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Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter
January 12, 2012
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County Bike Plan Pedals Forward
We have worked hard over the last year since the first draft of the LA County Bicycle Master Plan was released to ensure the Plan really serves the needs of the many diverse and dispersed unincorporated communities. We are pleased with the changes that have been made since the first draft. Improvements include:
- the total mileage of projects increased from 695 miles of bikeways to 832 miles of bikeways
- 47% of the projects planned to be implemented in the next five years are in areas where the median income is $40,000 or lower
- additional policies and guidelines are included in the Plan regarding the implementation of innovative treatments such as cycle tracks/protected bike lanes, bike boxes, etc.
We also advocated for an expanded description and toolbox for bike boulevards, which was also included in the plan. However the language we were hoping for to specify that all bike boulevards projects will include some form of traffic calming features was not as strong as we would have liked.
Next Steps
We will be working over the next few weeks to address the remaining issues we have with the plan. We are concerned with wording included in the Plan that calls for a plan amendment to upgrade a facility. Additionally, the implementation of the plan is dependent on the ability of DPW to secure grant funding.
The Plan will be heading to the LA County Board of Supervisors in late February or early March. Thanks to everyone who submitted comments and attended County Bike Plan meetings! We'll be calling on you to help us reach out to your County Supervisors to let them know how important it is to fund the bicycle plan.
Read more about the County Bike Plan on the LACBC Blog.
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Sea to Towers Sunday Funday Ride with LA-Area Bike Clubs
This month, we're going to join forces with some of our local bike clubs to ride to the Watts Towers! Organized by LACBC and LA Wheelmen member David Nakai, this ride will actually have three different rides for various abilities. You will be able to choose from a medium and moderately flay 37-mile ride, the LA Wheelmen's 49-mile hilly challenge ride through the Baldwin Hills, and a 10-mile ride from Jesse Owens Park to the Towers and back
All rides will reach the Watts Towers, where you'll get the chance to take a tour if you choose. Constructed by Simon Rodia over the span of 33 years, the Watts Towers is a National Historic Landmark that features 17 structures embedded with glass, tile, and porcelain. Other sites along the way of the longer rides include the Great Western Forum, Hollywood Park, Major Taylor Bicycle Route, and Ballona Creek Bike Trail.
So come join us and learn more about LACBC, your local bike clubs, and the LA region on this ride!
For the 49-mile ride and 37-mile ride:
When: Sunday, February 5; Meet at 8 AM, Ride at 8:30 AM
Where: Meet at Dock 52 - 13555 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey, 90292 (map) Ride Length & Difficulty: For 49-mile ride: difficult for the hilliness, for the 37-mile ride: moderate and mostly flat Ride Duration: Allow approximately 6 hours of time to complete these rides, explore the Watts Towers, and possibly get some food
For the 10-mile ride:
When: Sunday, February 5; Meet at 10 AM; Ride at 10:30 AM
Where: Meet at Jesse Owens Park - 9651 South Western Avenue, 90047 (map) Ride Length & Difficulty: 10 miles, easy Ride Duration: Allow approximately 3 hours to ride, explore the Watts Towers, and possibly get some food
RSVP: To RSVP or volunteer as ride support, please contact Carol Feucht, Membership & Communications Manager, at [email protected].
Learn more about this ride: On the LACBC website.
About Sunday Fundays: Sunday Funday Rides are free and open 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.
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WSGVBC Now BikeSGV, Take the Goal-Setting Survey, & Come to the Next BikeSGV Meeting
WSGVBC Now BikeSGV
As many of you know, the West San Gabriel Valley Bicycle Coalition's roots were in co-founder Vincent Chang's popular Facebook page, BikeSGV. For a number of reasons, WSGVBC has decided to go back to its roots and re-re-brand themselves BikeSGV. They also have a new spiffy logo, as seen on the right!
BikeSGV Feedback and Goal-Setting Survey
BikeSGV needs your input! What would YOU like to see them focus on in 2012? Take a minute to complete the online survey and let BikeSGV know: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LTDTJ9B
January BikeSGV Coalition Meeting
In an effort to make the group's meetings more accessible to our membership, BikeSGV is kicking off the new year by hosting its monthly meeting in a different SGV community, San Gabriel. BikeSGV member Peter Komfolio has been so kind to offer up his office space on Las Tunas. Join BikeSGV for refreshments and an agenda that includes goal setting for 2012.
BikeSGV Coalition Meeting
When: Tuesday, January 24, 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Where: 330 E. Las Tunas Dr., San Gabriel, 91776
Live or ride in the San Gabriel Valley? Learn more about BikeSGV, a regional chapter of LACBC at facebook.com/BIKESGV. When you sign up for LACBC membership, you can also sign up for your local chapter (like BikeSGV). Half of your membership fees will then go the regional chapter of your choice!
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Glendale Draft Bike Plan Released and Community Workshop Next Weeek
A few weeks ago, the City of Glendale released a first draft of its long-awaited Bike Plan. You can now take a look at the plan at BikeGlendale.org.
A community meeting to express input is tentatively scheduled for next week!
