LACBC
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter

May 10, 2012 

In this issue
Celebrate Bike to and from Work Day Next Thursday, May 17th
More Bike Week and Bike Month Activities
12th Annual Los Angeles River Ride on June 10th: Register by May 15 and Save Money
More Women Cycling on Spring Street & 2011 Bike Count Report Available for Download
LACBC Is Hiring a Policy & Campaigns Manager
Bike Infrastructure & Policy Updates From Around the County
Thank You All for Choo-Choo-Choosing Our All Aboard Sunday Funday Ride
Wanted: Bike Models
Bike Month Riding Tips: Take 2
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: LA River Ride 2011 Route Marking Timelapse
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
Celebrate Bike to and from Work Day Next Thursday, May 17th
 
May has been designated as National Bike Month, and next Thursday, May 17th is Bike to Work Day! 
  • Bike to Work Day Morning Pit Stops hosted by LACBC & local chapters (see Metro map for more stops hosted by various orgs) BiketoWork
Downtown LA - LACBC & the Downtown LA Neighborhood Council
When: Thursday, May 17; 7 AM to 10 AM
Where: S. Spring Street, in between 6th and 7th Streets
 
Silver Lake #1 (for westbound cyclists on Sunset) - LACBC & Bici Libre
When: Thursday, May 17; 7 AM to 10 AM
Where: Sunset Triangle Park
 
Silver Lake #2 (for eastbound cyclists on Sunset) - LACBC & Golden Saddle Cyclery
When: Thursday, May 17; 7 AM to 10 AM
Where: Sunset Junction
 
Glendale - Walk Bike Glendale & the City of Glendale 
When: Thursday, May 17; 6 AM to 9 AM
Where: corner of Sonora and Flower
 
West Hollywood #1 - West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition & the City of West Hollywood
When: Thursday, May 17; 7 AM to 10 AM
Where: San Vicente & Santa Monica Blvd.

 

West Hollywood #2 - West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition & the City of West Hollywood
When: Thursday, May 17; 7 AM to 10 AM
Where: Plummer Park (Santa Monica Blvd & Martel)
 
West Hollywood #3 - West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition & the City of West Hollywood
When: Thursday, May 17; 7 AM to 10 AM
Where: San Vicente & Santa Monica Blvd.
 
Montebello - Montebello Bicycle Coalition
When: 
Thursday, May 17; 7 AM to 9 AM
Where:  
Montebello City Hall - 1600 W. Beverly Blvd, Montebello, 90640

 

Alhambra - BikeSGV
When: Thursday, May 17; 8:30 AM to 10 AM
Where: 2101 W Valley Blvd., Alhambra

 

Pomona #1 - Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition
When: Thursday, May 17; 7 AM to 9 AM
Where: Downtown Pomona Transit Station on 1st and Main

 

Pomona #2 - Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition
When: Thursday, May 17; 8:30 AM to 10 AM
Where: 558A W. 2nd Street, Pomona

  • Bike from Work After Parties - Thursday, May 17
In addition to celebrating biking TO work on May 17th with morning pit stops, let's celebrate biking FROM work. We'll have gathering areas all across the County so that you can informally gather with your local chapter and hang out with your fellow cyclists in the afternoon/evening over food and drink.

 

Downtown LA - hosted by LACBC
When: Thursday, May 17; 5 PM to 9 PM
Where: Senor Fish422 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, 90012

 

Glendale - hosted by Walk Bike Glendale
When: Thursday, May 17; 5 PM to 8 PM
Where: Tavern on Brand - 208 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, 91203

 

Montebello - hosted by the Montebello Bicycle Coaltion
When: Thursday, May 17; 6 PM to 8 PM
Where: Alondra Hot Wings - 616 West Whittier Boulevard, Montebello, 90640
 
Claremont - hosted by the Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition
When: Thursday, May 17; 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Where: The Press - 124 N. Harvard St., Claremont 
More Bike Week and Bike Month Activities
 
