LACBC
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter

April 4, 2013 

In this issue
Vote to Make LA Businesses More Bike-Friendly
Sunday Funday Ride: Field Trip to the WeHoBC Sharrows Ride
ACTION ITEM: Keep the Spring Street Bike Lane Green
$3 Billion Streets Bond Goes on the Road
Bike Updates from around the County: Show Rowena Businesses that Bikes Mean Business
Climate Ride: Enter to Win Free Registration and a Laemmle Theatres Movie Pass by Tomorrow
LA River Ride: Become Top Fundraiser and Win a Bike Trip to Tuscany
CicLAvia - To the Sea Is Coming
This Week's Tip: Riding with a Group (at CicLAvia)!
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Long Beach's Bike-Friendly Business District Program
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
Vote to Make LA Businesses More Bike-Friendly

Thanks for all of you who have voted for our team's submission for the My LA2050 Initiative! If you were having difficulties voting before, please try voting again.

Green Octopus Consulting has teamed up with LACBC and Los Angeles Streetsblog on a proposal called What's the BF(B)D? Connecting Neighborhoods through Bicycle-Friendly Business Districts for the My LA2050 Challenge, which aims to shape the future of Los Angeles.

A bicycle-friendly business district (BFBD) is where a community comes together around bicycles to bike to area shops and restaurants--and where merchants and employees ride, too. BFBDs improve local economies by strengthening connections between residents and their local businesses, increasing small business revenues, and improving neighborhood vitality and connectedness, all the while improving public safety, environmental health, and GLH - Gross Local Happiness.

Voting closes on Wednesday, April 17th, at 12 noon. Also, spread the word to your friends, family, fellow bicyclists, and business owners through the Facebook event.
Sunday Funday Ride: Field Trip to the WeHoBC Sharrows Ride

WeHoSharrows 

This April, for Sunday Funday, we're going to take a field trip to support our local chapter West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition on the Fountain Ave. Sharrows Ride! Bike advocates and City staff in West Hollywood have worked hard to add Sharrows to Fountain Ave., and now it's time to celebrate! So join WeHoBC for this short, family-friendly 4-mile ride and celebration!

 

When: Saturday, April 7; Meet at 10 AM, Ride at 10:15 AM

Where: Meet at WeHo City Hall parking lot - 8300 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood

RSVP: We encourage you to RSVP directly to WeHoBC's Facebook event.

 

Want to support WeHoBC? Become a WeHoBC/LACBC member online (make sure to select 'West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition' as your local chapter) or purchase a membership at the ride at an event discounted rate.

ACTION ITEM: Keep the Spring Street Bike Lane Green

It's no longer a rumor when it makes the LA Times, and we're sad to say it's true. After relentless lobbying by the film industry, the City is considering letting the green Spring Street bike lane fade away. This is despite LACBC's counts showing that the green lane  greatly increased the number of women riding on Spring Street, which is critical if LA is to become a city in which "interested but concerned" people are willing to ride.

 

Downtown has gone through an amazing transformation over the past decade. Unfortunately, the film industry has not kept up with the times. Instead of Hollywood's backlot, downtown is a neighborhood with 50,000 residents and 500,000 workers. Spring Street through the Historic Core (home to LACBC's HQ) is one of the most filmed streets in LA, standing in for cities all over the world. But unlike a film set, our streets change over time to meet the needs of the community. The green lane has paved the way for a streets renaissance with parklets and continental crosswalks following just this year. This has been good for residents, good for businesses, and good for the City's tax base.

 

We are proud of our green lane and the message it sends that bicyclists matter on even our busiest streets. But ultimately it's a safety treatment. In high traffic areas, the green draws attention to bicyclists and helps keep drivers out of the bike lane. It makes people more comfortable riding through downtown, creating a positive feedback loop wherein having more bicyclists makes bicycling safer.

 

Please let Mayor Villaraigosa and Councilman Huizar know that you support the green lane!

 

Bcc: [email protected]

Subject: Keep Spring Street Green!

