LACBC
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter

March 7, 2013 

In this issue
Bike the Vote: LA City Primary Election Results
LACBC Presents: How Bike-Friendly Places Are Made
Bike Updates from around the County: Glendale City Council Candidate Survey Responses Are Here
Last Chance to Join LACBC's Climate Ride California Team
Metro Introduces New Campaign: Every Lane Is a Bike Lane
LACBC and Local Advocates at the National Bike Summit in DC
Thanks for Joining the Sunday Funday Ride Exploring the Hollywood Hills
Vote for Walk 'n Rollers to Win $5,000 Grant
The 13th Annual Los Angeles River Ride Is on June 9th
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Women's Bicycling Keeps the Momentum Rolling
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
Bike the Vote: LA City Primary Election Results

City Council Members Elected

Tuesday, March 5th, was the 
LA City Primary Election. Congrats to the following folks who were elected to City Council by receiving a majority of votes in their race. Two of these candidates filled out LACBC's candidate survey, so be sure to take a look to see where they stand on bicycling issues and safe streets.

Council District 3
Bob Blumenfield

Council District 5
Council District 7
Felipe Fuentes

Council District 11
Run-off Elections on May 21st 

The following candidates will face off in the May 21st election. We encourage you to register to vote, check out the candidate surveys, and vote in the May 21st election. Candidates with links to their names have submitted surveys.


Mayor

  

Wendy Greuel

Eric Garcetti

 

Council District 1

Jose A. Gardea

Gil Cedillo

 

Council District 9

Ana Cubas

Curren D. Price Jr.

 

Council District 13

Mitch O'Farrell

John J. Choi

LACBC Presents: How Bike-Friendly Places Are Made

BikePlaces

 

The LACBC Planning Committee has invited three of the region's most prominent experts--Matt Benjamin, Brett Hondorp, and Ryan Snyder--to give us a behind-the-scenes look at the making of bicycle plans, bicycle policy, and bicycle facility design. They will share insight on how bike planning processes really work and pinpoint the key areas where advocates can push to make the most difference. You're invited to this roundtable discussion!

 

When: Thursday, March 21; 7 PM

Where: LACBC Headquarters, The Edison Room (1st Floor) - 634 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, 90014
Admission: $10 General Public / FREE for LACBC Members 
Refreshments courtesy of Golden Road Brewing

 

Find more information on the LACBC Website and the Facebook event.

Bike Updates from around the County: Glendale City Council Candidate Survey Responses Are Here

Glendale: The April 2nd election in Glendale will include the city council election, with 3 seats up for grabs. Local chapter Walk Bike Glendale has received responses from some of the candidates in response to its walking and bicycling candidate survey. Check out the responses from Jefferson Black, Sam Engel, Laura Freidman, Roland Kedikian, Herbert Molano, and Ara Najarian, and remember to vote on April 2nd!
 
Studio City: New bike lanes were striped on Moorpark in Studio City this weekend. LACBC member and Valley Bike Ambassador Douglas John sent us this photo of the new lanes.
Last Chance to Join LACBC's Climate Ride California Team

Experience an incredible 5-day bicycle ride in Northern California while supporting LACBC during Climate Ride California! 

 

How it works: First you register, reach the fundraising minimum and train for the ride, then come along and for an amazing riding, epic scenery, and great speakers for a remarkable experience. There is still time to join the LACBC team, but you will want to do so soon in order to allow enough time for you to raise funds!

 

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.

 

Can't ride but want to support the LACBC Climate Ride Team? Click on the names of our team riders and donate and help them reach their fundraising goals! Or make a donation to our general page.

Metro Introduces New Campaign: Every Lane Is a Bike Lane

Props to Metro for unveiling their new campaign "Every Lane Is a Bike Lane" this week. Find them on a billboard or bus near you! 

The Source reminds readers:

As per California Vehicle Code (CVC) 21200, which states that bicycle riders may use any lane in the street since they have the same rights and must follow the same laws as car drivers. Bicyclists may need the full lane to safely navigate specific road and traffic conditions. In addition, CVC 21202 sets out several situations in which bicyclists are specifically permitted to leave their usual position on the far right of the street:
  • To avoid obstacles and unsafe conditions (including the door zone along parallel-parked vehicles)
  • To pass another bicyclist, car or bus
  • To prepare for a left turn
  • To avoid an area where right turns are made
  • When traveling as fast or faster than other traffic at that time and place
  • When the lane is too narrow to share with a vehicle
LACBC and Local Advocates at the National Bike Summit in DC

If you've been wondering why things seem so quiet these days at LACBC headquarters, it is because half of the staff is not here. Jen Klausner, Colin Bogart, Eric Bruins, Alek Bartrosouf, Cynthia Rose from Santa Monica Spoke, and other local advocates have been in the nation's capital to strengthen the bicycling movement and advocate for more bicycle funding and support.

