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This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

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Meet Mayor Villaraigosa, Bicycle Advocate

mayor-bike-elbow.jpg

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

When Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa broke his elbow in a bicycle accident in July, one of the first responses from his constituents was surprise--that he even rode a bike in the first place.

Now he's being hailed as a "new champion of cyclists' rights," according to an AP report published on cbs2.

Tomorrow the Mayor's Bike Summit begins; it has garnered criticism before it even began, which is perhaps why the City Hall's PR machine is pushing the idea of a very pro-cyclists' rights Villaraigosa.

Maybe the surprise that Villaraigosa was biking on Venice Boulevard in Mid-City wasn't completely unwarranted: "The ill-fated ride was his first on city streets since taking office."

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