your server (and pass another one to a friend) before you get your custom-built burger at The Counter in Studio City all day on Tuesday, May 14th! A portion of your bill will go towards the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and maker our streets safer for all people who ride bikes! PLUS, if you bring in your Counter receipt from May 14th to the Laemmle NoHo 7 on Wednesday, May 15 you can get up to 2 tickets for only $4.50 each for any film screening that day. More info. Metro's Guided Ride Day When: Wednesday, May 15 Where: throughout L.A. County Want to lead a guided ride along bike lanes or routes in your community? Sign up! Metro's Bike to Work Day Pit Stops When: Thursday, May 16; morning Where: throughout L.A. County Want to put on a Bike to Work pit stop? Sign up! Bike from Work After Parties with LACBC and Local Chapters When: Thursday, May 16; late afternoon and evening Where: throughout L.A. County Bike Night at the Hammer When: Friday, May 17; 6 PM Where: Hammer Museum - 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, 90024 The Hammer Presents Bike Night! Grab some friends and pedal on over for an evening celebrating all things bicyclistic! Free festivities include bicycle portraits, a screening of the 1983 Australian action movie BMX Bandits (starring a young, not-yet-famous Nicole Kidman), bicycle-centric crafts, and free admission to LLYN FOULKES. Guest hosted by artist and bicycle enthusiast/activist Lisa Anne Auerbach. More info. Metro's Bike Local Weekend When: Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 19 Want to be a bicycle-friendly business and provide a discount to bicyclists who mention "Bike Week"? Sign up! CA Road Rules for Bicyclists for Three Perspectives When: Wednesday, May 22; 7 - 8:30 PM Where: LACBC Headquarters, Edison Room (1st Floor) - 634 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, 90014
Join LACBC as we welcome three speakers to give us their insight into California's bicycle rules and how those affect you, what you should know, as well as your rights and responsibilities as a bicyclist. This presentation coincides with the introduction of LACBC's new "Bike Safe" rules of the road pocket guide (copies of which will be distributed at the event). The presentation will include a Q & A session at the end. Free for LACBC members, $10 for general public. More info. |
Sunday Funday Ride: L.A. State Historic Park Out 'n' Back this Weekend
When: Sunday, May 5; Meet at 10:30 AM, Ride at 11:00 AM Where: L.A. State Historic Park - 1245 N. Spring Street, Chinatown, Los Angeles Join us for a fun little 12-mile out and back ride through the Arroyo Seco to enjoy the nice weather and safely navigate this area's city streets on bikes. Led by board member Trent Strong, this ride will help you discover a few of the gems of Northeast L.A. All are encouraged to stay afterwards for a BBQ (carnivore and vegans both provided for) and refreshments (potluck additions encouraged but not required!). More info. RSVP: To RSVP or volunteer as ride support, please contact Carol Feucht, LACBC Membership & Communications Director, at carol@la-bike.org or RSVP to the Facebook event. About Sunday Fundays: Sunday Funday Rides are free to LACBC members plus one guest. Interested in becoming a member? Sign up for membership online or become a member at the ride at a discounted price. |
Bike the Vote: Council District 13 Candidate Meet and Greet this Saturday
CD 13 Council Candidate Meet and Greet
Join LACBC's Civic Engagement Committee and Los Angeles Walks for an informal meet and greet with CD 13 City Council candidates Mitch O'Farrell and John Choi to discuss bicycle and pedestrian issues, enjoy great food, and kick back with $4 pints specials of Golden Road's Anytime Beer (Point the Way IPA, GR Hefeweizen, and Get Up Offa that Brown).
CD 13 Council Candidate Meet and Greet When: Saturday, May 4; 1 PM to 4 PM We'll also be organizing a short bike ride to the event, so we encourage to ride with us! Ride to CD 13 Council Candidate Meet and Greet When: Saturday, May 4; Meet at 12 PM; Ride at 12:15 PM Where: Meet at Sunset Triangle Plaza - Sunset and Maltman, Silver Lake ( map) Run-Off Election Is Tuesday, May 21st Your vote can make a difference! In the City of Los Angeles, you'll be voting for the Mayor and City Council Candidates in CD1, CD6, CD9, and CD13. Check out la-bike.org/vote to see responses to our candidate surveys, and remember to vote on May 21st. |
| Bike Updates from around the County: New Bike Lanes on Figueroa in Downtown
San Pedro: New bike lanes have appeared on Westmont and Capitol Drives in San Pedro as part of road buffets on each street. Says Councilmember Joe Buscaino, "This is to encourage people to get out of their cars and use their bikes. To those who say San Pedro doesn't use bikes, I say, 'Let's start. Why not?'" Read more in the Daily Breeze.
