Bike-related news from throughout LA County: infrastructure, policy, upcoming events, & safety

Published via email on October 15, 2020

Welcome back to LACBC’s bi-weekly newsletter!

Stay in the Know

Voting Reminders:

1. Vote-By-Mail Ballot Mailing Period is from October 5-October 27, 2020

2. For more voting information visit the Calfornia Secretary of State website.

Weather Alerts:

1. Sites throughout LA are reporting moderate to poor air quality. To see air quality where you live, visit the US Air Quality Index website. For more resources, visit the LA County Department of Public Health.

2. Heat advisory this week from 11am Tuesday until 5pm Friday. Important precautions to take include: stay hydrated, make sure to wear light clothing, plan your day with the hottest hours of the day in mind (10am-3pm) and keep in mind that heat can make daily activities more strenuous and plan accordingly.

#BikesMeanBusiness

Stop by Marino Ristorante this month – Chef Sal Marino is highlighting dishes from the Giro d’Italia until October 24. Stop by and order lunch or dinner, and let him know #BikesMeanBusiness!

Matching Bikes With People Who Need Them

#LACountyBikeMatch

Help us bring bikes to people in need by supporting #LACountyBikeMatch. Check out this video highlighting the work we’re doing!

Bike Shops open during the pandemic.

Latest News & Upcoming Events

1. The LAUSD Middle School Bike Club is up and running. Read more about it on our blog! If you would like more info on how to get this club at your middle school, please email brenda@la-bike.org.

2. October 19-23rd is the annual Vision Zero Cities Conference, organized by Transportation Alternatives. It’s virtual this year.

3. Keep an eye out for our next newsletter in two weeks which will feature a self-guided route you can do in honor of Day of the Dead. Stay tuned!

Infrastructure Alerts & Updates

San Gabriel Valley

1. The regional e-bike share program in the San Gabriel Valley is up and running! Check out their website for more info, including locations and pricing.

San Fernando Valley

1. The Reseda Blvd Complete Streets Project has officially launched! This project will: 1) Improve speed and efficiency of buses along the street; 2) Construct more green spaces; 3)  Improve the streets for residents and businesses; 4) SAVE LIVES by improving pedestrian and traffic infrastructure.

Northeast LA

1. One of Metro’s proposals for the Hollywood to Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor removed the bike lanes on Colorado Blvd in Eagle Rock. Click here to learn more about the project and here to sign the petition to #KeepBikesOnColorado

2. Now is your chance to provide final input into the design of Pasadena’s first protected bike lane! The Union Street Protected Bike Lane is now at 90% design completion. Don’t wait, submit your comments! The deadline is 10/30/20. Click here to learn more and submit your comments.

3. The Arroyo Seco Bike Path has been officially reopened! Thanks to the Bicycle Advisory Committee and countless concerned citizens for reporting this maintenance need and drawing attention to it. Thanks to the public agencies that got the work done!

Crews repair the bike path along Arroyo Seco.

Central LA

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2. The City of Los Angeles will be repaving San Vicente Bl between Fairfax and La Brea in December 2020. This street is on the City’s 2035 Mobility Plan with a protected bike lane (protected by parked cars or bollards). When repaving the street, the city has an opportunity to implement the mobility plan. Click here to fill out a petition to support a bike lane on San Vicente Blvd.

Policy & Advocacy Updates

Metro Traffic Study

Metro is embarking on a study to that will look at reducing traffic by managing roadway demand through congestion pricing. To learn more about the study and provide your feedback, click here.

Honoring those that have passed

This is a space for Angelenos to remember and honor cyclists that have passed on, for whatever reason. If you would like to share a few words about someone from the cycling community that passed away please use this form. We will be sharing a couple of these remembrances in each bi-weekly newsletter.

If you or someone you know has recently suffered a loss due to traffic violence, here is a resource guide for those dealing with a sudden loss made by families who have gone through a similar experience: http://bit.ly/SafeStreetsResourceGuide

Thank you for sharing your story.

Safety Tips

We will be providing a couple of safety tips each newsletter, preferably based on your questions. Have a bicycle-related safety question? Send us your questions by filling out this Google Form: LACBC Answers Your Bike Safety Questions

Tip #1: The days are getting shorter. Here’s what the law says about lights and here’s what we recommend:

The California Vehicle Code (CVC) says that when operating at night, a bicycle must have a front white light and a red rear reflector OR a red rear light with a built-in reflector.

We recommend a red rear light over just having a reflector, and turning on both of your lights at least 30 minutes before sunset. Make sure your lights are charged (if the rechargeable kind) or that you carry a couple of extra batteries.

Tip #2: How to lock up your bike

First things first – a quality bike lock is the way to go. Avoid relying on chains or cable locks as your primary locks – these are easily cut with bolt butters. Quality locks aren’t cheap, but neither is a new bike. (If you’re in the market for a quality lock, check out Seaty Lock – buy through this link and a portion of sales support LACBC!)

With a sturdy lock in hand, find a place to lock up your bike that is secure. You want to check for and avoid loose poles and small trees (yes, people have had their bike stolen because someone sawed the tree they locked it up to). A bike rack is preferred, but we’re not all blessed with such amenities.

Once you’ve picked a place to lock up to, secure your bike by making sure your seat tube is inside the lock. If it’s possible to fit your rear wheel in there, even better. We also recommend securing your front & rear wheels because they can be easily removed. The bike in these pictures has Gravity Wheelboltz installed, so the wheels can only be removed if the bike is upside down.

Make sure you lock up your bike properly with a sturdy lock.

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