LACBC
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter

February 14, 2013 

In this issue
Speak Up and Show Your Support at Ongoing LA Bike Plan Hearings
New LACBC Team Kits Available for Order Through March 1st
LACBC's Bike Prom on February 23: Less than Two Weeks Away
LACBC Is Hiring an Initiative Coordinator for Active Streets LA
Ride Figueroa & CD 1 Candidate Forum Recap
Ride Westwood Recap
Listen to Bike Talk Podcast for Saturday's LACBC Episode
The 13th Annual Los Angeles River Ride Is on June 9th
This Week's Tip: Bike Lanes, Part 1
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Bikey Valentine's Day Ideas
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
Speak Up and Show Your Support at Ongoing LA Bike Plan Hearings
BikePlanHearings
The Los Angeles City Planning Department released the draft Environmental Impact Report for the next 5 years of Bike Lane implementation. This plan covers 39.5 miles of bike lanes.

Due to the passage of A.B. 2245 last year by Governor Brown, the EIR process will not be as lengthy as it has been in the past, but the City will instead be relying on public outreach. 
That's where you come in. Residents who would benefit from these improvements need to speak in favor of these bike lanes at these meetings. The city needs to hear from you. 

We had over 40 folks show up to last night's Northeast Area Bike Plan Hearing! Now we need your support at the following bike lane hearings:


Central Area - TONIGHT!

When: Thursday, February 14; 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Where: Caltrans District 7 Building, Rm 1.040 A, B, and C - 100 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

RSVP and spread the word through our Facebook event.

 

West Area

When: Tuesday, February 19; 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Where: LADOT Western Parking Enforcement Office - 11214 West Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064

RSVP and spread the word through our Facebook event. Your support for bike lane projects on the Westside will be especially critical at this hearing.

 

Valley Area

When: Thursday, February 21, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Where: North Hollywood Regional Library - 5211 Tujunga Ave., North Hollywood, CA 91601

RSVP and spread the word through our Facebook event. Your support for bike lane projects in the Valley will be especially critical at this hearing.

 

Additionally, a webinar will be held on Wednesday, February 20 at 2 PM.

 

In order to implement these bike lanes, a travel lane or parking may need to be removed in certain cases, and we need people like you who care about safer streets to come out to voice support for these projects.


You can read more about the draft EIR and the street segments aching for some bike lanes on Los Angeles Streetsblog. Many--Lankershim, Figueroa (and Colorado), Westwood--will be familiar to you through our Neighborhood Bike Ambassador campaigns, but we're sure you'll be excited about other streets. Venice! 7th! Martin Luther King Blvd.! Cesar Chavez! And beyond!

New LACBC Team Kits Available for Order Through March 1st

For the past few years, we've put together limited edition runs of cycling clothes - also called 'kits' - that have been highly sought after, and we are proud to announce that we have a new kit design for 2013! In order to make things easier on our busy staff, we set up a separate website where you can browse the product designs and place an order.

 

This year we are working with high quality manufacturers Capo Cycling and DeFeet who will be producing the clothing from their upper-range lines - yet we've managed to keep our prices incredibly low! Prices are nearly half those of what you'll find in retail shops! What is available? Jerseys both short and long sleeve, vests, jackets, arm warmers, knee warmers, socks, bibs, shorts, and more!

 

Check it out at teamlacbc.org!

 

Act soon as the order window closes on Friday, March 1st, 2013! Delivery is expected for early May, and there may not be a second order in the future!

 

Doing the Climate Ride for LACBC or interested? Raise $500 by March 1st, and you will receive a free top and bottom (jersey and shorts/bibs). Contact Kelly Martin at [email protected] to find out more.

LACBC's Bike Prom on February 23rd: Less Than Two Weeks Away
BikeProm

Time to get footloose for a totally gnarly bike prom!

 

Did you skip your actual prom? Are you glad you did or wish you hadn't? Do you long for the Eighties? Or do you wonder what they were like AND what an '80s prom even means?

 

Well, now's your chance to do it up right... on your bicycle!

