Last month the LACBC team organized a number of bike-oriented events to celebrate the many benefits of bicycling in Los Angeles! A joint effort between the LACBC, our Local Chapters, and Partners, we had a blast getting folks together for Bike Week after a two year hiatus. The big takeaway - with our temperate climate and mostly flat streets riding a bike is a great way for us to do our part to address climate change, pollution, and congestion to improve the quality of life for everyone!
Here is a quick rundown of the free activities we held for riders of all ages and abilities from zip codes around the County.
Wednesday, May 18th
E-bike Pilot training and bike loans
With grant funding from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Community Emissions Reduction Grant, LACBC purchased a fleet of 43 Himiway E-bikes to lend to small businesses and independent contractors that live or conduct service in San Pedro, Wilmington, and Harbor City. In exchange for the loan, we’re asking participants to transition their delivery services from personal vehicles to our e-bikes! This month, we hosted our second E-bike Safety Training for eligible businesses. Andrea Aponte, a certified League Cyclist Instructor (LCI), provided folks with an introduction to Bike Safety 101, followed by a brief demonstration. Participants were eager to join our pilot, and we were able to distribute 16 e-bikes. These participants join 12 others to complete our first cohort of the E-bike Pilot. Thank you to the folks at La Perla de Uruapan for providing their delectable empanadas and Maya Mexican Restaurant for their delicious tacos dorados! Please consider supporting these small businesses next time you're in Wilmington.
UCLA Pit Stop
Justino Garcia, League Cycling Instrcutor and Bicycle Advocate along with our Executive Director Eli Akira Kaufman, and super intern Kaitlin Alcontin, UCLA ‘22, cohosted a pitstop along with Emily Han, Senior Planner, Active Transportation UCLA. and Kimberly Fisher, Senior Marketing Coordinator from Metro Bike Share at UCLA Bike Week where we handed out Giveaway bags sponsored by Metro Link, the Wonderful Co, Sierra Nevada, and good cheer
Metro BEST Bike Safety Basics @ UCLA
Immediately after our UCLA Bike to School Pit Stop wrapped up long time LCI Dorothy Wong led a Metro BEST Safety Basics class with our friends from Metro Bike Share that included taking a spin on Metro Bikes!
Operation Firefly @ UCLA
Finally as the sun started to set, Kaitlin Alcontin and Kevin Shin, LACBC Deputy Director, hosted an Operation Firefly bike light distribution and bike commuter safety information booth to hand out free bike lights and tips on how to ride safely on the streets of LA.
Thursday, May 19
Bike to Work Day Lunch Ride - Chinatown
To keep our roll going, Alejandra Alvarez, LACBC Project Manager, hosted a Metro BEST Ride from Union Station into Chinatown in partnership with Metro Bike Share that culminated in a delicious lunch at Cargo Snack Shack.
Bike to Work Bike Culver City Pit Stops
Meanwhile, Eli Akira Kaufman and youngest LACBC Team Member Gia Frost Kaufman joined Bubba Fish, Mary Daval and other from The Bike Culver City Bike to Work Pit Stop next to Washington Blvd bike lanes at the Ivy Station Metro Stop. Thanks to our amazing partner Helen M. Russell, Co-Founder & Executive Chair of Equator Coffee for providing complimentary coffee and a bite at their new beautiful bike friendly location. We also handed out gift bags sponsored by Metro Link, the Wonderful Co, Sierra Nevada
Friday, May 20
Bike to School with LADOT Safe Routes to School
LACBC team members Alejandra Alvarez, Andrea Aponte, and Eli Akira Kaufman served as bike marshalls for the John Leichty Middle School Bike To School Day with Safe Routes to School LA. Students, parents, school staff and volunteers did a one-mile ride that started and ended at the school.
Sunday, May 21
Bike Month Ride: Los Feliz to Encino
Sponsored by Fat Tire and Lime
An eager group of bike-minded individuals joined us for a day of bike fun, outdoor connection, and local history! This group ride is named after the LA River - Paayme Paxaayt is the name given to this temperamental life force by the Tongva/Kizh/Gabrielino people - the original inhabitants of the Los Angeles area. The 30-mile ride started in Griffith Park and had us heading west to Lake Balboa/Anthony Beilenson Park before turning around and heading back to Griffith Park. A special moment came after the ride was over, when we took leftover proceeds from tickets and sponsorships and donated the amount to the Haramokngna American Indian Cultural Center. It was important to us to acknowledge this land we cherish was inhabited before us. We hope to continue finding ways to honor the land and the native peoples that live here.
May 11th-23rd
LAUSD Bike Club
Brenda Yancor, Senior Community Engagement Manager, led a bike ride on LA River Bike Path with International Studies Learning Center Students (South Gate). The LACBC Bike Club team is working with seven schools across LAUSD to bring bicycling skills to students and teachers in Title 1 schools. The areas we're currently working in include East LA at Belvedere Middle School, South LA at Edison and Julian Nava, Northeast LA with Luther Burbank, Nightingale and Irving, and Southeast LA with International Studies Learning Center in South Gate. We plan to add 3 to 4 schools in the San Fernando Valley next semester. We've worked closely with school administrators to develop a skills assessment that would facilitate group rides with students and teachers in their neighborhoods.
Thank you to all of our Sponsors! We couldn't do this without you!
