LACBC
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter

May 16, 2013 

In this issue
Bike Month: Happy Bike to Work Day! Join Us for After Parties Today and More Events this Month
Bike the Vote: City of L.A. Run-off Election Is Tuesday, May 21
Bike News from around the County: Santa Monica Receives Silver Level Designation as Bicycle Friendly Community
ACTION ITEM: Attend ASNC Meetings & Send Letter of Support for Ride Figueroa
ACTION ITEM: Westmont Drive Bike Lanes in San Pedro at Risk of Being Removed
LACBC Executive Director Jennifer Klausner Chosen as One of L.A. Weekly's People 2013
Climate Ride: Thank You and Good Luck to Team LACBC Climate Riders
LA River Ride: Less Than Four Weeks Until River Ride
LACBC Kit: The Super Secret Bottoms Sale
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Kids Rap about "My Bike"
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
Bike Month: Happy Bike to Work Day! Join Us for After Parties Today and More Events this Month
BikeWeek
Happy Bike to Work Day! Thanks to Metro, all the pit stop organizers, and everyone who rode their bikes today. Check out photos from our morning pit stop on the LACBC Facebook page.

Join LACBC and local chapters later today for the Bike from Work After Parties and check out other events this month.

  

Bike from Work After Parties with LACBC and Local Chapters

When: Thursday, May 16; late afternoon and evening

Where: throughout L.A. County

Join LACBC and our local chapters at local restaurants throughout the L.A. County to eat and hang out after work. More info  

 

Check out these local after parties:

 

LACBC
When: Thursday May 16; 5pm to 8 pm
Where: Pete's Cafe & Bar - 4th and Main, Downtown L.A.
Come by to hang out, plus get the cyclist's special of a slider, small fry, and Angel City beer for $5. See Facebook event.

Downey Bicycle Coalition
When: Thursday, May 16; 5:30 pm to 8 pm
Where: Uncle Henry's - Old River School and Florence

Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition

When: Thursday, May 16; 5 pm to whenever!
Where: The Press - downtown Claremont

Happy hour all night! Tons of bike racks.


Walk Bike Glendale
When: Thursday, May 16; 5:30 pm to 8 pm
Where:  BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - 101 N. Brand Blvd, Glendale

Santa Monica Spoke
When: Thursday, May 16; 5 pm to 9 pm
Where:  Pono Burger - 829 Broadway., Santa Monica
More info.


 Hammer

Bike Night at the Hammer

When: Friday, May 17; 6 PM

Where: Hammer Museum - 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, 90024

The Hammer Presents Bike Night! Grab some friends and pedal on over for an evening celebrating all things bicyclistic! Free festivities include bicycle portraits, a screening of the 1983 Australian action movie BMX Bandits (starring a young, not-yet-famous Nicole Kidman), bicycle-centric crafts, and free admission to LLYN FOULKES. Guest hosted by artist and bicycle enthusiast/activist Lisa Anne Auerbach. More info. Join our Central Neighborhood Bike Ambassadors on a feeder ride from East Hollywood.

 

Metro's Bike Local Weekend

When: Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 19

Bike to great destinations during Bike Local Weekend and mention "Bike Week" for a fun discount! More info

Touring 

Touring L.A. County with LACBC & Where to Bike: Mulholland Highway to Pedalers Fork

When: Sunday, May 19; Meet at 8:30 A.M.; ride at 9:00 A.M.

Where: Pedalers Fork - 23504 Calabasas Road, Calabasas

We invite you to join us on a tour celebrating Bike Week. We'll ride along Mulholland Highway, a historic two-lane road running east to west in the Santa Monica Mountains. This ride passes by the rugged peaks made famous in opening scenes of M*A*S*H, Malibou Lake (a scenic 1920s hunting lodge area), the fabled Rock Store Climb, Westlake Road, and wrap up at in Calabasas with a visit to Pedalers Fork, a newly opened, cyclo-centric eatery and watering hole.

