LACBC
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter

December 13, 2012 

In this issue
Ride and Sing with Us for the Larchmont Holiday Caroling Ride this Sunday
Give the Gift of Membership, Light this Holiday Season
Introducing Our New Ride Westwood Campaign
ACTION ITEM: Tell Chief Beck to Protect Bicyclists and Preserve the 1st Street Buffered Bike Lane
Thanks for Riding Lankershim with Us
Educate, Activate, Calculate for a More Bike-Friendly Los Angeles County
Bike Updates from Around the County: Sharrows Approved on Sepulveda
Support LACBC on Climate Ride California or NYC-DC 2013
Bici Libre Needs Your Donated Bike
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Jingle Bike Bells
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
Ride and Sing with Us for the Larchmont Holiday Caroling Ride this Sunday
HolidayRide
Join us for an annual LACBC tradition: our caroling ride through Larchmont!


Come along caroling among the holly and the jolly of the season around the streets of one of the most festive neighborhoods in Los Angeles! Warm up your vocal chords and come prepared to sing your favorite holiday tunes. If we are in good voice, we may be rewarded by residents with treats! Stranger things have happened on this LACBC traditional ride.

When: Sunday, December 16; Meet at 4:30 PM, ride at 5 PM

Where: Meet at the Rotary Club Christmas Tree Lot at 568 N. Larchmont Blvd., just south of Clinton on the east side of the street

RSVP: Please RSVP to the Facebook event or to Carol Feucht at [email protected]  

 

Easy ride, stopping and starting, less than two miles. This ride is great for the whole family!

 

Helmets and front and rear bike lights required. Rain cancels. 

Give the Gift of Membership, Light this Holiday Season

It's the holiday season, and you're probably wondering to get that loved one in your life. Whether that person is a veteran cyclist or is just starting to ride, we have a few recommendations for you:

1. LACBC Gift Membership 

It's a gift that provides your loved ones with useful information, bike shop discounts, invitations to members-only events, and a safer ride. Their membership packet also includes the LACBC Bicycle Resource Guide, an LA County Bikeways map, and a membership card for discounts. Not only does an LACBC membership make a great gift, but it supports LACBC's work to create a better, bike-able LA County! If you want your gift membership to arrive at a local address by Christmas day, please make your purchase by Tuesday, December 18th, at the latest!


2. Operation Firefly Set of Bike Lights
Get a light set, give a light set! For the past few weeks, our Team Firefly volunteers have been making cyclists' rides safer by affixing lights to their bikes, making them more visible at night and educating them about safer riding. You, too, can own a set of LACBC bike lights (front and back) while also supporting this LACBC educational program. 

3. Where to Ride Los Angeles and Los Angeles MTB
If you know someone who enjoys recreational riding and exploring the County, give that person a copy of Where to Ride Los Angeles. Written by LACBC volunteers Jon Riddle and Sarah Amelar, this book is full of maps and color photographs. Plus, it features good-looking cover models in our LACBC Volunteer Coordinator Martin Lopez-Iu and volunteer Kelli Bachmann.

For the local mountain biker in your life, check out Where to Bike Los Angeles MTB!

Introducing Our New Ride Westwood Campaign

 

Ride Westwood is an LACBC Valley Bike Ambassador campaign to advocate for proposed bike lanes on Westwood.

 

This proposed project is part of the 2010 Bicycle Master Plan and is meant to connect to a larger network of bicycle paths, lanes, and routes for everyone to use.  This particular project may require the removal of a travel lane or a parking lane to accommodate for these improvements.

 

The addition of bike lanes on Westwood will accent the people-oriented district this community has become and will ultimately make the area a more vibrant and livable community. 


There are three main ways for you to get involved with this new campaign:

 

1.  Sign the petition

Sign our online petition to show your support for bike lanes on Westwood.  Add your voice here.

 

2.  Join our mailing list
If you are interested in signing onto our Westwood newsletterlet us know here.

 

3.  Volunteer and help spread the word
We're looking for volunteers to help spread the word. Please contact Alek Bartrosouf at [email protected] for more information.

 

For more information about our Ride Westwood campaign or are interested in volunteering, feel free to contact Alek Bartrosouf at [email protected] or (213) 629-2142. You can learn more about the campaign at la-bike.org/ridewestwood.

