LACBC
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter

October 31, 2013 

In this issue
Experience Central Ave. this Sunday
Action Alert: Urge Mayor Garcetti to Bring Cycletracks to L.A.
Operation Firefly Re-Launching for 2013-2014
Sunday Funday: The Fresh Prince of Bel Air Ride
ACTION ITEM: Stop the Hyperion Freeway, Submit Comments by Thursday, November 7
Bike Updates from Around L.A. County: 40% of Toll Road Revenue to Fund Active Transportation, Help Form a New Local Chapter in Carson
Recap on Bicycle Safety Classes
Eagle Rock Community Celebrates New Bike Lanes on Colorado Blvd.
Thanks for Riding Lankershim 2.0 in Support of Bike Lanes
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Janette Sadik-Khan on New York's Changing Streets
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
Experience Central Ave. this Sunday

LADOT plans to implement bike and pedestrian improvements on the 8-mile stretch of Central Avenue from Watts to Little Tokyo.

LACBC, TRUST South L.A. and Community Health Councils are collaborating to ensure that those who live and travel along the corridor have an opportunity to give their input on the scope and design of the project .

Our organizations advocate for Complete Streets which include facilities such as:
  • separated or protected bike lanes
  • enhanced crosswalks
  • pedestrian islands
  • signage celebrating a community or landmark
  • parklets
  • improved bike parking
  • improved bus stops

Join LACBC, TRUST South L.A., Community Health Councils, The Eastside Riders, and Councilmember Curren Price for an exploratory bike ride along Central Ave. The ride will explore some of Central Avenue's key cultural spaces and local business corridors. Help spark a discussion about making Central Ave. more people-oriented, more transit-option rich, and safer to walk and bike. The ride is 9-miles one-way. Riders can ride back or take the Blue Line back. Please bring your Metro TAP cards for this ride.

Experience Central Ave. Exploratory Ride

When:  Sunday, November 3; 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Where: Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC) - 10950 S. Central Ave., Watts, 90059

RSVP and spread the word via the Facebook event.

 

 Learn more about Experience Central Ave. at: www.la-bike.org/experiencecentral

Action Alert: Urge Mayor Garcetti to Bring Cycletracks to L.A.

 

Please sign our petition to Mayor Garcetti to Bring Cycletracks to L.A. and read more on our blog.

 

Earlier this week, Mayor Eric Garcetti invited Gil Pe�alosa of 8-80 Cities to address city staff on the need to make Los Angeles healthy, vibrant and livable for people of all ages. LACBC could not agree more with this imperative, and strongly urges the City to refocus its transportation efforts on universal design so that all people can safely and comfortably move around Los Angeles, whether on bike, on foot, on transit, or in a car.

 

Now that the low-hanging fruit of bike plan implementation has been picked, it is time to turn our attention to the next generation of bikeways in Los Angeles. Just as we need to connect the fragments of our bike network, we also need to connect the dots among many complementary policies and programs at different agencies. In 2014, we call upon the City of Los Angeles to:

  • Adopt an "8 to 80" design standard for the Mobility Element's Bicycle-Enhanced Network (BEN) and 2010 Bicycle Plan's Neighborhood Network,  
  • Appoint a new LADOT General Manager who is committed to innovative street design,  
  • Accelerate implementation of cycletracks by incorporating the BEN into the Mayor's Great Streets Initiative,  
  • Install LA's first cycletracks on Figueroa in 2014,  
  • Apply for round 2 of the Green Lane Project to receive technical assistance from the nation's leading bikeway design experts,  
  • Ensure adequate staffing of the bikeways and pedestrian groups at LADOT to satisfy pent-up demand for these improvements across the city, and  
  • Work with Metro to increase investments in next generation bikeways and pedestrian infrastructure across Los Angeles County, concentrated around transit stations and schools.

These steps will expand the reach of LA's bicycle network both geographically and demographically to attract the kind of ridership growth we've seen in other cities around the country that have made similar investments. We must invest and innovate to reach LA's bicycling potential.

Operation Firefly Re-Launching for 2013-2014

 

LACBC is proud to be re-launching Operation Firefly for the 2013-2014 winter season! We will begin the program after the time change in November and will continue until the time change in March.

