LACBC
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter

January 9, 2014 

In this issue
L.A. County Gears Up for Complete Streets at Important Meeting
ACTION ITEM: Help Us Get to 1,500 Signatures for Our Cycletracks Petition by Tuesday
ACTION ITEM: Meeting Added for the Santa Monica Blvd. Reconstruction Project
Breaking Away Screening & Operation Firefly Fundraiser on February 12
Thanks for Attending Our Sunday Funday Tour of Long Beach
Join Our Climate Ride Team & Learn More on Bike Talk
LACBC Members Save at Dr. J's Vibrant Cafe in DTLA
Still Time to Donate to Support Better Bicycling in 2014
This Month's Riding Tip: Riding in Cold or Wet Weather
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Supporting Complete Streets in Los Angeles County
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
L.A. County Gears Up for Complete Streets at Important Meeting

After a year working with community-based organizations, agency staff, elected officials and business leaders, LACBC and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership kicked off a countywide conversation yesterday on how a Metro Complete Streets Policy can support walking and biking throughout Los Angeles County. 

Complete Streets, in short, are streets that are for everyone. Whether folks are walking, biking, driving, or using public transportation, complete streets are planned and maintained for all users of the road.

Local organizations, Metro staff, Metro board members, elected officials, and other key players attended yesterday's meeting. By the end of the conference, nearly everyone who was in attendance agreed that L.A. County needs a strong Complete Streets policy.

Los Angeles County has lagged behind others counties over the years in adopting a Complete Streets Policy in accordance with the Complete Streets Act of 2008. At the Metro Board Meeting this June, Metro will finally pass a Complete Streets policy in accordance with state law. It is significant that Metro is now taking on a leadership role with Complete Streets policy and will be helping cities adopt this policy.

So what will this all mean? Newly designed or retrofitted roadways will have to accommodate all road users. These streets should have wide sidewalks, marked pedestrian crossings, appropriate speed limits, and, yes, bike infrastructure to support anyone using the street, not just motorists.

Mayoral appointee Jackie Dupont-Walker told Streetsblog after the meeting, "It appears we do have significant cities in the county which don't have Complete Streets policies. We need to find ways to encourage those communities to come up with Complete Streets policies very quickly. We want policies that don't just penalize those that don't comply, but ones that provide incentives for those that do."

We'll keep you update on further developments. You can check out highlights by following the #LAC_CS hashtag on Twitter and reading up on this excellent summary on Los Angeles Streetsblog.

You can also check out a video about Complete Streets in today's What Ringing Our Bike Bells section.
ACTION ITEM: Help Us Get to 1,500 Signatures for Our Cycletracks Petition by Tuesday

The deadline for the green lanes project application is coming up soon, and we want to show that cycletracks have support. We have over 1,000 signatures, now please help us get to 1,500 signatures by Tuesday, January 14th!

 

Please sign our petition and tell Mayor Garcetti to Bring Cycletracks to L.A.!
ACTION ITEM: Meeting Added for the Santa Monica Blvd. Reconstruction Project
SantaMonicaBlvd
After last night's meeting, an additional meeting of the Blue Ribbon Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, January 22 at 6 p.m. in the same room (Municipal Gallery, 2nd Floor, Beverly Hills City Hall).

When: Wednesday, January 22; 6 p.m.
Where: Beverly Hills City Hall, Municipal Gallery, 2nd Floor - 455 North Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

There will not be public comment at this meeting, so any comments must be submitted in advance through the website or emailed to [email protected].

The Committee will make a recommendation on whether to widen Santa Monica Boulevard by an additional 3 to 6 feet and, if yes, whether to stripe a bike lane.

More information about the process and Better Bike notes from the first three meetings can be found here.
Breaking Away Screening & Operation Firefly Fundraiser on February 12
BreakingAway
LACBC is partnering with Laemmle's NoHo 7 to screen the 1979 cycling classic Breaking AwayBreaking Away tells the story about a bicycle enthusiast in a small college town spending his post-high school summer trying to sort out his future, while chasing after the girl of his dreams, and training for the two biggest races of his life. 

When: Wednesday, February 12; 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Where: Laemmle NoHo 7 - 5240 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, 91601 (Take the Red Line or Orange Line there!)
Purchase tickets: The first 50 tickets are being sold here for $9. After that, purchase tickets from Laemmle Theaters for $11.
RSVP and spread the word through our Facebook event.

Proceeds from the screening will benefit Operation Firefly, our education and bike light distribution program intended to make sure people riding bikes in Los Angeles are riding safely at night. A raffle will also accompany the screening and will include a replica Cinzano cycling kit from Pella Sportswear, along with gift certificates/prizes from local NoHo businesses.