 

Join LACBC as we get down with the RAD sounds of DJs Kenefunkport, Skramble, and Starskee Suav�There will be: Dancing! A raffle with prizes from Swrve/VeloLove, Golden Saddle Cyclery, Orange 20, Flying Pigeon, C.I.C.L.E., KillRadio.org, the Bike Oven, and more! A photobooth! Bike valet! And the crowning of a Bike Prom King and Queen! '80s prom attire is strongly encouraged.

 

Good Girl Dinette will offer a 15% discount to folks attending the Bike Prom if you want to get dinner beforehand; just show your Eventbrite ticket or LACBC membership card on Saturday, February 23.

 

LACBC Bike Prom

When: Saturday, February 23; 8 PM - 12 AM

Where: American Legion Hall Post 206 - 227 N. Ave. 55, Los Angeles, 90042 (4 blocks west of the Highland Park Gold Line Station) - map 

 

Purchase your tickets here.

 

Prices are $10 for LACBC members  and $15 for nonmembers. You can also purchase tickets at the door.

 

Interested in volunteering on our Bike Prom Committee? We'll need help with decorations, registration, and bike valet. Please email Martin Lopez-Iu at [email protected] if you're interested in joining the Bike Prom Committee!

LACBC is Hiring An Initiative Coordinator for Active Streets LA

 

The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is looking to hire an Initiative Coordinator for an exciting new partnership with LADOT and TRUST South LA called "Active Streets LA."

 

The Initiative Coordinator is responsible for the management and delivery of the Active Streets LA Scope of Work, including the creation of a Bicycle-Friendly Street toolbox, coordination of community events and rides, and communication of initiative objectives to stakeholders. S/he will build partnerships with diverse individuals, community-based and neighborhood organizations, and local businesses to advocate for improved bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure on neighborhood streets. The initiative will be specifically focused on improving active transportation infrastructure in low-income communities with high rates of obesity. S/he will also be responsible for representing the perspective of LACBC and the broader bicycling community.

 

Please the see the full job description for more information about this position and LACBC.

 

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and three writing samples in one PDF file to: Eric Bruins, Planning & Policy Director, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, at [email protected]. The PDF file shall be named as follows: [LastName]_HEAL.pdf.

 

Applications will be accepted until Thursday, March 7th, at 5:00 p.m. PST. Applications must be submitted in the format indicated in order to be considered. Receipt of applications will be acknowledged with an email reply. Interviews will be conducted on or after March 11th. The position will be filled no later than April 1st.

 

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 are highly encouraged to apply.

Ride Figueroa and CD 1 Candidate Forum Recap
Photo: Justin A. Klein � 2013

Ride Figueroa

Thanks to the 80+ folks who came to Ride Figueroa this past Sunday. Thank you to Flying Pigeon, the Bike Oven, the East Bike Ambassadors, Ed Reyes, the LACBC Ride Marshal Team, and Cafe de Leche for the delicious coffee and pastries.

You can check out some photos by Justin A. Klein from the ride and forum on the LACBC Facebook Page.
 
Ride Figueroa is an LACBC East Bike Ambassador campaign designed to educate and inform folks in Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Cypress Park, Mount Washington, and other surrounding areas about a proposed bike lane on Figueroa between Colorado and San Fernando. 
 

If you couldn't make it to the ride, you can still support the campaign by signing our Ride Figueroa petition on change.org. We already have over 500 signatures; help us get even more!

 

For more information about our Ride Figueroa campaign or are interested in volunteering,

feel free to contact Alek Bartrosouf at [email protected] or (213) 629-2142.

 

CD 1 Candidate Forum

 

Also, thanks to all who attended the CD 1 Candidate Forum. Thanks the three leading candidates who came out to talk about active transportation: Gil Cedillo, Jose A. Gardea, and Jesse Rosas. Thanks to our partners in Los Angeles Streetsblog, Los Angeles Walks, Occidental College's Urban and Environmental Policy Institute, and the forum moderator Mark Vallianatos.