South Pasadena: The City of South Pasadena has been awarded over $400,000 in grants from the Bicycle Transportation Act. South Pas received $234,000 for the Mission Street Green Sharrow Lane and $184,500 for bike parking: racks, locks and shelters. Read more in the South Pasadena Patch. |
Climate Ride: Meet Team LACBC Climate Rider Laurie Gelardi
LACBC has a team for the upcoming Climate Ride happening next month. We are currently showcasing riders and having them share their experience with riding not only to us, and now to you! This week's post is featuring Laure Gelardi. Laurie has been with the LACBC for the past two years and hopes to accomplish more advocacy and raising more awareness for bicycle lanes from this ride. On top of this she is also riding with her partner, Kathy. Both are preparing hard for this and also working on their fundraising goals as well. You can read more about her story on riding here on the LACBC blog, and if you would like to contribute to the LACBC team, you can do so here. How Climate Ride works: Climate Ride California (May 19-23, 2013) is a 5-day, fully-supported bicycle ride from Fortuna to San Francisco under towering redwoods, through the Russian River Wine Country, and along the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route - one of the most scenic coastlines in the world. First you register, reach the fundraising minimum and train for the ride, then come along and for an amazing riding, epic scenery, and great speakers for a remarkable experience. There is still time to join the LACBC team and/or make a donation to our team. |
| LACBC Hosts League Cycling Instructor Seminar 
This past weekend, LACBC hosted a seminar for a select group of candidates to be certified as League Cycling Instructors (LCIs) so they can teach safe bicycling skills. An intensive three-day course, this was the third LCI seminar the LACBC has hosted since early last year. The LCI program and the associated curriculum is run by the League of American Bicyclists, based in Washington DC. The seminar was led by League Coach, Chris Quint with LACBC Education Director, Colin Bogart, as site coordinator and assistant LCI. We'd like to thank assistant LCIs Cynthia Rose of Santa Monica Spoke, Nathalie Winiarski of Walk Bike Glendale, and Zach Griffin (who came all the way from Bakersfield!) for lending their time and expertise to the seminar. We're proud to announce the graduation of 13 more LCIs for the LA County region. Graduates included members from the Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition, the Bicycle Coalition at UCLA, Beach Cities Cycling Club, and individuals from Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Temecula. LACBC has been hosting these seminars in an effort to expand the number of trained instructors in Los Angeles County. Coming soon--be on the lookout for bicycle safety classes to be offered in partnership with Metro and the Office of Traffic Safety! |
ACTION ITEM: Keep the Spring Street Bike Lane Green
Many thanks to Councilmember Jose Huizar of Council District 14 for issuing a motion two weeks ago to have the bike lanes on Spring Street repainted green! While the bike lane has been in threat of fading away through an intentional lack of maintenance, Huizar's motion demands that the green lane be repainted. Huizar tells Los Angeles Streetsblog: "I support the green bike lanes in Downtown Los Angeles. They help keep bicyclists and motorists safe, promote multi-modal transportation Downtown and are widely used. I understand the film industry's concerns and am open to discuss ways to improve the lanes, but I do not support removing them entirely. They serve a distinct purpose and we should continue to make them available to a growing Downtown community." If you haven't already, please continue to voice your support to keep Spring Street green! We need the support of the L.A. City Council to vote in support of Huizar's motion. Please encourage the L.A. City Council to support Huizar's motion! Bcc: info@la-bike.org Subject: Keep Spring Street Green! Dear Mayor Villaraigosa and Councilmembers, As cities from coast to coast add color to their streets, I'm disappointed to hear that LA is considering removing ours. I urge you to keep the Spring Street bike lane green so that it can continue to attract "interested but concerned" bicyclists to ride downtown. Our city streets shouldn't just be accessible to people at special events like CicLAvia. We need to use the best tools available to make riding our streets safe and welcoming every day. While Downtown LA is a stand-in for cities around the world, it is also a neighborhood for over 50,000 Angelenos. Other cities are competing for our creative talent that increasingly seeks out the urban lifestyle available in Downtown. We can't afford to be held back by an industry that refuses to adapt. The green bike lane, parklets, and continental crosswalks all contribute to a vibrant streetscape that makes Downtown worth living and working in. The ultimate irony is that our peers in New York, Chicago, and many other American cities are ahead of us in implementing these street projects, yet we are told that we can't improve our streets because then we wouldn't look like them on the silver screen. Please keep LA competitive as a bike-friendly city by keeping our most distinctive piece of infrastructure and giving it a fresh coat of paint. Sincerely, <your name> <your address> |
LA River Ride: Register by May 14th for Early Registration
LACBC's biggest ride returns on Sunday, June 9th.
