Pasadena is stepping up.
I was reminded of our feat in LB.
“It’s not a bicycle master plan – it’s a roadmap toward a people-prioritizing city. You should support it even if you swear you’ll never ride a bike.”
Today’s dose of Advocacy
The Long Beach Cyclists board met March 9th
Bernadette McKeever is our first elected president. Congratulations Bernadette!
This past year, Long Beach Cyclists became a nonprofit California Public Benefit Corporation. This evening (March 9, 2010) we held our first board meeting and election. All paid members were invited to participate. We thank those who were present at tonight’s meeting, and also thank those who were not present yet who voted via e-mail. And we thank all of you who have supported Long Beach Cyclists through donations and membership forms, or as volunteers, or as participants in our many rides, events and activities.
Our other elected board officers include Travis Bos, who will serve as vice president, and Donald E. Moore, who will serve as secretary. Michael Bos was elected our board treasurer. The new board passed numerous motions that will help shape our future work. Back in the mid 1990s, Long Beach Cyclists functioned as an informal group. Recently we were incorporated with the State of California, and now we will submit proper paperwork to the federal government as we seek tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status.
Thanks are in order for the small group of friends who started Long Beach Cyclists about fifteen years ago, and thanks are also in order for the many, many individuals who have helped Long Beach Cyclists grow since then. Congratulations to all of us—you, too!
Cycling in Long Beach—Check out the calendar!
Long Beach Cyclists First Board Meeting & Election — Tuesday, March 9th
Ladies Night at Jax — Wednesday, March 10th
LBCyclists, March 4th 2010 |
Many things related to cycling are happening these days. Click EVENTS at the top of the longbeachcyclists.com page to help plan your week. Rides. Meetings. Places to go for fun. Areas where you can pitch in.
The first official Long Beach Cyclists board meeting and election will be held March 9th. We are taking steps to complete our transition to tax-exempt, nonprofit corporate status.
Ladies Night at Jax Bicycles (March 10th) includes free workshops, and perhaps some wine and cheese. Life is good!
The folks who organized the recent Metro Station Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Audit invite you to look at the audit summary, provide feedback and give additional input. Meet them at Sipology on March 17th.
Participants in the ‘Bike-Camp-Train’ ride around San Luis Obispo are making preparations this week. And Long Beach Cyclists will do a ‘Fools Ride’ under the full moon at the end of the month.
CSULB Cyclists and Pedal Movement organize rides weekly. Meeting dates are also posted on the calendar. Allan leads a monthly Port Tour ride, and Cyclone Coaster does a monthly vintage ride. Local restaurants offer monthly discounts for cyclists on first fridays. The H.U.B. (the bike-repair cooperative and community space run by Pedal Movement) is getting ready for its grand opening; now is a great time to help. Race practices for beginners and advanced cyclists take place weekly at Douglas Park and at El Dorado Park. The Los Angeles Bike Summit is scheduled for the March 20th weekend. Preparations are underway for the Long Beach Bike Fest and for Bike-to-Work Day, both scheduled for May.
And more! Bike polo, sprints, fixies. Lightning Velo and Velo Allegro rides. What else? Pitch in. Join us. Get YOUR event listed on the calendar. Happy cycling!
Discounts for cyclists—Fri, March 5
Support local bike-friendly businesses.
On the first Friday of every month, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, many Long Beach cafés and restaurants offer lower prices to customers who show up on a bicycle and dine in. To participate, we are asked to show our helmet or bike lock key.
Lunch Breaks for Cyclists is part of the Car-Free Fridays initiative coordinated by the City of Long Beach (as promoted by BikeLongBeach dot org) in which all people are encouraged to bike to work, one day per month at the very least.
The current list is based on the participants list found at bikelongbeach.org.
Investing in Biking and Walking Could Save Lives says Report
States with the lowest levels of biking and walking have higher traffic fatalities and chronic disease
Read on…
Dancing and Mardi Gras spirit in Long Beach
Folks danced and cyclists riding beautiful vintage bicycles got in to the Mardi Gras spirit, thanks to the fantastic cadence of the Jordan High School drum corps. We tapped our feet and rocked out.
Lee Tracy took this great shot of Bernard and Karen of Cyclone Coaster. They both enjoy lindy hop and other early dance styles.
While there were plenty of vintage bicycles, several of us from Long Beach Cyclists with newer bicycles joined in the fun as well. The air was filled with twinkling bike bells, a-hooo-gah horns and much laughter.