 

You can view the the entire forum on Streetsblog TV. Also, view post-forum interviews with each of the candidates: Gil Cedillo, Jose A. Gardea, and Jesse Rosas

Ride Westwood Recap 
Photo: Jonathan Weiss
 
Thanks to the 150+ folks who came to Ride Westwood on this past Saturday! Thank you to the Bicycle Coalition at UCLA, Bikerowave, West Bike Ambassadors, the LACBC Ride Marshal Team, and Pitfire Pizza of West LA for donating lunch to our hungry riders.
 
You can check out a few ride photos on the LACBC Facebook page.
 
Ride Westwood is an LACBC West 
Neighborhood Bike Ambassador and Bicycle Coalition at UCLA campaign designed to educate and inform folks about proposed bike lanes on Westwood. 
 
If you couldn't make the ride, you can still support this project by signing our Ride Westwood Petition on change.org. Also, come to the Bike Lane Hearing on Tuesday, January 19. 

 

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.

Listen to Bike Talk Podcast for Saturday's LACBC Episode
Photo: Nick Richert / Bike Talk

This past Saturday morning, LACBC hosted Bike Talk with our Education Director Colin Bogart (a.k.a Colin Sick) going back to his DJ roots!

You can listen to the podcast to hear more about the LA bike lane hearings, biking the vote in the local elections, Ride Westwood and Ride Figueroa, Bici Libre, Operation Firefly, Bike Prom, the LA River Ride, volunteer opportunities, and more! DJ Kenefunkport and DJ Starskee Suav�, two of our Bike Prom DJs, were even kind enough to spin some tunes to give you a glimpse of what you can expect at Bike Prom.

Listen to Bike Talk live every Saturday from 10 AM to 12 PM via online streaming at
KillRadio.org. Thanks for having us, Bike Talk!
13th Annual Los Angeles River Ride on June 9th

Mark your calendars! We have a little under 4 months until LACBC's biggest ride returns on Sunday, June 9th. Perhaps your goal for 2013 is to ride a Century or to get your whole family out on bike ride together. Let us help!
RiverRide
13th Annual Los Angeles River Ride
When: Sunday, June 9, 2013
Where: Start at the Autry Center at 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park

The Los Angeles River Ride is:
  • 8 great rides for all ages and abilities! We have a 100-mile Century, 70-mile ride, 70-mile Reverse Ride (starting in Long Beach and ending there), 50-mile, 36-mile, 25-mile Reverse Ride (from Long Beach), 15-mile Family Ride, and Kids' Bike Rodeo. All rides are supported with volunteer ride marshals.
  • A great way to explore the Los Angeles River and Los Angeles as a whole. This County is more connected than you think, and LA really does have a river. Learn more about what Los Angeles has to offer on this ride. 
  • LACBC's biggest fundraiser. Your registration fees help us work for a better, more bike-able LA County. Want to do more? Sign up for LACBC membership with your River Ride registration and get $10 off the regular membership price.

Registration is now open! Learn more about the River Ride at la-bike.org/riverride.

This Week's Tip: Bike Lanes, Part 1

We're in the midst of Public Hearings for bike lane projects in the City of LA and our NBA groups are advocating for bike lanes on Westwood Blvd., Lankershim, and Figueroa, so the time is right for a few reminders about riding in bike lanes.
  • The law (CVC 21208) requires you to ride in the bike lane, with the flow of traffic (not against it) when a bike lane is present and you are riding slower than the normal speed of traffic.
    • If you are riding the same speed as traffic or faster, you can leave the bike lane. A good example of this is a fast downhill section.
  • You can also leave the bike lane for any of the following reasons:
    • To pass another bicyclist
    • To avoid hazards or debris in the bike lane
    • To make a left turn
    • To prevent a right turning vehicle from cutting you off
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Bikey Valentine's Day Ideas

Today on NPR we read about a young man and his bike love gesture for his girlfriend. As NPR's Robert Krulwich describes:

 

"Last year, Payam Rajabi got a new job and had to leave Toronto and his girlfriend, Clare, and move to San Francisco. All that left him feeling a little down - until he came up with his upsy, downsy valentine idea.

