LACBC
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter

February 20, 2014

Fundraise for the L.A. River Ride and Win Great Prizes! 

In this issue
Party Like It's 1998 at Our Sweet 16 Bike Prom this Saturday Night
Support the Plan for a Healthy L.A. at an Upcoming Community Planning Forum
Updates from Around the County: Long Beach Livable Streets Mayoral Forum Next Tuesday
ACTION ALERT: Support Complete Streets by Contacting the House and the Senate
Still Time to Join Our Climate Ride Team, Plus Eric Vs. Alek
LACBC Members Save at Locali and Localita & the Badasserie
Fundraise for LACBC at the 14th Annual Los Angeles River Ride on June 22nd
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Damian Kevitt Looks Back One Year Later
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
Party Like It's 1998 at Our Sweet 16 Bike Prom this Saturday Night
BikeProm 

Let's party like it's 1998! If you've been reading these newsletters, you'll know that 1998 was a great year for pop culture, as well as the year that LACBC was born. We're turning 16 this year, and it's time to celebrate and have some fun!

 

Sweet 16 Bike Prom Benefiting LACBC

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

Where: American Legion Hall Post 206 - 227 N. Ave. 55, Highland Park

Purchase tickets: Purchase tickets hereEach ticket includes one raffle ticket.

To you loyal newsletter readers with sharp eyes, use this special promo code to get $5 off: thedudeabides

RSVP and spread the word via our Facebook event.

 

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 (check out photos from last year), and dressing in our best late-'90s attire.

 

We've now confirmed our DJs and special guests: DJs Skramble, Trickmilla and Evan C, PLUS a special set from electronic pop artist (and former LACBC Outreach Coordinator) La Muff!

 

Sweet Lady Jane will be providing us with our birthday cake. Peddler's Creamery, Pretzel Crisps, and Theo Chocolate will be on-hand to provide yummy snacks, and AIDS/LifeCycle joining us. 

 

Great raffle prizes are yours to win thanks to our raffle sponsors: Velo LoveMatrushkaThe CounterThe District Pub NoHo, Pitfire PizzaPedaler's WestYoga World Studio, and more. We'll also have bike caps, accessories, bike books, and the bicycle grand prize! Plus, we'll have a silent auction for you to win fun experiences with the LACBC staff.


Need some late-'90s inspiration? Check out this 1998 pop culture retrospective from Vulture.

Support the Plan for a Healthy L.A. at an Upcoming Community Planning Forum 

Last week the City of Los Angeles released two draft documents for 90 days of public comment that will prioritize safety and health in the City's General Plan: the Mobility Element and the Plan for a Healthy Los Angeles.

 

In last week's newsletter, we focused on the Mobility Element, and now we're focusing on the Plan for a Healthy Los Angeles.

 

Los Angeles is a city with many health inequities, and where a person lives often determines his or her health destiny. Geographic location is such an important indicator of health that a person who lives in Watts can expect to live 12 years less than a person who lives in Brentwood.

 

There is an increased awareness that where people live, and the opportunities they can access, influences their health. The City of Los Angeles has embarked on a new public health initiative to improve the health outcomes of Angelenos by improving the communities they live in. The Plan for a Healthy Los Angeles is an effort out of the Department of City Planning to elevate health as a priority in the city's future growth and development. The draft is now available for public review and includes a series of policies that will help guide the city toward a healthier future, which include:

  • Increasing access to health-promoting good and services, such as affordable and healthy food, by incentivizing development in underserved communities in the city.
  • Ensuring that Angelenos have equitable access to parks and open space.
  • Encouraging innovative solutions to improve food access, including the promotion of urban agriculture and increasing the number of healthy food vendors.
  • Providing Angelenos with the educational tools and workforce development opportunities to prepare for the jobs of the future that will provide the financial resources needed to make healthy lifestyle choices.
  • Creating a climate-resilient city that protects every Angeleno from the public health effects of climate change.
  • Improving public safety so that every Angeleno feels safe participating in health-promoting activities in their neighborhood.

