LACBC
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter

October 10, 2013 

In this issue
Ride Colorado and Celebrate on October 26th
ACTION ITEM: Stop the Hyperion Freeway, Send Letters to Support a Safer Viaduct By Tomorrow, October 11
CicLAvia Returns to the Heart of L.A.
Walktober Continues with More Walktoberfest Events
Update on Bike-Related California Bills
Bike Updates from Around L.A. County: Spring Street Bike Lane Turns Partially Emerald
WeHoBC to Host Bike Talk this Saturday
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: This Dutch City Is a Bicycling Utopia
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
Ride Colorado and Celebrate on October 26th
Colorado
The recent changes along Colorado Boulevard in Eagle have been documented. A buffered bike lane, zebra-striped crosswalks, 60 bike racks, modifying median striping, speed-feedback signs, and lighted crosswalks are some of the improvements that will make the street more community-oriented and safer for all road users.

Join Councilmember Jose Huizar, Take Back the Boulevard, LADOT, the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council, Safe Moves, and LACBC in celebrating the new road improvements on Colorado Boulevard. Now that they are in, we are coming together to throw a party and ride. There will be food, prizes, giveaways, a kid-friendly ride, a bike-friendly business raffle, and more. Also learn who LACBC's new business partners will be in Eagle Rock, to be showcased at this event. Can you make it?

Ride Colorado + Celebration
When: Saturday October 26; 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Eagle Rock City Hall - 2035 Colorado Blvd.

Spread the word on Facebook and join us!

Action Item: Stop the Hyperion Freeway, Send Letters to Support a Safer Viaduct by Tomorrow, October 11


The LA Bureau of Engineering (BOE) and Caltrans are currently studying rehabilitating the Hyperion-Glendale complex of bridges over the 5 Freeway and LA River connecting Silver Lake to Atwater Village. Despite being designated for bike lanes in the 2010 Bicycle Plan, the proposed project does not include these planned lanes.

What we discovered is plain old car-centric engineering from start to finish. Caltrans and BOE are designing Hyperion Ave. to freeway standards with a design speed of 55 miles per hour. Based on that design speed, they are pursuing a median crash barrier, banked turns, and supersized car lanes. Those decisions leave no room for bike lanes and just a narrow sidewalk on only one side of the street.  Simply designing the street to normal city street standards would leave enough room for everyone.
 
Your voice is needed to make Hyperion Ave. safe for all. Tell Caltrans and BOE that freeway speeds have no place on city streets and that walking and biking are just as important as moving traffic.  Comments can be emailed to Tami Podesta by Friday, October 11th at [email protected]. Please cc: [email protected]councilmember.ofarrell@lacity.org, and [email protected].
 
Subject: No Hyperion Freeway - Build a Safe Viaduct for All 

As someone who bikes or walks between Silver Lake and Atwater Village, it is absolutely critical that Hyperion Ave. be made safe for people like me. Everyone's needs can be met if the project is designed for appropriate speeds through an urban community. Specifically, I would like the project to include:
  • Bike lanes on Hyperion Ave. 
  • Wider sidewalks and well-marked crosswalks with wayfinding signs
  • Narrower traffic lanes to provide more space for bicyclists and pedestrians and discourage speeding
  • No crash barrier and banked turns that will make people drive even faster
  • A complete crosswalk on the Atwater end of the viaduct to let people access the sidewalk from both sides of Glendale Blvd. and give bicyclists an alternative through the dangerous merge 
There is no reason for this project to not be consistent with the bike plan and Caltrans complete streets policy. The viaduct is currently the greatest barrier to safe bicycle access across the 5 Freeway and the LA River. This project can change that and make all travelers benefit.
 
Sincerely,
 
your name 
your address
CicLAvia Returns to the Heart of L.A.

It was another warm CicLAvia, but that couldn't stop people from coming out for L.A.'s biggest party this past Sunday. Armed with our bikes, smiles, best dance moves, and creativity, we the people made the party happen. On this route we saw lots of tall bikes, DanceLAvia, this Flower Power pedicycle, an even taller-than-usual Rolling Advocacy Trailer, a few bike+ped count t-shirts, hundreds of bike-pin wearers (welcome to the bike lobby, friends!), and much, much more.

