LACBC
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter

May 30, 2013 

In this issue
Arroyo Seco Sunday Funday Ride for Kids and Parents this Weekend
L.A. River Ride: Wristband Pickup at REI this Weekend, Pre-Registration Ends Wednesday
ACTION ITEM: Sign Petition to Keep Spring Street Green
ACTION ITEM: Save the Westmont Bike Lanes in San Pedro
ACTION ITEM: Send Letters of Support for N. Figueroa
Ride Colorado: Come to Meeting Next Monday
LACBC Kit: The Super Secret Bottoms Sale
Highlights from CA Road Rules for Bicyclists from Five Perspectives
Bici Libre Brings Mobile Mechanics Workshop to Central Library
Meet Andy and the Aus, LACBC Super Volunteers!
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Parking Lot Throwdown Still Rings Our Bike Bells
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
Arroyo Seco Sunday Funday Ride for Kids and Parents this Weekend
SundayFunday
The next Sunday Funday Ride will be the perfect ride for young children and their parents and guardians! Led by LACBC board member Lourdes Lopez, this short 2-mile ride will take families down the bike path from Arroyo Seco Park to Hermon Dog Park and back!

Arroyo Seco Sunday Funday Ride for Kids and Parents
When: Sunday, June 2; meet at 9 AM, ride at 9:30 AM
Where: Meet at Arroyo Seco Park's parking lot by Arroyo Seco Stables - 118 Marmion Way, South Pasadena

Children must be accompanied by an adult, and all riders must wear their helmets. Bring water and sunscreen. The ride should be finished by 11 AM.

RSVP: To RSVP or volunteer as ride support, please contact Carol Feucht, LACBC Membership & Communications Director, at carol@la-bike.org or RSVP to the Facebook event.

About Sunday Fundays: Sunday Funday Rides are free to LACBC members plus one guest. Interested in becoming a member? Sign up for membership online or become a member at the ride at a discounted price.

L.A. River Ride: Wristband Pickup at REI this Weekend, Pre-Registration Ends Wednesday

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. Pre-registration ends Wednesday, June 5th!

 WristbandREI

Pick Up Your Wristband at REI

 

If you'd like to pick up your wristband early or register in person, you can do so at local select REIs the first weekend in June! Picking up your wristband at REI has special benefits! Not only will you avoid lines on Ride Day, you will get free swag (like a water bottle) courtesy of REI and be entered into a special raffle to win a bike commuter package.

 

Find the nearest REI on the following dates for wristband pickup:

 

Saturday, June 1, 10 AM to 2 PM 

 

Sunday, June 2, 10 AM to 2 PM 

  

Fundraising Update: Tish Laemmle Takes Back the Lead

  

Tish Laemmle is back on top and in pursuit of the VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations bike tour of Tuscany! However, Carrie Ungerman is very close behind, so Tish shouldn't start packing for Tuscany just yet. Paul Des Marais and Douglas John are distancing themselves from Team Hopps with over $1,000 raised. And Sebouh Asparian is still inching closer to entrance to the River Ride VIP booth. Thank you for your contributions! We have just a little over a week before we crown our River Ride Fundraising Champion! Standings:

  1. Tish Laemmle - $3,905
  2. Carrie Ungerman - $3,798
  3. Paul Des Marais - $1,140
  4. Douglas John - $1,000
  5. Team Hopps - $825
  6. Sebouh Asparian - $452

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 martin@la-bike.org to sign up. River Ride volunteers may have the opportunity to ride the River Ride for free.

ACTION ITEM: Sign Petition to Keep Spring Street Green

The green Spring Street bike lanes are once again being considered to be stripped of its paint. Despite reports showing a 40% increase in ridership along the downtown corridor since last year, City Council may let the green fade away permanently. LACBC hopes to work with the film industry to come up with a solution that works for everyone, but we are still at risk of losing everything.  

Last week, City Council's transportation committee heard from Councilman Huizar about repainting the green bike lane after meeting with members of the bicycling community and various film industry stakeholders. Despite what we believed to be a compromise, the film industry continues to express concern about repainting the bike lane and want to further discuss options. The committee voted to move the issue to full city council in June, and we will send an action alert when the time is right if you sign our online petition below.  