ACTION ITEM: Tell Chief Beck to Protect Bicyclists and Preserve the 1st Street Buffered Bike Lane
Photo: Roger Rudick, LA Streetsblog

It's more than a rumor: Just as LAPD officers seem to have finally learned to not park in the bike lane, LAPD has asked LADOT to remove the buffer on the 1st Street bike lane in front of LAPD's downtown headquarters so that their officers can park in front of the building.

Are these buffered bike lanes too good to last? LACBC doesn't think so. We think police officers can walk less than one block from their parking garage to LAPD HQ. Chief Charlie Beck has otherwise led the way on bike safety, including ensuring that every LAPD officer is trained in bicycle awareness. We want to know whether Chief Beck's words that that "bicyclists are particularly vulnerable and need our protection" and "protecting bicyclists is the law and the right thing to do" extend to providing a safe place to ride in front of LAPD HQ.

Please email or tweet Chief Beck (@LAPDChiefBeck) to ask him to keep the buffer on the 1st Street bike lane in front of LAPD HQ:

To: Chief Beck <[email protected]>
CC: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa <[email protected]>
LAPD Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger <[email protected]>
LADOT General Manager Jaime de la Vega <[email protected]>
LAPD Bike Liaison Officer Jeff Kievit <[email protected]>
LACBC <[email protected]>

Dear Chief Beck,

During Bike Week in May 2010, you said that "bicyclists are particularly vulnerable and need our protection." Since then, LADOT has installed a network of buffered bike lanes downtown to protect bicyclists from moving vehicles and opening doors from parked cars. Your spokesman erroneously stated that buffered bike lanes are only installed in unusual cases. Actually, they are one of the most advanced tools LADOT has deployed to make our streets safer for bicyclists and are one of the main reasons the City of Los Angeles was recognized as a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community. Buffered bike lanes are preferred by all bicyclists, but are particularly important for inviting risk-averse people to also ride on our streets. LACBC bike counts showed that the proportion of women riding on Spring Street almost doubled after installing the buffered bike lane because it feels so much safer due to the separation from moving traffic.

I respectfully request that you honor your commitment to protecting bicyclists by withdrawing your request to remove the buffer from the 1st Street bike lane in front of LAPD headquarters.  There is plenty of parking less than one block away in the LAPD garage, yet too few miles of buffered bike lanes downtown. Please keep the 1st street buffered bike lane so that people of all ages and abilities will feel comfortable riding downtown.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
Thanks for Riding Lankershim with Us
 

Thanks to the 100 folks who came out this Saturday for a ride to explore North Hollywood's streets. Together, we helped show support for the future bike lanes on Lankershim. Special thanks to our Ride Lankershim volunteers and ride marshals. You can check out photos on the LACBC Facebook page.


The bike ride may have passed, but there are many ways to still get involved with this campaign:

 

1. Sign our Petition

Express your support for bike lanes on Lankershim and Cahuenga. Add your voice here and let us know why bike lanes here are important for you.

 

2. Join our mailing list
If you are interested in signing onto our Lankershim & Cahuenga newsletter, let us know here . 

 

3. Volunteer

In the next few weeks we'll be canvassing pedestrians and businesses on Lankershim. Join our team - contact Alek at [email protected].
  
 

For more information about our Ride Lankershim campaign or if you are interested in volunteering, feel free to contact Alek Bartrosouf at [email protected] or (213) 629-2142. You can learn more about the campaign at la-bike.org/ridelankershim.

Educate, Activate, Calculate for a More Bike-Friendly Los Angeles County

Here at LACBC HQ we are bursting with pride with how much we've grown as an organization while contributing to the progress of making a more a bike-friendly Los Angeles.

LACBC needs to build on our foundation, supporting that growth and becoming an even stronger voice for ALL bicyclists in LA County. We have devised a three-part program to successfully build neighborhood level support for bicycle projects. This comprehensive program can be summarized as Activate, Educate, Calculate


To successfully staff and implement this program we need to raise $125,000.

Please make a donation today!
Bike Updates from Around the County: Sharrows Approved on Sepulveda

Culver City: On Monday night Culver City approved Sharrows on Sepulveda, connecting the Culver Blvd. Bike Path to the Ballona Creek Bike Path. The City of Culver City will be coordinating with City of LA to install these in early 2013.

Glendale Narrows: Phase I of the long-awaited Glendale Narrows Riverwalk opened this week to the delight of many community members. Phase I of the project includes park space, equestrian facilities, exhibits, and a half-mile trail along the Los Angeles River that begins near Paula Avenue and Garden Street. Read on the Glendale News Press.
Support LACBC on Climate Ride California or NYC-DC 2013

 

How can you enjoy an incredible 5-day bicycle ride in Northern California or on the East Coast while supporting LACBC? Climate Ride - the nation's largest environmental cycling event and 'green conference on wheels' is coming. 

