| | Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter December 5, 2013 |
We'll See You Tonight at the LACBC Open House
 
You're invited to learn all about what LACBC is up to! Learn about LACBC's victories of past and future from our local chapters, Neighborhood Bike Ambassadors, campaigns, programs, and more! Mingle, enjoy refreshments courtesy of New Belgium and Pete's Cafe, dance to the sweet sounds of DJ Skramble, have your photo taken in our photobooth, and party the night away! LACBC Open House When: Thursday, December 5; 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Where: LACBC Headquarters at the Historic Banks Huntley Building, Ground Floor - 634 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014 |
Updates from Around L.A. County: Important Meetings in Santa Monica, Culver City, and West Hollywood
Presentations on projects aimed to create more livable streets and improve the environment for pedestrians and bikes. Get informed and give your input on prioritizing and projects that are important to you at anytime during the meeting via post it and written ballots. When: Saturday, December 7th; 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Where: Fairview Branch Library - 2101 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for refreshments. Presentations begin at 11:00 a.m. to cover: - Bike Share, Assemblyman Richard Bloom
- MANGo results, Jason Kligier
- Samohi Safe Routes to School SRTS, plus integration to MANGo, Francie Stefan
- Bike Action Plan, implementation, prioritization, GREEN LANES, Lucy Dyke
- Esplanade, Cycle tracks, intersection improvements, Joanna Hankamer
- Pedestrian Action Plan Community outreach survey, Santa Monica Walks, Grace Phillips
We will invite the SMPD bike liaison to attend who can address questions and clarification you may have regarding enforcement and ticketing. Culver City: AB 321 is a state law that allows cities to more easily reduce the speed limit in school zones. Join local chapter Culver City Bicycle Coalition for a panel discussion on implementing an AB 321 pilot program in Culver City. When: Saturday, December 7; 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Where: Culver Hotel CCBC Planning Meeting immediately follows at 5:00 p.m. We all want safer streets for walkers and bicyclists of all ages. Reducing motor vehicle speeds in school zones to be compatible with high volumes of children walking and biking will reduce traffic incidents and encourage more children to bike and walk to school. This in turn reduces traffic and pollution in our community, creating healthier, more livable neighborhoods. Join the conversation and learn how a pilot program in Culver City can benefit the whole community: - Hear the pros and cons of AB 321 and what it takes to make for successful implementation
- updates on Culver City's Safe Routes to School activities
- Bicycle safety best practices in and around Culver City
West Hollywood: The process of updating the City of West Hollywood's Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility Plan is nearing its end. City staff are scheduled to make presentations to Commissions in December, and it is important for bicyclists to attend and provide comments to the commissioners. There is also an on-line survey and interactive map created by the City of WeHo for community members to share their ideas at www.walkbikeweho.com/ideas. The Plan is scheduled to be presented to the City Council in February, 2014. Now is the time for your voice to be heard! Attend and voice your support of the Bicycle & Pedestrian Mobility Plan When: Public Facilities meeting on Wednesday, December 11; Transportation Commission meeting on Wednesday, December 18
Where: Transportation & Public Facilities Commissions both meet at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Conference Room of City Hall located at 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard. Los Angeles: The City of of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department (RAP) is seeking public input on the future and funding of our City parks. This is being conducted through a series of public meetings, and an online Community Budget Discussion survey. Concered Off-Road Bicyclists Association (CORBA) and LACBC are taking this opportunity to remind RAP of their obligations and duties as identified in the 2010 Los Angeles City Bike Plan. CORBA worked diligently to keep the meager provisions for off-road cycling in the 2010 Bike Plan, while the powerful equestrian lobby fought hard to have them removed. To our knowledge, nothing has yet been done to implement the off-road cycling provisions identified in Chapter 4, Sections 3.3.5, 3.3.6, and 3.3.7 of the 2010 Bike Plan. The lead agency identified for those provisions is RAP. The Bike Plan calls for these provisions to be completed by 2015. City of Los Angeles residents are encouraged to complete the survey. The survey is available at http://laparks.org, where a popup window will direct you to the survey. The survey can also be accessed directly at http://m.laparks.org/survey/#survey, but please read on before doing so. El Monte and South El Monte: The San Gabriel Valley Bicycle Master Plan is currently in development. Part of this project entails the first ever comprehensive bicycle data collection effort for the region. Never before has the SGV embarked on such an endeavor, so needless to say this is HISTORIC and you can be a part of it! All volunteers will receive a complimentary bicycle accessory package (t-shirt, Monkey Lights, water bottle & more) upon completing the mandatory training (Friday, December 13 at 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.) and at least 3 bike count time slots. Round 1: El Monte (7 locations along Tyler/Ramona Corridors) - Saturday, December 14; 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Tuesday, December 17; 7 a.m. - 9 a.m.
- Tuesday, December 17; 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Round 2: South El Monte (5 locations along Thienes/Rush/Durfee Corridors) - Thursday, December 19; 7 a.m. - 9 a.m.
