The infamous sprawl of the Southland and its many municipalities makes it a challenge compared to other cities. That's why Metro is hosting meetings to think about the big picture: what would a county-wide bike-sharing program look like? more ›

CicLAvia returns to the streets of Los Angeles on October 9th, and the organization has made just a few slight changes to their expanded route map. When it comes to the route, this time around they kept the same 7.5-mile route from the last two events, but added offshoots into Chinatown and the Fashion District. The Chinatown route had to be modified slightly after it was initially announced. more ›

Imagine riding down the Sepulveda Pass on a bike with no brakes. We can't. Maybe you can. If so, you're a lot like our interview subject for today, Sean Martin. A fixed gear bike rider and organizer of local riding events, Martin also co-writes the blog Take Over LA. more ›

There's no sex in the champagne room, and the LAPD would like you to know that there will also be no bike rides allowed on the 405 during Carmageddon, reports L.A. Now. The blog notes that the good people of L.A. have so far requested permission to hold a block party on the Santa Monica Blvd. ramp... more ›

As gas prices keep rising and pollution levels are at their worst (congrats again to greater Los Angeles for having the lousiest air quality in the U.S. according to the American Lung Association) it’s time to get out of your car and get back on a bike. What better way to spend a Saturday then by the beach and on a cruiser in the name of something good--beer and bikes good. more ›

After adopting the Los Angeles Bicycle Plan last month, the city is rolling out the first phase of the process, in which it plans to introduce bike lanes up and down 7th Street. Southern California Public Radio reports that the lanes, which are scheduled to be painted on in October of this year, will go from Catalina Street in Koreatown to Figueroa Street downtown, stretching 2.2 miles in total. more ›

A special, three-wheel bicycle belonging to a 14-year-old boy with Down syndrome was stolen from his home in Santa Ana, reports the OC Register. The bike was taken from the father's pickup truck overnight Wednesday as it was parked at their home. more ›

This is the first in a series of Do It Yourself efforts trending Around Los Angeles. Some are purely hobbies that have taken off in unexpected ways, but most are projects and places built around a combination of necessity, ingenuity and frugality that often give people new skills and new approaches to various parts of their life. more ›

A Riverside woman who killed a bicyclist in 2009 after a hit-and-run has been sentenced to three years in prison, reports the OC Register. Patricia Ann Izquieta, 38, was reportedly under the influence of several prescription medications, including methadone and clonazepam, when she struck Donald Murphy, 49, from behind as he rode his bike in Newport Beach. more ›

The Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon is tomorrow, which means that once participants get out of the water at Venice Beach, they'll be hitting the streets on bike and foot to complete the race that will take them from the West side to Downtown's L.A. Live. more ›

Areas designated as bike lanes on the USC campus are now unfriendly territory for bike riders, after "Dr. Charlie Lane, associate senior vice president for Career and Protective Services, announced at a bicycle safety forum that the school is enacting a bicycle ban on [...] the two major pedestrian thoroughfares on the USC campus," according to the LADOT Bike Blog. more ›

Last night was the August Critical Mass ride through the streets of Los Angeles. The event, by most morning-after accounts, went well; the group's Facebook wall has multiple postings from participants citing a "dope," "great," "fun," "tight," and "successful," ride. more ›

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wants a statewide bicycle helmet law that would require all cyclists, regardless of age, to don one while riding. Among the many positive topics broached, that was the recurring theme for him at his first bicycle summit yesterday. His reasoning is based on what spun him into a bicycle advocate: when he shattered his elbow in a bicycle incident last month, the results could have been worse if he were not wearing a helmet. more ›

Thanks to video captured Friday night, some of LAPD's Hollywood Area bike unit officers are under scrutiny by LAPD internal affairs following complaints raised by bicyclists participating in a group ride organized in protest of the BP oil spill. The bicyclists are questioning the officers' use of excessive force during the ride, and the LAPD has announced via a statement that they are pursuing the matter internally. more ›

A large group bike ride was staged last night in protest of British Petroleum and the gulf oil spill. There were an estimated 200-1,000 bike riders in fluctuating numbers who took part in the ride that converged on the BP gas station at Robertson and Olympic, however encounters with LAPD officers signaled an end to the ride for a few in Hollywood. more ›

