Safe & Healthy Streets

Glendale rocked Bike to Work Day for 2009! We’ve gone from one public Energy Station/Pit-Stop that was visited by about 15 riders in 2008 to four public Energy Stations that served 48 confirmed riders this year. Fifteen of those riders were City of Glendale employees including Glendale City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian. There was also one “guerrilla” Energy Station that we know of – near the Bette Davis Picnic Area at Sonora and Riverside.

Ardy Kassahkian and his new bike that he rode on Bike to Work Day.

Each location reported cyclists who didn’t stop, but were clearly on the way to somewhere (not just on a recreational ride). Some visitors stopped, but didn’t have time to complete a survey that enables us to verify the count. Glendale Community College set up a table at lunch time to hand out maps, bicycling tip sheets, and patch kits to anyone who was interested. Four volunteers at the GCC table had ridden to campus. Since each Energy Station reported about 5 commuting riders that didn’t stop and GCC didn’t have surveys for documentation, we figure there were at least 77 riders in Glendale on Bike to Work Day. We feel confident there were even more riders we don’t know about that didn’t ride past the Energy Station locations. Who says no one rides a bike in Glendale?

Montrose Bike Shop Energy Station

Thanks to The Bicycle Mart, Glendale Cyclery, Montrose Bike Shop for hosting official stops and the PAA Cycling Club for their “guerrilla” stop. Thanks also to the City of Glendale’s Traffic and Transportation Department and Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services for hosting the City Hall stop.

Many of the cyclists we met were regular bike commuters, so we know they’re out there even when it’s not Bike to Work Day. Some folks were biking to work for the first time. We hope they will continue to ride to work, even if it’s just once every week or so. Way to go Glendale!

Important upcoming dates/events.

Glendale Community Stakeholder Group meeting for the Safe & Healthy Streets Plan
Thursday May 28, 6 pm to 8 pm
Glendale Central Library Auditorium
If you are interested in getting involved in the Safe & Healthy Streets Plan, this is the meeting for you to attend. Meet other people in your community who are also interested (bicyclists and pedestrians). Find out what we have planned, how you can help, and provide your suggestions.

Sunday June 7, 2009 – LA County Bicycle Coalition 9th Annual Los Angeles River Ride. Details at: www.la-bike.org