The recent afternoon Mardi Gras sidewalk parade started near the Aquarium and, to the delight of all onlookers, danced its way to Parker’s Lighthouse. It was a noisy, happy hour of fun. Belly dancers, music, umbrellas, raz and ma-taz, echoes of Brazilian carnaval and tastes of New Orleans.
Wanted: Higher Standards for kid items
A few years ago I discovered that I fit into most “outdoor” kids clothing. I would rummage through the racks at REI, Big 5 and Sports Chalet. Back than, I was the lady in the kids section that you were jealous of. Not because I had kids and was looking for cute zip-0ff pants for my toddler, but because I was paying half as much as you did in the adult section!
It was a good life until….
The dream came to an end. I realized that the kids section wasn’t holding a torch to the high quality and well fitted adult section. Now, when I walk into the store (head hung low) I head straight for the good stuff in the adult section. Why don’t they make the kids selection as amazing as adult clothes so that I can go back to paying second hand price for new stuff!
Leave it up to bikeportland.org to relate my story to bikes.
“He’s not careening down the side of a mountain — he is getting around by bike in Portland like many other civilized citizens do.”
Cycling Long Beach in Style—The Tweed Ride
by Lee Tracy
“Where are you guys going?” asked the lycra-clad road cyclist as the Cyclone Coaster bicycle riders pedaled through Belmont Shore side streets.
“Everywhere,” replied a cap-clad cyclist riding a vintage bicycle.
And while we didn’t go literally everywhere, we went around a lot of Long Beach, and in style.
Every month, Long Beach Cyclists has a great ride, and this month was no exception. We teamed up with the Cyclone Coaster for their first annual Mustache and Tweed Ride. Around 100 cyclists, many with classic vintage bicycles, enjoyed the beautiful sunny day.
The ride started, as so many good things in Long Beach do, with good coffee, and great company, at Portfolios.
One reason that folks come from far and wide to the Coaster rides, which happen the first Sunday of each month, is to enjoy the huge array of classic bicycles—many pre-World War II in vintage.
Fittingly, the Ride began by cycling down to 1st, and then heading East through Bluff Park, passing houses as old as many of the bicycles.
One needn’t dress to the nines to enjoy a good bicycle ride—you can wear most any clothing and cycle— but on a Mustache and Tweed ride, we’re reminded how perfectly well-dressed ladies and gentlemen and cycling go together.
After riding through the backstreets of Belmont Shore, we headed down the Long Beach Bike path, where the dozens and dozens of cyclists formed a winding snake that slithered down the beach.
By the Belmont Pier we took a break and enjoyed the scenery and conversation.
Back on the bike path, we encountered a section still flooded from the previous day’s thunderstorm—the brave souls pedaled through, while the rest of us rode around it.
Not all the riders were human—two dogs accompanied their human companions on the ride. This one had the best eyewear on the ride. By far. Dogs love going along on bike rides – it’s easy to train them to ride in a basket, backpack or trailer.
At last, we arrived at the Rainbow Harbor lighthouse.
The lighthouse was a perfect place for a break, with gorgeous views of the Queen Mary and the downtown Long Beach skyline.
At last, we found ourselves at the Pike in Alamitos Beach, where many riders enjoyed a great lunch to end the ride. Every month’s Long Beach Cyclist’s ride is a new adventure, and you never know where you’ll end up. But rest assured, you’ll have lots of fun with great people.
You can see more photos of the February 2010 Tweed Ride in Long Beach, California, organized by Long Beach Cyclists and Cyclone Coaster. Check out the photos by Lee Tracy posted at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yoshiyahu262/.
Also, check out the photos by Michael Bos at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46493017@N04/4342352351/in/set-72157623261435211/
March Weekend Cycle-Camping Tour
Amanda and several cycling friends are planning a special Long Beach Cyclists event that will take place to and from (and in and around) San Luis Obispo.
Drop whatever you’re doing right now, and click to the page where Amanda tells us all about it: www.bikecamptrain.blogspot.com.
Bike… Camp… Trains! In mid-March, cyclists from Long Beach will travel by train to and from San Luis Obispo for a weekend of cycling and camping in the beautiful SLO countryside. To participate, you are asked to RSVP by February 26. The ride itself will take place March 26-28.
To RSVP and to communicate with Amanda, (and to view and click on the poster), click on the above blogspot link.
Traffic Skills 101 for cyclists in mid-February
The next Traffic Skills 101 course taught by League-certified Cycling Instructors (LCI’s) is scheduled for February 17 and 20. You need to register in advance. The February course will meet at CSULB Pyramid Annex, (Atherton, between Bellflower and Palo Verde).
For details and to register online, click EDUCATION at the top of the longbeachcyclists.com web page.
