LACBC
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter

July 18, 2013 

In this issue
Bike Updates from Around L.A. County: Bike and Bus Lanes to Extend on Sunset
Join Us for the Lakewood Family Sunday Funday Ride
Come on the Rock 'n Two Wheel Rollin' Concert Ride
LACBC Members Save with Bike2Power
Calling All Photographers: We Want Your Photos of Local Bicyclists
Roaring Nights at the L.A. Zoo Includes Bike Valet, Discounts for LACBC Members
LACBC Bike Valet Returns to Grand Performances
Thanks for Participating in the Melrose Art Ride & Party
Take a FREE Bicycle Safety Class this Summer
Bici Libre Hosts Classes, Needs Bike Donations and Volunteers
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: The Art of Carrying Things by Bike
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
Bike Updates from Around L.A. County: Bike and Bus Lanes to Extend on Sunset
Photo: Ryan Johnson

Echo Park: Preliminary striping for the bike lane and bus lane extension has been laid down on Sunset. New bike lane extensions now stretch from Douglas to Elysian Park Ave., where they will soon meet up with the bus/bike lanes, which are currently striped to stretch to Figueroa. Thanks to our LACBC members and volunteers Yiao Xie, Ryan Johnson, and Niall Huffman for enthusiastically sharing the news with us. See a photo of the bike lanes striping.

West Hollywood: The City of West Hollywood is looking for your suggestions to make the city more bike and pedestrian friendly. They have created an interactive map where you can put a pin in places that you like, and in places that you think need work. Please take a couple minutes and add a pin, or add your support to an existing pin! Visit http://walkbikeweho.com/ideas.
WeHo
Additionally, the City of West Hollywood is hosting a walking and biking tour on Saturday, July 20th at 10:30 a.m. to tour the city streets and sidewalks and discuss the pedestrian and cyclist experience in WeHo. This event is part of the effort to gather community input for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Mobility Plan Update.
 
WeHo Walk + Bike Tour
When: Sunday, July 20; 10:30 a.m.
Where: Meet at WeHo City Hall - 8300 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
Montebello
Montebello: Join local LACBC chapter Montebello Bicycle Coalition and Mayor Christina Cortez for a short 4-mile fun bike ride around Montebello. This is a family friendly event and everyone is encouraged to come, including pedestrians. Refreshments will be provided. 

MBC Rides with the Mayor
When: Sunday, July 21; meet at 8 a.m., ride at 9 a.m.
Where: Montebello City Hall - 1600 W. Beverly Blvd., Montebello
 
L.A. County: LACBC is a part of the L.A. County Active Transportation Coalition, which aims to impact transportation policy priorities for Los Angeles County, particularly in regards to transportation funding, equity, data collection, and evaluation. Check out this recap from the last meeting on June 26th, which focused on Metro's forthcoming County Complete Streets and Safe Routes to School policies.
Join Us for the Lakewood Family Sunday Funday Ride
SundayFunday

When: Sunday, August 4; Meet at 9:30 AM, Ride at 10:00 AM

Where: Del Valle Park - 5939 Henrilee St. (at Woodruff) Lakewood, CA 90713, by the airplane (view map)

 

Bring out your whole family for this ride around the Lakewood and Long beach area! If you missed the past two summers' rides, here's your chance to explore Lakewood and Long Beach with a ride once again led by LACBC Board Member Steve Boyd. We'll ride along the San Gabriel Bike Path and head south to PCH and back. Children on bikes and in trailers are welcome!

 

RSVP: RSVP via the Facebook event or email Carol Feucht, Membership & Communications Director, at [email protected].

 

About Sunday Fundays: Sunday Funday Rides are free and open 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.

Rock 'n Two Wheel Rollin' Concert Ride
RockNRollin
When: Saturday, July 20; Meet at 6:30 p.m., ride leaves promptly at 7:00 p.m. (The ride will return to the starting point by 10:30 p.m.)
Where: Metro Exposition Park Station (in front of the Rose Garden)
 
From park to park, rock and roll on two wheels down to Levitt Pavilion for some irresistible tunes! Through a sponsorship by Metro, C.I.C.L.E., with Bici Libre, will beat the summer heat with an evening bicycle ride to hear live music under the stars. We'll bike from the Exposition Park Rose Gardens to MacArthur Park to experience the unique sounds and beats of Mucca Pazza at Levitt Pavilion! The ride will connect two beautiful green public spaces in Los Angeles, stopping at MacArthur Park for the infectious sounds of Mucca Pazza, a not so typical marching rock 'n roll band. See Facebook event.

