If you've ever wondered what a car-free Los Angeles might look like, you could soon get your answer. Sunday, April 10, 2011 marks the second annual CicLAvia, an event during which streets are blocked off to cars so that bikes, runners, walkers and all others (except...well...drivers) can get out and enjoy the sunshine safely.
Bike On, LA: Hot Spots to Check Out During CicLAvia
Community Leaders Among 5 Dead in Long Beach Plane Crash
Mark Bixby, 44, was a cycling advocate who regularly tweeted his rides. He rallied to ensure that bike lines would be part of the Gerald Desmond Bridge replacement plan and contributed to a blog called BIKEable Communities. Bixby was recently interviewed by the CDMCyclist blog. He was "one of the leading forces" of Long Beach's biking renaissance, according to BikinginLA.
Coco's Variety Store: From Chrome Bicycles To Japanese Erasers
Silver Lake's oddball emporium Coco's Variety Store is a not so general neighborhood market that's actually a bike shop.
Glendale Woman Charged with Manslaughter in Cyclist's Death
A woman was charged with manslaughter Thursday for hitting a man on his bicycle who died 13 months later. Naira Margaryan allegedly his Gerardo Ramos when she ran a stop sign around 6:45 a.m. on on Sept. 23, 2008. Ramos was apparently riding his bike on the sidewalk and was struck by Margaryan's Mercedes Benz as he crossed the street.
Pasadena Bicycle Plan Calls for Doubling of Bike Lanes & More
16 more miles of bicycle lanes and a system of "emphasized bikeways," among other improvements in Pasadena's bicycle plan, will be released to the public next week, according to the Pasadena Star. Although cycling advocate Joe Linton of C.I.C.L.E. calls the plan "mild" when compared to Long Beach's recent strides, Pasadena is considering one interesting, yet possibly controversial, option:
Hit & Run Driver Injures Cyclist, Turns Self In, Gets a Misdemeanor
Bicycle activist and blogger Stephen Box yesterday recounted a hit and run that last week left a cyclist in the hospital. Here's what happened:
Bicycle Sharrows Could be on L.A. Streets by May
Nearly two years after a motion set forth by Council President Eric Garcetti, a pilot program to bring sharrows--street markings educating bicyclists and drivers on sharing the road--could become a reality. Installation of the street markings could begin February 2nd and be completed by May, provided all funders sign contracts allowing city employees to begin work, it was learned a Los Angeles City Council Transportation Meeting yesterday.
City Attorney to Weigh Options on Bicyclist Anti-Harassment Ordinance
The City Attorney's office was instructed to recommend options for the creation of a bicyclist anti-harassment ordinance after discussion at the City Council's Public Safety Committee this morning. "Most of what you asked for is already within the law or the state jurisdiction," said committee chair Greig Smith, explaining that the city has limited authority over vehicle codes.
Cyclists Take on No Riding Rule at Festival in Griffith Park
Bicycle activist Stephen Box made good on his annual tradition last Friday, taking a group of cyclists to the LADWP Festival of Lights in Griffith Park on a car-only night. He calls it the Festival of Rights because he contends that state law, with a few exceptions such as most freeways, allows bicycles to use any roadway a vehicle can. Somehow, the city of Los Angeles' has found the exception, but when Box challenges officials, he gets the runaround:
Car Free Parties Coming Next Spring?
Some exciting news, if it comes true, via Damien Newton at StreetsblogLA. The Mayor's office has indicated that Ciclovia may be coming to Los Angeles in early 2010. What is that? "For the uninitiated, the city of Bogota put on the first Ciclovia decades ago by closing several of its main streets to cars and opening them to pedestrians and cyclists on Sundays," explains Newton. "Over the years, a culture developed around these gigantic street parties. Citizens literally pack the streets taking their bikes, joining group exercises and dances or just taking a walk free from the interference of the automobile."
Pencil This In: Bicycles, Long Beach Comic Con and Celebrating 10 Years with Dublab
UCLA Live presents Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis tonight at 8 pm at Royce Hall. Under Music Director Wynton Marsalis, the 15-piece resident orchestra at Jazz at Lincoln Center in NYC will perform rare historic compositions to modern jazz, including compositions and arrangements by members of the band. Tickets: $38-$85. ($15 UCLA students).
After Being Caught in a Lie (or just Disorganizational Chaos), LADOT Says New Bike Lane Will Come to Reseda Blvd.
Either way, it's feeling like the Los Angeles Department of Transportation is heading back to the days of General Manager Gloria Jeff when employee morale was low and the traffic engineers with real skills were caught up in a bureaucracy that dictated they serve cars, not people. Current General Manager Rita Robinson ran a tight and responsible ship at the Bureau of Sanitation before being appointed to LADOT, so why can't she control her own bikeways and district offices?