 

Operation Firefly (Operac�on Luci�rnaga) is an education and bike light distribution program intended to make sure people riding bikes in Los Angeles are riding safely at night.  In California, front white lights with side, back, and pedal reflectors are required by law at night (CVC21201). More importantly, riding without lights and reflectors is dangerous.  Our goal is to seek out people riding without lights for various reasons, especially riders who may not have the means or time to acquire lights on their own.

 

We need your help. If you'd like to volunteer for Operation Firefly, please contact Marisa Spinella at [email protected] or 213 629-2142. To make a DONATION and for more information, please visit la-bike.org/OperationFirefly.

Sunday Funday: The Fresh Prince of Bel Air Ride
SundayFunday
 
I rang for a bike and when it came near  

Head badge said "fresh" with an LACBC sticker on the mirror
If anything I could say that this bike was rare
But I thought nah, forget it, yo homes to Bel Air!

 

I pulled up to a bike rack about seven or eight

And I yelled to my friend "Yo, homes smell you later!"
Looked at my kingdom I was finally there
To ride on my bike as the Prince of Bel Air!
 

 
Explore the architectural gems of Bel Air on this 26-mile ride led by LACBC Board President Alex Amerri! Celebrity homes and rarely seen government buildings are all part of these medium-paced ride that features 2,000 feet of climbing and possibly "doing the Carlton." Bring your fresh, road-worthy bike! 
 
When: Sunday, November 3; meet at 8:00 a.m., ride at 8:30 a.m.
Where: Meet in the parking lot of the Wilshire Federal Building in Westwood - 
11000 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, 90024
More info on the LACBC website and on Facebook.

 

RSVP: To RSVP or volunteer as ride support, please contact Carol Feucht, Membership & Communications Director, at [email protected]. Or RSVP to the Facebook event.

 

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.

Action Item: Stop the Hyperion Freeway, Submit Comments by Thursday, November 7

 Hyperion

Thanks much for being part of our campaign to advocate for a safer Hyperion Bridge. This issue has received tremendous media attention and we now have Glendale Councilmember Friedman and State Assemblymember Gatto on our side asking for a more complete-streets approach to the Hyperion Bridge rehab.

This past Monday, an overwhelming amount of people spoke in favor or a slower and safer Hypersion at the Hyperion Bridge public hearing. You can read more details about the hearing and the powerful testimony at Los Angeles Streetsblog.

 

Here is an update on what you can do to support a safer, slower Hyperion Bridge:
 
1. Send an email as outlined in the action alert by Thursday, November 7th. So far, 170 of you have already sent in our letters. Let's get more support.
 
2. Los Feliz residents and stakeholders: Instead of having you come to the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council's Transportation Committee (scheduled for Tuesday, November 5), we encourage you to come to the Los Feliz NC Board Meeting on Tuesday, November 19:
 
When: Tuesday, November 19; 7:30 p.m.
Where: 1965 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, 90027
More info.
 
3. Silver Lake residents and stakeholders: The Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Board will have a board meeting on Wednesday, November 6.

When: Wednesday, November 6; 7:00 p.m.
Where: Micheltorena Elementary Auditorium - 1511 Micheltorena St., Los Angeles, CA 90026
 
4. Mark your calendars for a walking tour led by The Big Parade's Dan Koeppel over the Hyperion Bridge 
 
When: Sunday, November 3rd; 10 a.m.
Where: We meet at the Mullholland Fountain - at the southwest corner of Riverside Drive and Los Feliz Boulevard
This 6-mile first hits Griffith Park (uphill!) to get a good overview of the river; then it be tours some of the newer and lesser-known parks--including the new North Atwater Park--along the L.A. River before it descends along the riverbank for a double-crossing of the Hyperion Bridge. The walk is a loop that should be arriving at the bridge at around noon (times are approximate) to hear some speakers and discuss development plans for the bridge.
Bike Updates from Around L.A. County: 40% of Toll Road Revenue to Fund Active Transportation, Help Form a Carson Chapter
 
L.A. County: LACBC and Safe Routes to School in California have been working together to secure more funding for active transportation Countywide. Last week, LACBC, SRTS, Bike SGV, Trust South LA, Community Health Councils, the City of Carson, and FAST worked to secure 40% of toll road revenue along the 10 and 110 freeways for biking and walking! Read more on the Safe Routes to School in California blog.

