| | Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter May 1, 2014 |
| Celebrate Bike Month by Joining LACBC or Renewing to Win a Trip for Two to Taiwan 
May is Bike Month! To celebrate, we're holding a membership drive, where you could bike away with trip for two to Taiwan, just by joining LACBC or renewing your membership in May! Enriched by nature, culture, food and people, Taiwan presents a perfect setting to engage visitors of all lifestyles. Every year, visitors and locals alike gather for a chance to be a part of Taiwan Cycling Festival from November 8th to November 16th. Whether you are in for a challenge or a leisure rider, the cycling festival appeals to all with 3 different events to choose from, including the Sun Moon Lake Come! Bikeday for all levels. And now you can be a part of the Taiwan Cycling Festival - Sun Moon Lake Come! Bikeday when you join LACBC or renew your membership in the month of May for a chance to win. The winner and a companion will receive: - A week of fun in Taiwan
- Round-trip flight tickets from Los Angeles to Taiwan
- Mainly 4-star or 5-star hotel accommodations, though some attraction may require a stay at a featured bed & breakfast
- Sight-seeing opportunities
- Daily meals
- Local transportation
- English-speaking tour guide
- Registration for the Taiwan Cycling Festival's Sun Moon Lake Come! Bikeday
- Total trip valued at approximately $8,500
Here's how it works: If you sign up for LACBC membership in May, you'll be entered into a drawing a certain number of times, depending on your level of membership - $15 or $35 membership: 1 drawing ticket
- $70 membership: 2 drawing tickets
- $100 membership: 4 drawing tickets
- $250 membership: 10 drawing tickets
- $500 membership: 24 drawing tickets
The winner will be chosen at random in a drawing in early June and be announced at the Los Angeles River Rideon Sunday, June 22nd. So what are you waiting for? Join LACBC or renew your membership today! Let's bike, Taiwan! This prize was donated through the generosity of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau. |
| Join Us for Fun Events Throughout Bike Month 
Bike Month is replete with fun activities that celebrate biking! Be sure to check out our website at la-bike.org/bikemonth for a list of events this month that you won't want to miss.
 Bike to Work Day is Thursday, May 15th. In addition to finding us at our morning pit stops, join LACBC and our local chapters for Handlebar Happy Hour! We'll be hanging out and enjoying good grub to celebrate bicycling! Join us for many of the Handlebar Happy Hours throughout L.A. County Echo Park hosted by LACBC When: Thursday, May 15; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Where: Mohawk Bend - 2141 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, 90026 Glendale hosted by Walk Bike Glendale When: Thursday, May 15; 5:30 p.m. Where: Left Coast Wine Bar - 117 East Harvard, Glendale, 91205 Claremont hosted by Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition When: Thursday, May 15; 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Where: The Press - 129 N. Harvard Ave., Claremont, 91711 Santa Clarita hosted by Santa Clarita Valley Bicycle Coalition When: Thursday, May 15; 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Where: Schooners Patio Grille - 22903 Soledad Canyon Rd., Santa Clarita, 91350 Santa Monica hosted by Santa Monica Spoke When: Thursday, May 15; 5 p.m. Where: Ristorante Al Mare - 250 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, 90401 |
MyFig Success - Appeal to Project Withdrawn
Many thanks to all the groups involved, including the MyFig working group, Los Angeles Walks, all of the members of the Figueroa Corridor BID, USC Bicycle Coalition, TRUST South L.A., Community Health Councils, L.A.D.O.T. Bike Program, L.A. City Planning, Councilmember Price's Office, Councilmember Huizar's Office, Mayor Garcetti's Office, and all who have come to meetings and written letters. Our own Planning & Policy Director Eric Bruins has this to say about the collaboration to get MyFig back on track: "While so much of the attention has been on Los Angeles's first truly protected bikeway, My Figueroa has always been about making a complete street for pedestrians, transit users and drivers alike. We're thrilled to see this first Great Street project move forward and sincerely appreciate the Figueroa Corridor BID for working diligently to get to yes. This is a win for bikes, a win for business and a win for all who call Los Angeles home." The next step is now to break ground on the project.