Meet Israel Nebeker - Lead Singer of Blind Pilot
Some people go green by driving Priuses. Others brag about their bio-diesel conversions. Don't get me wrong. These are both admirable attempts at meaningful earth friendliness, but when you really want hardcore bragging rights, nothing beats abandoning the auto altogether. For their first West coast tour, The folk-pop duo known as Blind Pilot decided to head from Vancouver to San Diego by...bicycle.
What LA Can Learn from Tokyo Bike Culture
Before a recent trip to Tokyo, the LA Times published Steve Lopez's column entitled "L.A. could learn some lessons from Tokyo". In his piece he praises Tokyo for its clean taxis, beautiful parks, and bike commuters.
CSU Fullerton Preps to Ban Skateboards on Campus
Crossing the campus from your Econ lecture to your Geology lab can be a pain in the ass, especially when time is tight and you're navigating a sea of student bodies plugged into iPods and hunched over text messages. For some, the solution is as easy as the four wheels of a skateboard.
Tom LaBonge Claims He's 'Big on Bikes,' Declares Festival Bike-Free
Last night's 13th Annual Griffith Park Holiday Light Festival community meeting opened with the DWP reps explaining to the public that the Festival is off limits to cyclists because "these aren't public streets." Protests from the audience elicited a response from Councilmember Tom LaBonge to have the lawyers take a look at it.
KCRW Looks into Bicycling in a Car Culture
Last night, one of Los Angeles' best locally focused radio programs, Which Way, L.A.? focused in on the Mandeville Canyon "road rage" motorist vs. bicyclist incident among other bicycle issues around Los Angeles.
How's your 'Metroquette' Been?
It's been about a month since the loyal LAist readers sounded off on the meaning of "Metroquette" and its various rules and recommendations. We heard opinions from those transplanted from more mass transit friendly cities, and also from long time Metro riders here in Los Angeles. With the unstoppable surge in fuel prices and summer here, we have seen a substantial increase in hand rail holders just over this last month. With plans to extend the Gold Line into East LA, and also westward to take us all the way to the beach, it's important that everyone has a clue when they decide to ride.
Found in LA: Expensive Gas = Busy Bicycle Racks
Here's a sign of the times. This bike rack at the Variety/E Channel Meridian Club building on Wilshire normally has three or four bikes on it. This day, bikes (including mine) had to be locked to parking meters because the rack was full.
Freeway Biking on NBC4
Remember this video? NBC picked up on it and aired it on Mother's Day.
Video of the Day: Dumbest Bike Lane in USA Found in Westwood
Via GOOD Magazine's blog, we find Andy Bower's video report for Slate.com on the "stupidest bike lane in America," which happens to be in the same neighborhood as one of the most respected schools in the nation -- UCLA. The 275 ft. class II bike lane runs on Gayley between Levering and Weyburn Avenues (interactive map below, lane marked in orange, try finding it!)
Photo Essay: Tour of California -- Stage 7, Pasadena
San Francisco based photographer Matt Cohen reports from yesterday's Tour of California with photos and explanations of what happened:
Photo Essay: Tour of California -- Stage 6, Santa Clarita
This weekend, the AMGEN Tour of California hit two Los Angeles area cities, Santa Clarita, yesterday, and Pasadena, today. Photographer Scott Groller was kind enough to share some photos from the finish line of Stage 6 in the Valencia neighborhood of Santa Clarita. The cyclists traveled 105.4 miles from Santa Barbara for a ride that lasted over four hours.
Primary Campaign Stirs up the Cyclists!
The most exciting thing about this primary campaign is the fact that it is reinvigorating in the public an interest in the direction of our nation, our state and even our communities.
For Food, What's GOOD in Los Angeles?
A More Bike Friendly LA On the Way?
Dedicated bike paths, more bike lanes, and bike rental programs, oh my!
Tom LaBonge - LA's Artful Dodger!
Los Angeles CityBeat's Greg Katz asks Tom LaBonge why cyclists can't ride through the Griffith Park DWP Light Festival and Tom almost completes a sentence before simply dodging and deflecting and offering more hollow promises for the future. Greg asks "You’re a bike advocate, a Griffith Park advocate, and you want to fix gridlock. Why can’t you bike through the Griffith Park DWP Light Festival while there are cars there?" Tom responds "The impact they...
LAist Interview: The City's Bike Queen
Michelle Mowery is the Bicycle Program's Sr. Project Coordinator for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. As Spring is basically here, we think it's a good time to ride your bicycle around town. It's much better than in the heat. Michelle is extremely busy serving this city with bicycle love. We are happy to get a few moments with her and hope to visit her again for some more bike fun. Here, we learn...