The Plan for a Healthy Los Angeles elevates existing health-related programs and policies in the General Plan, commonly known as the city's planning constitution. The Plan for a Healthy Los Angeles complements the current draft of the Mobility Plan 2035, which has a strong focus on improving livability, safety, and health through an efficient and sustainable transportation network. The new programs and policies in the Plan for a Healthy Los Angeles will fill in the gaps in areas that aren't currently addressed by the General Plan, including equitable access to park space, increasing access to educational and workforce development opportunities, and access to healthy and affordable food, among others.

 

The project has teamed up with the Mobility Plan 2035 and the re:code LA efforts to offer seven community planning forums, where residents can give feedback on the proposed vision for the city's future. As Los Angeles prepares for the urban challenges of the 21st century, health is an important goal to ensure that every Angeleno has the opportunity to thrive. Please check out the website and get involved to help shape the city's future vision for health. 

 

Forums:

 

NORTH VALLEY

When: Saturday, March 15, 9 a.m. - 12 noon

Where: Granada Hills Recreation Center - 16730 Chatsworth St., Granada Hills, CA 91344

 

CENTRAL

When: Wednesday, March 19; 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Where: Metro Headquarters (near Patsaouras Plaza) - One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012

 

SOUTH LOS ANGELES

When: Saturday, March 22; 9 a.m. - 12 noon

Where: Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center - 3916 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90062

 

EAST

When: Saturday, March 29; 9 a.m. - 12 noon

Where: Boyle Heights City Hall - 2130 E. First St., Los Angeles, CA 90033

 

WEST

When: Wednesday, April 2; 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Where: Westwood United Methodist Church - 10497 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90024

 

SOUTH VALLEY

When: Saturday, April 5; 9 a.m. - 12 noon

Where: Marvin Braude Constituent Service Center - 6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys, CA 91401

 

HARBOR

When: Saturday, April 12; 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Where: Peck Park Community Center - 560 N. Western Ave., San Pedro, CA 90732

Updates from Around the County: Long Beach Livable Streets Mayoral Forum Next Tuesday
LongBeach
Long Beach:If you live and vote in Long Beach, be sure to come to this Mayoral Forum on Tuesday to learn more about what your mayoral candidates have to say about active transportation in Long Beach! The forum is hosted by Longbeachize and co-sponsored by Bikeable Communities, the Long Beach PostPedal LoveLos Angeles StreetsblogPocrass & De Los Reyes, and LACBC.
 
Long Beach Livable Streets Mayoral Forum
When: Tuesday, February 25; 7:00 p.m.
Where: Art Theatre Long Beach - 2025 E. Long Beach, 90814
 
Eagle Rock:  A serious injury has been reported due to a dangerous condition in the center of the westbound bicycle lane on Colorado Boulevard, between Vincent Avenue and Mount Royal Drive, in Eagle Rock. The condition is a deviation in the center of the lane that runs for several yards parallel to and directly between the lines that delineate the bicycle lane. It consists of an undulating ledge that has formed where the asphalt of the roadway dips into a shallow trench where it meets the concrete that forms the gutter and sidewalk. Cracks also exist between traffic side lane line of the bike lane and the number two vehicular lane (and bus lane).
 
If you experienced this dangerous condition or know someone who has, please call Josh at (323) 937-7105, or email him at [email protected].

South L.A.:  Last year, Supervisors and Metro Board Members Mark Ridley-Thomas and Gloria Molina began promoting a proposal to build an 8.3-mile bike and pedestrian path to connect the future Crenshaw/LAX Line to the L.A. River.

 

There is a meeting for stakeholders on Wednesday, February 26 at the Los Angeles Academy Middle School's multi-purpose room, 644 E. 56th Street, Los Angeles, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Check out Metro's The Source for more information.

 

MyFigueroa: We've been focused on My Figueroa, which promises to be the City's first true protected bikeway (a.k.a. cycletrack), distinguished by a curb to separate bicyclists from traffic and dedicated bike signals at intersections.