 

"He jumped on his bike, opened his iPhone to a map of San Francisco, and tracking himself with a GPS, he rode 27 miles around the city, taking 2 1/2 hours, burning 1,135 calories and carefully etching a heart shape onto a city map."

 

Perhaps an idea for someone out there?

 

Or, if you're a real procrastinator who didn't make a bike-themed valentine card like we suggested last week, go the e-Valentine route and send out some of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition's e-Valentines right now. We love these every year!

Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
 

Central Area Bike Lane Hearing

When: Thursday, February 14; 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

More info in newsletter.

 

Support Ride Westwood at Westside Neighborhood Council Meeting 

When: Thursday, February 14; 7:00 P.M.

Where: Westside Pavilion Meeting Room A (3rd Floor behind food court) - 10800 W. Pico Blvd., 90064

LACBC is giving an informational presentation tonight at the Westside Neighborhood Council about the proposed bike lanes on Westwood, Sepulveda, and Avenue of the Stars. This is an important meeting if we want to see lanes on Westwood move forward. The Neighborhood Council has previously gone on the record opposing bike lanes on Westwood without first hearing from people who ride bikes, people like you. We hope you can make it to support bike lanes on Westwood! More info.

 

Touring LA County with LACBC and Where to Bike: Senor Vasquez

When: Saturday, February 16; Meet at 8:30 AM, ride at 9:00 AM

Where: Via Princessa Metrolink Station - 19201 Via Princessa, Santa Clarita. Meet in Metrolink's public parking near the train platform (map)

Join LACBC and Where to Bike LA for a 44-mile tour of the eastern Santa Clarita Valley. We'll head out on Soledad Canyon Road for several miles of low-traffic riding along rock-strewn arroyos, sagebrush-flecked hillsides and distant, snow-capped mountains. Our real destination is Vasquez Rocks, an iconic, canted formation of red and yellow sandstone that has provided the scenic location for countless TV shows and movies, from The Flintstones to Star Trek and Planet of the Apes. More infamously (and in real life), it was the 1870s hideout of the notorious bandito Tiburcio Vasquez, a dashing, guitar-playing, bank-robbing rogue--the classic character of any Western movie. More info.

  

West Area Bike Lane Hearing

When: Tuesday, February 19; 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

More info in newsletter.

 

Valley Area Bike Lane Hearing

When: Thursday, February 21, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

More info in newsletter.

 

C.I.C.L.E.'s Wild, Wild West Chatsworth Ride

When: Saturday, February 23; 10 AM

Where: Chatsworth Metrolink Station - 10046 Old Depot Plaza Road, Chatsworth

Four legs and two wheels! Join C.I.C.L.E. for a western themed ride through Chatsworth and share the road with more than just cars! Grab your hats, boots, chaps and lassos for this dusty, western ride! More info.

 

LACBC Bike Prom
When: Saturday, February 23; 8 PM
More info in newsletter.
 
LA Chinatown Firecracker Run and Bike Ride
When: Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24
Where: Chinatown
Bike the 20-mile or 30-mile bike ride, or run the 5K or 10K run. LACBC's bike valet will be available once again after the bike ride on Saturday. Also, if you sign up to participate, make sure to add that LACBC referred you so that part of your registration fee will benefit LACBC. More info at firecracker10k.org.
 
UCLA Complete Streets Conference
When: Thursday, February 28; 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with 5 PM reception and 7 PM keynote address
Where: Doubletree by Hilton - 120 South Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, 90012 The day-long conference will highlight recent accomplishments, explore new research, and present implementation examples and benchmarks to create multi-use street environments that promote vibrant, healthy and active communities. The conference will provide information on Complete Streets issues for planners, elected and appointed public officials, engineers, non-profit organizations, advocates, consultants, students and others involved in the Complete Streets field. Register here.

  

13th Annual Los Angeles River Ride
When: Sunday, June 9
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 Director
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition

[email protected]

 

Let's be friends! Connect with LACBC: www.la-bike.org Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Visit our blog View our photos on flickr View our videos on YouTube