- Thursday, December 19; 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
- Saturday, December 21; 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Beverly Hills:The Beverly Hills Santa Monica Boulevard Blue Ribbon Committee will meet next Tuesday, December 10th. at 6 p.m. in the public library's 2nd floor meeting room. This is the second of three meetings to determine the profile of tomorrow's boulevard between Century City and City of West Hollywood. A key decision for the 15-member committee will be whether or not to recommend that Class II bicycle lanes be included as part of a bottom-up reconstruction of the corridor in 2015.
You can read more about the reconstruction at the city's project page: www.beverlyhills.org/smblvd
Cycling interests are represented on the committee by appointed member Mark Elliot, organizer of Better Bike in Beverly Hills, but this committee needs to hear from riders too. What has been your experience traveling today's Santa Monica boulevard? Looking ahead, should we include bicycle lanes and/or 'complete streets' principles in the boulevard redesign?
Next Wednesday the Santa Monica Boulevard Blue Ribbon Committee will be evaluating conceptual design alternatives. Your comments are welcome and can be provided IN ADVANCE via the city's comment form on the city's project page. And keep up-to-date with Better Bike's meeting notes. The 1st Blue Ribbon Committee meeting is recapped here: http://betterbike.org/2013/11/blue-ribbon-1-recap/
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Thanks for Joining Us for Tour de Taste at CXLA and Golden Road Brewfest
Thanks to all who came out this weekend for tasty eats and brews and exciting cyclocross action! Thank you to Chef Michelle Lainez of Pete's Cafe and Dot Wong of SoCalCross for making this possible. Thanks to our volunteers. Thanks to all our participating downtown L.A. eateries and drink vendors! Be sure to stop by these bike-supportive places next time you're in the area looking for a place to eat. |
Give the Gift of LACBC Membership this Holiday Season  This holiday season, give your friends and family something unique that will keep on giving throughout the year: Give them an LACBC Gift Membership! It's a gift that provides your loved ones with useful information, bike shop discounts, free or discounted admission to LACBC events, and a safer ride. Their membership packet also includes the LACBC Bicycle Resource Guide, an LA County Bikeways map, and a membership card for discounts. Not only does an LACBC membership make a great gift, but it supports LACBC's work to create a better, bike-able LA County! If you want your gift membership to arrive at a local address by Christmas day, please make your purchase by Tuesday, December 17th, at the latest! |
Become an LACBC Member and Enjoy Great Discounts at Places Like Back to Wellness Center
As an LACBC member, you can enjoy many great discounts from local supportive businesses. We're excited to welcome Back to Wellness Center in Valley Village to our growing list of businesses that offer discounts to LACBC members.
Show your LACBC membership card and receive 20% off a chiropractic initial exam and treatment with Valley Neighborhood Bike Ambassador Dale Fernandez D.C. or an acupuncture initial exam and treatment with Gerald Mason L.Ac.
Back to Wellness Center is located at 12526 Riverside Drive in Valley Village and can be contacted at 818-985-2559. Business hours are Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Thanks and welcome, Back to Wellness Center! |
| Support LACBC on Climate Ride California this May 
You're invited to join Team LACBC on Climate Ride California! We are once again a beneficiary and you can join the brand-new epic 4-day pedaling adventure in Northern California through wine country. Right now, we're recruiting members for our new Team LACBC on the California ride. You can be part of the fun and raise funds for LACBC at the same time! Team LACBC was the top team in last year's California ride. Let's bring the trophy (OK, pint glasses) back home this year! If you join our team by December 4th, you'll be invited to our exclusive donor appreciation party on December 5th. Climate Ride California (May 17-20, 2014) is a 4-day, fully-supported cycling adventure that begins in San Francisco, heads north up the coast and through Wine Country to California's Capitol in Sacramento. |
| This Month's Tip: Ride with Lights and Reflectors at Night 
Now that the days are getting shorter and the nights are longer, it's more likely that many of us will be riding after dark more often. California law requires that people riding bikes use a white front light along with rear, side and pedal reflectors if riding when it's dark, but the importance of using lights and reflectors goes beyond dodging a potential ticket. Here are some things you should know: - Roughly one-third of all car-bike collisions involve a vehicle turning or entering the road in front of the bicyclist.* A light is crucial in preventing many of these collisions at night because the vehicle's lights might not illuminate you or your reflectors in time for drivers to see you. In some cases, reflectors won't help at all, like a vehicle entering the roadway from your front right.
- The law says your front light must be white and it must be visible from 300 feet in front and to the sides of your bike. It should also illuminate the road or path in front of you.
- A white light mounted to your body, such as a helmet-mounted lamp, is also acceptable.
- The law doesn't say if the front light should be constant or if it can strobe. Some people use two lights, one strobing and one on constant beam. Personal preference should be your guide.
- Use the best quality, strongest light you can afford. Like a good lock, a good light is worth it.
- Really strong lights should be aimed at an angle towards the road to avoid shining directly into the eyes of vehicle drivers. You want drivers to see you, not to be blinded by you.
- If your light uses batteries, replace them when the light starts to run dim.