 

Several weeks ago, L.A.'s Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) deferred to the Councilmember Price by continuing the item for 30 days to address the motion and instructed city staff report back to the committee. Councilmember Price has proposed to delay the project and exhaustively study alternatives. Major institutions along the corridor, including the California Science Center, Natural History Museum, California African American Museum, USC, and Shammas Auto Group cited congestion concerns and supported the Price motion to further study the project.
 

The MyFigueroa project has been developed with robust community input, context sensitivity and compromise, when warranted. Like protected bikeways all across the country, it will be a boon to business along the corridor. It is a project worthy of being Mayor Eric Garcetti's first "Great Street." Los Angeles is on the cusp of reinventing itself in the public realm. This is no time for delay.

 

If you are a regular visitor to any of the institutions along the Figueroa Corridor, please let them know that you support making Figueroa walkable and bikeable without delay:

Read more on the LACBC blog.

ACTION ALERT: Support Complete Streets by Contacting the House and the Senate

Imagine if Complete Streets--streets that accommodate all users of the road, from ages 8-80--became the norm across the country. It's possible, with a couple of bills that are gaining momentum in the House and the Senate.

Last year, the Safe Streets Act (HR 2468) was introduced in the House, and last week, the same bill (S 2004) was introduced in the Senate. We need Complete Streets included now since both the House and Senate are drafting transportation bills! 

Back in 2012, the Senate passed a bill that included complete streets, but the House took it out. With bi-partisan support in the House and growing support nationwide (locally, Metro is soon adopting a Countywide Complete Streets Policy), 2014 is an excellent time to make it happen.
 
Please use this email template from the League of American Bicyclists to show your support today! 

Still Time to Join Our Climate Ride Team, Plus Eric Vs. Alek

 

You're invited to join Team LACBC on 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! We are once again a beneficiary and you can be part of the fun and raise funds for LACBC at the time.

 

Right now, we're recruiting members for our new Team LACBC on the California ride. We'll announce the winners of our 'Ride with Greg Laemmle' Contest soon.

 

Also, two of our staffers--planning &policy director Eric Bruins and policy & campaign manager Alek Bartrosouf--are on the team. We're having a little office competition at LACBC headquarters to determine who can raise more money and be crowned King of the Mountain at LACBC.

 

YOU can help us settle this battle!

 

Donate to Eric Bruins's fundraising campaign here.

 

Donate to Alek Bartrosouf's fundraising campaign here.

 

What to support someone else's campaign? Support one the many Team LACBC members here.

LACBC Members Save at Locali and Localita & the Badasserie

As an LACBC member, you can enjoy many great discounts from local supportive businesses. We're excited to welcome both Locali Conscious Convenience and Localita & the Badasserie to our growing list of businesses that are bike-friendly and offer discounts to LACBC members. They specialize in food that is healthy, organic, non-GMO, and vegan.

Show your LACBC membership card and get 10% off deli-prepared food.
 
Locali has two locations:
  • 5825 Franklin Avenue in Hollywood/Los Feliz
  • 701 Lincoln Blvd. in Venice

Localita & The Badasserie is located at 817 South Los Angeles St, 1st floor, in Downtown L.A. Localita delivers by bike around DTLA!

 

Thanks and welcome, Locali and Localita & The Badasserie!
Fundraise for LACBC at the 14th Annual Los Angeles River Ride on June 22
RiverRide
We recently opened up registration for the 14th Annual L.A. River Ride. Want to go the extra mile and help make the L.A. River a healthier, safer, and more fun place to ride a bike? Become a River Ride Fundraiser!
 
Your fundraising supports our work to connect and complete the River path by the year 2020 as part of the Greenway 2020 campaign.
 
When you meet certain fundraising milestones, you can earn River Ride registration, as well as other great prizes like LACBC and River Ride bike gear.
 
Also, let's not forget about the biggest prizes for our top fundraisers, including VBT's Tuscany by the Sea biking vacation and a limited edition New Belgium Brewing bike.

 

Learn more about fundraising here.

Set up your personalized fundraising page here.