Zimmer 

Balance, Push, and Pedal!
When: Sunday, May 19; 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
LACBC will be hosting a kids' bike event at the Zimmer Children's Museum this Sunday. We've got a handful of push bikes. We've got bicycle coloring books. And we've got safety tips for the parents. Come on out with your little ones!
 
PocketGuide

CA Road Rules for Bicyclists from Five Perspectives

When: Wednesday, May 22; 7 - 8:30 PM 
Where: LACBC Headquarters, Edison Room (1st Floor) - 634 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, 90014
Join LACBC as we welcome five speakers to give us their insight into California's bicycle rules and how those affect you, what you should know, as well as your rights and responsibilities as a bicyclist. This presentation coincides with the introduction of LACBC's new "Bike Safe" rules of the road pocket guide (copies of which will be distributed at the event). The presentation will include a Q & A session at the end. Free for LACBC members, $10 for general public. More info. RSVP to the Facebook Event.
BiciLibrary 
Bike Repair Workshop hosted by Bici Libre and LAPL
When: Saturday, May 25; 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Where: Central Library, Thornton Courtyard - 630 W. Fifth Street (enter on 5th through gate)
Join Bici Libre and the Los Angeles Public Library a free bike repair workshop at the L.A. Central Library. Come to a Or, ride your bike from any location! You can also take Metro to Pershing Square. Sponsored by LACBC, Bici Libre, and the Teen'Scape and Science Department of the Los Angeles Public Library. We thank Nestle and the California Endowment for their donations.
 

Bike to Vote: City of L.A. Run-off Election Is Next Tuesday, May 21

Election 

With the May 21st run-off elections approaching, and are you wondering where your Los Angeles candidates stand on bike and pedestrian policy? How about the hit-and-run epidemic? Bike Plan implementation? Road maintenance?

 

While LACBC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and cannot endorse candidates, we can get candidates' views on bike planning and policy to better inform voters on where these candidates stand on issues that affect you. You can find our voting resources at la-bike.org/vote

 

And bike the vote on Tuesday, May 21st. (Find your polling place and sample ballot here.)

 

LA Mayoral Candidate Surveys

Click on the names below to read the mayoral candidates' responses. They have been posted in the order in that they were received.


LA Mayoral Candidate Videos

Streetsblog interviewed each of the five major mayoral candidates on camera. Questions were provided by Streetsblog, LACBC, the Bus Riders Union, Los Angeles Walks, Southern California Transit Advocates, and Occidental College's UEPI. Check out videos for Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel here.

 

LA City Council Candidate Surveys

Below is your list of leading Los Angeles council candidates. You'll find links to surveys from candidates that have filled out their candidates in the order they were received.

 

Council District 1

Council District 9

Council District 13

 

LA Council District 1 Candidate Forum Videos

You can view the the entire CD 1 (currently Ed Reyes' district) forum on Streetsblog TV. Also, view post-forum interviews with each of the candidates: Gil Cedillo and Jose Gardea.

Bike News from Around the County: Santa Monica Receives Silver Level Designation as Bicycle Friendly Community
Photo: SM Spoke
Photo: SM Spoke

Santa Monica: Congratulations to the City of Santa Monica, which moved up from Bronze to Silver as a Bicycle Friendly Community! The City was honored at a ceremony yesterday evening. Walkscore has also ranked Santa Monica is also the 5th most bike-friendly city with a Bike Score of 82.5. Read more on the Santa Monica Spoke website!

Want to help Santa Monica become even more bike friendly and go for Gold? Become a member of local chapter Santa Monica Spoke when you become an LACBC member.
ACTION ITEM: Attend ASNC Meetings & Send Letters of Support for Support Ride Figueroa

The Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council is gearing up to support or reject the proposed bike lanes on N. Figueroa. While we did not get support from Highland Park Neighborhood Council for these bike lanes, we hope to change things around with Arroyo Seco. If you live in the neighborhood (or nearby) please attend these upcoming meetings and express your support. 