Take action! Sign our online petition and urge your council member to support the green bike lane the downtown community has grown accustomed to and depend on for safety. This increasingly bustling residential community has become people-oriented and pedestrian-oriented, throw your support behind keeping these lanes green!
ACTION ITEM: Save the Westmont Bike Lanes in San Pedro

San Pedro's newly added buffered bike lanes on Westmont Drive continue to take the heat from some residents who don't like the change. We are gearing up for an online and local campaign to urge Councilman Buscaino to keep the bike lanes in place as it creates an added level of safety for all users of the road. With traffic-calming measures and safer streets, the same folks who are stuck in traffic for 45 minutes driving half-a-mile to bring their kids to school could consider walking 10-15 minutes with them instead.

Take action: Please sign our online petition and let your San Pedro friends know that Westmont bike lanes are at risk.  

Lastly, we ask that you all join us in attending a community meeting.

 

San Pedro Community Meeting

When: Tuesday, June 11; 6 PM

Where: Peck Park Recreation Center - 560 N. Western Ave., 90732

 

Attendance to this meeting is critical. Please spread the word and share this Facebook event with your friends! 

ACTION ITEM: Send Letters of Support for N. Figueroa

 

The proposed N. Figueroa bike lanes continue to hang in the balance. 

 

Take action! Please sign our petition if you haven't already and send an email to the following people to voice your support for the bike lanes. We are almost there with having a safer N. Figueroa. Please keep it positive!

 

Please email bikes@asnc.us with your feedback and cc: the following folks...

 

councilmember.reyes@lacity.org

monica.valencia@lacity.org

daniel.andalon@lacity.org

councilmember.huizar@lacity.org

Tanner.Blackman@lacity.org

Kevin.Ocubillo@lacity.org

Nate.Hayward@lacity.org

 

If you want to help out with outreach in the community in the next month or two, please contact Alek Bartrosouf directly at alek@la-bike.org.

Ride Colorado: Come to Meeting Next Monday

Colorado 

Councilmember Huizar will be present for yet another meeting for the proposed bike lanes on Colorado Blvd in Eagle Rock. We want to be sure he sees the support we have in the community for this traffic-calming measure that will increase safety and promote bike riding in Eagle Rock. Can you join us and verbalize your support? Spread the word using Facebook here.

 

When: Monday, June 3rd at 7 p.m. 
Where: Eagle Rock Center for the Arts - 2225 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90041

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 tomorrow, 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!

Highlights from CA Road Rules for Bicyclists from Five Perspectives

Last week, LACBC's new Education Committee presented an event called the CA Road Rules for Bicyclists from Five Perspectives! Copies of LACBC's new "Bike Safe: Rules of the Road" pocket guide were given away at the event, which consisted of a panel of five speakers. Moderated by our Education Director Colin Bogart, the panel consisted of Sgt. Jon Aufdemberg, LAPD South Traffic Division, Bicycle Liaison; Lt. Marjory Jacobs, LA County Sheriff's Department; James Pocass, Attorney: Pocrass & De Los Reyes, LLP; Ted Rogers, LACBC Board member (and author of the popular bicycling blog BikinginLA); and Cynthia Rose, Co-Founder of Santa Monica Spoke.

After brief introductions from each of the panelists and a few questions from Colin, the guest speakers answered questions from the packed audience. By the time the event finished up, the speakers had addressed a variety of issues dealing with bike safety and rules of the road. Highlights include a plea to stop referring to collisions as "accidents," a suggestion to increase your insurance coverage (especially with regard to uninsured motorists), tips on how you can cope with the various and, often times, conflicting laws, which govern bicycling in the county (especially those that apply to sidewalk riding), and even a discussion on how we can better educate both motorists and bicyclists about the rules of the road.

Thanks to all of our panelists who took time out of their busy schedules to speak with us. This event was part of an ongoing series of events that are free for LACBC members with more to come (become a member today!). We should also thank the panelists for their contribution to the evening.

You can view a few photos from the event on the LACBC Facebook page

Bici Libre Brings Mobile Mechanics Workshop to Central Library

 

Bici Libre conducted their first mobile workshop at a public library this past Saturday. Over 30 people came out to learn about basic bike mechanics from areas around Los Angeles (some people even came from Long Beach). The workshop included 3 stations of learning with three different mechanics focused on air (tires and flats), brakes, and chains (including derrailleurs). Everyone was thankful for all they learned and all participants went home with a patch kit to continue practicing what they had learned.