May has been designated as National Bike Month, and next week is Bike Week in Los Angeles! In addition to the Bike to Work Day activities above, there are even more events to look forward to.
  • Bici Libre Bike Maintenance Offerings BiciLibre
Bici Libre is a program of LACBC that offers bike repair education and volunteer opportunities to the community. Located at 1205 W. 6th St. in Westlake, we are open 6 days a week, 12 - 7 PM every weekday and 12 - 5 PM on Saturday. You can learn to fix your own bike with the help of volunteers in the shop for a reasonable donation. Learn more at la-bike.org/bicilibre

  

For Bike Month in May, LACBC and Bici Libre are working together to bring you more educational opportunities. This past week, we hosted two Basic Bike Maintenance workshops, and Bici Libre will be providing bike safety checks and having an open house on Tuesday, May 15th.

Blessing of the Bikes Safety Checks and Bici Libre Open House - Tuesday, May 15; 8:00 AM
 
Bici Libre volunteers will be at the Blessing of the Bikes at Good Samaritan Hospital doing free safety checks on bikes and showing a few simple tune-up tricks. Immediately following the Blessing at 9:30 AM, Bici Libre will have an open house, and those needing more bike repair will be free to use our shop. See more information about Blessing of the Bikes. 
  • LACBC Member Appreciation Raffle All Month Long
We want to say thanks to all our members out there. If you're an LACBC member, not only are you helping to make LA County a more bike-able place and gaining discounts at local bike shops, but in the month of May, you'll automatically be entered to win great prizes including beautiful, limited-edition screenprints of the "Tu Familia/Precaucion" PSA from Aaron Kuehn, copies of Where to Bike Los Angeles, and jerseys! All you have to do is make sure that your membership is current and that you're not an LACBC board or staff member. Our next winner could be you!
 
Our first winners for Thursday, May 10th, are:
  • Kyaw T.: winner of a limited-edition Tu Familia screenprint
  • Rachelle G.: winner of a copy of Where to Bike Los Angeles
  • Zachary E.: winner of a 2011 LA River Ride jersey 
We'll have more winners next week!
 
Metro Bike Week LA 2012 Events
  • Monday, May 14: Metro's Kick-off Event at Expo Park/USC Station, 10 AM
  • Tuesday, May 15: Metro's 9th Annual Blessing of the Bicycles at Good Samaritan Hospital, 8 AM
  • Wednesday, May 16: Metro's Expo/Mid-City Bike Ride starts at Expo Park/USC Station, 8 AM
  • Thursday, May 17: Metro's Bike to Work Day - Free rides for cyclists on Metro, pit stops, and more!
  • Friday, May 18: Metro's Bike to School Day - Support your local school! 

For more information, visit www.metro.net/bikes/bike-week.

 

Also check out Bike Week Pasadena presented by C.I.C.L.E. and the City of Pasadena and Long Beach's Bike Month activities presented by Bike Long Beach.

12th Annual Los Angeles River Ride on June 10th: Register by May 15 and Save Money

  

New 70-Mile- Reverse Ride: Well you asked for it, now you have it! Ride the River Ride in Reverse! Start and finish in beautiful Shoreline Aquatic Park in Long Beach. You will turn around at the Autry National Center. This ride is perfect for those of you living in the southern part of the County. You can sign up for the reverse ride by clicking the Active link below or just download the PDF and mark the 70-mile Reverse option. Registration will open at 6:30 AM and the ride will begin at 7:30 AM. Advance registration is HIGHLY recommended.

 

Join us for LACBC's biggest fundraiser and biggest ride of the year! The Los Angeles River Ride is:

  • 7 great rides now! Choose from a 100-mile, 70-mile, 70-mile reverse, 50-mile, 36-mile, and 15-mile rides, as well as a kids' safety rodeo. Kids 12 and under ride for free!
  • A new way to explore the LA River! Spot a heron. Discover a new park. Learn where the LA River Bike Path will take you.
  • A way to to support LACBC and help build a better, more bike-able LA County! Your River Ride registration fees, LACBC membership dues, and donations help support LACBC and make your ride safer and more enjoyable.
RiverRide12th Annual Los Angeles River Ride
When: Sunday, June 10th, 2012
Where: start at Autry National Center, Griffith Park (map) or Shorline Aquatic Park for 70-mile Reverse Ride (map)
Facebook Event: link
Register by May 15th and save $10.
LACBC members save an additional $10.