LACBC will attend and present our petition, but having speakers there in person will make ALL the difference. Thursday's meeting is a 'local issues committee' meeting that may make a recommendation to the greater Arroyo Seco board, and they meet on Monday. This is a very short turnaround so please, mark your calendars and plan to attend BOTH meetings. The ultimate decision may be made on Monday.

Please come to these Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council meetings about the bike lanes on N. Fig. We hope you can make it!

Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council Local Issues Committee Meeting
When: Thursday, May 16; 8 PM - TONIGHT!
Where: Montecito Heights Senior Center - 4545 Horner Street (map)
y 20 at 7 p.m.
ASNC Board Meeting
When: Monday, May 20; 7 PM
Where: Ramona Hall - 4580 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, 90065

Also, can you help us reach out to BOTH council offices to show your support for these improvements? If you already sent one to the Highland Park NC, please forward it along to the council offices via email below.

Please stay positive in your emails.

Councilmember Reyes (N. Fig south of York)

Councilmember Huizar's (N. Fig north of York)

Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council (click here for all contacts)

If you want to help out with outreach in the community in the next month or two, please Alek Bartrosouf directly at [email protected].

ACTION ITEM: Westmont Drive Bike Lanes in San Pedro at Risk of Being Removed

LA Councilman Joe Buscaino's office has been responding to increased criticism for the implementation of bike lanes on Westmont Drive between Western and Gaffey (map here). The Daily Breeze has been covering the story. The latest article summarizes the intensity of folks who want to remove the recently added bike lanes.  

In the article there is mention of a protest at the corner of Westmont and Western on Monday May 20th at 4 p.m.  We are asking all local bicyclists and supporters to ride the route with bike lanes at that time in solidarity with Buscaino's vision for a safer and more bike-friendly San Pedro. Can you join? Let us know. 

Allyson is leading the charge. She will be at the northwestern-most corner of the Albertsons parking lot at Westmont and Western. If you have any trouble finding her call her at 310-567-2345. 

Beyond that, I encourage everyone to contact Councilman Buscaino's office to express support for the installation of these bike lanes and their traffic-calming effect. The councilman has been hearing a lot of negative reactions and he needs to hear from bicyclists and those who want to calm traffic and make it safer for all users. BE POSITIVE in your emails, please.

Email these folks...


Lastly, we are organizing Bike Ambassadors for the San Pedro area of Los Angeles.  Please email me directly if you would like to participate in volunteer-led group of the LACBC to advocate for south bay local bike issues.
LACBC Executive Director Jennifer Klausner Chosen as One of L.A. Weekly's People 2013
Photo: Kevin Scanlon
Photo: Kevin Scanlon

Our own executive director Jen Klausner has been featured as one of L.A. Weekly's People 2013! In her profile, Jen reveals her first experience with bike advocacy in the early '90s, her days working in marketing for the toy industry, and how she became LACBC's E.D. in 2007!

"I got berated on the steps of City Hall," Jen says about going to a Santa Monica City Council meeting in the '90s to speak up for bikes, "by a woman with the keys to a Volvo in her hand, who told me, 'You'll never have a real job you can ride your bike to.' And I was, like, 'You watch me.'"

Read the rest of her profile here.
Climate Ride: Thank You and Good Luck to the Team LACBC Climate Riders

Team LACBC is the highest fundraising team so far for the California Climate Ride that rides along the Northern California coast this Sunday! Thank you to Yvonne Ascher, John Cork, Kathy Gelardi, Laurie Gelardi, Marc Horwitz, Leonard Laub, Lisa Liberati, Michael Rippens, and our team captain Greg Laemmle for raising over $34,000 for LACBC and other environmental nonprofits. We wish you all the best of luck on your bike journeys next week! You all rock!
 

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 make a donation to the LACBC team.

L.A. River Ride: Less than Four Weeks Until River Ride

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! All rides are supported with volunteer ride marshals. We have: 
    • 100-mile Century Ride
    • 70-mile Park-to-Playa Ride
    • 70-mile Playa-to-Park Reverse Ride (starting and ending in Long Beach)
    • 50-mile Half-Century Ride
    • 36-mile Training Ride
    • 25-mile Long Beach Loop Ride (starting and ending in Long Beach) - NEW this year
    • 15-mile Family Ride
    • Kids' Bike Rodeo
  • 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.