13th Annual Los Angeles River Ride
When: Sunday, June 9, 2013
Where: Start at the Autry Center at 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park or Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
The Los Angeles River Ride is:
- 8 great rides for all ages and abilities! All rides are supported with volunteer ride marshals. We have:
- 100-mile Century Ride
- 70-mile Park-to-Playa Ride
- 70-mile Playa-to-Park Reverse Ride (starting and ending in Long Beach)
- 50-mile Half-Century Ride
- 36-mile Training Ride
- 25-mile Long Beach Loop Ride (starting and ending in Long Beach) - NEW this year
- 15-mile Family Ride
- Kids' Bike Rodeo
- A great way to explore the Los Angeles River and Los Angeles as a whole. This County is more connected than you think, and LA really does have a river. Learn more about what Los Angeles has to offer on this ride.
- LACBC's biggest fundraiser. Your registration fees help us work for a better, more bike-able LA County. Want to do more? Sign up for LACBC membership with your River Ride registration and get $10 off the regular membership price.
Registration by May 14 to save $10! Learn more about the River Ride at la-bike.org/riverride. Become the Top Fundraiser and Win a Bike Trip to Tuscany  Want to support the work of LACBC and our efforts to complete the LA River Bike and Pedestrian Path by the year 2020? Ask your friends, family, and acquaintances to support you as you ride the LA River Ride and become a River Ride Fundraiser. Thanks to our friends at VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, our top fundraiser will win a bike trip to Tuscany, Italy. We also have a prize for the fundraiser who gets the most people to donate to the cause: a bike from DTLA Bikes. Runner-up prizes include a New Belgium Brewing Cruiser Bike and signed copies of Where to Bike Los Angeles. Prizes are guaranteed for meeting fundraising minimums at: - $100: a pair of LACBC socks
- $250: a 2013 River Ride Jersey
- $500: entry into the River Ride VIP tent and beer garden, which includes New Belgium beer, food, massages, and some very important people
- $1000: recognition for your fundraising at the LACBC donor and supporter party in December
- $5000: a custom vintage cocktail mixology, tea ceremony, or dinner with our Executive Director Jen Klausner and Board President Alex Amerri
Register to become a fundraiser here. Click on "Individuals: Click Here to build your personal fundraising page" on the right side to begin fundraising! Learn more about fundraising and the prizes, get tips, and more at la-bike.org/RRfundraising. Volunteer for the River Ride YOU make the LA River Ride possible! We need volunteers on the day of the ride for marshaling, registration, set-up, and more, but we'll also need your help before the event for things like the REI wristband pick-up and goody bag stuffing. Check out River Ride volunteer opportunities at la-bike.org/riverridevolunteer and email martin@la-bike.org to sign up. River Ride volunteers may have the opportunity to ride the River Ride for free. |
This Week's Tip: What to Pack When Commuting by Bike to Work In anticipation of Bike Week and Bike to Work Day, we're continuing with advice to help make your ride better and so that you'll continue riding after Bike Week/Month. This week, here's a few tips about carrying your work clothes, and being "presentable" once you get there. Depending on the distance of your ride, you probably don't want to ride in your work clothes. Riding in cycling clothes or shorts and a t-shirt can be a lot more comfortable than riding in work clothes, especially in warm weather. What to do? With a little planning, it's fairly simple. - Take a change of clothes to work the day before you ride and put them on when you get to work.
- Leaving a pair of dress shoes at work (if required for your job) makes things a lot easier since shoes are generally harder to pack.
- Budget your time so you can ride to work at a casual pace, minimizing how much you sweat. Save the faster "work out" ride for your trip home.
- Give yourself a little time to cool down once you arrive at work. Try to arrive early.
- If you have a shower facility at work and need it, great! You might also be able to use a shower at a nearby health club, if there is one.
- If no shower, you can also "clean up" with a small towel or handy wipes in the restroom. Camp towels are great because they pack up small and dry quickly.