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Go Car-Free for the May the Forest Be with You - Sunday Funday Ride on May 4th
"May the Forest Be with You" is the theme for our next Sunday Funday Ride! In partnership with CarFreeSFV.com and the LA Los Angeles River Revitalization Corp., we're looking to highlight the ways you can go green beyond just riding your bike. Take the pledge to go car-free (or car-lite) that day!
Here are the details for the ride, as well as the walk.
May the Forest Be with You Family Bike Ride
When: Sunday, May 4; meet at 9:30 a.m. Where: Valleyheart Drive and Radford Ave. (on the L.A. River Bike & Pedestrian Path), Studio City (map)
Join us for this 14-mile ride led by LACBC board members Kevin Hopps and Carrie Ungerman, with support from our own Valley Neighborhood Bike Ambassadors and Ride Marshal Team! The ride will include rest stops with eco-educational presentations.
If you'd like to volunteer as ride support, please contact carol@la-bike.org.
Other things happening that day:
Eco-Scavenger Hunt (meet at 9:30 am)
LA River Revitalization Corp will host a walk/hunt for those who won't be riding.
Take the pledge to enter a raffle to win: - a Braven 570 Bluetooth speaker (approximate value $100)
- 4 tickets to the CBS July 4 celebration ($160 value)
- L.A. County Bicycle Coalition membership package (approximate value $100)
- bike repair kit (approximate value $90)
You'll receive an all-day discount from participating restaurants and businesses when you show your TAP card to Car-Free SFV stikcer: - Tuning Fork Gastropub - 25% off all food
- California Pizza Kitchen (Studio City) - free small plate with $10 minimum order
- The Counter Studio City - 10% off
- Studio Cycle Company - 15% off
- Road Runner Sports Studio City- 10% off (VIPs receive an extra 15% off if they can show they go their without their car)
- Big Sugar Bakeshop- free cookie
- Peet's Coffee & Tea (Studio City) - free small coffee
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| Ride N. Figueroa Community Meeting Scheduled for Thursday, May 8th Councilman Cedillo and the LADOT are conducting a community meeting to discuss N. Figueroa bike lanes. The 2010 Bicycle Plan calls for bicycle lanes on Figueroa, which would connect to bike lanes on York, Cypress, and the Los Angeles River.
Despite what is in the plan, an alternative is proposed AT THIS MEETING that waters down the safety elements of adding bike lanes on N. Figueroa. An alternative IN PLACE of Figueroa bike lanes are...
1. Sharrows on Figueroa - no bike lanes (not in the bike plan)
2. Sharrows on Sycamore Terrace (not in the bike plan)
3. Sharrows along Monte Vista (not in the bike plan)
4. Sharrows on Avenue 50
Unfortunately, this alternative does not address how N. Figueroa will be safer. In 10 years, there were 822 injuries along this corridor, including 9 fatalities and 56 bicycle-related collisions. Do sharrows on other streets address this issue? When: Thursday, May 8; 6:00 p.m. Where: Nightingale Middle School, Cafeteria - 3311 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles Spread the word via our Facebook event. For more information, contact alek@la-bike.org. |
| County Supervisor and Sheriff Candidate Surveys Are In 
June 3rd, 2014 is the primary election for three critical offices for bicyclists in Los Angeles County. All voters in Los Angeles County can vote for Los Angeles County Sheriff, while voters in the first and third supervisorial districts can vote for County Supervisor. LACBC invited all candidates to share their perspectives on bicycling and transportation with our members and supporters. While LACBC does not endorse candidates, we encourage you to consider these responses before casting your vote on June 3rd. Find out more about the election and how to register to vote here: lavote.net County Supervisor Races 1st District (in the order received) 3rd District (in the order received) County Sheriff Race (in the order received) Find all these responses at la-bike.org/vote. |
Updates from Around L.A. County: Public Bike Repair Stations Installed Throughout L.A.
