| | Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter October 2, 2014 |
CicLAvia - Heart of L.A. Returns with a New Route this Sunday
 
When: Sunday, October 5; 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: Echo Park, Chinatown, Downtown, Boyle Heights, East L.A.
CicLAvia returns to the Heart of L.A. this weekend with an almost entirely new route. Heart of LA will cross through downtown LA along parts of the first CicLAvia route, but will extend into new areas like Echo Park, the Historic Broadway Theater District, and through Boyle Heights all the way into the County of Los Angeles and into East Los Angeles.
The route will feature a pedestrian zone in the Broadway Theater District, a kids zone at the East L.A. Civic Center and will cross paths with the Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture, which is being held in Grand Park. We'll see you then! We'll see you Sunday! |
Join LACBC or Renew Your Membership by October 18 to Win a Trip for Two to CicloSDias
The winner and guest, plus their bicycles, will travel aboard the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train, enjoy two nights at the swanky Omni San Diego Hotel, and experience CicloSDias, San Diego's open streets event. Join LACBC or renew your membership today! Thanks to our sweepstakes sponsors: San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, CicloSDias, and Amtrak. |
| Updates from Around L.A. County: L.A. Department of Transportation Adopts Vision Zero Policy in New Strategic Plan 
L.A. City: This week LADOT unveiled its new strategic plan. The LADOT Strategic Plan lays out an ambitious yet achievable framework for the department over the next three years of Mayor Eric Garcetti's term. Consistent with LACBC's recommendations from our last bike count report, LADOT's new mission prioritizes safe and accessible options for Angelenos of all ages and abilities, no matter their chosen mode of transportation.
LACBC commends Mayor Garcetti and LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds on the release of this visionary plan and hopes that the City Council will provide both the resources and political will to follow through with its implementation, even when its focus on safety and multimodal travel are not politically expedient.
Highlights:- Vision Zero: Sets a goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities by 2025
- Expands the use of innovative designs like cycletracks and bicycle-friendly streets
- Calls for annual bicycle and pedestrian counts, and improved use of data to inform decision making
- Greenway 2020: Embraces the goal of completing the LA River Bike Path by the year 2020
- Focuses on staff development and project delivery to ensure LADOT has the capacity to follow through on its commitments
L.A. County: LACBC and Safe Routes to School recently submitted comments on Metro's draft Complete Streets policy recommending that it be strengthened. View our comments and letter here. Please save the date for Metro's Policy and Programming committee meeting on Wednesday October 17th at 2:30 p.m. when the Metro Directors will consider this policy for adoption. More info. |
| California Bill Update: Governor Brown Vetoes 6 Road Safety Bills
- Assembly Bill 2337, from Assemblymember Eric Linder (R-Corona), which would have increased the automatic driver's license suspension for a hit-and-run conviction from one to two years.
- A.B. 1532, from Assemblymember Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles), which would have required an automatic six-month license suspension for anyone convicted of a hit-and-run collision in which a person was hit, whether that person was injured or not, and elevated the penalty to be on par with that of drunk driving.
- A.B. 47, again from Assemblymember Gatto, which would have created a new "Yellow Alert" system to help the CHP quickly apprehend hit-and-run crime perpetrators, similar to the existing Amber Alert that disseminates information about child abductions quickly throughout California.
- A.B. 2673, from Assemblymember Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), which would have removed the possibility of a civil compromise in the case of a hit and run.
- A.B. 2398, from Mark Levine (D-San Rafael), which would have increased fines and the point penalties for injuring Vulnerable Road Users (like people on bike and on foot).
- A.B. 1646, from Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Oakley), which would have added a point to a driver's record for using a cell phone or texting while driving and increased base fines.
You can read an excellent roundup of these bills, as well as links from Governor Brown on why he vetoed them, from Streetsblog. Our affiliates at CalBike also keep tabs on legislation here. |
Volunteer for the 2014 L.A. Bike and Pedestrian Corridor Count
This year we are at it again for a bike and pedestrian corridor count. Our team of interns is looking at specific corridors to understand the needs of those travelling by bike and on foot. We hope to conduct bike and pedestrian counts for specific streets and have reports/recommendations by the end of the year. We still need volunteers for these streets: - Anaheim (San Pedro)
- Central (Little Tokyo/South LA)
- Hollywood (Hollywood)
- Westwood (Westwood Village)
Doing these bike counts is a massive undertaking and we hope that you can participate this year as well. Can we count on you? Sign up here using Volunteer Spot. These are the count shifts you will be selecting from: - Tuesday, October 7th; 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, October 11th; 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 14th; 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, October 18th; 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.
All volunteers (except for those who attended a training for last year's bike and pedestrian count) must also attend a mandatory training on Monday, October 6th at 6 p.m. Those who participate will be entered into a drawing to win River Ride jerseys and other cool prizes! Questions? Email Alek Bartrosouf at alek@la-bike.org. |
Register for El Grande Fondo de Los Angeles Crest by Midnight to Save $10 The 1st Annual El Grande Fondo de Los Angeles Crest travels through the classic high country of the San Gabriel Mountains along scenic Angeles Crest Highway and up to historic Mt. Wilson. This super-sweet event, a partnership between LACBC and National Forest Foundation., has 3 different rides: - a full century (100 miles)
- a metric century (62 miles)
- 30 mile route
When: Saturday, October 18, 7 a.m. Where: Crescenta Valley Park Register here. Register by midnight TODAY to save $10!
Volunteer for El Grande Fondo
The 1st Annual El Grande Fondo de Los Angeles Crest features 3 rides and benefits LACBC and the National Forest Foundation. Help make this event happen by volunteering. We need help with ride marshaling, registration, set-up, clean-up, time-keeping, photography, and more. See the full list of volunteer opportunities here.