- Keep some deodorant and/or perfume/cologne at work.
- Consider putting on makeup and doing your hair after you ride.
- If you plan to ride more than one day during a given week, take several days worth of clothing to work before your ride days and bring them home on a day you don't ride.
- You can also carry your clothes each day in a backpack or pannier bag. Roll the clothing when you pack.
Or better yet, just work for LACBC, where we don't care what you wear! |
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Let's Roll Together
 | | Standoff - PeopleForBikes (www.peopleforbikes.org) |
These roads were made for you and me! PeopleForBikes has created this video for bike month that reminds car drivers and bike riders that, "Four wheels, two wheels. We roll together." Also, let's all hug it out. Whether you bike, drive, walk, and/or use public transportation, you can sign PeopleForBikes' online pledge to look out for your fellow road travelers. |
| | Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities Council District 13 Candidate Meet and Greet When: Saturday, May 4; 1 PM to 4PM. Sunday Funday L.A. State Historic Park Out n' Back When: Sunday, May 5; Meet at 10:30 AM, ride at 11:00 AM Bike-In Movie Night: The Big Lebowski with LACBC Bike Valet When: Tuesday, May 7; event opens at 6:30 PM, movie starts at 7:30 PM Where: 1749 Vine Street, Hollywood (in the parking lot across from Capital Records) Bike over with your low chairs and blankets for Millennium Hollywood's free bike-in movie screening of the Coen Brothers' L.A.-set dark comedy The Big Lebowski! Food trucks will also be on-hand. More info. Pomona Art Walk: Bike Week Kick-Off When: Saturday, May 11; 3 PM to 6 PM Where: Downtown Pomona Sculpture Garden- 538. W. 2nd St. Join local chapter Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition as part of the Pomona Art Walk. PVBC will host a bike maintenance workshop, provide bike education material at the farmer's market booth, and lead a mini-ride around downtown Pomona. You can also make your own spoke cards! See Facebook event.
Metro Gold Line Eastside Access Project
When: Monday, May 13; 6 to 7 PM Where: East L.A. Library, Community Room - 4837 E. Third St., East L.A. Metro has exciting, new streetscape designs that will make you want to stroll, power-walk, or ride your bikes to the Indiana, Maravilla, East LA Civic Center, and Atlantic Gold Line Eastside Stations.
Come see and learn about these streetscape designs! A 15-20 minute presentation will be given by Metro staff and representatives, followed by a Q & A. Metro's Bike Week When: Monday, May 13 through Friday, May 17 LACBC Fundraiser at The Counter Studio City When: Tuesday, May 14; 11 AM to 10 PM United Riders Ride Of Silence When: Wednesday, May 15; 6:30 PM Where: Rowley Park - 13220 Van Ness Ave., Gardena The Ride of Silence remembers fallen cyclists in our community through a silent ride. United Riders, along with Ghost Bikes LA, has put up several Ghost Bikes in the community and would like to ride to all the areas where these bikes are placed. This ride will start in Gardena (Benjamin Torres), then make our way to South LA (Sergio Rodriguez), after that Watts (Sylvester Henderson), and we will end up in Compton (Ovidio Morales). After paying our respects we will escort the crew back to Gardena for final thought and departures. More info at rideofsilence.com.
Bike Night at the Hammer
When: Friday, May 17; 7 PM CA Road Rules for Bicyclists from Three Perspectives When: Wednesday, May 22; 7 to 8:30 PM Bike Repair Workshop hosted by Bici Libre and LAPL When: Saturday, May 25; 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Where: Central Library, Thornton Courtyard - 630 W. Fifth Street (enter on 5th through gate) Join Bici Libre and the Los Angeles Public Library a free bike repair workshop at the L.A. Central Library. Come to a Or, ride your bike from any location! You can also take Metro to Pershing Square. Sponsored by LACBC, Bici Libre, and the Teen'Scape and Science Department of the Los Angeles Public Library. We thank Nestle and the California Endowment for their donations. 13th Annual Los Angeles River RideWhen: Sunday, June 9More info in newsletter. |
| | | | Join LACBC or Renew The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is a member-supported organization that works for you to build a better, more bike-able L.A. County.
Members are the backbone of LACBC! Help keep LACBC strong by becoming an LACBC member (or renewing your membership) and be part of the change! |
Contact Information
Carol Feucht
Membership & Communications Director
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition
carol@la-bike.org |
Let's be friends! Connect with LACBC: www.la-bike.org      |
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