Month: June 2010

Not that I'm going to complain about NBC's coverage of bicycling issues, in addition to three stories about Critical Mass they're also the only station to have covered Sharrows; but couldn't we have given the car advertisements a rest for one story?

Bike Corrals at Santa Monica Public Library. Photo: EvanG/Flickr Bikeside Puts a Human Spin on Friday’s Critical Mass More Coverage of Critical Mass (NBC4, Bicycle Fixation) Enviros Demand Environmental Review for Downtown Stadium (LAT) Electeds Celebrate Groundbreaking for Foothill Extension (The Source) Metrolink Board Approves Fare Hikes, Service Cuts (Fox L.A., via LAist) Daily News: … Continued

By now you've probably heard the news about last Friday's Los Angeles Critical Mass, now with cops!, and have read touching accounts of cyclist' new B.F.F.'s. If you haven't, you can get a feel for how the ride went by watching the video above, and reading Kumbaya, posted here on Saturday and Undiscovered Country posted at Bikeside.

There will be full coverage of the ride Monday morning, but I'm happy to report that the first "LAPD sponsored" Critical Mass ride was an overwhelming success.  Not only did the LAPD escort the ride safely through the city, but riders and the police had a fun night joking back and forth as the bike cops, motorcycle cops and even the LAPD film crew in a four-wheel all terrain vehicle zipped through Koreatown, Mid-Wilshire, Fairfax, West Hollywood, Hollywood, and East Hollywood.  As we zipped up Fairfax Avenue towards the Grove and Pan-Pacific Park, one officer even laughed that he was having so much fun that he might do this every Friday.

How long do you think it would take to bike from the Bicycle Kitchen in East Hollywood to Hollenback Park on the other side of the I-5 on East 4th Street?  What if the streets were closed to cars and open to bicyclists and pedestrians?

Though California Secretary of State Debra Bowen yesterday certified a November ballot measure asking voters to suspend AB 32, a landmark state law requiring a significant cut in greenhouse gas emissions, AB 32 supporters have been organizing for months and have formed a significant coalition to fight the initiative.

Tomorrow, the Westswood Neighborhood Council will hold its yearly elections.  While Streetsblog can't make endorsements, we can note that a trio of "UCLA trained Urban Planners," Madeline Brozen, Dan Friedman, and Juan Matute, are running together for three different seats, and in large measure are running on a Livable Streets agenda.  in their agenda, you'll find a lot about the Subway to the Sea, bicycle and pedestrian planning and even a discussion of the "last mile" problem surrounding Metro's transit hubs.  Also, as one might expect for graduates trained at "Shoup University", there's a plank on parking pricing.

This Saturday, the Eastside Bicycle Club turns two with a big party planned for its second birthday party at Lincoln Park from 2:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.  The event will feature a pair of concurrent bike rides, the handing out of the "Golden Crank" awards, an all-afternoon barbeque and a fireworks show.  A fireworks show?  Nice.