  

How to sign up now:

  

1.  Register online at Active.com

 

2.  Download the River Ride Registration Form (PDF).

  • Fax it to 213-629-2259 if paying by credit card.
  • Or, mail it to:

LACBC

Attn: River Ride

634 S. Spring Street, Suite 821

Los Angeles, CA 90014

 

If you have general questions, contact our River Ride Director JJ Hoffman at [email protected].

More Women Cycling on Spring Street & 2011 Bike Count Report Available for Download

We've got some good news from Spring Street in Downtown Los Angeles. We conducted bicycle counts on Spring Street before and after the installation of the buffered green lane so we could see how this infrastructure investment affected bicycle riding in Downtown and cycling is up 52%!

 

The most encouraging news from this count is the strong gains in the number of women riding bicycles on the Spring Street lane. As we report in our newly-released 2011 Bicycle and Pedestrian Count Report (see below), the state of female ridership for the city as a whole is not good. The proportion of women who ride bikes in Los Angeles has remained virtually unchanged at below 20% for the past two years. Spring Street, on the other hand, is an indicator of how in just a short while bicycle infrastructure that provides a buffer between auto traffic and the bike lane can make a big difference in the number of women who ride bicycles. Even accounting for the overall increase in ridership on Spring Street, the gains in female ridership are impressive. The number of female cyclists on the weekday went up 100% after the green lane was installed. On the weekend, the percentage increase was a massive 650%. 

 

We also have are pleased to announce that the 2011 City of Los Angeles Bicycle & Pedestrian Count Report is finished and available. We shared results from the 2011 count late last year. Read more about the results of the Spring Street count and the 2011 City of LA Bike & Ped Count on the LACBC Blog.

LACBC Is Hiring a Policy & Campaigns Manager 

The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is looking for an energetic and hard working Policy & Campaigns Manager. This person will primarily work on campaigns and community organizing in the City of Los Angeles. We are looking for someone passionate about working with the diverse communities that make up the City of Los Angeles, as well as city and county partners to continue LACBC's efforts to transform Los Angeles into a more bikeable and livable place. In addition, 15% of this position's efforts will be spent organizing outreach and community events in the City of Carson in support of the city's bicycle master plan. 

A detailed description of the position and responsibilities is available here. Please forward this job announcement far and wide!

To Apply:

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and three writing samples in one PDF file to: Alexis Lantz, Planning & Policy Director, at [email protected] and Jennifer Klausner, Executive Director, at [email protected]. The PDF file shall be named as follows: [LastName]_[FirstName]_PolicyCampaigns12.pdf.

 

Receipt of applications will be acknowledged with an email reply. Telephone inquiries are not accepted. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Applications must be submitted in the format indicated in order to be considered. The positions will be open until filled, and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Visit www.la-bike.org for more information about the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is an equal opportunity employer, people of color, LGBT, and women applicants are highly encouraged.

Bike Infrastructure & Policy Updates From Around the County

 

Beverly Hills: Last night LACBC joined local chapter Better Bike Beverly Hills at the Traffic & Parking Commission regarding the Pilot Bicycle Route Project. The goal of the meeting was for the Commission to review the project and make a recommendation to move the project to the Beverly Hills City Council. While a number of Beverly Hills residents and their neighbors from West Hollywood turned out to support of bicycle infrastructure and ask for more & better projects far more residents turned out against many of the projects included in the Pilot Bicycle Route Project. You can read our live twitter feed of the meeting  here.

 

The streets included in the Pilot Bicycle Route Project are: 
  • Burton Way - bike lanes
  • Carmelita - sharrows
  • Charleville - sharrows
  • N. Crescent Dr to Charleville to Reeves Dr - bike lanes north of Santa Monica Blvd, sharrows south
  • Beverly Drive - bike lanes north of Santa Monica Blvd, sharrows south.
Three of the 5 commissioners voted against moving the whole package of projects forward so  each project was considered individually. The meeting resulted in the commission approving  Burton Way, Carmelita, and N. Crescent Dr to Charleville to Reeves Dr. Their recommendations and the full project report will go before the Beverly Hills City Council in July. 

