LACBC
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter

June 6, 2013 

In this issue
The 13th Annual Los Angeles River Ride Is this Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!
ACTION ITEM: Sign Petition to Keep Spring Street Green and Attend City Council Meeting Next Friday
ACTION ITEM: Send Letters of Support for N. Figueroa and Attend Important Meeting on Tuesday
ACTION ITEM: Sign Petition to Save Westmont Bike Lanes in San Pedro and Attend Important Meeting on Tuesday
Victory for Ride Colorado!
Take FREE Bicycle Safety Classes this Summer
Bici Libre Needs Bike Donations and Volunteers
Thank You for Attending the Arroyo Seco Sunday Funday Ride
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Preview of Sunday's River Ride
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
The 13th Annual Los Angeles River Ride Is this Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

LACBC's biggest ride is this weekend, 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

Learn more about the River Ride at la-bike.org/riverride. Pre-registration is now closed. If you have not yet registered, you may register for the River Ride on Sunday, before you ride.

 

Registration opens and rides depart at the following times:

Ride:                                                     Registration:                 Ride start:
100-Mile Ride                                         6:00 a.m.                      7:00 a.m.
70-Mile Ride (from the Autry)                   7:00 a.m.                      7:45 a.m.
70-Mile Ride (from Long Beach)               7:00 a.m.                      7:45 a.m.
50-Mile Ride                                           7:00 a.m.                      8:00 a.m.
36-Mile Ride                                           7:30 a.m.                      8:30 a.m.
25-Mile Ride (from Long Beach)                7:30 a.m.                     8:30 a.m.
15-Mile Family Ride                                10:00 a.m.                    11:00 a.m.
Kids' Ride                                               10:00 a.m.                    10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m.
 
What to bring:
  • Your helmet (required), a water bottle, and sunscreen.
  • A photo ID (for registration) & spending money for lunch, beverages, jerseys, etc.
  • Layers! It could be cool in the morning and warm by mid-day.
  • Payment (check, credit card, cash) and filled-out registration form if registering on-site. 

Questions? Check out the FAQ page for River Ride.

  

Fundraising Update: Carrie Ungerman Leads the Pack

  

Carrie Ungerman takes a late-inning lead and is just a few outs from getting that VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations bike tour of Tuscany! However, Tish Laemmle is still within striking distance. Paul Des Marais and Douglas John are firmly behind Carrie and Tish, with Team Hopps lingering behind them. And Sebouh Asparian is so close to hitting the $500 mark. Thank you for your contributions! There are just few days left before we crown River Ride Fundraising Champion at the River Ride. The last day to donate is Saturday, June 8th at 11:59 PM. Your donations can help determine who will be biking through Tuscany this year. Standings:

  1. Carrie Ungerman - $4,774
  2. Tish Laemmle - $4,427
  3. Paul Des Marais - $1,240
  4. Douglas John - $1,170
  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).

 

Thank you, fundraisers!

ACTION ITEM: Sign Petition to Keep Spring Street Green and Attend City Council Meeting Next Friday
Spring

The green Spring Street bike lane's fate will be determined at a council meeting on June 14th! Can you make it? Despite Parklet Studies' report showing a 40% increase in ridership along the downtown corridor since last year, City Council may let the green fade away permanently.

Take action! We need you to sign our online petition and attend the city council meeting on June 14th (and tell your friends!)

When: Friday, June 14; 10 AM
Where: Los Angeles City Council Chambers - 200 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, 90012 

The film industry continues to express concern about repainting the bike lane and wants to further discuss options on a green bike lane that is fading away, becoming an eyesore and has lost its most important safety component - its color.  We believe the bike lanes are in jeopardy and we need you to come and show your support!
ACTION ITEM: Send Letters of Support for N. Figueroa and Attend Important Tuesday Meeting

 Fig

Our Ride Figueroa campaign needs your help!

 

With Councilman Reyes terming out and Councilman-elect Gil Cedillo taking his place in July, the uncertainty of Figueroa bike lanes grows. As the council office goes through changes LACBC will continue to advocate for a safer Figueroa that includes bike lanes.   

 

Meanwhile, neighborhood councils continue to hold meetings and we need local folks to attend and express their support. If you live/work/play in Northeast LA, please attend this meeting (and let your friends know) next week and let them know you want a safer, more bikeable N. Figueroa.

Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council's Sycamore Grove Local Issues Committee 
When: Tuesday, June 11; 6 PM 
Where: Ramona Hall - 4580 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, 90065 

Regardless if you can or cannot attend, please send an email to the ASNC (their board will make a decision to support or oppose this project).  Send an email to...
 
 
Lastly, please sign our change.org petition asking for these improvements.  Those who sign will get email updates when meetings take place.
ACTION ITEM: Sign Petition to Save Westmont Bike Lanes in San Pedro and Attend Important Meeting on Tuesday

San Pedro's newly added buffered bike lanes on Westmont Drive continue to take the heat from some residents who don't like the changeCouncilman Buscaino's Westmont buffered bike lane meeting is next week!