 

Dear Mayor Villaraigosa and Councilman Huizar,

 

As cities from coast to coast add color to their streets, I'm disappointed to hear that LA is considering removing ours. I urge you to keep the Spring Street bike lane green so that it can continue to attract "interested but concerned" bicyclists to ride downtown. Our city streets shouldn't just be accessible to people at special events like CicLAvia. We need to use the best tools available to make riding our streets safe and welcoming every day.

 

While Downtown LA is a stand-in for cities around the world, it is also a neighborhood for over 50,000 Angelenos. Other cities are competing for our creative talent that increasingly seeks out the urban lifestyle available in Downtown. We can't afford to be held back by an industry that refuses to adapt. The green bike lane, parklets, and continental crosswalks all contribute to a vibrate streetscape that makes Downtown worth living and working in. The ultimate irony is that our peers in New York, Chicago, and many other American cities are ahead of us in implementing these street projects, yet we are told that we can't improve our streets because then we wouldn't look like them on the silver screen.

 

Please keep LA competitive as a bike-friendly city by keeping our most distinctive piece of infrastructure and giving it a fresh coat of paint.

 

Sincerely,

 

<your name>

<your address>

ACTION ITEM: $3 Billion Street Bond Goes on the Road

 

Councilman Joe Buscaino (CD15) announced this week that he is taking his Public Works Committee on a series of hearings around the City to gather public feedback on his proposal for a $3 billion general obligation bond to reconstruct the 8,700 lane-miles of streets that are in failed or near failed condition. When the idea was first floated in January, LA Walks and LACBC, along with over 20 other advocates and organizations, responded swiftly, calling for any new revenue to be put toward complete streets, not just rebuilding our 20th century infrastructure.

 

The downtown one of this new series of hearings was last night and LA Walks and LACBC were again represented, reminding Councilmember Buscaino of our recommendations to incorporate complete streets, sidewalks, and multimodal performance measures into the program. Now it's your turn to call for complete streets when the hearings reach your neighborhood. You can read our policy brief or jump straight to some talking points to use at your local hearing.

 

Please email [email protected] for more information.

 

Public Works Committee Special Meeting Schedule

 

Harbor

When: Monday, April 8; 6 PM
Where: Port of Los Angeles Administration Building - 425 S Palos Verdes St., San Pedro, 90731

 

Valley

When: Tuesday, April 16; 6 PM
Where: Van Nuys City Hall - 14410 Sylvan St., Van Nuys, 91401
 

  

West

When: Tuesday, April 23; 6 PM
Where: West Los Angeles Municipal Bldg. - 1645 Corinth Ave., Los Angeles, 90025
 

 

South

When: Thursday, April 25; 6 PM
Where: Location TBD
 

  

East

When: Tuesday, April 30; 6 PM
Where: Location TBD

Bike Updates from around the County: Show Rowena Businesses that Bikes Mean Business

Rowena
 
Bikes Mean Business on Rowena

When: Sunday, April 14; Meet at 11:00 AM, ride at 11:30 AM

More info: Visit the ride's Facebook Event or email Alek Bartrosouf at [email protected].

 

Northeast LA: At Tuesday's Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council meeting, where the NC voted 12-0 in support of the proposed buffered bike lanes on Colorado! Check out a recap from Rick Risemberg at the Flying Pigeon Blog. 


MyFig
South LA: This week the MyFigueroa project unveiled new streetscape designs that include cycletracks and transit lines. Come to the updated streetscape design presentation on Tuesday, April 9 at 5:30 PM at Andrew Norman Hall Orthopaedic Hospital at 2400 S. Flower St., Los Angeles, 90007 to learn more. More info.
Climate Ride Enter Win Free Registration and a Laemmle Theatres Movie Pass by Tomorrow, April 5

As part of Laemmle Theatres' commitment to green energy and sustainable transit, Laemmle has a new contest that could have you riding the scenic Northern California coast as part of Team LACBC, with Laemmle making the $2,400 required donation and/or covering registration for your ride and granting you a Laemmle Theatres pass for the rest of 2013! 

