| | Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter August 21, 2014 |
| Action Alert: Hyperion Bridge Sidewalk at Risk for Removal 
The long saga of the Hyperion Avenue Viaduct, connecting Silver Lake and Atwater Village over the Los Angeles River, continues. As Streetsblog reported earlier this month, the city's traffic studies show that the most progressive option (two sidewalks, buffered bike lanes and a three-lane road diet) move cars just as effectively as the current four-lane configuration. This option is safer for everyone, maintains pedestrian access and dramatically improves conditions for bicyclists. The Hyperion Citizens Advisory Committee, including representatives from LACBC and Los Angeles Walks, voted 6 to 3 in support of this option.
Yet a vocal contingent in Atwater refuses to let the facts carry the day, potentially derailing the best option for the bridge. Councilmember Tom LaBonge has already announced his opposition to a livable bridge, citing disproved claims about traffic delays and truck routes.
Now is the time for biking, walking and traffic safety advocates to be heard. Please send emails in support of Option 3 to Councilmembers LaBonge and O'Farrell, Mayor Garcetti and the Board of Public Works. A sample message is below:
To: councilmember.ofarrell@lacity.org, tom.labonge@lacity.org CC: mayor.garcetti@lacity.org, Kevin.James@lacity.org, Monica.Rodriguez@lacity.org, Matt.Szabo@lacity.org, Mike.Davis@lacity.org, Barbara.Romero@lacity.org BCC: alek@la-bike.org
Subject: Save the Hyperion Bridge Sidewalk: Support Option 3
Dear Councilmen LaBonge and O'Farrell,
I support Option 3 for the Hyperion Viaduct, which preserves sidewalks on both sides of the bridge and adds buffered bike lanes so that people can walk and bike between Silver Lake and Atwater Village in safety and comfort. Even though this option reduces a downhill traffic lane, city studies show that this road diet will not have any impact on traffic. Option 3 is the safest alternative, provides the most mobility for all residents and will let people walk and bike to a revitalized Los Angeles River that is currently inaccessible for many Angelenos. No other option provides all of these benefits for a more livable Los Angeles.
Please support Option 3 to have buffered bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides of Hyperion.
Sincerely, Name Address |
| Help Make Operation Firefly Possible this Fall - Donate Today! 
"Operation Firefly" (Operacíon Luciérnaga) is an education and bike light distribution program intended to make sure people riding bikes in Los Angeles are riding safely at night. When riding at night in California, a white front light and reflectors are required by law (CVC21201). More importantly, riding without lights and reflectors is dangerous. According to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 69% of bicyclist fatalities in 2012 in the U.S. were in urban areas, and 48% of the bicyclist fatalities occured between 4:00 pm and midnight (NHTSA "Traffic Safety Facts" April 2014 DOT HS 812 018).Our goal is to seek out people riding without lights for various reasons, especially riders who may not have the means or time to acquire lights on their own. Sponsor Operation Firefly We need your support to help make Operation Firefly bigger and better, so we can reach even more night-time bicycle riders. Below are some fun levels at which you can join Team Firefly and receive a premium. And volunteers are always welcome! Lights, hats, and vests will ship beginning the first week of November 2014. Learn more and make your donation at la-bike.org/OperationFirefly! Operation Firefly Sponsor Levels & Premiums | BUY A SET OF LIGHTS, GIVE A SET OF LIGHTS - $25
| BUY A SET, GIVE A SET, GET A HAT - $50
| | GIVE 25 LIGHT SETS - $250
| BUY A SET, GIVE A SET, GET A VEST - $300
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| Los Angeles County Scores Big in California Active Transportation Grants Yesterday the California Transportation Commission (CTC) awarded $71 million to 37 walking, biking and safe routes to school projects across Los Angeles County through the California Active Transportation Program. Los Angeles County projects received 39% of the total statewide award, successfully competing for more than our "fair share" of funding thanks to the high quality of our projects and overwhelming need for improvements in local communities. Historically, the Los Angeles region hasn't competed as well compared to the Bay Area and other regions around the state. Thanks to the efforts of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, LACBC, Metro, and city staff from across the county, we may have turned the corner in Los Angeles County, creating exciting new partnerships to bring even more resources to the region for walking and biking (the National League West is not the only place where we #BeatSF).
A complete list of funded projects is available in the CTC report.
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| City of Los Angeles Safe Routes to School Win $22 Million in ATP Grants
Included in the $71 million for walking and biking projects in Los Angeles County just awarded by the California Transportation Commission is $22 million for safe routes to school projects and programs in the City of Los Angeles. Thanks to advocacy by the Safe Route to School National Partnership, Los Angeles Walks and LACBC, in 2011 the LA City Council funded two pedestrian coordinator positions at LADOT and tasked them with creating a citywide Safe Routes to School Strategic Plan. For the first time, LADOT prioritized schools based on objective criteria and developed competitive funding applications. LADOT's priorities lined up closely with the scoring criteria for the new state Active Transportation Program, resulting in this unprecedented amount of funding coming to LADOT for safe routes to school efforts.
