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Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter
March 14, 2013
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LACBC Presents: How Bike-Friendly Places Are Made
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.
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LACBC Returns from Washington DC and National Bike Summit Our LACBC staff survived the snowquester and is back from DC with stories to tell! Our staffers--Jen Klausner, Eric Bruins, Colin Bogart, and Alek Bartrosouf--attended the League of American Bicyclists' National Bike Summit, where the theme this year was "Bikes Mean Business." Our staff was also joined by Cynthia Rose of Santa Monica Spoke, LACBC board member April Economides (who co-presented on Bike-Friendly Business Districts and Bike Tourism), and Dan Dabek from C.I.C.L.E.
Read more about some of the highlights from the trip on the LACBC blog. |
Bike Updates from around the County: New Bike Lanes and Crosswalks on Rowena
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Photo: LADOT Bike Program
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Silver Lake: The weekend, new bike lanes were striped on Rowena Ave., between Hyperion and Glendale, in Silver Lake. Highly visible continental crosswalks were also added, as part of a 90-day trial "road diet" (also known as a road buffet since it offers so many delicious options). Community input will be sought during these 90 days. A celebration with councilmember Tom LaBonge will be held this Friday, March 15th at 8 AM at Fire Station 56 at 2759 Rowena Avenue.
Santa Monica: Help make Michigan Avenue in Santa Monica a safer and more welcoming place for all road users! Come to this community workshop this Saturday, March 16 at 9:30 AM at Virgina Park to learn more about the Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway! More info at SMSpoke.org.
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 Friedman, Roland Kedikian, Herbert Molano, and Ara Najarian, and remember to vote on April 2nd!
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Adios, Megan Dean!
| Photo: Urban Velo |
We send our best wishes to our former Metro Bike Locker Coordinator Megan Dean who, after almost 5 years at LACBC, has moved on to greener pastures and more time for building bike frames through her company Moth Attack.
Thank you, Megan, for your years of service at LACBC, and for occasionally helping us fix our bikes! We will miss you and our vegan cupcake runs. |
Provide Input on LA's Draft Bicycle Enhanced Networks by End of the Month
LACBC encourages you all to provide input on Los Angeles' draft Bicycle-Enhanced Networks by Sunday, March 31. Your input will shape the proposals that will be studied in the environmental review process, which will kick off in April 2013 with scoping meetings. We will let you know when this meetings take place. Until then, take the online survey and contribute to the city's mobility plan.
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Help LACBC's Climate Ride Team Surge Ahead
Did you know that the top individual fundraiser for Climate Ride California is our very own LACBC board member Greg Laemmle? And LACBC's Climate Ride Team is 3rd in team donations. Help our team surge ahead by joining the team or donating to any of our awesome team riders!
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.
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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 TOMORROW, on March 15th, so get your vote in today, and spread the word! |
13th Annual Los Angeles River Ride on June 9th LACBC's biggest ride returns on Sunday, June 9th.
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: Lock Your Bike!
The sad truth is that most stolen bikes are not recovered by their owners. Here's what you can do to prevent your bike from being stolen in the first place.
- Get a good lock, preferrably a u-lock. A good lock might be expensive for your budget, but it's cheaper than another bike. Cable locks are not very reliable, except as a supplement to a u-lock.
- Use your lock! Never leave your bike unattended, even for a minute.
- Be sure to lock your bike to a solid fixture and make sure your bike can't be lifted up and over it.
- When locking your bike, be sure to secure the frame and at least one wheel. A cable with your u-lock makes it easy to secure the second wheel and your saddle. A quick-release on your front wheel makes it easy to remove the wheel and lock it with your back wheel and frame.
- Secure anything with a quick-release or that can be removed. Otherwise, take it with you.
Next week we'll talk about where to lock your bike. |
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Bike-Friendly Business Districts
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Bikes Mean Business: Bike Friendly Business District
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If you've been paying attention to this newsletter, you'll recall that the theme of the National Bike Summit was "Bikes Mean Business." Our own LACBC board member April Economides co-presented with Jim Sayer from Adventure Cycling on Bike-Friendly Business Districts and Bike Tourism. In addition to working on the first BFBD in her hometown of Long Beach, April has also consulted on BFBDs in San Diego, which is building the largest BFBD in the country.
In this video on San Diego BFBDs, April and Business Improvement District Council CEO Tiffany Bromfield speak about about the benefits of bicycling for local businesses and the community as a whole. |
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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.
"Every Lane is a Bike Lane" Press Conference
When: Monday, March 18; 10 AM
Where: Metro Headquarters at Patsaouras Plaza - One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, 90012 (map)
You and your bike are invited to join Metro to celebrate the unveiling of the "Every Lane Is a Bike Lane" Campaign! LACBC will be there too.
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
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 RideWhen: Sunday, June 9More info in newsletter.
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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 Director Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition
[email protected] |
Let's be friends! Connect with LACBC: www.la-bike.org |
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