Carson: Do you live or ride in Carson? We're getting together to connect local Carson riders and build support for implementing the Carson Master Plan of Bikeways by forming a local LACBC chapter. Come find out more about LACBC, local events, and the City's ongoing work to make walking and biking better for Carson residents.
Carson
Carson Local Chapter Kick-Off Meeting
When: Wednesday, November 6; 6:30 p.m.
Where: Mills Park - 1340 E. Dimondale Ave., Carson (Central Ave., just north of Del Amo Blvd.)
 
Glassell Park: A community meeting will be held next week to discuss the off-road streetscape of Fletcher Drive between San Fernando Road and Ave. 36. Share your input and weigh in on sidewalk quality, bike racks, benches, and more!
 
Fletcher Streetscape Community Meeting
When: Tuesday, November 5; 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Fletcher Drive Elementary - 3350 Fletcher Drive, Los Angeles 90065
More info.

Downtown Los Angeles: Bike lanes have been striped along 7th Street between Figueroa and Main St. This 0.6-mile stretch of bike lanes connects to the bike lanes along 7th that stretch from west of Figueroa to Koreatown, as well as bike lanes on Main, Spring, Olive, and Grand (and almost connect to bike lanes on Figueroa).

Atwater: A bike corral is being installed on Glendale Blvd., where it meets with Maldera Ave. A dedication ceremony will be held on Saturday, November 2nd, at 12 noon. Read more on the corral at Los Angeles Steetsblog. 
HPBikePlan 
Huntington Park: 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!


If you live or ride in Huntington Park, be sure to come to this HP Bicycle Master Plan Community Meeting.

 

Huntington Park Bicycle Master Plan Community Meeting

When: Wednesday, November 13; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: The offices of Communities for a Better Environment - 6325 Pacific Blvd., Suite 300, Huntington Park, 90255

RSVP and spread the word through this Facebook event. 

UnionStation 

Union Station: The L.A. Provide input for the Union Station and 1st/Central Linkages Study at the upcoming Community Visioning Festival at El Pueblo on Saturday, November 2nd.

  

Community Visioning Festival for the Linkages Study
When: Saturday, November 2; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: El Pueblo Historical Monument, Placita de Dolores - 125 Paseo de la Plaza
Los Angeles, 90012
More info.

  

The festival will gather input from community members about the pedestrian and bike linkages in the Union Station area and in the surrounding communities of El Pueblo, Chinatown, Cornfields/Mission Junction, Arts District, Little Tokyo, Civic Center, and Boyle Heights.

  

LACBC is providing the bike valet and helping with the bike ride (gather at 12, ride at 12:30 p.m.) that is part of the event.

Recap on Bicycle Safety Classes

 

For the summer of 2013, the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and Metro offered a series of FREE bicycle safety classes. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  

 

Over the course of three months, July through September, LACBC organized thirty-nine classes that reached a total of three hundred people all over Los Angeles County. The students were all adults; men and women of varying abilities and riding experience.  Through our registration process, here's what we know about those three hundred students.

  • 56% were male
  • 44% were female
  • 30% had been riding a bicycle for 5 years or less.
  • 42% ride 10 miles or less per week.
  • 82% said they ride for recreation and fitness.
  • 33% said they commute by bicycle.
  • 43% said they run errands and shop by bicycle.
  • 37% said they visit friends or take miscellaneous trips by bicycle.
There were two different classes to choose from:
  • Street Cycling Skills - an in-depth, 8-hour course designed to enable people to ride safely and confidently just about anywhere
  • Bicycling on the Road: Need to Know - a shorter, more basic 3-hour class that provided the essential information needed to ride safely

WHAT'S NEXT?

 

Currently we are evaluating the summer series of classes to determine the best locations, the best class formats (3-hour vs. 8-hour), and how to fund the next series. We hope to re-launch regular classes in early 2014. Please check back to our website or check this newsletter for updates.