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! 

Victory for Ride Colorado!

 

Councilman Huizar was present for what was supposed to be the last community meeting for the Colorado Blvd. buffered bike lanes. LADOT and Planning presented their proposed design, which calls for buffered bike lanes between the Glendale and Pasadena borders, continental crosswalks, and more.  

Alek Bartrosouf, our Policy and Campaigns Manager, was there to thank Councilman Huizar for his leadership on the issue and advocating for a safer Colorado for all users. 
 
The project is anticipated to be installed in August 2013. Around that time we'll definitely throw a celebration - stay tuned!
 
In the meantime, PLEASE send Councilman Huizar a big thank you email for standing up for making LA a safe place to bike. Email him using this form online.
Take a FREE Bicycle Safety Classes this Summer

For the summer of 2013, LACBC is proud to offer a series of FREE bicycle safety classes. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information on classes offered through the OTS Grant awarded to METRO, please visit www.metro.net/bikes.

There will be two different classes to choose from. "Street Cycling Skills" is an in-depth 8-hour course that will teach you how to safely ride in all traffic conditions, check your bike for common mechanical problems, and covers a range of bicycle handling skills including emergency maneuvers. "Bicycling on the Road: Need to Know" is a 3-hour class that covers the essentials of safe riding. All classes are lead by certified instructors and include classroom instruction as well as instruction on the bike. All students will receive a free helmet, bike lights, and educational materials. Pre-registration is required for all classes.

Go to our Bicycle Safety Classes page for more details and to register for a class today! We will be adding more classes throughout the summer, so keep checking back for new dates and locations!

Bici Libre Needs Bike Donations and Volunteers 


Bici Libre Needs bike donations!  
Bici Libre, LACBC's community bike workshop, needs donations of bicycles for their shop. The shop provides bikes, bike parts, and bike repair educational services for a donation to many people in need in the community. If you have a bike at your house you would like to generously donate to the shop (we will accept any bike, but we especially need road bikes, fixies, hybrids, and cruisers), please bring it by during our open hours or email us if you need to drop off the bike at another time. All donations are tax deductible through LACBC.  

Bici Libre Needs Volunteers!
Bici Libre also needs volunteers! No experience is needed, but come with a willingness to learn bike mechanics and to interact with the community. You may come and volunteer part time or if you choose to volunteer regularly (3 hours per week), you can enjoy the benefits of becoming a volunteer member which entitles you to free used parts for your bike, a chance to have a say in the workings of the space, free use of the space, an LACBC membership, and more! We would love to have you as a volunteer, so stop by soon to learn more and to start volunteering.

Location: 1205 W. 6th St. Los Angeles, 90017 
Hours: 4-7PM - Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 
Email contact: [email protected]
 

Learn more about Bici Libre atwww.la-bike.org/bicilibre and facebook.com/bicilibre.

Thank You for Attending the Arroyo Seco Sunday Funday Ride

Our last 
Sunday Funday Ride traveled along the Arroyo Seco bike path and brought out families with kids ranged in age from 11 months to 16 years. Guest speaker James Pocrass from Pocass & De Los Reyes spoke about the importance of bicycle safety and how, for young children, that starts with wearing a helmet and making sure it fits properly.

We then road along the bike path onto the Arroyo Seco for an amazing 2.5-mile ride led by board members Lourdes Lopez and Kevin Hopps, with the assistance of volunteer coordinator Erik Alcaraz and super volunteer Andy Au. For many of the kids, this ride will serve as one of their first memories of biking, and it was fantastic to see the children laugh and smile during the ride. 


You can check out some of the photos from the ride on the LACBC Facebook page!

Also, save the date for our next Sunday Funday Ride, which will be a family-friendly tour of Long Beach led by LACBC board member April Economides on July 7th!
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Preview of Sunday's River Ride
Take Metro to the LA River Ride -  June 9
Take Metro to the LA River Ride - June 9

Year after year, we get more excited for the River Ride and all riders, old and new, who come out to bike, explore the beautiful River, and support LACBC. If you're curious as to what the River Ride is like, check out this video with footage of riding on the path, photos from past rides, and an interview with our own education director and seasoned bicycling expert Colin Bogart.

If you haven't registered for Sunday's big ride, you may do so on-site. Check out the top of the newsletter and la-bike.org/riverride for ride start and registration times.
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
  
13th Annual Los Angeles River Ride
When: Sunday, June 9; 7 AM
More info in newsletter.
 
San Pedro Community Meeting
When: Tuesday, June 11; 6 PM
More info in newsletter.
 
Ride Figueroa: Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council's Sycamore Grove Local Issues Committee
When: Tuesday, June 11; 6 PM
More info in newsletter.
 
Keep Spring Street Green: City Council Meeting
When: Friday, June 14; 10 AM
More info in newsletter.
 
Touring L.A. County with LACBC and Where to Bike: Surf City
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

[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