- If you use a rechargeable battery, be sure to charge it regularly. Lights using a rechargeable battery may simply stop working once the charge is too low.
- Keep low-cost lights handy as an extra if you can. If your main lights stop working, you'll have a back-up.
- Side-facing reflectors on the front and back of your bike are required. The front must be white or yellow and the back must be white or red. Reflective sidewalls on your tires are acceptable.
- Reflectors on your pedals are also required. They must be white or yellow. Reflective strips on riding shoes or reflective bands strapped around your ankles are acceptable substitutes.
- A rear facing reflector that's red is required, but a red rear light is recommended. A rear light is NOT required by law so you can't be ticketed for not having a rear light.
- If you use a rear light, it should be red since it's commonly accepted that rear lights are red (and front lights are white).
- White, light-colored, or reflective clothing is not required by law, but it's highly recommended. A reflective vest or clothing with reflective trim is ideal, but a white shirt or white jacket is a good low-cost option for extra visibility at night.
LACBC has re-launched Operation Firefly to provide lights and information for night-time riding to people riding without lights at night. You can support Operation Firefly by purchasing lights or making a donation. Operation Firefly lights make great stocking stuffers! |
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: John Parkinson, L.A.'s Forgotten Architect  | | John Parkinson Documentary |
Perhaps you've noticed that our LACBC Open House invitations have been referring to the building we work in as "The Historic Banks Huntley Building." That's because our Art Deco building was designed by one of L.A.'s most influential (but very much forgotten) architects, John Parkinson. Just look around downtown L.A., and you'll see his mark all around.
Iconic buildings like Los Angeles City Hall, Union Station, the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, the Bullocks Wilshire building, and all of these buildings were all designed by Parkinson. Check out this mini documentary, and listen to this KCRW interview with Stephen Gee, who recently wrote Parkinson's first biography entitled Iconic Vision: John Parkinson, Architect of Los Angeles. And help make sure that John Parkinson no longer remains forgotten. |
| | Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities LACBC Open House: Victories of Future Past When: Thursday, December 5; 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Pomona Holiday Parade with PVBC When: Saturday, December 7; meet at 9:00 a.m. Where: meet at Locus and 3rd St. in Pomona Ride the Pomona Christmas Parade with PVBC and your bike! The Parade will go through downtown Pomona. Check out the PVBC Facebook event! Santa Monica Update Meeting When: Saturday, December 7; 10:30 a.m. Culver City AB 321 Meeting When: Saturday, December 7; 3:00 p.m. Montrose Christmas Parade with Walk Bike Glendale When: Saturday, Decemeber 7; meet at 5:45 p.m. Where: Honolulu Ave. in Montrose Join local chapter Walk Bike Glendale for an annual tradition: walking and biking in the Montrose Christmas Parade. Wear your WBG t-shirts. See Facebook event and RSVP here for exact meeting location. Los Angeles Eco-Village 20th Anniversary Fundraiser When: Saturday, December 7; 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Where: Los Angeles Eco-Village - 117 Bimini Place, Los Angeles 90004 Happy 20th Anniversary to the Los Angeles Eco-Village, which is celebrating this occasion with plenty of good food, wine tasting, music and fun. As some of you may be aware, that LACBC was founded by former Eco-Village residents Joe Linton and Ron Milam 15 years ago! Other Eco-Villagers have also been a part of LACBC history such as Aurisha Smolarski, Bobby Gadda, and Johnny Green, and currently Josey Sarria. The LAEV has always been happy to host LACBC meetings and retreats over the years. The LAEV will be honoring Jackie Goldberg, who as a former board member of the LAUSD, City Councilmember, and State Assembly representative, saved the LAEV neighborhood from being bulldozed three times in the past 30 years. Suggested donation is $25 to $100, which benefits the nonprofit Urban Soil/Tierra Urbana Limited Equity Housing Cooperative in the Los Angeles Eco-Village. Please RSVP: LAEVevents@gmail.co m or 213-738-1254. More info. Parker Dusseau L.A. Launch at Bike Effect to benefit Santa Monica Spoke & LACBC When: Tuesday, December 10; 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Dale Bros. Brewery Hoppy Holidays Fundraiser for PVBC
When: Saturday, December 14; 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Where: Dale Bros. - 2120 Porterfield Way, Upland PVBC is excited to be part of Dale Bros. Brewery's Hoppy Holidays fundraiser this year. There will be live music, tacos and tamales, and fun raffle items of bike gear and Dale Bros. gift baskets. $5 entrance fee. Take the Metrolink and ride out to this holiday fundraiser! More information can be found on the Facebook event. Larchmont Holiday Caroling Ride When: Sunday, December 15; meet at 4:30 p.m., ride at 5:00 p.m. Save the date for our annual caroling ride! Kids young and old look forward to this special magical time all year, and now that it is here. Our family-friendly 2-mile ride combines cycling fun with caroling, cookies, and cocoa in beautiful Larchmont Village. More info. |
Other Events Around Town
LACBC Local Chapters |
| | | | 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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