Los Angeles: Earlier this week, bike repair stations were installed at Sunset Triangle Plaza in Silver Lake, in front of LACBC Business Partner Organix on Colorado in Eagle Rock, in front of The Hermosillo on York in Highland Park, and in front of KAOS Network on Leimert Blvd. in Leimert Park. Next time you need to pump air into your tires and you're near one of these bike repair stations, use one of them! Read more on the LADOT Bike Blog.
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Finish the Ride Brings Community Together For Safer Biking Thanks everyone who helped Damian Kevitt Finish The Ride on Sunday morning. Roughly 800 riders, along with Assemblymember Mike Gatto, Congressmember Adam Schiff, Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell, and Councilmember Tom LaBonge, came out to help Damian finish the 6-mile ride he was trying to bike from his home in East Hollywood to Griffith Park on February 17, 2013. He is such an inspiration and is leading a movement to make our streets safer for all road users. Proceeds from Sunday's ride benefit both LACBC and the Challenged Athletes Foundation, but Damian will continue working to make our streets safer for all road users.If you have't already, please sign our petition to stop hit-and-runs: lacbc.nationbuilder.com/hitandrun |
Team LACBC Ups Climate Ride Goal to $60,000 Team LACBC, full of 16 great members, is participating in Climate Ride California, (May 17-20, 2014), a 4-day cycling adventure from San Francisco to California's Capitol in Sacramento! LACBC is once again a beneficiary! Last week, Team LACBC surpassed our goal of $50,000! However, each team member must raise at least $2,800 by May 8th in order to participate and make sure LACBC receives a portion of your donations. Therefore, we've upped out goal to $60,000, as we will ultimately need to raise that much to make sure everyone can go. Will you help by donating to a Team LACBC member? Eric Vs. Alek  In the Eric Vs. Alek intra-office battle, Alek Bartrosouf is still doing well but has fallen out of the Top 10 among all individual fundraisers. Fellow Team LACBC members Greg Laemmle (#1), Patrick Pascual (#6), and Marc Horwitz (#8) are in the Top 10 for individual fundraisers, and Team LACBC is the leading team. Help Eric Bruins (who basically attends 1-2 dozen wonky planning and policy meetings each week on your behalf to make your ride so much better) and the following riders reach their $2,800 fundraising minimums by making a donation to their individual campaigns by May 8th! |
| Updates from Around California: 3 Important California Petitions Need Your Support
Right now, protected bikeways are being pioneered across the country, but under California's Department of Transportation outdated guidelines, protected bikeways are banned. On behalf of all LACBC members, CalBike is working to pass AB 1193, The Protected Bikeways Act, and legalize protected bikeways for use across the state. A revolution in infrastructure is the only way millions more people will ride a bike, and we will triple bicycle users in California by 2020. We need miles upon miles of better bikeways that provide physical barriers from fast car traffic and are designed to be inviting for all users from ages 8 to 80. Join CalBike's social media push to reach out to your friends and potentially have our call for better bikeways reach over 100,000 people on May 8th. 