 

Another workshop is in the works for the day before the June 23rd CicLAvia. Keep an eye on Bici Libre's websites for more details: www.la-bike.org/bicilibre and facebook.com/bicilibre.

Meet Andy and the Aus, LACBC Super Volunteers!

Andy Au and his two children Amber and Eric have been some of the most dedicated LACBC volunteers over the past couple of years. You may have seen them decked out in their LACBC and River Ride gear at events like CicLAvia. There are few things that Andy has not found a way to stick the LACBC or River Ride logo on. 

Read more about this family from the San Gabriel Valley on the LACBC blog

You can find Andy, Amber, and Eric at several LACBC events including the 
13th Annual Los Angeles River Ride on June 9th! Interested in volunteering with the the Aus and the hundreds of other volunteers that make River Ride possible? Sign up to volunteer by checking out the River Ride Volunteer page.
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Parking Lot Throwdown Still Rings Our Bike Bells
11th LA River Ride with Austin Nichols: Parking Lot Throwdown - Part I of 3
11th LA River Ride with Austin Nichols: Parking Lot Throwdown

It's been two years since we filmed the Parking Lot Throwdown video in anticipation of the 11th Annual L.A. River Ride, but the message still rings true and rings our bike bells to this day. Our Grand Marshal that year, Austin Nichols, stars in this video with our super volunteer Jon Riddle* telling him in his own deadpan way to just park wherever and our volunteer coordinator Erik Alcaraz giving him better advice: park at 1625 Flower Street and ride one mile to the start if you're beginning at the Autry. Chest bumps and Austin Nichols trying to pump himself up highlight this video. Check it out, and we'll see you on June 9th for the 13th Annual L.A. River Ride.

* Jon Riddle is also the co-author of Where to Bike Los Angeles, so you should come on his next Touring L.A. County Ride on June 15th in order to meet this YouTube celebrity.
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
  
10th Annual Inner City Sports Festival & Health Fair
When: Saturday, June 1; Registration opens at 7:30 AM for 23-mile ride
Where: Earvin "Magic" Johnson Park - 905 E. El Segundo Blvd., Los Angeles
Join City Lites Nework on for the 10th Annual City Sports Festival and Health Fair! This includes a 5k walk, 5-mile bike tour, 5-mile skateboard, 5-mile wheelchair roll, and a 23-mile bike tour! LACBC will be at a booth for this event! See Facebook event.

River Ride Wristband Pickup at REI: Manhattan Beach, Arcadia, & Huntington Beach
When: Saturday, June 1; 10 AM to 2 PM
More info in newsletter.

Arroyo Seco Sunday Funday Ride for Kids and Parents
When: Sunday, June 2; meet at 9 AM, ride at 9:30 AM
More info in newsletter

River Ride Wristband Pickup at REI: Santa Monica & Northridge
When: Sunday, June 2; 10 AM to 2 PM
More info in newsletter.

Eagle Rock Community Meeting
When: Monday, June 3; 7 PM
More info in newsletter.
 
13th Annual Los Angeles River Ride
When: Sunday, June 9
More info in newsletter.
 
San Pedro Community Meeting
When: Tuesday, June 11; 6 PM
More info in newsletter.
 
Touring L.A. County with LACBC and Where to Bike: Surf CityTouringLACounty
When: Saturday, June 15; meet at 8:30 AM
Where: Bixby Park - 130 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach
Mid-June is the perfect time for an awesome beach ride. So, dust off your passports because we'll be crossing the border into Orange County for a 45-mile ride with LACBC and Where to Bike Los Angeles. After heading south through Long Beach and Belmont Shores, we'll cross into the OC at Seal Beach and then, follow the shoreline all the way down the Balboa Peninsula to our turnaround at Jetty View Park, in Newport Beach. More info.
 
LA's Got Mojo 2: Celebrating LA's Transportation Mayor 
When: Wednesday, June 12; 5 to 8 PM
Where: Los Angeles Union Station
Celebrate Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's remarkable transportation accomplishments with Move LA's business-labor-environmental-community coalition. Join Move LA for music, food, drinks, and a tribute to Mayor V. More info
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

carol@la-bike.org

 

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