More on the 14th Annual L.A. River Ride:
 
When: Sunday, June 22, 2014
Where: start at Autry National Center in Griffith Park or the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach
Register here by May 27th and save $10.
LACBC Members save an additional $10.
Kids 12 and under ride for free.
10 great rides with 2 start locations (one at the Autry and one at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach
What's Ringing Our Bike Bells: Damian Kevitt Looks Back One Year Later
Damian Kevitt's Finish The Ride
Damian Kevitt's Finish The Ride

We've all been inspired by Damian Kevitt's road to recovery from a near-fatal hit and run and his determination to make sure that what happened to him doesn't happen to anyone else. This past Monday marked the one-year anniversary of the day he was run down while riding his bike in Griffith Park, and Damian led a small ride to the crash site.

Take a look at this video to learn more about the movement he is inspiring to Finish the Ride with him. And join him for Finish the Ride on April 27th. Proceeds from the ride benefit LACBC and Challenged Athletes.
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities

 

Los Angeles Chinatown Firecracker Ride & Run

When: Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23

Where: L.A. Chinatown

Ring in the Lunar New Year by riding or running, and celebrate the Year of the Horse! We've partnered with the exciting Chinatown Firecracker Ride & Run the past few years by providing bike valet for the event. And once again this year, register with this link so that LACBC will receive a $7 donation for each registration.

 

Sweet 16 Bike Prom benefiting LACBC

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

More info in newsletter.

  

Venice-Mar Vista Bike Ride

When: Sunday, February 23; 10 a.m.

Where: Meet at Mar Vista Farmers' Market - 3826 Grand View Blvd, 90066

Join LACBC West Neighborhood Bike Ambassadors Kevin and John for a leisurely 8-to-10-mile bike ride in the Venice and Mar Vista area. Check our Facebook event for more details.

 

Long Beach Livable Streets Mayoral Forum

When: Tuesday, February 25; 7:00 p.m.

More info in newsletter.

  

Critical Mass Vigil for Hit-and-Run Victims

When: Friday, February 28; ride meet st 6:30 p.m. and rolls out at 7:29 p.m.

Where: Ride meets at NE corner Wilshire and Western, in front of the Purple Line station 

The February 28th LA Critical Mass Ride will be dedicated to all victims of hit-and-run
collisions.This is part of a Damian Kevitt's grassroots movement to raise awareness and
demand change in the hit-and-run epidemic. In May of 2013, L.A. Critical Mass also rode in honor of Damian and all hit-and-run victims while Damian was still in the hospital recovering from
massive injuries after being hit by a motorist and being dragged nearly a quarter mile near Griffith Park. There will be a stop along the route for a song and candle light vigil to raise awareness of those who no longer are with us due to hit and runs. If you yourself have been involved in a hit-and-run collision of any sort or know someone who has, invite them to the vigil. For more information on the vigil itself contact Damian Kevitt at [email protected]. Find out more about L.A. Critical Mass at LACriticalMass.org.

  

CicLAvia - Iconic Wilshire Blvd.

When: Sunday, April 6; 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Wilshire Blvd.

The first CicLAvia of 2014 comes back to one of L.A.'s favorite streets: Wilshire Blvd.! Bike, walk, run, skip, play, and eat. More info.

 

Finish the Ride benefiting LACBC & Challenged Athletes

When: Sunday, April 27

Where: on Fountain Ave at L Ron Hubbard Way

On Sunday, February 17th, 2013, Damian Kevitt and his wife were riding their bikes around the streets around Griffith Park when someone driving a light colored mini-van struck Damian and pinned him underneath the mini-van. Damian suffered road burns and lost his right leg and has since vowed to Finish the Ride that he started on that day. Please join Damian on an organized ride called Finish the Ride on April 27th, as proceeds benefit Challenged Athletes and LACBC. Register by March 1st to get the early bird price! More info.

 

14th Annual Los Angeles River Ride

When: Sunday, June 22

More info in newsletter.

LACBC Local Chapters - Join when you become an LACBC member or renew your membership!


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