Support LACBC in what we do best: Making the communities of L.A. County healthy, safe, and fun places to bike!

If you have any questions about the event, please contact [email protected]
Thanks for Attending Our Sunday Funday Tour of Long Beach

 

Thanks to all 80 riders who came out for our first Sunday Funday ride of 2014! We enjoyed the gorgeous Southern California weather during a 10-mile ride exploring notable architecture around Long Beach.

 

Thanks to our LACBC board member April Economides for leading another great ride through her hometown. Thanks to Sweet Dixie Kitchen (formerly the Southern Girl Bakery), which opened up just for us and offered discounts and Apostrophe Books for offering a discount to riders on the book Long Beach Architecture. Thanks to all of our excellent ride marshals (Ryan, Mike K., Niall, Mike N. Kelly, Maria, Kellie, Scott, and Robert!) for fixing flats and keeping everyone together.

 

You can check out some photos from LACBC/PVBC member Robert Neiuber on our Facebook page.

Join Our Climate Ride Team & Learn More on Bike Talk

 

You're invited to join Team LACBC on Climate Ride California! We are once again a beneficiary and you can join the brand-new epic 4-day pedaling adventure in Northern California through wine country.

 

Right now, we're recruiting members for our new Team LACBC on the California ride. You can be part of the fun and raise funds for LACBC at the same time! Team LACBC was the top team in last year's California ride. Let's bring the trophy (OK, pint glasses) back home this year!

 

Climate Ride California (May 17-20, 2014) is a 4-day, fully-supported cycling adventure that begins in San Francisco, heads north up the coast and through Wine Country to California's Capitol in Sacramento. 

 

Also, listen in to Bike Talk live this Saturday, January 11th, at 10 a.m. at KillRadio.org (or listen to the podcast later on at BikeTalk.com). We'll be talking about Team LACBC's Climate Ride team, so tune in to learn more!

LACBC Members Save at Dr. J's Vibrant Cafe in DTLA

As an LACBC member, you can enjoy many great discounts from local supportive businesses. We're excited to welcome Dr. J's Vibrant Cafe, a vegan health food cafe in downtown L.A., to our growing list of businesses that offer discounts to LACBC members.

Show your LACBC membership card and receive 10% off your order. You may recall that Dr. J's provided some yummy food at our last Tour de Taste! We at LACBC recommend the Mother Earth Bowl, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, and Kale Chips!

Dr. J's Vibrant Cafe is located at 334 S. Main Street in Downtown L.A. and can be contacted at 213-537-0905.

Thanks and welcome, Dr. J's Vibrant Cafe!
Still Time to Donate to Support Better Bicycling in 2014

This past 2013, our members, supporters, donors, and partners have helped to make bike improvements all across the County! With your continued support, we hope to accomplish even more in 2014. 


2013 may be be over, but we could still use your help in raising funds for 2014.

Your donation ensures that we have the capacity and resources to remain strong throughout the year! 


This Month's Riding Tips: Riding in Cold or Wet Weather

 

Yeah, it doesn't get that cold or wet here, in comparison to other parts of the country, but it does get cold-er this time of year and any cold/wet weather we're going to get (such as it is) will come in the next few months. Those early morning or evening commutes can get chilly, it's rarely warm when it rains here, and many of us have thin SoCal blood. Here are a few things to remember when riding in cold or wet conditions.

 

If it's just cold:

  • Dress in layers so you can remove a layer (or two) as you warm up on your ride.
  • You can wear bicycle specific shorts and shirts under regular clothes if you want.
  • It's nice to keep your knees warm when it's cold, so knickers are a good alternative to shorts. If you wear pants, you can simply roll up the right leg to prevent chain snag.
  • Warm, full-finger gloves will help keep your hands from getting cold. Gloves with a little stretch in the fabric can sometimes be pulled over bicycling specific gloves.
  • Wearing a cycling cap or some sort of tight-fitting head-covering under your helmet can help to keep your head warm, especially if your helmet is designed for high air-flow. Some bicycle caps include a flap to help keep your ears warm.