Who was one of the strongest champions of using metrics to strategically prioritize city efforts? Then-councilmember Eric Garcetti. Congratulations to Mayor Garcetti, LADOT and the students across Los Angeles who will benefit from this new funding! |
| Updates from Around L.A. County: Metro Seeks Input on Bikeshare Station Locations
Downtown, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Long Beach: Metro is leading a regional effort to develop a user-friendly bikeshare system to increase transportation choices for people traveling to and from transit stations and making short trips.
Metro is currently studying station locations in the Regional Bikeshare Implementation Plan and seeking input on areas identified for Phase 1 implementation: downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena and Santa Monica. Downtown L.A.: 2nd Street, in between Spring and Broadway, will be closed beginning Saturday (August 23rd) for 4 weeks due to the Metro Regional Connector project. The westbound directional lane on 2nd, in between Spring and Main, will also be closed during the day from 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the next 3 weeks. More info.
Community Workshop #2
When: Thursday, August 28; 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Where: Barbara J. Riley Community & Senior Center - 7810 Quill Dr., Downey, 90242 - Open House Session 1: 6 p.m.
- Presentation: 6:30 p.m.
- Open House Session 2: 7 p.m.
Community Workshop #3 When: Saturday, September 6; 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Where: Wilderness Park - Recreation Room - 10999 Little Lake Rd., Downey, 9024 - Open House Session 1: 10 a.m.
- Presentation: 10:30 a.m.
- Open House Session 2: 11 a.m.
Valley: Provide input for the streetscaping of Lankershim in between Moorpark and Cahuenga by filling out this survey by September 1st. |
| New for LACBC Members: Next Members-Only Basic Bicycle Skills Workshop this Saturday  
This 2-hour workshop will provide you with basic information you can use to safely ride your bicycle on the streets of LA County. The workshop for LACBC members includes a booklet and LACBC materials you can take home with you. Instruction is classroom only - we will not be riding. Bringing your bicycle is optional. Topics include: - Proper helmet fit
- ABC Quick Check (checking your bicycle)
- Rules of the Road
- Riding Visibly & Predictably
- Traffic Principles for Bicyclists
When: Saturday, August 23; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: LACBC Headquarters, mezzanine level - 634 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles 90014 RSVP: RSVP is required. RSVP here. This workshop is free for LACBC members only. Not a member? Become a member today. |
LACBC Members Save at Artisan House  Welcome to our neighborhood business partner: Artisan House!
LACBC members save 10% when you show your LACBC membership card.
Artisan house is located at 600 S. Spring St., and is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and just picking up goods from the marker. Find Amoeba at artisanhouse.net, on Facebook, or on Twitter.
Find a list of all of our business partners and member discounts at la-bike.org/discounts. |
| Thanks for Joining Us at Hot August Bikes at Amoeba Thanks so much to Amoeba Music for hosting and organizing Hot August Bikes on Sunday to celebrate local bike culture and raise money for LACBC! Over $1,300 was raised for LACBC, plus we talked to many folks about the Ride Hollywood campaign.
Thanks also to all the participants that helped make yesterday's event possible: Golden Saddle Cyclery, Bern Unlimited, Lumi HQ, Hubert's, Pure Luck Pop Up, Ice Cream Ian, Bicycle Coffee, Hollywood Farmers' Market, KCRW, Roots, Solé Bicycle Co., Converse, and LA Weekly!
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| Thanks for Coming on Our Ride with Levi's  Thanks to all who came on our bike ride around Downtown L.A. with Levi's and Jarritos on Saturday morning! Led by El Pedal, we stopped at many of DTLA's coolest places like the Levi's Commuter Workspace, Union Station, Olvera Street, Grand Park, Staples Center, and even the Jarritos L.A. headquarters! You can check out our photos on our Facebook page. Also, remember to check out the Levi's Commuter Workspace before it goes! The Levi's Commuter Workspace is located in Downtown LA at 157 W 5th Street. Open daily from August 5-29, the workspace offers free tune-ups, tailoring, coffee, and space to work. Sweet Ride USA leads a ride around Little Tokyo on Saturday. We'll provide bike valet at the closing party on Friday, August 29th. |
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: See the First Kidical Mass Santa Monica
 | | Kidical Mass - Santa Monica Update 403 |
Wondering what this Kidical Mass is all about? Check out this video from the first Kidical Mass Santa Monica! It features footage from the bike ride, plus some of the fun and education activities. Look for local chapter Santa Monica Spoke chair and board member Cynthia Rose all purpled-out to demonstrate the ABC Quick Check.
Remember, the next Kidical Mass Santa Monica is this Saturday, and the theme is SUPERHEROES. Maybe we'll find the next mini El Pedal.
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| | Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities Empowering Local Advocates: Fundraising When: Thursday, August 21; 6:30 p.m. Where: LACBC Headquarters, Edison Room - 634 S. Spring Street, Downtown L.A. Join us for our fifth workshop of the series - FUNDRAISING. As a nonprofit organization, LACBC raises money to do the work we do. Learn about ways to put on fundraisers with a purpose and build the support you need to grow. The strongest partnerships can be made by people like you that already have connections in your local community. More info.
