Streetsblog Los Angeles

E. 2nd Street, Long Beach, CA

Streetsblog contributor Anna Chow sends along the following news:

The City of Long Beach is looking for volunteers to help do bicycle counts this Thursday and Saturday to help guide their infrastructure decisions.  Details from the City of Long Beach's flyer that can be found at bike facilities and gathering spots around Long Beach:

Want to help make Long Beach the most bike friendly city in the nation?

Here’s your chance to get involved!

In an effort to guide improvements to bicycle infrastructure and riding conditions, bike counts will be conducted throughout the City of Long Beach.

Those who would like to volunteer for the bike counts will be required to attend one of the following 90 minute training sessions.

Wednesday, October 15th
12 p.m. 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 6:30 p.m.
Pyramid Annex Conference Room
California State University, Long Beach

The bike counts will be done on the following dates:

Thursday, October 16th
7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, October 19th
12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information and to register, please visit:

www.csulb.edu/rideshare

If any Streetsblogger takes parts in the counts and wants to write about the experience, send me an email at damien@streetsblog.org.

Photo: rookorc/Flickr

Angelenos that find themselves dependent on a car for whatever reason have found themselves with few options since the Zipcar and Flexcar merged together and basically ended service for everyone that does not live near a college campus.  While the city seems helpless to bring car sharing to any area not adjacent to USC or UCLA, other cities have replaced large parts of their vehicle fleet with a city-wide car sharing program.

For example, in Philadelphia the city replaced 330 vehicles in its fleet with a car sharing program that saves the city millions of dollars each year and provides for vehicular mobility for city workers when needed.  With the finnancial stability of the city helping to stabilize their budget, the non-profit Philly car-share was able to expand its membership to over 30,000 residents.  Philly Car Share boasts:

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