LACBC Members Save with Bike2Power

Did you know that you can get discounts throughout the County by showing your current LACBC membership card? Well, now you can save 15% off on bike mounts for smartphones at Bike2Power.

Bike2Power was started by bicycling enthusiasts selling the bicycle-powered USB chargers for your Smartphones and iPhones. Charge your phone with pedal power!
 
LACBC members: use the code lacbc15 to get your discount.
 
If you're not a member, you can join us at la-bike.org/membership. And check out the discounts that you're eligible for at la-bike.org/discounts.
Calling All Photographers: We Want Your Photos of Local Bicyclists
Photo: Andrew Wong, WYTe

We at LACBC are updating some of our materials, and we'd like to use some local photos of folks biking around town. If you have excellent high-resolution photos, please send them to [email protected], and make sure to indicate how you would like to credited for the photo.

We need a great variety of photos: photos of young people, old people, people on road bikes, people on cargo bikes, solo riders, group riders, people using bike lanes or Sharrows, people on streets without bike infrastructure, people in urban areas, people in residential areas, etc.

What we're looking for:
  • high-resolution photos
  • photos of a person or people riding bikes (or at least posing with bikes)
  • photos taken in Los Angeles County
Have questions? Email Carol Feucht at [email protected].
Roaring Nights at the L.A. Zoo Includes Bike Valet, Discounts for LACBC Members
 RoaringNights
This July, the Los Angeles Zoo welcomes a new kind of wildlife with its Roaring Nights nighttime series.

In addition to the rare treat of exploring the zoo after-hours, Roaring Nights features live music from up-and-coming local bands, standup comedians holding court at the petting zoo, pop-up zookeeper talks, food trucks, and a full bar service, including specialty cocktails created just for Roaring Nights. Come for the party, stay for the fun, and discover LA's best summer wildlife!

 

LACBC will provide free bike valet for all of the Roaring Nights events. Biking to the Zoo is encouraged, and the Zoo is easily accessible by bike by way of the Los Angeles River bike path.

LACBC members also save on admission and pay $15 (instead of the regular price of $18).


All events are 18 and up. No outside food or beverages will be permitted.

 

Roaring Nights at the L.A. Zoo

When: Thursdays, July 18 & July 25; 7 to 10 p.m.

Where: Los Angeles Zoo - 5333 Zoo Drive, Griffith Park

LACBC Bike Valet Returns to Grand Performances this Summer
GrandPerformances
Grand Performances is back, and so is bike valet. Enjoy FREE cultural performances at California Plaza (at 350 S. Grand) and enjoy FREE bike valet for a win-win situation. Find bike valet at the upper entrance on Grand Ave.

Check out the lineup that will include bike valet:
Read more on the Grand Performances blog.
Thanks for Participating in Melrose Art Ride & Party

Many thanks to all of the participants for coming out to the Melrose Art Ride & Party to raise money for LACBC!

We had a great Sunday afternoon and you can check out photos on our Flickr page.
 
Thanks to all the participating businesses: Ethos Gallery, Diamond Supply, Hall of Fame, The Dime, Brooklyn Projects, New Era, Tomato Pie Pizzeria, ReCycle, Activate Water, Ghost Mobile, Adidas, Spokes N Stuff, Sportie LA, Pure Fix Cycles, Irontom, and all the participating artists.
Take a FREE Bicycle Safety Class this Summer
Photo: Metro

For the summer of 2013, LACBC and Metro are 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.  
 
LACBC is offering 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! Check the website, as well as the "Need to Know" and "Street Cycling Skills" Facebook events, for updates.
 
For more information on classes offered through the OTS Grant awarded to METRO, please visit the following page.

Bici Libre Hosts Classes, Needs Bike Donations and Volunteers 


Bici Libre Offers Classes
Bici Libre will be hosting one-hour workshops on Wednesday evenings taught by Enzo, one of our mechanics. They will cost only $5 (the suggested donation for one hour of stand time at the shop). They will be held on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Please drop by if you are interested. Please refer to Facebook and newsletters for future workshop times and dates. 

