Damien Newton

Last week, I used the dual media events of Bike Week and the opening of the Expo Line extension to speak at my kids' schools about Livable Streets issues. Joe and I thought it could make an interesting follow-up to our 2014 guide to planning a Walk/Bike to School Day for a school that does not already have that event on the calendar.

Yes, it should be every day, but it's still fun to get out and cheer on or be cheered on in recognition of the general awesomeness of riding a bike. Also, Bike to Work Day/Week/Month is a great way to get people to try riding. People don't want to be left out of the fun, and biking is usually such a quiet, almost invisible activity. Today is a day to get out there and make some great big public celebratory noise about riding a bike.

This week, #DamienTalks with Wes Reutimann, the executive director of Bike SGV. With Bike Month nearly half over, it seemed as good a time as any to get an update on the state of bicycle advocacy in the San Gabriel Valley.

One day after Long Beach had their Bike Fest, it was Los Angeles' turn. Missing the backing of an organization similar to Downtown Long Beach, the Bicycle Culture Institute, led by powerhouse Nona Varnado, mustered the volunteers and resources to put on a bicycle-themed party worthy of Los Angeles' legendary bike culture. The overcast skies and scheduling quirk may have kept the crowd in the hundreds instead of thousands, but the crowd of cyclists had plenty to do, with events varying from creating yarn art on bike spokes to BMX demonstrations.

Welcome back to #DamienTalks!

Parking placard abuse.

As excitement builds towards the 626, the mammoth car-free festival spanning six cities on, you guessed it, June 26, #DamienTalks with Michael Cacciotti. Cacciotti is the Mayor Pro-Tem of South Pasadena and has been a critical figure in the effort to create the 626 and organize the half-dozen cities that are taking part as well as officials with the County, Metro, and the Air Quality Management District.

The Los Angeles Bicycle Culture Institute is seeking your help, through a Kickstarter campaign, to bring back the popular Los Angeles Bicycle Fest this Mother's Day, on Sunday, May 8. The campaign just crossed the $1,000 line, but needs another $2,500 to make its goal.

(UPDATE 2:03 p.m.: Yes, this is an April Fool's story. No streets, Great or otherwise, were harmed in the writing of this satire. - DN)

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