Damien Newton

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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If you haven't already, get your ticket today to join us in celebrating the good work accomplished by Assemblymember Richard Bloom, Cyclehop, and Hulu. The party is this Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 at Cyclehop's west coast headquarters.

Welcome to this week's episode of #DamienTalksSGV, where we talk with Glendale Mayor and Metro Boardmember Ara Najarian and Bike SGV Executive Director Wes Reutimann about the proposed sales tax measure that Metro unveiled last week.