Learn more about the River Ride at la-bike.org/riverride.

 

Fundraising Update: Neck-and-Neck Race to Win Bike Tour of Tuscany

  

Just when we thought that Tish Laemmle had run away with the lead for the VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations bike tour of Tuscany, Carrie Ungerman has now claimed the top spot! Who will win the ultimate bike vacation? Will other contenders Douglas John, Team Hopps, and Sebouh Asparian rise up to challenge them? Who will win the cool bikes? So much intrigue in the race to crown our River Ride Fundraising Champion!  

 

Thanks to our friends at VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, our top fundraiser will win a bike trip to Tuscany, Italy. We also have a prize for the fundraiser who gets the most people to donate to the cause: a bike from DTLA Bikes. Runner-up prizes include a New Belgium Brewing Cruiser Bike and signed copies of Where to Bike Los Angeles. Prizes are guaranteed for meeting fundraising minimums at $100 (a pair of LACBC socks), $250 (a 2013 River Ride Jersey), $500 (entry into the River Ride VIP tent and beer garden, which includes New Belgium beer, food, massages, and some very important people), $1000 (recognition for your fundraising at the LACBC donor and supporter party in December) and $5000 (a custom vintage cocktail mixology, tea ceremony, or dinner with our Executive Director Jen Klausner and Board President Alex Amerri).

 

There's still time to join this competition! 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 at la-bike.org/RRfundraising.

 

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.

LACBC Kit: The Super Secret Bottoms Sale

We're putting on a "Super Secret Bottoms Sale!" of the LACBC Clothing after popular demand. This is a sale of bottoms only for people who only ordered tops but now want matching shorts, or for those that have been buying their jerseys which are for sale a Helen's Cycles. The sale is limited to: bib shorts, women's shorts, men's shorts, and socks. The order window is from now until Friday May 31st, expected delivery early August or maybe sooner! Local pick up available, and shipping has been reduced to $10! Order now at teamlacbc.org!
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Kids Rap about "My Bike"
Y.N.RichKids - My Bike
Y.N.RichKids - My Bike

Kids these days! You're worried that they're spending too much time on social media, but you're pleased to know that they're driving less than previous generations. So let's combine two characteristics of this generation by featuring a YouTube music video about riding bikes. The Y.N.RichKids, a rap group of tweens, have just released a video for "My Bike," an ode to their favorite form of transportation!

Also, for those of you wondering why these tweens aren't wearing helmets (legally required in the State of California for kids under 18), Y.N.RichKids are from Minnesota, where there are no bike helmet laws. We'll try to get them copies of the LACBC Bike Safe pocket guide if they ever venture to L.A.
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
  
Bike Night at the Hammer
When: Friday, May 17; 7 PM
More info in newsletter.

  

Touring L.A. County with LACBC and Where to Bike: Mulholland Highway to Pedalers Fork

When: Sunday, May 19; Meet at 8:30 AM, ride at 9:00 AM
More info in newsletter.

 

Museums of the Arroyo Day

When: Sunday, May 19; 12 PM to 5 PM

Where: Northeast L.A. and Pasadena

Museums of the Arroyo Day is where five museums located in Los Angeles and Pasadena open their doors--free of charge--from noon to 5. Event organizers are encouraging folks to ride their bikes from site-to-site. More info.  

 

Balance, Push, and Pedal!

When: Sunday, May 19; 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
More info in newsletter.
 
Bike the Vote: L.A. City Run-Off Election
When: Tuesday, May 21
More info in newsletter.

CA Road Rules for Bicyclists from Five Perspectives
When: Wednesday, May 22; 7 to 8:30 PM
More info in newsletter.

 

Bike Repair Workshop hosted by Bici Libre and LAPL
When: Saturday, May 25; 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
More info in newsletter.
 
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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