LACBC
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter

December 26, 2014

In this issue
Looking Back at 2014 and Ahead to 2015
Volunteer for Operation Firefly in the New Year
Join Team LACBC on Climate Ride 2015
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities
Looking Back at 2014 and Ahead to 2015

Like any year, 2014 had its ups and downs, but LACBC continues to make steady progress toward a more bike-friendly region. At the beginning of the year, we asked you to sign on to our goals of bringing protected bike lanes to Los Angeles, appointing a bike-friendly LADOT General Manager, staffing up LADOT's bikeways and pedestrian groups, and increasing funding for walking and biking throughout Los Angeles County. Now as 2014 comes to a close, we are proud to say we delivered. This year, we secured the approval of Los Angeles's first protected bike lanes and commitments to traffic safety and greater funding. We laid the groundwork for a citywide network of next generation bikeways and welcomed a new leader at LADOT. Through it all, we hosted yet another record-setting River Ride, made a splash riding to the Emmys, and doubled the impact of Operation Firefly. Here are the headlines that made 2014 one to remember:


 

February: City Announces 180-mile Network of Family Friendly Bikeways. Los Angeles is in the midst of updating its transportation plan for the first time since the 1990's, and a citywide network of protected bike lanes is a key component. The City spent most of 2014 gathering feedback on the plan, which is scheduled to go to City Council in the spring of 2015.


 

March: Groundswell of Support Saves "My Figueroa" Protected Bike Lane. From January through April, we kept you up to date on the much-anticipated My Figueroa project, which will include Los Angeles's first protected bike lane. The project was saved at a March City Council committee meeting where over 60 pedestrian, bicycle and transit advocates from across the city showed up in support. Thanks to the diligent work of Councilmember Curren Price, Councilmember Jose Huizar and Mayor Eric Garcetti, the final appeal against the project was dropped one month later.


 

May:Bike Count Report Shows Bicycling on the Rise in L.A. Just in time for Bike Week, LACBC released the results of our 2013 bike count, conducted in partnership with Los Angeles Walks. The report found that bicycling is increasing overall, but primarily where the City is installing new bikeways. If you build it, they will come! Also in May, Councilmember Mike Bonin successfully authorized three new bike & ped coordinator positions at LADOT in the City budget.


 

Also Team LACBC Rides Repeats as Top Climate Ride Fundraising Team. Our 14 team members rode through wine country and raised more than $74,000 for LACBC and environmental organizations! We'll be at it again in 2015.


 

June: Mayor Garcetti Appoints Bike/Ped-Friendly Seleta Reynolds to Lead LADOT. Livable streets advocates rejoiced at Mayor Garcetti's choice for LADOT General Manager. Seleta Reynolds came to L.A. with a strong track record implementing safety improvements in San Francisco, including innovative bikeway designs and safe routes to school projects. Reynolds started work in August after a smooth confirmation process.


 

Plus, 14th Annual L.A. River Ride Attracts 2,000+ Participants for 10 Rides


 

July: Metro to Create Active Transportation Finance Strategy. In July, LACBC's normally behind-the-scenes policy work yielded a great step forward when the Metro Board of Directors endorsed our call for a countywide Active Transportation Finance Strategy to better understand the need for greater investment in walking and biking, which make up 19% of all trips, 39% of all roadway fatalities, yet receive less than 1% of transportation funding. For over two years, LACBC has worked side-by-side with the Safe Routes to School National Partnership to fix this funding disparity.


 

August: LACBC Bikes to the Emmys with Mad Men Writer-Producer and Nominee. People thought we were a bunch of mad men and women, but we joined Mad Men writer-producer, Emmy nominee, and LACBC member Tom Smuts on a little bike ride from his home in Santa Monica to Downtown L.A. for the Primetime Emmys. 


 

September: LADOT Adopts "Vision Zero" to End Traffic Deaths by 2025. LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds released a revolutionary strategic plan for the department after only weeks on the job. While Vision Zero rightfully grabbed the headlines, the plan also dives deep into reforming the department to better achieve its mission, including often overlooked priorities like project management and staff morale, laying a roadmap for Reynolds's tenure at LADOT.


 

October:Metro Adopts Countywide Complete Streets Policy. Alongside the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, LACBC achieved a long held goal of a Complete Streets Policy for Los Angeles County's primary transportation agency. As the main funder of all transportation projects--including highways, transit, streets and bike paths--a well-written policy will affect projects throughout the county and its 89 local jurisdictions. LACBC will spend much of 2015 working to ensure this landmark policy is implemented.


 

November: New Season of Operation Firefly Launches with Goal of Doubling Number of People Served. With a new season sponsor in the Laemmle Charitable Foundation, our goal is to double the number of people we distribute bike lights to--from 1,000 last season to 2,000 this season. You can us reach our goal by volunteering or making a donation.


 

December:LACBC Hires Tamika Butler as New Executive Director. As we reported last week, LACBC is proud to introduce Tamika Butler to our members and supporters. Tamika has already hit the ground rolling, starting her first day with a tour of Downtown L.A.'s many bike l

anes. We know that Tamika will accomplish great things in 2015 and beyond. Please help celebrate Tamika's arrival and commemorate Jen Klausner's seven years of service with an end-of-year donation. We have a goal of raising $50,000 to start the new year strong. Will you donate today?