 

The exciting part for LACBC is that anyone who signs up for the ride gets to choose which organization they will be raising money for - and you can choose LACBC!

 

First you register, reach the fundraising minimum and train for the ride, then come along and discover why Climate Ride is the premiere green event in the country. Amazing riding, epic scenery, and great speakers all combine to make this a remarkable experience. 

 

Climate Ride California (May 19-23, 2013) is a 5-day, fully-supported bicycle ride from Fortuna to San Francisco under towering redwoods, through the Russian River Wine Country, and along the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route - one of the most scenic coastlines in the world. Join the LACBC Team or make a general team donation.

 

Climate Ride NYC-DC (Sept. 21-25, 2013) is a grand cycling adventure that connects two of the nation's most important cities - New York and Washington, DC - by bicycle. The ride begins with an exciting departure from Manhattan by ferry, then travels through charming towns in rural New Jersey and Amish Country. The finale is a hero's welcome and rally at the steps of the US Capitol.  

Climate Ride also features nightly speakers who focus on bicycle advocacy, sustainability, and renewable energy. If you are interested in forming and joining the NYC-DC team, please contact Kelly Martin at [email protected].  

 

Find out more and register at www.climateride.org. If you have questions about joining the LACBC team or donating to the team, please contact Kelly Martin at [email protected]

Bici Libre Needs Your Donated Bike 

 

It's almost the holiday season and that means it's time to make room for your new bike! Bici Libre, a bike co-op project of LACBC, needs donated bikes! We will take any bike though it's helpful if the frame is in tact. We especially love road bikes! Your bikes can be a tax-deductible donation through LACBC. Stop by during our open hours to drop one off.

 

Come to Bici Libre and drop off your bike!

Days: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
Time: 4-7 PM
Location: Bici Libre - located at 1205 W. 6th St. Los Angeles, CA 90017 (map)

What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Jingle Bike Bells
Schwinn Bell Choir Plays Jingle Bells
Schwinn Bell Choir Plays Jingle Bells

As we prepare for the annual LACBC Larchmont Holiday Caroling Ride on Sunday, we've been thinking of our favorite holiday songs that we'll want to sing this weekend. In addition to using our voices for song, many of us will also be equipped with our very own bike bells as accompanying instruments.

We know that bike bells can be powerful instrments. A few years ago, the folks at Schwinn created their own Bike Bell Choir to spread good cheer to people around the holidays. For your own viewing and listening pleasure, here's their bike bell performance of "Jingle Bells." And if you're into that, they have "Deck the Halls" and "Auld Lang Synne" on their setlist. 
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities

   

Glendale Holiday Ride

When: Saturday, December 15; Meet at 5:30 PM

Where: Meet at Nibley Park - 1103 E. Mountain, Glendale 91207 

Join local LACBC chapter Walk Bike Glendale for a leisurely 5-mile ride ride along through the Rossmoyne neighborhood to admire beautiful holiday lights put up by neighbors. Please bring helmets and front and back lights for your bicycle. Rain cancels! More info.

  

Toluca Lake Holiday Bike Ride

When: Sunday, December 16; 10 AM

Where: Meet at 10225 Riverside Dr., Toluca Lake

Join councilman Tom LaBonge and the Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council for this ride and then enjoy the holiday market with handmade items, food trucks, kids' activities, and more. See flier here.

 

Engagement and Farewell Party & Ride for Joe & Carrie

When: Sunday, December 16; 1:30 PM 

Where: LA Eco Village - 117 Bimini Place, L.A. 90004

LACBC co-founder and all-around awesome LA guy Joe Linton is engaged to be married and moving to New Jersey (and then coming back to LA, we hope)! Come celebrate with Joe and Carrie with this ride and party. A $5 suggested donation benefits LA Streetsblog. More info.

 

Larchmont Holiday Caroling Ride
When: Sunday, December 16; Meet at 4:30 PM, Ride at 5 PM
More info in the newsletter.

Ride to the Rose Parade
When: Tuesday, January 1; Meet at 7:30, ride at 7:45
Where: Meet at Heritage Square Gold Line Station
Save the date! Start the year off right with a bike ride to view the Rose Parade. More details in next week's 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 Director
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition

[email protected]

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