The Independence Day Kids Bike Parade 2008 is this coming Friday, July 4 at 10 a.m.
It starts and ends at 1 Granada Ave. in Belmont Shore and lasts about 30 minutes.
It’s a slow-moving two-mile out-and-back ride on the beach bike path and down Bay Shore Ave. (closed to autos for the day). We are looking for teens and adults to ride decorated bikes at the back of the parade (kids will ride at the front of the parade) to show their support of the kids and for patriotism.
All ages are welcome – kids, teens and adults.
There are about 200 kids each year, but we want this to be a huge 5th Anniversary parade.
Portfolio Coffeehouse in cooperation with Public Space Mobility Group presents a special viewing of the film Contested Streets this Saturday at 6:30pm at Portfolio.
CONTESTED STREETS explores the history and culture of New York City streets from pre-automobile times to the present. This examination allows for an understanding of how the city – though the most well served by mass transit in the United States – has slowly relinquished what was a rich, multi-dimensional conception of the street as public space to a mindset that prioritizes the rapid movement of cars and trucks over all other functions.
Central to the story is a comparison of New York to what is experienced in London, Paris and Copenhagen. Interviews and footage shot in these cities showcase how limiting automobile use in recent years has improved air quality, minimized noise pollution and enriched commercial, recreational and community interaction. London’s congestion pricing scheme, Paris’ BRT (bus rapid transit) and Copenhagen’s bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure are all examined in depth. New York City, though to many the most vibrant and dynamic city on Earth, still has lessons to learn from Old Europe.
When: Saturday, June 28th – 6:30pm
Where: Portfolio Coffeehouse
2300 E. 4th St (at Junipero)
Received an email from Lauren who is looking for a good route from the Bluff Park neighborhood to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. We don’t know much about Lauren or her prowess with a bicycle… but we assume she doesn’t want to be climbing any hills on her way to work. View Larger Map
It looks like this route goes a little out of the way, but any North/South street East of Atlantic starts to go up Signal Hill. The green lines are the preferred routes for riding. Obviously 1st/2nd you would alternate which street you are using depending on which way you are travelling – never ride against traffic.
When you get downtown you’ve got a choice to either ride up through Wrigley, or hop on any number of buses or the Metro to take you where you need to go. I tend to like Chestnut, while Russ likes Cedar – hey, whatever suits you best.
There are a lot of coffee shops along the way, a few bike shops and plenty of nice parks to stop and take a rest if you want. Good luck on your commute Lauren. Happy Riding.
What a great (hot) day to take the Bike Blender on its maiden ride! For those of you that have ridden with us, you may have heard us talk about the bike blender. The mythical device that combines human power and organic goodness which creates smoothies of the gods.
Well it’s here. Is it as much fun as he hoped? Better! Instead of imaginary smoothies, we’ve got real ones now! Here are some snaps of the hardcore smoothie making action. Join us next week and blend your own.
LBReport.com has an article about a cyclist that was recently mugged (June 2008) on the San Gabriel River Trail.
LBReport.com, which previously reported that a San Gabriel River bike trail rider was assaulted and robbed of his expensive bike over the 2007 Veterans’ Day holiday weekend, has learned of another attack on the popular pathway.Â
At about 7:15 p.m. (while the sun was still up) on Friday June 6, 2008, a rider headed northbound on the eastside of the San Gabriel River bikepath says he was allegedly jumped, physically attacked, punched and robbed in the underpass at Carson St. near El Dorado Park and the LB Town Center.
The victim says the assailant took his wallet, and allegedly grabbed his bike…and the victim yelled at him, alerting a rider heading southbound. The second bike rider became a Good Samaritan by telling the mugger to leave the bike alone…and the alleged assailant ran northward up the bike trail, the victim says.
Sad as it is, it also points to the larger question of who has the authority over the river trail? If we have issues (such as safety, lighting, emergency access, etc.,), who do we ask? The river trail borders several cities and is under the jurisdiction of different agencies that there is no clear answer (or atleast no single entity will take responsibility).