Eagle Rock Community Celebrates New Bike Lanes on Colorado Blvd.

This past Saturday, about 150 community members gathered in Eagle Rock to celebrate the new streetscape improvements on Colorado Blvd. With bike rides, a local business crawl, children's bike safety education, and celebratory words from local leaders, including Councilmember Jose Huizar. New additions along Colorado include 3 miles of buffered bike lanes between the City of Glendale's border and Figueroa Street, zebra-striped crosswalks, 60 bike racks, modified median striping, speed-feedback signs, and lighted crosswalks.

These changes are the result of community organizing from groups like LACBCTake Back the Boulevard, and the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council, as well as several local businesses, that wanted to see the previously highway-like, 6-lane Colorado Blvd. become more people-oriented. Next up for LACBC's Northeast L.A. Neighborhood Bike Ambassadors: we are working to make N. Figueroa a safer street through the Ride Figueroa campaign.

Check out some photos on the LACBC Facebook Page.

Also, many thanks to all the local businesses that participated in the local business crawl and provided raffle prizes. We would like to welcome the following Colorado Blvd. businesses to the LACBC business partnership:

Owl Talk Clothing (5060B Eagle Rock Blvd.) - 10% off

Organix (1731 Colorado Blvd.) - 10% off

Permanent Records (1583 Colorado Blvd.) - 10% off

Puppy Love Pet Spa (1608 Colorado Blvd.) - 10% off

Big Mamas & Papas Pizzeria and 5 Line Bar (2136 Colorado Blvd.) - 15% off

Games and Cards (1716 Colorado Blvd.) - 10% off

Budget Pro Bicycles (2750 West Colorado Blvd.) - 10% off bikes/parts/accessories
 
LACBC members can show your membership cards at these participating businesses to receive in-store discounts!
Thanks for Riding Lankershim 2.0 in Support of Bike Lanes

Our Ride Lankershim 2.0 event on Sunday was a big success.  We had about 100 participants join us on the ride and our action alert calling on Councilman Krekorian to install bike lanes on Lankershim Blvd. in Noho.  

A big thank you to Metropolis Bikes for hosting the event and all of the participating businesses who gave bicyclists a discount that day. We could not do the advocacy work we do without their support. Here are photos highlighting the event.  

As Ride Lankershim continues to be a very active campaign, please consider becoming a member of our organization as a show of support.Our campaign to make North Hollywood more bike-friendly can only be strengthened by a growing membership from people in the community like yourself.  Benefits are plenty and our business partnership program continues to grow.  

Take action! Lastly, if you have not yet signed our online petition, please do so here. Complete info about the campaign can be found at our Ride Lankershim page.
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Janette Sadik-Khan on New York's Changing Streets
Janette Sadik-Khan: New York's streets? Not so mean any more
Janette Sadik-Khan: New York's streets? Not so mean any more

A few weeks ago, the formation of LADOT's People St. program was announced. This program allows residents, business owners and non-profits to ask for and plan projects that convert portions of the street to bike corrals, parklets, or plazas.
 
On the streets of New York City over the past couple of years, many "people streets" have already already been created under the leadership of NYDOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan (hey, JSK, word on the street is that there is now an opening at LADOT if you ever want to move back here). She recently gave a Ted Talk about making New York's Streets more inviting to people with many inexpensive design solutions like paint and plants. She even references L.A.'s own Sunset Triangle Plaza, which was clearly inspired by some of New York's pedestrian plazas.

Halloween Bonus: Check out these transportation-themed costumes, as compiled by UCLA Transportation's Be a Green Commuter.
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities

     

Community Visioning Festival for the Linkages Study
When: Saturday, November 2; 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More info in newsletter.
 
Sunday Funday: The Fresh Prince of Bel Air Ride
When: Sunday, November 3; Meet at 8:00 a.m., ride at 8:30 a.m.
More info in newsletter.
 
Experience Central Ave. Exploratory Ride
When: Sunday, November 3; 10:00 a.m.
More info in newsletter.
 