Here's your chance to ride with LACBC board member Greg Laemmle and Team LACBC on the ride of a lifetime!

There are 4 prizes in total, including:
  • 3 Second Prize Winners
    • win an Unlimited Laemmle Movie Pass for the remainder of 2013 (good for you and a guest to any regular screening at any of Laemmle Theatres' seven locations)
    • win free registration to Climate Ride California, May 19-23, and ride with our fearless leader and cycling advocate Greg Lemmle as part of Team LACBC. Riding with Greg Laemmle and the team is an experience you will not soon forget!
  • 1 Grand Prize Winner
    • win all of the above, plus receive $2,400 as a contribution to their Climate Ride from Laemmle Theatres.

To be eligible, you must enter the contest using the form. You must include a statement on "why you want to ride with Greg Laemmle." Winning statements will be chosen by a panel of judges.

 

Enter the contest by Friday, April 5th at laemmle.com/Ride.

    

How Climate Ride works: 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. 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 and/or make a donation to our team.

LA River Ride: Become Top Fundraiser and Win a Bike Trip to Tuscany

LACBC's biggest ride returns on Sunday, June 9th.  

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 or Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach

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.

 

Become the Top Fundraiser and Win a Bike Trip to Tuscany

 

Want to support the work of LACBC and our efforts to complete the LA River Bike and Pedestrian Path by the year 2020? Ask your friends, family, and acquaintances to support you as you ride the LA River Ride and become a River Ride Fundraiser.

 

Thanks to our friends at VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, our top fundraiser will win a bike trip to Tuscany, Italy. We'll have other prizes for our runners-up, including a set of DT Swiss wheels.

 

Register to become a fundraiser here. Click on "Individuals: Click Here to build your personal fundraising page" on the right side to begin fundraising!

 

Learn more about fundraising and the prizes, get tips, and more on the LACBC website.

 

Volunteer for the River Ride

 

YOU make the LA River Ride possible! We need volunteers on the day of the ride for marshaling, registration, set-up, and more, but we'll also need your help before the event for things like the REI wristband pick-up and goody bag stuffing. Check out River Ride volunteer opportunities at la-bike.org/riverridevolunteer and email [email protected] to sign up. River Ride volunteers may have the opportunity to ride the River Ride for free.

CicLAvia - To the Sea Is Coming
CicLAvia

Get ready for 15 miles of open road that will connect downtown Los Angeles to the beach through Venice Boulevard's transformation into a car-free, linear park for strolling, biking, playing, and exploring the city from a new perspective.

Free of charge and open to everyone, we hope you come and invite your friends.

CicLAvia - To the Sea 
When: Sunday, April 21; 10 AM to 3 PM 
Where: Venice, Mar Vista, Culver City, Mid-City, MacArthur Park, Downtown Los Angeles (map)

 

Volunteer for CicLAvia
 
LACBC is once again coordinating volunteer efforts for CicLAvia. If you'd like to help with pre-production or during the event, please email [email protected].

This Week's Tip: Riding with a Group (at CicLAvia)!

 

CicLAvia is just about two weeks away. Everyone's getting excited about a new route and spending another glorious Sunday sharing the

streets with thousands of people walking, riding a bike, running, skating, dancing, eating,people watching, you name it...  Riding your bike in a group is different from riding by yourself or even 1 or 2 friends. Here are a few reminders to help make sure your time at CicLAvia is all smiles and fond memories. More detail is on the LACBC blog.