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: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays; 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 
Email contact: [email protected]
 

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

What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: The Art of Carrying Things by Bike
URBAN BIKING:  The Art Of Carrying Things By Bike
URBAN BIKING: The Art Of Carrying Things By Bike

Last week futurist Syd Mead wrote that he didn't think L.A. needed bikes. He writes, "Ever try to carry a watermelon on a bicycle? (Yes, it can be done, but how much else could you carry?)"
 
Well, Syd, there's a video for you. "The Art of Carrying Things by Bike" shows some of possibilities of what can be carried on a bike. Groceries, a dog, a yoga mat, a catering business, a massage table, and another person are all featured. Plus, let's not forget about Emily Finch, who can carry six children on her bike or moves that are taking place entirely by bike.

A lot can be carried by bike, but doesn't mean you have to pile on your whole life on your bike. Biking around with just your keys and your wallet on you is completely commendable, too!
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
 
Grand Performances
with LACBC Bike Valet
When: Now through Saturday, August 28
More info in newsletter.
 
Roaring Nights at the L.A. Zoo
with LACBC bike valet
When: Thursday, July 18 and July 25
More info in newsletter.

  

WeHo Walk + Bike Tour

When: Saturday, July 20; 10:30 a.m.

More info in newsletter.

  

Rock 'n Two Wheel Rollin' Concert Ride
When: Saturday, July 20; Meet at 6:30 p.m., ride leaves promptly at 7:00 p.m. (The ride will return to the starting point by 10:30 p.m.)
More info in newsletter.

 

Montebello Bicycle Coalition Rides with the Mayor
When: Sunday, July 21; meet at 8:00 a.m., ride at 9:00 a.m.
More info in newsletter.

 

Touring L.A. County with LACBC and Where to Bike: The Donut
When:Sunday, July 21; meet at 8:30 a.m.; ride at 9:00 a.m. 
Where: Del Rey Lagoon Park, Playa del Rey - Go all the way west on Culver Boulevard then turn right on Pacific  Avenue to Convoy Street. Meet in the public parking lot at the  basketball court.
On this 47-mile tour we'll ride around the Palos Verdes Peninsula on a variation of the legendary Donut ride. We'll start (and finish) with a 10-mile flat, easy warm-up (and cool down) through beach-centric communities of the South Bay. Then, when we reach Malaga Cove, we'll turn left, ascending past the Palos Verdes Golf Club. Once on Palos Verdes Drive North, we'll have a few miles of generally downhill riding before turning right and taking on the second and third (and last) major climbs of the day. After descending the Switchbacks we'll return along the rugged, sea sculpted west coast of the peninsula. More info. 
 
Downey Bicycle Coalition Explores Our Neighboring Rivers
When: Saturday, July 27; meet at 7:00 a.m., ride at 7:30 a.m.
Where: Meet at Furman Park
Local chapter Downey Bicycle Coalition will be hosting its monthly community ride, but for the first time, will venture outside of Downey! The 40-mile ride will meet at Furman Park before rolling along the Rio Hondo and Los Angeles Rivers into Long Beach, and back via the San Gabriel River Path. All participants are asked to bring their own food, water, and an appropriate bicycle for the leisurely ride. For questions or to RSVP, contact Roger Pardo at [email protected].
 
Lakewood Family Sunday Funday Ride
When: Sunday, August 4; Meet at 9:30 a.m., ride at 10:00 a.m.
More info in newsletter.
 
Downey Bicycle Safety Workshop
When: Tuesday, August 6, 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Where: Downey Civic Center
Local chapter Downey Bicycle Coalition is partnering with LACBC's Walk 'n Rollers to provide a FREE bicycle safety workshop for children. As part of the Downey Police Department's first National Night Out event, the DBC has made it possible for children to learn basic bike skills, decorate helmets, and other fun activities. Come out and improve your bike skills while enjoying the rest of what Downey has to offer this National Night Out. More info. For any questions, contact Roger Pardo at  [email protected].
Other Events Around Town

LACBC Local Chapters

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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