Weekly Training Rides
Our ride marshal and route planner extraordinaire Jon Riddle is leading weekly training rides to prep you for El Grande Fondo.
Training Ride #7 When: Sunday, October 5; meet at 8:30 a.m., ride at 9:00 a.m. Where: Meet at the Culver City Metro Station parking lot (Venice Boulevard and Higuera Street, Culver City, map)
Once again, the weather gods are thwarting plans for a training ride in El Grande territory by bringing really hot and dry conditions to the San Gabriel Mountains this weekend. So, a ride up Highway 39 or on Big Tujunga Canyon Road is out of the question. That's okay. We'll still have an excellent training ride-only through cooler, familiar territory. We'll start from Metro's Expo Line station in Culver City and warm-up on a flat beach ride south to the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Once there, we'll climb Via del Monte-Granvia Altamira, Palos Verdes Drive East, and then Hawthorne Boulevard. Throwing in a few rolling hills in between, we'll climb about 4,000 feet over sixty-six miles. Should take us between 5 and 6 hours. Bring at least two water bottles.
You can also get updates on the weekly ride by emailing him or checking our Facebook event page. |
| Councilmember Joe Buscaino Sponsors an Operation Firefly Distribution in CD 15 
Thank you to Councilmember Joe Buscaino, who will be sponsoring an Operation Firefly bike light distribution this fall (and is really enjoying ride his new bike). The Operation Firefly season begins the first week of November, and Buscaino's 15th Council District is one of the areas in which we'll be organizing a light distribution. Operation Firefly (OperacÃon Luciérnaga) is an education and bike light distribution program intended to make sure people riding bikes in Los Angeles are riding safely at night. The season sponsor for Operation Firefly is the Laemmle Charitable Foundation, which benefits nonprofit agencies working to improve life in Los Angeles through addressing social and environmental issues critical to the region. Thank you to CM Buscaino and the Laemmle Charitable Foundation for your support! Join the Laemmle Charitable Foundation and CM Buscaino in Sponsoring Operation Firefly Join the Laemmle Charitable Foundation and CM Buscaino in helping to make this next season of Operation Firefly bigger and better, so we can reach even more night-time bicycle riders. There are several fun levels at which you can join Team Firefly and receive a premium. (Lights, hats, and vests will ship beginning the first week of November 2014.) You can also make a general donation to the Operation Firefly program. Did you know that donating $10 means that 1 more person will soon be riding safely at night with lights? Donate $50 and 5 more people will be a little safer. $100 and that number jumps to 10. Give the gift of light today! |
P Is for Parks! Support Prop P This November and Come to a Workshop Near You LACBC is proud to endorse Proposition P this fall, which replaces an expiring tax that provides $54 million per year for parks, greenways and open space throughout Los Angeles County. Proposition P is a $23 per parcel special tax that will fund many park improvement, water quality and maintenance projects for 30 years.
Many of our favorite parks and bike path amenities were funded by Prop P's predecessor, including pit stop locations for our LA River Ride, greenways along the Ballona Creek bike path and the Emerald Necklace in the San Gabriel Valley. Prop P will provide critical funding to complete the LA River Greenway by 2020, and build new trails along its tributaries. All for less than $2 per month! To find out more about Prop P, read this Fact Sheet or attend an information session near you.
Vote P for Parks on November 4th!
When: October 14; 6 - 8 p.m.
Where: Pacoima City Hall - 13520 Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331
When: October 21; 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Santee Educational Complex Theatre - 1921 Maple Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90011 |
We're Hiring: Executive Director and Bookkeeper
As many of you know, our Executive Director Jennifer Klausner will be stepping now at the end of the year to pursue new adventures. Thanks to our members, volunteers, donors, and supporters, LACBC is in terrific shape. Our search committee has begun looking for our next leader. We're looking for a leader who will direct our team to achieve more for bicycling in LA than we ever have before.This person will be our main spokesperson, strategist, and facilitator. See the full job description here, and share it widely. We're also hiring a part-time bookkeeper. We're looking for someone with accounting experience who is proficient in Quickbooks and Excel. See the full job description here, and share it widely. You can also check out our jobs board at la-bike.org/jobs. |
| What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Libraries on Wheels Roll Through Los Angeles
 | | Feminist Library on Wheels, Photo: Los Angeles Times |
Mobile libraries are all the rage. And what's better than a library on wheels?
The Los Angeles Public Library's San Pedro Branch recently unveiled the LAPL Books Bike, which has its own Twitter account so you know where to find it.
T wo local bicyclists have started Feminist Library on Wheels, also known as FLOW. FLOW carries a multimedia collection of feminist texts, artifacts and ephemera made available to as diverse an audience as possible, by bicycle. You can read more about FLOW in this recent Los Angeles Times article. |
| | Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
CicLAvia - Heart of Los Angeles When: Sunday, October 5; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
2014 L.A. Bike and Pedestrian Corridor Count When: Tuesday, October 7, 11, 14, 18
El Grande Fondo de Los Angeles Crest When: Saturday, October 18 More info in newsletter. Mayoral Sustainable Housing, Transportation, and Jobs Summit
When: Wednesday, October 19; 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Where: UCLA Korn's Convocation Hall Come to the Los Angeles Business Council's upcoming summit to explore innovation and investment in L.A.'s economy. More info. Basic Bicycling Skills for LACBC Members When: Saturday, October 25; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: LACBC Headquarters, Mezzanine level - 634 S. Spring St., Downtown Los Angeles 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 only 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. RSVP here. 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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