Thanks again to the organizers for planning another great party. And thanks to everyone who visited LACBC at Grand Park, by the African American Firefighter Museum, at our bike valet at The Bloc, and at our Rolling Advocacy Trailer.

Check out some of our photos on the LACBC Facebook Page.
Walktober Continues with More Walktoberfest Events
Photo: Walk to School Day L.A.

On a chilly Wednesday, 53 schools in L.A. participated in Walk to School Day! Kids of all ages, their parents, school faculty, volunteers, and even a few elected officials gathered in different areas of L.A. to walk and roll as part of Walking School Buses.
 
 
Great job to all the organizers and participants!

Walktober
Our friends at Los Angeles Walks still have these Walktoberfest events to look forward to this month:

Walktoberfest

Every weekend in Walktober, Los Angeles Walks and other walking groups are organizing easy walks all over L.A. County for Walktoberfest. Each walk will end at a great place to have a beer. Here are details for all four events. Can't make the walk? You can still join for the beer part. 

 

Beverly Hills Architecture, Art and Alleys with Walk Beverly Hills
When: Monday, October 14 (It's Columbus Day, so you might have the day off!); Meet at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Nic's Beverly Hills - 453 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, 90210
Walk: Two mile loop of great architecture, public artworks and secret alleys in Beverly Hills led by Ellen Lutwak

Beers (and "These Boots Are Made for Walk-Ka" martinis!): 7:00 p.m. at Nic's Beverly Hills, 453 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills 90210 (plus happy hour specials all Monday evening for walkers!)

See Facebook event.

ZombieWalk 

2nd Annual Zombie Walk with Walk Bike Glendale

When: Saturday, October 19; meet at 6:30 p.m. 
Where: Glendale Central Park - 201 E. Colorado Street, Glendale, 91205
Walk: One-mile walk down Brand Blvd (but at a very slow, zombie pace) with a large group of fellow undead pedestrian advocates. ZOMBIE ATTIRE ENCOURAGED!!!

Beers: 7:45 p.m. at Far Niente, 204 1/2 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203 (The walk ends nearby at the Alex Theater on Brand Blvd.)

See Facebook event.

 

Santa Monica Walking Train with Santa Monica Walks

When: Saturday, October 26; meet at 3:30 p.m.

Where: in front of the new library in Virginia Avenue Park - 2200 Virginia Avenue, Santa Monica, 90404

Walk: Three miles, checking out Expo Line construction and the brand-new Tongva Park led by Gary Kavanagh (you can take the Big Blue Bus #7 back to the start, or vice versa)
Beers: 6:30 p.m. at Chez Jay, 1657 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401  

Update on Bike-Related California Bills

This has been a busy year for bikes in Sacramento. LACBC has been tracking the following bills, and we are quite pleased with all these accomplishments. Help us finish strong by sending your support to the Governor for two remaining bills.

Approved:
  • AB 184: Extends statute of limitations for hit-and-run from 3 years to 6 years
  • AB 417: Exempts bike plans from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
  • AB 1371: Requires drives to give 3 feet when passing bicyclists
  • SB 99: Creates the Active Transportation Program and increases funding for walking and biking by 35%
  • SB 743: Replaces auto-oriented Level of Service with a better multi-modal traffic measurement in "transit priority areas"

  • AB 1290: Reforms California Transportation Commission to better represent sustainable transportation stakeholders
  • SB 811: Requires Caltrans to include community benefits in I-710 project, including walking and biking facilities
Bike Updates from Around L.A. County: Spring Street Bike Lane Turns Partially Emerald
Downtown L.A.: Many of us that were at CicLAvia or who live or work in Downtown L.A. have noticed the very gradual changes to the Spring Street bike lane. Right now, the lane has been re-painted in a color that is very close to the 2013 Pantone Color of the Year--Emerald--but only in conflict zones between Cesar Chavez and 4th Street. Below 4th Street, the lane still remains unfinished.