It's day five of the Tour of California and Lance Armstrong is out, according to the Associated Press. Just a few miles into the 121.5 leg from Visalia to Bakersfield this morning, a rider fell when his bike skidded some gravel. The incident caused other cyclists to go down with him, sending Armstrong to the hospital for stitches to his elbow and cheek. So far, no tweets from the usually active Armstrong, who was accused of doping earlier today. more ›

With crime down, LAPD officers have been able to focus on different types of problems like cold cases and in the case of downtown Los Angeles, the rising crime trend of bike thievery. “It seems there is no shortage of bike thieves downtown,” explained Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Central Detective Division, in a press release this morning. more ›

Is this a true change in standpoint from our leadership? The beginning of a culture shift? Today, the L.A. Department of Transportation General Manager, Rita Robinson, aka MobilityMaven on Twitter, tweeted a warning to drivers: "Drivers - plz watch the road- be aware of cyclists. LADOT wrking w/LAPD & cyclists on road conditions/safety. Educ of drivers is crucial." Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa then retweeted it and followed it up with this: "I'm directing @MobilityMaven to work with the LAPD, LADOT and the cycling community to make our streets safe for cyclists." more ›

In its 14th year, the LA DWP's annual Holiday Light Festival will take place inside Griffith Park from December 3-30th. The event is starting later this year, however, so that "you can linger over your Thanksgiving turkey," the DWP explains in a press release. No matter when you make it down, however, you can take a look at the one-mile stretch of Zoo Drive bedecked with over one million energy-efficient LED lights set up in their usual displays aimed at "showcasing the uniqueness of the City of Los Angeles" (for the uninitiated, read: shaped like city landmarks). more ›

As the summer winds down, it’s important to remember that there’s still a lot of good reasons -and even better causes - to get outside. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to kick back and just enjoy a beer either, does it? Well, if you’d like to give back, get out, and grab a drink while you’re at it, then consider Tuesday’s Bike MS at the Library Ale House on Main Street in Santa Monica. more ›

If you can emphasize a balance between form and function, keep it beautiful and make it hip, you might be the artist/designer behind Hollywood Boulevard's newest crop of 24 or so bicycle racks. LA City Council President Eric Garcetti, CRA, the Bike Writers Collective and the LACBC are joining forces to sponsor a competition for "a unique bicycle rack for the East Hollywood community. This project seeks to add visual appeal and transportation amenity to its vibrant East Hollywood streetscape along Hollywood Boulevard between Western Avenue and Vermont Avenue." Download the details here (.pdf) and good luck! more ›

For the past three years, public transit has been our guiding way to the Sunset Junction Street Festival. To try to find reasonable parking is just not very realistic. Still, we've felt alone on the subways and buses when en route to the fest. There's maybe only a handful of people with us heading to or from the event (one LAist friend asked us if hipsters hate public transit? Now that's a debate, if ever). more ›

A 17-year-old on a bicycle was shot and killed last night when a car with two men inside pulled up and shot the teen in the unincorporated area of Westmont. On Sunday night in the unincorporated area of Athens, four men were shot, leaving two dead, about one-mile away from last night's slaying. Both neighborhoods are located in the South LA area near the 110 and 105 Freeways. Updated: The Daily News reports that three men died in Sunday's shooting. more ›

Whew! This one's not in LA, but with all the bicycle drama happening around town, it's worth noting that it is a national issue. This weekend in New York City, a cyclist was knocked to the ground by a NYPD officer. "The cyclist in this video was arrested, held for 26 hours, and charged with attempted assault and resisting arrest," according to LAist sister site, Gothamist. more ›

Police say that 28-year-old Juan Campos, allegedly of Brownsville, Texas, was apparently drunk and fell asleep when he crashed into a bicycle race near Matamoros, Mexico, which is near the U.S. border. At least one person was killed and 14 were injured. The 24-kilometer race, which took place on Sunday, had only started 15-minutes prior to the incident. more ›

Yesterday in El Monte, a man riding his bicycle was struck and killed by Foothill Transit bus. The LA Times explains:

The cyclist was riding across Santa Anita Avenue near Ramon Boulevard about 9:15 a.m. when he was hit by the bus, said Lt. Michelle States of the El Monte Police Department. He was not in the crosswalk and was pronounced dead at the scene, States said. more ›

In January, Los Angeles City Councilman Eric Garcetti announced that City Hall and other downtown facilities would provide bicycle lockers, more racks, access to showers and a subsidy to City Hall staffers who ride a bike to work. Yesterday, Garcetti blogged that they have already won an award, the Rideshare Diamond Award, for their efforts. more ›