Anyway, this post isn’t meant to alarm you (the two reported incidents were more than 7 months apart…I think my back alley is more dangerous) or keep you from riding the trail, but do exercise common sense.
What cyclist contacted the city and said, “You know what, I need a bike route that goes 293 feet from PCH to this little marina down here“?! Or was this really just a sidewalk that was installed with bicycle funding under the guise of making the city more bike-friendly?
In this video I ride the full length of the bike route:
Wait, it gets better. This next video is of me riding from the Bike Route End sign, back towards PCH.
I would certainly like to know who planned this, who approved it, and lastly… are they still employed?! I mean come on, there is a huge pole that takes up one entire lane! This is the kind of thing that happens when a city is not involved with the organized cycling community.
If you have any insight to this “Bike Route” please let us know more about it. If you have a stupider bike lane in Long Beach or Signal Hill, we would love to see it!
We just got an email from Misty, a Wrigley Neighborhood resident, who wants to know how to get to CSULB without taking PCH the whole way! Her concerns are the fast traffic along the way, and I know that the hill coming back from the traffic circle isn’t entirely fun. Well Misty, here’s a few ideas: View Larger Map
The blue line is staying almost entirely on class 1, 2 or 3 bike routes. It gets a little dicy going downtown since the signage is hard to find.
The green line is my personal preferred route; the route I would take each day. Daisy Lane is a quiet residential street that makes the North/South portion easy. First St. between Alamitos and Loma is a nice residential area with VERY wide streets (would make a great signed Class 3 bike route). When you get to E. Eliot St., take heed when using the bike route on the sidewalk – while it does seperate you from the cars, riding on the sidewalk has its own hazards.
The red line is a multimodal route that would really cut your commute time in half, as well as save you from being all sweaty and sticky when you arrive at your first class. Bike or walk to the PCH Metro station, get on the LBT 171, pay 90 cents each way, and be at CSULB in about 25 minutes.
Hope this helps! Happy Riding.
If you need a way from here to there, send us an email, if you care. We’ll send someone out and find you a route!
lbcyclists (at) gmail (dot) com
So we know you like bikes, but if you like beer as well then listen up! Lucky Baldwin’s in Pasadena is having their Annual IPA Festival and we intend to go!
Join us Saturday, June 21st 2008 for a 35 mile ride (this is no Farmer’s Market cruise) up the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Rivers, with a short jog on-street through Temple City, Arcadia and on a section of Historic Route 66. We expect this ride to take a little over 2.5 hours, as we plan to take it pretty easy holding a pace of 12-15 mph (we wouldn’t want to exhaust ourselves and miss out on 63 beers on tap!)
This is a no-drop ride, which means that no one gets left behind. On a typical no-drop ride we will have 3-4 meeting points to allow everyone to regroup. If you’re not familiar with the route or you think you might fall behind, be sure to check in with the ride leader before the ride begins; but please be capable of this distance so as not slow the whole group and ruin somebody elses’ fun.
There is plenty of bicycle parking right outside the pub so bring a lock!
We will probably be there for a few hours, eating lunch and tasting beers.
There’s no estimated time to return, but certainly before dark.
I know what you’re thinking, and no, we’re not riding back! We’re taking the train! Choo Choo! The Metro Gold Line is only a block away from Lucky Baldwin’s, which leads you to the Red Line, which leads to the Blue Line which will take us back to Downtown Long Beach and for less than $5! (let’s see your hybrid do that!) By then you should certainly be rested enough to get home on your own (it’s only another 3 miles back to where we started).
When: Saturday, June 21 – Ride leaves at 10am
Start: Marine Park, Long Beach (Appian/2nd st) View Larger Map
Like beer more than you like riding? Meet us up there by taking the train!
Can’t make this one? Don’t worry, Lucky Baldwin’s is having Xmas in July