A storm may have shut down the federal government, but hasn't stopped bike advocates from rocking their neon bike pins and meeting with congress members and senators. Check out this update of Bicycle Retailer shadowing LACBC in DC.
Thanks for Joining the Sunday Funday Ride Exploring the Hollywood Hills

 

Thanks to all who came to our challenging Hollywood Hills Ride this past Sunday. Special thanks to our rider leader and board president Alex Amerri for organizing this ride.

 

Save the date for our next Sunday Funday Ride, which will be on Sunday, April 7th! More details to come in future newsletters.

Vote for Walk 'n Rollers to Win $5,000 Grant

Cast your vote today to help Walk 'n Rollers win a $5,000 grant from the Lakers Youth Foundation! The $5,000 grant would help more schools start a walk/bike to school program and allow WNR to host a Walk 'n Roll Festival this summer.  


Voting ends March 15th, so get your vote in today, and spread the word!
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.

What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Women's Bicycling Keeps the Momentum Rolling
National Bike Summit 2013: Women Are Biking More...How Do We Keep the Momentum Going?
National Bike Summit 2013: Women Are Biking More...How Do We Keep the Momentum Going?

Happy Women's History Month! It seems appropriate that the second National Women's Bicycling Forum took place this Monday in Washington DC before the National Bike Summit. Not only did DC celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the women's suffrage march on Sunday, but with the Women's Biycling Forum and National Bike Summit this week, DC is celebrating one of the great tools in women's history: the bicycle.

Susan B. Anthony once famously said: "Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood."   


More women are riding today. Check out this Streetfilms video which featured many active transportation leaders speaking on how to keep the momentum going and get more women on bikes. Look for local cameos from Cynthia Rose of Santa Monica Spoke and Long Beach's Elizabeth Williams of Cali Bike Tours, who have both been in Washington DC this week.
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities

 

Touring LA County with LACBC and Where to Bike LA: Three Rivers
When: Saturday, March 16; Meet at 8:30 AM, Ride at 9:00 AM
Where: John Anson Ford Park - 8000 Scout Avenue, Bell Gardens
Join LACBC and Where to Bike for a 44-mile ride to explore three of LA's rivers--the Rio Hondo, the Los Angeles and the San Gabriel. More info.
 
Union Station Bike Counts
When: Tuesday, March 19 and Saturday, March 23
Where: Union Station, Downtown LA (map)
Let's count some bikes at Union Station! We'll collect vital data on bike usage on Metrolink and Amtrak. Count shifts are: Tuesday, March 19, 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM; Saturday, March 23, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Email [email protected] to volunteer. Volunteers get a snazzy new LA Bike Count t-shirt!
 
Safe Routes to School Strategic Plan for Los Angeles
When: Thursday, March 21; 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Where: Caltrans Building, Conference Room 1.040B - 100 Main Street, Los Angeles 90012
LADOT invites you to review milestones and progress to date on the city's forthcoming Safe Routes to School Strategic Plan. More info.
 
LACBC Presents: How Bike-Friendly Places Are Made
When: Thursday, March 21; 7 PM
More info in newsletter.
 
Spring Street Parklets Study
When: Sunday, March 24 and Tuesday, March 26
Where: Spring Street (in between 6th and 7th Streets), Downtown Los Angeles
The Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC) is seeking volunteers to help conclude the Spring Street Parklet Impact Study. Using classic techniques, you will survey public life to help understand how these new public spaces create change in our neighborhoods. Volunteers will count pedestrians and cyclists, conduct interviews and map user activities. Volunteers will receive a a gift certificate to a local cafe, and a citation in the final report. Shifts are on: Sunday, March 24 from 8-10 AM, 12-2 PM, and5-7 PM and Tuesday, March 26 from 8-10 AM, 12-2 PM, and 5-7 PM. Orientation sessions are on session first: Sat, 3/23 3 pm and Sun 3/24 thru Sat, 3/30 10-11 am, 12-1pm, 2-3pm, 4-5pm. Sign up here. Questions? Email [email protected].
 
Los Angeles County Active Transportation Coalition Meeting 
When: Wednesday, March 27; 2 PM
Where: Wallis Annenberg Building - 800 Exposition Park, Los Angeles, 90037
The Los Angeles County Active Transportation Coalition will hold its first meeting with leaders from the business, labor, education, health, and environmental communities to discuss the next steps to improve the built environment for those walking and biking. More info.
 
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]

 

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