 

We are going to need every resident and business owner in Beverly Hills that bicycles or wants to bicycle to turn out to the July meeting. If you live or own a business in Beverly Hills get involved with Better Bike by emailing Mark Elliott at [email protected]  today! We need your help to make Beverly Hills bicycle friendly!
Thank You All for Attending Our All Aboard Sunday Funday Ride
 
RR2012 LogoThanks to all who came to this weekend's All Aboard Sunday Funday Ride that took us to Travel Town and two of the County's most beautiful train stations: Union Station and Glendale Station. A special thanks to LACBC Board Member Greg Laemmle for leading this fun and educational ride.
 
Mark Elliot of Better Bike Beverly Hills rode with us and has a great wrap-up of not only the ride but some additional train history for you.
 
You can also check out some photos of the ride (both our bike ride and the train ride we took in Travel Town) on the LACBC Facebook page.
 
Our next Sunday Funday ride is scheduled for Sunday, June 3rd. Led by LACBC Board Member Carrie Ungerman, the East Valley Hansen Dam Sunday Funday Ride (rescheduled from last November due to rain) will explore the gems of the East San Fernando Valley.
Wanted: Bike Models
RR2012 Logo
WeHo Bike Models Needed
The West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition is working on a bike and pedestrian-friendly print resource as outreach to the WeHo community and businesses, and need images of folks biking in WeHo. If you're up for being a bike model on May 19th in WeHo, email Tess Lotta at [email protected]. Kids/families totally welcome! Photographers needed too.  
 
Bicycle Profile Participants Needed 
Brittany Curran, one of our volunteers, is looking for enthusiastic cyclists to pose with their bikes in The Bicycle Profiles series on her street style blog. If you're interested in participating, feel free to email her at [email protected].
Bike Month Riding Tips: Take 2

Thursday, May 17, 2012,is Bike to Work Day in Los Angeles County. If you are planning to bike to work for the first time, that's great!  Here's a few tips to help make your ride better.

 

Our tips cover:

  • Route
  • Essentials
  • Clothing
  • Carrying Stuff
  • Hygiene and Clean Up
  • Transit
  • Bike Parking
Read more on the LACBC blog, and share the link with your friends that may be considering biking for transportation purposes.

Timelapse: L.A. River Ride Route Marking 2011
The LA River Ride is LACBC's most high-profile event and biggest fundraiser of the year, and it would not be possible without help of the hundreds of volunteers that are stuffing goody bags, processing registrations, marshaling and caboosing the ride, etc. One of the volunteer opportunities is to mark the route the weekend before the River Ride. If you've ever wondered who puts down those neon-colored arrows on the street to let you know where to go, it's a team of route-marking volunteers!

Last year, 5-time route-marking volunteer Will Campbell put together a timelapse video of his route-marking experience. (Thanks, Will!) Take a look, and if you're interested in route-marking or volunteering for the River Ride, check out our River Ride Volunteer page for more information.

Also, remember that the 12th Annual LA River Ride is Sunday, June 10th. Register today!  
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities

   

3rd Annual Eco-Village Fundraiser Benefitting L.A. Streetsblog 
When: Friday, May 11; 6 PM
Where: Los Angeles Eco Village - 116 Bimini Place, Los Angeles
Support LA Streetsblog and enjoy food and drinks, the debut of a new Streetfilm, a raffle, and the best darned company and conversation that can be found anywhere! Tickets are $30 per head on a sliding scale. More info.

  

Montrose Historical Bike Ride
When: Saturday, May 12; Meet at 10 AM, ride at 10:30 AM
Where: Meet at Montrose Bike Shop - 2501 Honolulu Avenue, Montrose
Join Walk Bike GlendaleMontrose Patch, Montrose Bike Shop, Glendale Historical Society, Glendale Community Services & Parks, and Glendale Public Works Department for a family friendly bike ride in Montrose as we make stops at historical landmarks along the way. The ride will go at an easy pace and be fun for all ages and skill levels! Roughly 7-10miles. See Facebook event.