Sign LACBC's statewide petition to stop hit-and-runs in California!AB 1532, Assemblymember Mike Gatto's bill to take back the drivers' licenses of motorists who flee the scene of a crash, recently passed the assembly's Public Safety Committee. While revoking the drivers' licenses of hit-and-run motorists may not seem like big deal, it is very telling that hit-and-run motorists don't automatically have their licenses revoked already. We call on the California State Legislature and Governor to revoke driving privileges of hit-and-run drivers and to increase penalties to remove the incentive to flee when drunk. We call on law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to treat hit-and-run collisions like the violent crimes that they are by regularly reporting statistics, allocating adequate resources for investigations, and imposing appropriate penalties on perpetrators. Sign CalBike's Vulnerable Road Users petition! Support California's Vulnerable Road Users Protection Act, AB 2398, by signing CalBike's petition. Too many Californians have been injured on our streets or are mourning the death of a loved one due to distracted or negligent motorists. Protecting Californians who ride bikes, walk, run, ride horses, scooter, skateboard, and work on our streets is vital to make California a better place to live. AB 2398 will protect all road users by: - Raising the fine for hitting a Vulnerable Road User
- Assigning a point on the motorist's driver's license
- Suspending the offender's license for six months
This bill will remind motorists of their obligation to be cautious of each person on our streets. Help make our streets more livable, and take California one step closer to reaching CalBike's goal of tripling the number of people riding bikes by 2020. |
Fundraise for LACBC at the 14th Annual Los Angeles River Ride on June 22nd
Registration for the 14th Annual L.A. River Ride is now open, and we've now made it easier to participate in fundraising. When you register for the ride online, a fundraising page will automatically be set up for you, and you can choose to personalize it or not. Every dollar counts to help make L.A. County a healthy, safe, and fun place to ride a bike. Will you join us? When you meet certain fundraising milestones, you can earn River Ride registration, as well as other great prizes like LACBC and River Ride bike gear. - Tish Laemmle
- Trent Whittaker
- Sebouh Asparian
They are all competing to be the top fundraiser, to win VBT's Tuscany by the Sea biking vacation! Runner-up prizes include a limited edition New Belgium Brewing bike. Join them by becoming a fundraiser! Learn more about fundraising here. More on the 14th Annual L.A. River Ride: When: Sunday, June 22, 2014 Where: start at Autry National Center in Griffith Park or Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach Register: here by May 27th and save $10. LACBC Members save an additional $10. Kids 12 and under ride for free. 10 great rides with 2 start locations (Autry or Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach) |
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: The Rise of Protected Bikeways in the U.S.
 | | The Rise of Protected Bike Lanes in the U.S. |
With a victory for the MyFig project announced today and the official opening of the Rosemead Blvd. protected bikeways in Temple City coming soon (not to mention Long Beach's protected bikeways), people in L.A. are taking notice of the protected bikeway boom. People for Bikes' Green Lane Project has a video on how protected bikeways are improving the livability of communities across the United States.
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| | Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities When: Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4 Where: North Parking lot - adjacent to the Santa Monica Pier The Santa Monica Bicycle Expo plans to bring together bicycle companies, suppliers, bicycle shops, cycling clubs and advocacy organizations in an open air venue right next to the beach!Besides a large and diverse group of bicycle related exhibitors, the Santa Monica Bicycle Expo will also offer the opportunity to demo and test ride the latest bicycle technology, ask questions from cycling experts, find a local bicycle shop, get involved in bike advocacy and enjoy bicycle related entertainment. If you'd like to volunteer at our Santa Monica Spoke/LACBC booth, please email volunteer@smspoke.org. More info at SMSpoke.org. May the Forest Be With You Sunday Funday Ride When: Sunday, May 4; meet at 9:30 a.m. More info in newsletter. What Can Food Sovereignty Look Like? A Bicycle Ride Through South L.A. When: Sunday, May 4; meet at 11:30 a.m. Where: Meet at the Exposition Park Rose Garden - 701 State Dr., Los Angeles 90037 (across from the Expo Park/USC Expo Line Station) What does food sovereignty look like? How do we get food sovereignty into food deserts? This ride explores South L.A., one of Los Angeles' very own food deserts, and visiting edible gardens that are helping to pave the way for food sovereignty in South L.A. There will be a presentation and discussion on how those gardens helped change city policy, and what some people in Mexico and Guatemala are doing to establish their own food sovereignty. This ride is made possible by the USC Good Neighbors Campaign and is in partnership with LACBC. See Facebook event. Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition Bike Month Meet 'n Greet Social When: Tuesday, May 6; 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Where: The Rookery Local chapter PVBC kicks off Bike Month by hosting a meet 'n greet at the Rookery! PVBC will also be sharing the fun events lined up for Bike Week and looking for volunteers to help out. Meet awesome folks who want to make the Pomona Valley a healthier, safer, and more area to cycle. See Facebook event. Bike to School Day Where: throughout the County Celebrate biking to and from school! LACBC will be at Budlong Elementary to encourage kids to bike to school and teach them about bike safety. Learn more about the day and register your event at walkbiketoschool.org. Rosemead Blvd. Grand Opening Festival When: Saturday, May 10; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: Rosemead Blvd, between Las Tunas and Broadway, Temple City Come to this festival to celebrate the brand new Rosemead Blvd. in Temple City, which includes L.A. County's second protected bikeways. LACBC will be on hand, so stop by and say hello. More info at RosemeadBlvd.com. When: Sunday, May 11; meet at 9:00 a.m. Where: Meet at Grand Park - 227 N. Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012), Brunch and an expo hosted at Angel City Brewery until 4 p.m. We embark on a social bike ride to unite with riders around the world & share in the joy of cycling. CycloFemme is a Global Women's Cycling Day created TO HONOR THE PAST and the emancipation of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers, for the freedom to choose and the chance to wear pants. TO CELEBRATE THE PRESENT and the riders who keep it rolling, bringing women's racing to the forefront, pushing the limits, breaking down barriers and sharing the love of the bike with everyone along the way. TO EMPOWER THE FUTURE of women in cycling and the opportunity for positive social change. Encourage women to ride and they will change the world. More info at cyclofemme.la. Bike to Work Day Morning Pit Stops When: Thursday, May 15 Where: throughout Los Angeles County Save the date for the Annual Bike to Work Day! LACBC, our local chapters, organizations, and businesses throughout L.A. County will be hosting pit stops for people on bikes in the morning. Learn more about BTWD and how you can sign up to host a pit stop (as well as other Bike Week Events) on Metro's website. LACBC Handlebar Happy Hour When: Thursday, May 15, 5 p.m. Experience Central Ave. Mapping Ride When: Saturday, May 17; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: Jazz Park - 42nd pl and Central Ave Join LACBC, TRUST South L.A., and Community Health Councils for another day of neighborhood exploration as we help build a map of community assets in some of Central Avenue's key cultural spaces and local businesses.We will be meeting at the Jazz park on 42nd pl and Central Ave. We will have one group ride north and another group will ride south. See Facebook Event. Museum of the Arroyos Day - Experience Life in the Past Lane When: Thursday, May 18; 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (with last museum entrance at 4 p.m. Where: The Autry's Southwest Museum Mt. Washington Campus, the Gamble House, Heritage Square, Los Angeles Police Museum, Lummis Home, and the Pasadena Museum of History. Now in its 25 year, MOTA celebrates art, history, architecture and family fun when six museums in Los Angeles and Pasadena open their doors for a free day. Free shuttles connect all museums, but cyclists are encouraged to make the MOTA Loop! In Pasadena, bike racks are available at the Pasadena Museum of History (it's a short walk across the street to visit the Gamble House). Bikes can be parked and locked on the front gate of the Los Angeles Police Museum; likewise the front gate to Heritage Square is a typical place where cyclists can park their bikes (again, it's a short walk to visit the Lummis House from here). From Pasadena Museum of History to Heritage Square: a mere 6.4 miles!. Free. For more information visit museumsofthearroyo.com. California Bike Advocacy Day When: Wednesday, May 21 Where: Sacramento, CA On May 21, the California Bicycle Coalition is sponsoring Bike Advocacy Day in the state capital to tell our elected representatives how important it is to support our communities with bike-friendly policies and funding. Network with your fellow bicycling advocates from around the state while we press our agenda to direct more funding to bike infrastructure, change the rules to emphasize complete networks of protected bikeways, plus our other legislative priorities. Our own planning and policy director Eric Bruins and other LACBC staff and board will be attending after completing Climate Ride on Team LACBC. Register with CalBike today. 14th Annual Los Angeles River Ride When: Sunday, June 22 More info in newsletter. |
LACBC Local Chapters - Join when you become an LACBC member or renew your membership!
Other Events Around Town |
| | | | 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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