  • Ride on the right. Yes, the road is closed to cars, but you should still ride on the right side of the street to maintain the natural flow.
  • Look before you change direction. Avoid sudden moves and sharp turns - remember there are people all around you. Signal or verbalize your turns.
  • Move to the right before you stop. Don't just stop in the middle of the road - people behind might crash into you.
  • Watch for young children. Expect them to be unpredictable and give them space.
  • Shift down before the up-hill. Make your climb easier and avoid dropping your chain caused by shifting on the hill.
  • Give space when going downhill. Higher speed means you need more space between you and the person in front of you, just in case they fall.
  • Slow down and relax. It's not a race and there's going to be a crowd. Take it easy and enjoy the day.
  • Be courteous to others on the road. Be especially courteous to people trying to cross the street on foot. Remember that not everyone is riding a bike.
  • Help the volunteers at soft closures and all along the route. Stop when they ask you to stop.
  • Smile!
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Long Beach's Bike-Friendly Business District Program
Long Beach Creates Nation's First Bicycle-Friendly Business Program
Long Beach Creates Nation's First Bicycle-Friendly Business Program

Nearby Long Beach is the home of the nation's first Bicycle-Friendly Business District program. With funding and support, the BFBD program has thrived and supports small businesses while encouraging folks to be healthier and more environmentally friendly by riding their bikes.

Check out this video on Long Beach's BFBD program to see what a makes successful BFBD!

Can you imagine what other areas of LA County could be like with a BFBD program? Remember to vote for our team's My LA2050 Challenge project to help bikes and businesses thrive together!
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities

 

 

Glendale Mayor's Bike Ride
When: Saturday, April 6; 9 AM
Where: Glendale City Hall, Parcher Plaza - 613 E. Broadway, Glendale
Join Glendale Mayor Frank Quintero and local chapter Walk Bike Glendale for a leisurely morning ride around Glendale. See Facebook event.
 
Sunday Funday Ride: Field Trip to WeHoBC Sharrows Ride
When: Sunday, April 7; 10 AM
More info in newsletter.

  

MyFigueroa Streetscape Design Presentation

When: Tuesday, April 9; 5:30 PM

More info in newsletter.

  

Dale Bros. Social with PVBC

When: Friday, April 12; 5 PM tp 9 PM

Where: Dale Bros. - 2120 Porterfield Way, Upland, 91786

Come join local chapter Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition at Dale Bros. Brewery to raise funds (and beer glasses) for Bike Month in May. Dos Chinos food truck will be the main food attraction. There will be prizes, raffles and bikes! Coates Cyclery has generously offered to buy the first 30 drinks for the first 30 PVBC/LACBC members who show up. See Facebook Event.

 

Tour de Carson

When: Saturday, April 13; 9 AM to 1 PM

Where: Carson City Hall - 701 E. Carson St., Carson

You're invited to Tour de Carson, a bike tour and festival hosted by the City of Carson, in partnership with LACBC. The event includes a bike tour guided by Ride Marshals for beginner, intermediate, and expert bicyclists, educational bicycle safety and maintenance sessions, a children's health fair, opportunities to view and comment on the City's Draft Master Plan of Bikeways, and more. Please RSVP here for free by Wednesday, April 10, and spread the word via the Facebook event.

 

Bikes Mean Business on Rowena

When: Sunday, April 14; Meet at 11 AM, Ride at 11:30

More info in newsletter.

  

Touring LA County with LACBC & Where to Bike: LA Roubaix
When: Sunday, April 14; Meet at 8:30 AM; ride at 9:00 AM

Where: The Trails Cafe - 2333 Fern Dell Drive, Los Angeles

Join LACBC and Where to Bike for a 35-mile LA Roubaix, the Los Angeles equivalent of Paris Roubaix (pronounced 'ru-BAY' and a springtime, Easter tradition in France). The ride will take us into car-free, backcountry areas of Griffith Park, to Silver Lake, through the city's second-largest park, Elysian Park, and swing past Echo Park Lake. We'll finish our loop at The Trails Cafe, where we can dig into well-deserved treats like fresh-squeezed lemonade, great coffee, home-baked quiches, apple pie and cookies, plus amazing avocado sandwiches. More info.

 

CicLAvia - To the Sea
When: Sunday, April 21; 10 AM to 3 PM
More info in newsletter.
 
Bike to Work Week
When: Monday, May 13 through Friday, May 17
Where: throughout LA County
Save the date for Bike to Work Week!
 
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