Hyperion: Saving the Hyperion Bridge Mini-Walk
When: Sunday, November 3; 10:00 a.m.
More info in newsletter.
 
Fletcher Streetscape Community Meeting
When: Tuesday, November 5; 6:00 p.m.
More info in newsletter.
 
Carson Local Chapter Kick-Off Meeting
When: Wednesday, November 6; 6:30 p.m.
More info in newsletter.
 
Hyperion: Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Board Meeting
When: Wednesday, November 6; 7:00 p.m.
More info in newsletter.
 
Bici Libre's Fall Basic Mechanics class for WTF Nights *Starts Next Thursday*
When: Thursdays -- November 7, 14, and 21; 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Bici Libre still has space in our Fall Basic Mechanics Class for Women/Trans/Femme nights. The course will be for 9 hours of learning across three Thursdays in November. We will cover fixing flats, safety checks, bike fitting, choosing a bike, brakes, derailleurs, and perhaps some basic truing. This is a welcoming class designed for those who would normally come for the WTF night at Bici Libre: we invite womyn, femme, transgender, gender queer folks, or anyone else for whom gender has been a barrier in mechanics to learn bike maintenance and service!  Please email Ariel Climer at [email protected] with your name, email, and a contact phone number, if you have one, to reserve a space in the class. The course will cost $30 and is payable with cash on the first day of class. We also accept work trade which must be negotiated the first day of the class.
Cost: $30 total
Teacher: Rio Contreras, 10 years as a bicycle mechanic, teacher, activist 
Contact: Ariel Climer -- [email protected]
 
California by Bike Summit
When: November 7-10
Where: Oakland, CA

LACBC is excited for the California by Bike Summit from November 7 to 12. CalBike has gathered advocates, leaders, and innovators for bicycling and related social change who've put together a number of presentations. Participants will leave informed, inspired, and part of an organized team transforming California from state capitol to city hall. The summit format is innovative, with networking opportunities at every meal. There are multiple special events - including a VIP event aboard FDR's floating White House, the East Bay Bicycle Coalition's party-of-the-year and California by Bike Summit's own bash that will attract enthusiasts from around the state. You can learn more about the summit from: calbike.org/calbikesummit

 

ARTCRANK LAX 2013

When: Saturday, November 9; 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Where: Space 15 Twenty - 1520 North Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood

ARTCRANK is a bike poster party that features art from local artists. Buy a bottomless cup of Widmer Beer for $5, and all proceeds benefit Los Angeles Streetsblog. More info.

 

Huntington Park Bicycle Master Plan Community Meeting

When: Wednesday, November 13; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

More info in newsletter.

 

South L.A. Kids' Bicycle Safety Festival

When: Sunday, November 17; 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Foshay Learning Center - 3751 S. Harvard Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018

Join LACBC and Walk 'n Rollers for a FREE Kids Skills and Safety Festival! Learn how to ride your bike safely, start and stop properly, avoid hazards, yielding, ride an obstacle course and more! Helmets required for all riders. We'll have a limited supply of bikes and helmets for those without. This event features: fun for all ages, skills stations, on-street group rides, certificates and goody bags, a bike wash, helmet giveaways, a prize raffle, food, and more! This event is made possible by the USC Good Neighbors Campaign, an employee-giving program that supports university-community partnerships, and presented by Walk 'n Rollers and LACBC. For more information, visit www.walknrollers.org/south-la or see Facebook event.

 

Hyperion: Los Feliz Neighborhood Council Board Meeting
When: Tuesday, November 19; 7:30 p.m.
More info in newsletter.

 

Let's Talk About Health: The Public Health Approach to Walking and Biking
When: Thursday, November 21; 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Edison Room, LACBC Headquarters - 634 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, 90014
Save the date! Join LACBC and L.A. Walks for the 4th installment of our speaker series that includes a panel discussion with several local public health professionals. More info on our website and Facebook event.

 

LACBC Open House
When: Thursday, December 5
Where: The Edison Room, LACBC Headquarters - 634 S. Spring St., Los Angeles 90014
Save the date! Join LACBC to celebrate the year 2013 and learn about our local chapters, Neighborhoods Bike Ambassadors, programs, campaigns, and more!
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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