Glendale Bike Plan Community Workshop
When: Wednesday, January 18; 7:00 PM
Where: Glendale Police Community Room - 131. N. Isabel St., Glendale
For those who are unable to attend a Wednesday evening meeting, you can also submit your individual feedback via the City of Glendale's Bicycle Master Plan update webpage at www.bikeglendale.org, submit your feedback via e-mail to Fred Zohrehvand at [email protected], or call the City's Public Works Traffic and Transportation Division at (818) 548-3960.
Live or ride in Glendale? Learn more about Walk Bike Glendale, a regional chapter of LACBC, at WalkBikeGlendale.org. When you sign up for LACBC membership, you can also sign up for your local chapter (like Walk Bike Glendale). Half of your membership fees will then go the regional chapter of your choice!
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Register for the 34th Annual Chinatown Firecracker Ride/Run, Support LACBC
Ring in the Lunar New Year by riding or running, and celebrate the Year of the Dragon! For the past few years, we've partnered with the excellent Chinatown Firecracker Ride & Run by providing bike valet for the event. And this year, just like last year, for each registrant who indicates that they were referred to the event by LACBC, the Firecracker organizers will donate $7 to LACBC!
34th Annual Chinatown Firecracker Ride & Run
When: Saturday, February 11 & Sunday, February 12
Where: Los Angeles Chinatown
If you register, please remember to indicate that you heard about the ride through LACBC.
*Please note that registering through Active.com will not trigger the $7 donation to LACBC.
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ACTION ITEM: Demand More Regional Funding for Biking & Walking
LACBC is working with partner organizations in LA, Ventura, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Imperial Counties to advocate for more regional transportation funding allocated to active transportation. In our region made up of six counties, 21% of all trips are made by bicycling and walking. Our regional planning agency, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), is currently planning on allocating only 1.3% of the regional transportation budget to walking & bicycling. Yet not only do we make up almost a quarter of all trips, but people walking & bicycling make up 25% of all traffic injuries & fatalities in Southern California.
We need more funds dedicated to improving the safety of our roadways for people who walk and bike and also to encourage more people to walk and bike. Our regional transportation budget is over $450 billion for 25 years; 1.3% is not enough for active transportation. The LA County Department of Public Health estimates that we need roughly $40 Billion or 8.8% in order to build out a connected regional bicycle and pedestrian network that improves our safety and mobility.
| Fund biking and walking in Southern California |
Our partners at VCCool in Ventura County have put together a petition and video to draw attention to this inequity in funding priorities and the many reasons why we need more funding dedicated to biking & walking.
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For those of you who have carefully been reading the e-newsletter the past few months, you may have noticed that most weeks we've been trying to feature some sort of visual eye candy here at near the bottom of the e-newsletter to help prevent reader fatigue. Oftentimes a video (although last week we had a list and a cartoon), we like to include fun things about biking that we've scavenged for on the Interweb.
Well now we'd like to officially name this section of the e-newsletter: "What's Ringing Our Bike Bells."
Historical Photos of Bikes in Los Angeles and Other Links
For this week's section, we'd like to direct your attention to a little Los Angeles bicycle history.The blog Copenhagenize has searched through the LA Public Library archives to find these old school local bike photos that date back as far as 1890. Featuring bikes on Spring Street, cops on bikes, and bike polo, these photos show that as much as things change in Los Angeles, many things still stay the same. Check out these photos that prove that LA hasn't always been a car town.
And if you have any suggestions for videos, cartoons, photos, links, etc. that we may possibly include here, feel free to email your finds to Carol at [email protected].
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Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
Metro Bike-Share Demonstration
When: Wednesday, January 18; 10 AM - 2 PM
Where: Metro Headquarters - One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, 90012 (Downtown Union Station Patsaouras Transit Plaza)
Three bike vendors will be presenting, and Metro bike planners will be hosting a bike share concept report and strategy. Contact Lynne Goldsmith at (213) 922-3068.
Glendale Bike Master Plan Workshop
When: Wednesday, January 18; 7 PM
City of South Gate Bike Workshop
When: Saturday, January 21; 10 AM
Where: South Gate Senior Center - 4855 Tweedy Boulevard, South Gate, 90280
The City of South Gate is preparing a Bicycle Transportation Plan! As the first step, a public forum is being held to hear what the community needs are; for programs, for bike paths, for bike facilities and parking and problems currently faced by those who ride in South Gate and how to make the community safer and more bicycle friendly. Everyone is welcome, and childcare will be available. For more information, call (323) 563-5478 or see Facebook Event.
BikeSGV Meeting
When: Tuesday, January 24; 6:30 PM
Sea to Towers Sunday Funday Ride with LA-Area Bike Clubs
When: Sunday, February 5
LA Chinatown Firecracker Ride & Run
When: Saturday, February 11, & Sunday, February 12
12th Annual Los Angeles River Ride
When: Sunday, June 10
Save the date! Many of you have been asking about this year's River Ride date, and we're happy to tell you that it's the second Sunday in June, on the 10th. We'll have more details in the coming weeks, but mark your calendars now, and start preparing for the 100-mile century bike ride (or half-century or family ride) you've always wanted to do now! The LA River Ride features 6 different rides for all abilities, brings you to new destinations in LA County, and is LACBC's biggest fundraiser!
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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 Manager Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition
[email protected] |
Connect with LACBC: www.la-bike.org |
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