El Monte: This week the City of El Monte approved its first bikeways: bike lanes on Tyler Ave. and a bike route on Ramona Blvd. Read more about it on BikeSGV's blog.
 
South L.A.: My Figueroa is the most ambitious street transformation underway in the City of Los Angeles, promising to transform a bleak commercial corridor into a prime linkage between USC and Downtown L.A. While LADOT solves the technical challenge of engineering Los Angeles's first protected bike lane (a.k.a. cycletrack), the project's political prospects recently became murkier. Under pressure from stakeholders along the Figueroa Corridor, CD 9 Councilmember Curren Price introduced a motion calling for further study of traffic impacts and asking for mitigation.

The Price motion has been POSTPONED to an undetermined date. Read more on the LACBC blog.

 

Angeles Crest Highway: The PAA Bicycle Club Board has developed a petition in response to the recent chip sealing of Angeles Crest Highway.


Sign this petition to halt the use of chip seals on highways frequented by people on bikes.
WeHoBC to Host Bike Talk this Saturday

Local chapter West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition will host Bike Talk this Saturday, October 12, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.. Taylor Nichols and Tess Lotta will be speaking with Mayor Abbe Land and several guests representing the diversity of the bicycling community.

Listen to the podcast online at KPFK.org or via your smartphone on Stitcher. You can also listen live every Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at KillRadio.org. 
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: This Netherlands City Is a Bicycling Utopia
Groningen: The World's Cycling City
Groningen: The World's Cycling City

Can you imagine a city where bicycling is 50% of the modal share (and 60% in the center of the city)? A city where the center is devoid of motor vehicles and is so calm and quiet? A city where planners talk openly about "pedestrianizing" it?

That city is Groningen, in the Netherlands, and since the '70s, it has enacted planning and policies that have proactively encouraged its residents to step outside their motor vehicles and onto their bikes. Check out this new Streetfilm that explores this forward-thinking city.
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities

   

Active Streets L.A. Community Event
When: Saturday, October 19; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Budlong Elementary - 5940 Budlong Ave, Los Angeles
Save the date! Join LACBC, Trust South LA, and L.A.'s Department of Transportation for our next Active Streets community event. When it comes to South L.A. bike improvements, we want your input - join us for a fun ride/walk, free snacks, and a raffle. More info.
 
Wolfpack Hustle: The HP Gran Prix
When: Saturday, October 19; 7 p.m. (Race starts at 8 p.m.) 

Where: Gage Ave & Pacific Blvd, Huntington Park, CA (map

Come celebrate bicycling by watching a bike race on Pacific Boulevard and giving your input on the Huntington Park Bicycle Master Plan. Look for the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) booth at the race. Free bike lights for HP residents! About the HP Bicycle Master Plan: The City of Huntington Park is working to make Huntington Park a great place to ride a bicycle. The City wants to hear from you where you ride: to school, to work, to stores, or just for fun. What kinds of bike projects do you want to see? What kinds of programs will help make it easier for you to ride a bike? We want to hear from you! Registration is $10 and limited to the first 200 riders! Huntington Park residents race for free. See Facebook event for more details.

  

2nd Annual Zombie Walk with Walk Bike Glendale

When: Saturday, October 19; meet at 6:30 p.m. 
More info in newsletter.

  

Pomona Pumpkin Patch Pedal
When: Sunday, October 20; Meet at 10:30 a.m., ride will leave promptly at 11 a.m.
Where: Thomas Plaza - S. Thomas St., Pomona CA 91766 (At S. Thomas St. and West 2nd St.)
Join local chapter Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition on this CICLE-led ride sponsored by L.A. Metro. Ride from downtown Pomona to the Cal Poly Pumpkin Patch to check out the farm and pumpkins. Head back for some hot cider and cookies. View Facebook event.
 
Ride Colorado and Celebration
When: Saturday, October 26; 9:30 a.m. to 1 :30 p.m.
More info in newsletter.
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]

 

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