And how!
There has been a lot of local press about bikes lately.
Check it out:
LA Times: Cyclists and motorists — maybe we can get along
LA Times: Death Defying Stunts
Whew that’s a lot of reading!
Bikes in the news!
“I need to have my bike licensed?”
Yes.
“Why?”
Because it’s the law…other than that, I can’t give you a good reason.
To obtain a bicycle license you must make it to a Fire Station on the weekends between 9am-Noon, and hope that there isn’t a fire somewhere or that somebody isn’t having a panic attack and the trucks roll out! I’ve been hearing that the Police are “cracking down” on bike licenses lately, and issuing tickets to those “offenders” that don’t have one. Who knew you needed to license a bike?
(A bicycle is defined as “any device upon which a person may ride which is propelled in whole or in part by human power through a system of belts, chains, or gears and which has either two or three wheels.”)
So that means you don’t need to get your roller skates, skateboard, Segway or unicycle licensed, but gosh darn it…you better license that bike!
What if I can’t make it to the Fire Station between 9am-Noon on the weekend? I just can’t. I have things to do on the weekends since I work all week long.
Bikestation to the rescue!
Bikestation has acquired 100 or so licenses and is able to issue them. They’ve picked Thursdays, and Thursdays ONLY. Why? Because that’s when they’ll be doing it.
Bring your bike, bring 2 bucks, and if you happen to have a proof of sale, that would be a huge help!
Bikestation is located in the downtown Transit Mall
221 E First St.
562.436.2453
In case you haven’t heard…
The Farmers Market ride is every Sunday! It starts at Bikestation @ 9:10 then heads to Porfolio then Jones…then up and over the bridge to the Market for some fresh goodies! The bike blender will be there too! So go grab some fresh fruit and throw it in the blender for a yummy smoothie! See you Sunday!
What would you do with $330,000?
The City of Long Beach will receive a $330,000, three-year grant from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to hire a Mobility Coordinator and help plan and develop two “Bicycle Boulevards.”
“This grant will help us become the most bicycle-friendly city in the Untied (sic) States, while promoting a more healthy and active lifestyle throughout Long Beach,” City Manager Pat West said.
Read the rest here: http://www.longbeach.gov
“The most bicycle-friendly city in the US” sounds like a pretty bold statement especially with Long Beach so far behind in the race (Portland, Seattle, SF, etc.) But I am looking forward to some positive changes happening within the city.
Perhaps with the influx of this money tied in with the rise in gas prices, we’ll have a real chance to create transportation options within the city.
What would you do for Long Beach if you were being paid $110,000 a year?
Stupidest Bike Lane, Part 2
Last month we reported on the “Stupidest Bike Lane in Long Beach” that only runs 293 feet and dumps you in to a little harbor.
Well we just got an anonymous email regarding it: “If you continue south after the end of the bike lane, along the edge of the park, you’ll come to this gate:
There’s a “NO skateboarding, bicycle riding . . .” sign on the gate, but I doubt its enforceable. Beyond the gate is a walkway that will take you from this park to Eliot St with little hassle or hazard. I would suggest slow going, since every property along the route has a pedestrian gate with a blind corner, and the walkway itself is very narrow. It’s still a nice shortcut from Marine Stadium / Belmont Heights / Colorado Lagoon to the Ralphs in Marina Pacifica.”
Thanks for the email!
Whether this is enforceable or not is beside the point. It says not to do certain things (most likely because it is a private walkway) and I feel that one should probably abide. Now obviously if this is an illegal sign (there are such things) then I would dismiss it; but until I have more knowledge of that neighborhood, the sign (whether it is a municipal code or just a sign) and anything else involved then I can only advocate following its directions.
October 12 2008 Bike Tour
The Long Beach International City Bank Marathon is happening on October 12th! Grab your bikes and get them tuned up for the 26 mile course through Long Beach.
The Bike Tour starts at 6 a.m. Registration is $30 up until August 31st but goes up to $45 starting September 1st to October 11th, so register soon.
You can choose to ride as an individual or ride and support a charity of your choice. The website has over 20 charities to choose from!
For complete details about the Bike Tour or if you’re interested in walking/running the course, click here.
How far do you ride each week?
This past month (June 2008) we took a poll to see how many miles our readers rode per week. The results were pretty great. 38% of us ride our bikes at least 20 miles a week. That means you’re running errands, commuting, going on adventures and going out by bicycle. Keep up the good work!
