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Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter
January 19, 2012
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LACBC Featured in Latest Issue of Women on Bikes SoCal
 For the latest issue of SoCal Women on Bikes, LACBC was profiled in an interview with our own Executive Director Jennifer Klausner and Planning & Policy Director Alexis Lantz.
In their interview, Jen and Alexis discuss LACBC's history, the Regional Partnership, and why it's so important for LACBC to represent all kinds of bike riders.
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Walk Bike Glendale and BikeSGV Launch New Websites, Plus Where to Find Your Local Chapter Online
This week, local chapters Walk Bike Glendale and BikeSGV both launched new websites. Find Walk Bike Glendale at walkbikeglendale.org and BikeSGV at bikesgv.org. And while you're at it, find all of our local chapters online, follow them, join them, etc.
Culver City Bicycle Coalition // Website: ccbike.org // Facebook group: link
Montebello Bicycle Coalition // Facebook page: link
When you sign up for LACBC membership, you can also sign up for your local chapter. Half of your membership fees will then go the regional chapter of your choice!
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Live or ride in Pomona, Claremont, La Verne, or San Dimas? Help Form a New Regional Chapter
For over a year, LACBC has fostered and empowered local advocacy groups to initiate change within their communities to create healthier, safer and bike-able communities. There are currently 9 regional chapters working at the local community level to host rides, work with local leaders, and raise awareness of issues around bicycling and walking in and effort to make their communities healthier and safer.
We want to encourage you to get involved in forming a local LACBC regional chapter in your area!
Daniella Alcedo is a local Covina resident and a current LACBC member and intern who wants to work with other passionate cyclists and walkers to create a regional chapter of LACBC in the Pomona, Claremont, La Verne and San Dimas area. Daniella would like to create healthier communities in her area and bring attention and awareness to the issues surrounding biking and walking in the East San Gabriel Valley. She has been involved with the LACBC for the past 6 months and is motivated in creating positive change in her community.
If you would like to be involved and part of this growing momentum, please contact Daniella at her personal email address at dalcedo11@gmail.com.
Creating a chapter is a huge step in creating a bike-able LA County and every little bit of help is needed! Your thoughts and opinions are important in creating positive change in your community.
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Come to the Next BikeSGV Meeting and Take the Goal-Setting Survey
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 bikesgv.org.
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Santa Monica Workshops Coming Soon
Colorado Esplanade
When: Saturday, January 21 at 10:00 AM
Where: Ken Edwards Center - 1527 4th Street
View the new complete street concept created by the highly-acclaimed landscape architecture team from Peter Walker Partners, and provide input on important design components. Come and be part of the planning of this important and exciting City project. Please RSVP to joanna.hankamer@smgov.net or 310.458.8341.
Downtown Specific Plan 
When: Thursday, January 26; 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Where: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, East Wing - 1855 Main Street
Discuss preliminary ideas for the Downtown Specific Plan and results from the visioning process for the City-owned property at Arizona Avenue between 4th & 5th Streets. Your input will help to create the future of the Downtown Specific Plan.
Please RSVP to DowntownPlan@smgov.net or 310.458.8341.
Find more information at the Santa Monica Spoke Website.
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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 carol@la-bike.org.
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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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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Now you can see what Don Ward, a.k.a. Roadblock, has to write in his new bi-weekly column on the KCET website. Called One Ride at a Time, his first column focuses on how Midnight Ridazz came to be and how he learned to love riding his bike in Los Angeles.
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 carol@la-bike.org.
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Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
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.
Santa Monica Esplanade Workshop
When: Saturday, January 21; 10 AM
BikeSGV Meeting
When: Tuesday, January 24; 6:30 PM
Santa Monica Downtown Specific Plan
When: Thursday, January 26; 7 PM
Sea to Towers Sunday Funday Ride with LA-Area Bike Clubs
When: Sunday, February 5
CicLAvia Valentine's Party
When: Friday, February 10; 7:00 PM
Where: Atwater Crossing - 3245 Casitas Avenue, Los Angeles, 90039
LA Chinatown Firecracker Ride & Run
When: Saturday, February 11, & Sunday, February 12
LACBC's Tour de Taste - NEW DATE
When: Sunday, March 4
Where: Media Park - Culver Boulevard & Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90232
Save the date! Thanks to all of you who expressed interest in our postponed Tour de Taste this past fall! We have had to push back the date and are happy to announce that the new date is Sunday, March 4th! Join us for this fun dining and biking experience, where you'll get to eat, take guided rides down Ballona Creek, and support local bike advocacy. More information will be coming in next week's newsletter!
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
carol@la-bike.org |
Connect with LACBC: www.la-bike.org      |
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