 

Blessing of the Bicycles

When: Tuesday, May 15; 8:00 AM

Where: Good Samaritan Hospital - 1225 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, 90017

Get blessed! Get breakfast! Get a free bike check! Bici Libre (which is across the street from Good Sam at 1205 W. Lucas Ave.) will be providing free bike checks, and host an open house after the Blessing of the Bicycles at around 9:30 AM. More info.

 

Bike to/from Work Day
When: Thursday, May 17
Where: across LA County
Celebrate commuting to and from work with morning pit stops and after parties all around the County! More info in newsletter.

 

Culver City Bike Counts - Volunteers Needed
When: Saturday, May 19; 12 PM to 2 PM
Where: 20 locations across Culver City
Culver City's annual bike count is coming up on Saturday, May 19, and Wednesday, May 23, and volunteers are needed. Please e-mail John Rivera with your availability at [email protected]. 

 

Santa Monica Spoke Bike Exhibition at Santa Monica Festival 
When: Saturday, May 19; 11 AM to 6 PM
Where: Clover Park - 2600 Ocean Park BoulevardSanta Monica, CA 90405
Santa Monica Spoke will once again hosting a Bike Exhibition at the Santa Monica Festival. SM Spoke will cap off bike week with all kinds of bikey events, which will include a fun, music, workshops and so much more! More info.

  

Nissan Ride Before the Pros
When: Sunday, May 20; 8 AM to 9:30 AM
Where: L.A. LIVE (Start Location)

This event will allow cyclists of all levels to ride on a 5-mile closed circuit course which will be part of the 2012 Amgen Tour of California's eighth and final stage taking place that same day. FREE to participants of all experience levels, the Nissan Ride Before the Pros will begin and end at the official finish line where the professional riders competing in the 2012 Amgen Tour of California will cross to complete the 42.6-mile stage they started in Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills earlier that day. More info and to register.

  

Museums of the Arroyo Day
When: Sunday, May 20; 12 PM to 5 PM
Where: throughout Northeast Los Angeles

Experience life in the past lane! MOTA Day features five museums located along the celebrated Arroyo Seco in Los Angeles and Pasadena that open their doors for a free day of music, storytelling, art, crafts and entertainment. Gain free admission to the Gamble House, the Heritage Square Museum, the Los Angeles Police Museum, the Lummis Home & Garden, and the Pasadena Museum of History. Getting from place to place by riding your bike or walking is highly encouraged! More info.

 

Culver City Bike Counts - Volunteer Needed

When: Wednesday, May 23; 7 AM to 9 PM and 4 PM to 6 PM

Where: 20 locations across Culver City

Culver City's annual bike count is coming up on Saturday, May 19, and Wednesday, May 23, and volunteers are needed. Please e-mail John Rivera with your availability at [email protected]. 

  

(it) Magazine Presents Greening Your City: Biking Los Angeles

When: Saturday, May 26; 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Where: Lineage Performing Arts Center - 89 S. Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, 91107

(it) Magazine invites you to join us at a special Bike Month wrap-up event celebrating LA and Pasadena's bike plans. With special guest moderator Ed Begley Jr., an exclusive (it) Magazine video screening and a public panel featuring Jennifer Klausner, LACBC Executive Director, and Gil Garcetti, former LA District Attorney and the photographer/author of Paris: Women & BicyclesThey will be joined by representatives from the city of Pasadena and local bike advocacy groups. Learn what's needed next to make our cities more bike friendly, and find out how you can be part of the solution! More info.

 

East Valley Hansen Dam Sunday Funday Ride

When: Sunday, June 3; Meet at 8:30 AM, ride at 9:00 AM

Where: Meet in front of the entrance to the North Hollywood Metro Station on Lankershim and Chandler in North Hollywood

Save the date for our next Sunday Funday Ride that will explore the San Fernando Valley over roughly 23 miles. We'll have more details in upcoming newsletters.

   

12th Annual Los Angeles River Ride
When: Sunday, June 10
More info in newsletter.
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 Manager
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition

[email protected]

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