Dark Nights at L.A. LIVE with LACBC Bike Valet When: Friday, August 22; 5 p.m. to late night Where: L.A. LIVE - 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Downtoan L.A. Dark Nights is a celebration at L.A. LIVE representing the Downtown community, local beats, and culture. Enjoy live music, live art, plus discounts at some of the local restaurants. Plus we'll provide complimentary bike valet, so ride on by. More info.
Roaring Nights at the L.A. Zoo with LACBC Bike Valet When: Friday, August 22; 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Where: L.A. Zoo - 5333 Zoo Drive, Griffith Park The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens opens its doors for the last in the series of summer after-hours events for adults to enjoy music, food and fun - and animals! - under the starry skies. Ride your bikes over, as LACBC will be providing complimentary bike valet for the last Roaring Nights event of the summer. Musical performance by WE ARE TWIN. More info.
El Grande Fondo Training Ride: Little Tujunga Canyon Road When: Saturday, August 23; meet at 8:30 a.m., ride at 9:00 a.m. Where: Meet at the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station (12219 Frank Modugno Dr., San Fernando, map) This week's training ride is our first adventure into the San Gabriel Mountains on terrain similar to mountains of El Grande Fondo. We'll ride from the Valley to the Santa Clarita area on Little Tujunga Canyon Road, over one long climb and one shorter one. We'll have one more climb on the return via the Old Road through Newhall Pass. There's sparse traffic on these mountain roads and the vistas unparalleled. The ride is roughly 46 miles, with 3,800 feet of elevation gain. Should take us about 5 hours. Bring at least two water bottles. RSVP: strongly encouraged, via training4elgrande@gmail.com, so we can send you last-minute advisories, particularly about weather.
Kidical Mass Santa Monica When: Saturday, August 23; 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon Where: Virginia Ave. Park, Santa Monica Join local chapter Santa Monica Spoke for the next Kidical Mass Bike Ride! A fun bike ride experience for families with kids of all ages with education with fun and prizes! Wear a costume and you could win a prize! More info.
Basic Bicycle Skills for LACBC Members When: Saturday, August 23; 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tour da Arts Vol. 6 When: Sunday, August 24; 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Santa Monica Museum of Art Tour da Arts, vol. 6 is the Santa Monica Museum of Art's sixth annual cultural bike tour. Enjoy the creative side of bicycle culture on this casual, nine-mile ride filled with art, music, and theater. Local chapter Santa Monica Spoke will be on-hand with biking and advocacy tips. More info.
233rd City of Los Angeles Walk and Bike Ride Celebration When: Saturday, August 30; bike ride meets at 7:30 a.m. and rides at 8:00 a.m., walk at 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. Where: Mission San Gabriel -428 S. Mission Dr., San Gabriel Happy 233rd birthday, Los Angeles! Celebrate by riding your bike with LACBC and Eastside Bike Club or walking with L.A. Walks on a re-creation of our founders' historic trek from Mission San Gabriel to El Pueblo de Historic Monument. See Facebook event.
Carson Sunday Funday Ride When: Sunday, September 7; meet at 9:30 a.m., ride at 10:00 a.m. Where: Stevenson Park - 17400 Lysander Dr., Carson Save the date for our next Sunday Funday ride, led local chapter Carson Bicycle Coalition. The route will be a 13-mile tour through the Carson's hidden gems of past, present, and future. The tour will include a "Bikes-Eye View" of places like the Velodrome Cycling Arena at the Stub Hub Center, Cal State Dominguez Hills, the Goodyear Blimp, South Bay Pavilion, the future sites of the Porsche Experience Driving Track and The Boulevards Shopping Center, the City Hall and Community Center, and a cross-section of a few Carson residential neighborhoods. More info.
El Grande Fondo de Los Angeles Crest When: Saturday, October 18 Where: Angeles Crest Save the date for the El Grande Fondo de Los Angeles Crest, which travels through the classic high country of the San Gabriel Mountains along scenic Angeles Crest Highway. This ride benefits the National Forest Foundation and LACBC. More info at grandefondoangelescrest.org. Firefly Ball Awards Gala When: Thursday, October 30; 6:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. Where: Farmers and Merchants National Bank - 401 S. Main St., Downtown Los Angeles
Named for its timing with the seasonal launch of Operation Firefly, an education and bike light distribution program of LACBC, the Firefly Ball is a light-filled evening of art, music, food and drink. Celebrate with us as we honor community members doing good bike work while raising much needed funds for L.A.'s largest full-service bike advocacy nonprofit--the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition! This year's honorees are: Andy Leeka - Passionate Pedal Award; Alex Baum - The Alex Baum Award for Achievement in Advocacy; and Suja Lowenthal - The Innovator Award. Get your tickets here! California by Bike 2014 Surf 'N Turf When: Friday, October 31 to Wednesday, November 5 Where: Santa Barbara to San Diego Join the California Bicycle Coalition on its inaugural fundraising tour this Fall 2014 from Santa Barbara to San Diego. This phenomenal five-day fully supported tour will be the only in California to strictly raise funding to support advocacy groups. When you join the ride through this link, $250 of your total raised will be dedicated to LACBC. For more information, visit: calbike.org/surfnturf. |
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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