 

2015: Our New Year's resolution is to continue our work to make Los Angeles County a healthy, safe and fun place to ride a bike. Stay tuned in January for updates on our campaigns for a safe North Figueroa, a complete Santa Monica Boulevard and a visionary Hyperion Bridge--all of which need your support. Now is a great time to renew your membership or donate to our end-of-year campaign so that we can come back in 2015 stronger than ever. See you in the New Year!

Volunteer for Operation Firefly in the New Year

Thanks to support from our season sponsor Laemmle Charitable Foundation, other sponsors, and donors, Operation Firefly will be revving up after the new year, with at least three Operation Firefly distributions a week in January. Distributions will be held in Long Beach, Huntington Park, and several locations in the City of Los Angeles. If you've thought of helping with Operation Firefly in the past, January is the time to join us. We need your help, especially in Long Beach where we anticipate 8-10 events in January and February.

Sign up to join Team Firefly today!

Long Beach: Jan 6 | Jan 14 | Jan 20 | Jan 28
Los Angeles : East Hollywood | Huntington Park | Northridge | South LA | DTLA | Boyle Heights | Highland Park

Join Team LACBC on Climate Ride California 2015 

 

In 2013, Team LACBC became the top fundraising team and brought home the coveted top fundraising pint glasses by raising over $35,000 for Climate Ride and LACBC. Last year, Team LACBC rocked Climate Ride again! We raised over $74,000 for Climate Ride and LACBC and were easily the top fundraising team. We're coming back to raise some dough, 3-peat as the fundraising champions, and ride along the scenic Northern California coast!

 

Climate Ride California takes place from May 17th through May 21st, 2015, and is a gorgeous cycling adventure that begins in California's historic Redwood Empire near Eureka, travels along the scenic coast, and ventures into the famed Russian River Valley before crossing the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco.

 

Climate Ride participants must raise at least $2800 by May 11th, 2015, in order to participate, and if you're part of Team LACBC, we'll receive a portion of your raised funds. So far, we already have six people on our team--Alek, Colin, Carrie, Nathan, and the 2 Gregs--and we know you want to join them!

 

What to learn more how Climate Ride works and learn more about your potential teammates? Come to a Meet 'n Greet with Team LACBC riders and Climate Ride Director Blake Holiday on Wednesday, January 7th, in either Downtown L.A. at 12 p.m. or Culver City at 6 p.m.

 

Join Team LACBC today!

Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities

LACBC Holiday Break
When: Wednesday, December 24 to Sunday, January 4th
Our LACBC Offices are closed from Wednesday, December 24th, through Sunday, January 4th, for our holiday break! We will see you in the new year on January 5th!

New Year's Eve L.A. at Grand Park
with LACBC Bike Valet
When: Wednesday, December 31, at 7 p.m. to Thursday, January 1, at 1 a.m.
Where: Grand Park
What are you doing on New Year's Eve? Spend it in Downtown L.A. for the Grand Park countdown! Ride your bike over, as LACBC is providing free bike valet service for the event. Our Bike Valet Coordinator also needs some help to parking the bikes. If you have a few hours free before or after countdown and would like to volunteer, please contact hyeran@la-bike.org. More info.

Team LACBC Climate Ride Lunchtime Meet and Greet - DTLA
When: Wednesday, January 7; 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Where: LACBC HQ - 634 S. Spring St., Downtown Los Angeles

Are you interested in joining Team LACBC for the 2015 Climate Ride on the gorgeous Northern California coast but want to know more? Come to a brown bag lunch and meet Climate Ride Ride Director, Blake Holiday!  He will be on hand to discuss Climate Ride and answer your questions! RSVP here.

 

Team LACBC Climate Ride Evening Meet and Greet - Culver City
When: Wednesday, January 7; 6 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Where: Culver Hotel - 9400 Culver Blvd, Culver City
Are you interested in joining Team LACBC for the 2015 Climate Ride on the gorgeous Northern California coast but want to know more? Come to happy hour at the Culver Hotel and meet Climate Ride Ride Director, Blake Holiday!  He will be on hand to discuss Climate Ride and answer your questions! RSVP here.

Chinatown Firecracker Run & Ride
When: Saturday, February 28 (bike ride with LACBC bike valet) & Sunday, March 1 (run)
Where: Chinatown
Ring in the Lunar New Year by riding or running, and celebrate the Year of the Goat! For the past few years, we've partnered with the excellent Chinatown Firecracker Ride & Run by providing bike valet for the event. Also, for each registrant who indicates that they were referred to the event by LACBC, the Firecracker organizers will donate $7 to LACBC! More info.
LACBC Local Chapters - Join when you become an LACBC member or renew your membership!


Other Events Around Town

Join LACBC or Renew

 

The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is a member-supported organization that works for you to build a better, more bike-able L.A. County. 

Members are the backbone of LACBC! Help keep LACBC strong by becoming an 
LACBC member (or renewing your membership) and be part of the change!
Contact Information

Carol Feucht
Membership & Communications Director
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition

carol@la-bike.org

 

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