If it's wet:

  • Wool is a better option than cotton, if you can afford it. Cotton will get cold as it gets wet, wool keeps the warmth of your body, even as it gets wet.
  • Water proof or water resistant fabrics can help protect you from the rain, but they can also keep you so warm that you sweat a lot. Vents are key when looking at rain specifc bike clothes.
  • When you ride, slow down. It's easier to lose traction, especially in turns, when the road is wet. Avoid sharp turns so your bike won't slide out from under you.
  • Skidding is more likely when the road is wet. Modulate your braking to avoid a skid.
  • Give yourself extra time and distance to stop.
  • Rim brake users, remember your rims are wet so it takes a little longer for your brake pads to catch. Pumping your brakes will help.
  • Be more cautious on (or avoid) surfaces that are extra slippery when wet: metal plates, manhole covers, train tracks, storm grates, and street paint.
  • Avoid riding through standing water or piles of wet leaves, which might conceal road defects.
  • Visibility is reduced when it's raining. Wear bright, reflective clothing and use front and rear lights to help you see and be seen (even during the day).
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Supporting Complete Streets in Los Angeles County
Supporting Complete Streets in Los Angeles County
Supporting Complete Streets in Los Angeles County
BikeBells
We gave you an update on the Complete Streets conference that we put together. Now check out this video with some of the key folks helping to shape Complete Streets in L.A. County.
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities

 

Resolution Ride 

When: Saturday, January 11; Registration opens at 7:30 a.m.

Where: Griffith Park, Crystal Springs Picnic Area - 4730 Crystal Springs Dr.

The Resolution Ride is a stand-alone, two-route ride created to recruit new riders from the SoCal cycling community. Like all AIDS/LifeCycle events, the Resolution Ride will have great food, entertainment and a festival, and all participants will receive a Resolution Ride technical t-shirt, included in the $25 registration fee. There will be two routes, one 15-miles and one 35-miles long.  Both will leave from the Crystal Springs Picnic Area of Griffith Park. Look for the LACBC booth! More info.

 

Experience Central Ave. - Help Us Map It

When: Sunday, January 12; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: WLCAC - 10950 S. Central Ave, Watts, 90059

Join LACBC, TRUST South L.A., Community Health Councils, and East Side Riders Bike Club for a day of group riding and community exploration. We will be identifying great businesses and cultural assets in one LA's truly great historical streets: Central Avenue. See Facebook event.

 

Ride Figueroa Ambassador Meeting

When: Tuesday, January 14; 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Where: Highland Park Recreation Center, Community Room - 6150 Piedmont Ave., Highland Park, 90042 

Join the LACBC NELA Neighborhood Bike Ambassadors to discuss strategy and next steps in advocating for a N. Figueroa that is safe for all users of the road. We need people like you to get more involved in the process. Learn more about the NBAs here. See Facebook event.

  

Touring L.A. County with LACBC and Where to Bike: Through the San Gabriel Foothills - River Bikeways and Historic Towns

When: Saturday, January 18;  Meet at 8:30 a.m., ride at 9:00 a.m.

Where: Classic Coffee - 148 North Glendora Avenue, Glendora, 91741 (Meet in the public parking lot behind Classic Coffee)

This is the 2nd edition of the very first Touring LA County ride--a tour in the San Gabriel foothills along the northeastern fringe of urban Los Angeles. Rich in history, variety and natural beauty, the area is home to some of L.A. County's earliest small cities: Monrovia (incorporated in 1887), Azusa (1898) and Glendora (1911). Two river bike-path systems--along the San Gabriel and the Rio Hondo--tie together the ride, passing along the Emerald Necklace, an evolving string of pocket parks and greenways. The route also includes the Royal Oaks Bike Trail (a rails-to-trails path on the old Red Line trolley right-of-way) and a foray into Monrovia Canyon Park, with its forest and streams. More info.

 

Breaking Away Movie Screening & Operation Firefly Fundraiser

When: Wednesday, February 12; 7:30 p.m.

More info in newsletter.

 

Sweet 16 Bike Prom benefiting LACBC

When: Saturday, February 22; 8:00 p.m. to 12 midnight

Where: American Legion Hall in Highland Park

1998. That was the year "My Heart Will Go On" (and various remixes) flooded the airwaves, Google began helping us find what we were looking for, and Bill Clinton denied some stuff. 1998 also marks the birth of LACBC, making 2014 the year that we celebrate our Sweet 16! You're invited to our second annual Bike Prom, where we'll be dancing, crowning the bike prom queens and kings, having a mega raffle, taking our official prom photos, and dressing in our best '90s prom attire. Save the date! Tickets will be available for purchase next week.

 

14th Annual Los Angeles River Ride

When: Sunday, June 22

Where: Start at Autry Museum or Long Beach

Save the date for our biggest ride and fundraiser of the year! Explore the L.A. River on supported rides for all ages and abilities. We'll have more information about the ride soon.

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