Fall in love all over again! The East Side Riders Bike Club and Los Ryderz’ annual “Ride 4 Love” returns this Valentine’s Day!
On Saturday, February 14, through a sponsorship by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), the East Side Riders Bike Club and Los Ryderz, with Cyclists Inciting Change thru LIVE Exchange (C.I.C.L.E.), invite you to “Ride 4 Love,” an annual bicycle ride highlighting community love. The ride will travel through southeast communities, including Watts, Florence-Firestone, South Gate and Lynwood, making stops at the Watts Healthy Farmers’ Market, Watts Towers, AM/PM and the world-famous Elizabeth’s Bakery. The first 50 participants to arrive will receive a commemorative “Ride 4 Love” t-shirt, generously designed and produced by those leading and organizing the ride.
This free ride is open and accessible to all experience levels, leisurely-paced and will return to the starting point at the end of the event. This 8-mile ride is fully supported and led by trained Ride Leaders, volunteers and a certified EMT. Prior to departing, we will address safe street riding and group ride etiquette to ensure smooth sailing.
When: Saturday, February 14, 2015
Time: Meet at 10 a.m., the ride will leave promptly at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Ted Watkins Park
1335 E. 103rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90002
Accessible by Metro Bus and Rail:
Metro Blue Line 103rd St/Watts Tower Station
Watts DASH at 103rd and Success
Metro 117 at 103rd and Success
Metro 53 at Central and 103rd
Metro 612 at 103rd and Compton
Metro 55 at 103rd and Compton
Metro 254 at 103rd and Compton
What to bring: Bring water, a snack and a bicycle in good working order. This ride is FREE and open to anyone, but all participants should be able to ride a bike safely with the ability to brake, change gears, and balance while stopping and starting. All participants under 18 MUST wear a helmet and be escorted by a parent or guardian. Children under age 8 should be on a tag-a-long, bike trailer, tandem or other safe child-carrying device to participate in the ride.
About East Side Riders Bike Club: The East Side Riders Bike Club (ESR) is an all-volunteer, grassroots bicycle club founded in 2008. The purpose of the ESR is to prevent youth from joining gangs and/or taking drugs, but also engage youth who have a desire to enrich the community through recreational activities, specifically focusing on bicycle riding. Youth have been introduced to bike safety, healthy eating and active living, the importance of giving back to the community, and are able to participate in community riding events hosted by ESR.
ESR aims to provide a comprehensive youth program that seeks to positively impact the following community needs: Inadequate Organized Recreational Outlets for local youth in the Watts area, a community that is rife with high rates of child obesity, asthma and other respiratory challenges amongst youth. This program encourages physical activity through bike riding for youth and their families; Lack of Safe Passage and Travel Routes: while Watts is a very small community, there are clear gang-related boundaries and territories that limit the movement of local youth based on where they reside; Youth Personal Development - teach local youth lifelong personal development skills based on their own self-interest, in a way that is interactive and fun. Youth learn bike safety, repair, maintenance and design; Lack of Resources- families lack the resources to purchase bikes, safety gear and/or other necessary equipment. This program allows local youth to learn and strengthen their physical activity skills, while developing new knowledge on health and wellness.
About Los Ryderz: Los Ryderz started in 2012 by Javier Partida. They work with youth and are dedicated to making a change in the community. Their home city is Watts and Los Ryderz are housed out of Yo Watts on 103rd Street.
About C.I.C.L.E.: Cyclists Inciting Change thru Live Exchange (C.I.C.L.E.) is a nonprofit organization working to promote the bicycle as a viable, healthy and sustainable transportation choice.
About Metro: Metro is the planner, operator and builder of LA County’s expanding public transportation system. The agency plays an important role in bicycle planning across LA County, funding more than $155.5 million for bicycle projects since 1993, facilitating first mile/last mile connections to transit and supporting bicycle transportation through various policies and programs. Metro’s sponsorship of C.I.C.L.E. events helps fulfill the agency’s goals of encouraging bicycle trips and promoting safe cycling skills.
