In a cover story in today’s Long Beach Press Telegram, Doug Krikorian writes about Naples resident Jack Thacker, 96 years old, who rides several hours a day, currently from his home to the Queen Mary and back each day. Could we attribute his longevity to his spending a couple hours a day in the saddle, pedalling through our gorgeous city? Of course we could. I’m not saying we are, mind you, but we could.
Of course, Mr Thacker also drinks two glasses of wine a day. Maybe THAT’s the secret. Who knows? Just read the article and see for yourself.
Lee, September 29th 2010 |
Tags: cycling, health
Posted in Featured
A Little of Your TIme can make a Big Difference.
The City of Long Beach and CSULB are coordinating the 3rd Annual Bike Count. The goal is to conduct counts at 35 intersections in Long Beach, and for that, they need 300 volunteers.Â
Bike Counts are a huge deal — think of them as like the US Census. When we know how many cyclists are out there, and where they are riding, we know where to focus attention, efforts, and dollars. And we can see how ridership changes over time in response to advocacy work, infrastructure changes, and all that good stuff.
Click on the flyer for all the details!
Lee, September 27th 2010 |
Tags: advocacy, bike count
Posted in advocacy, event
You may remember that Long Beach installed some Bike Boxes last December, on Second Street at Marina and at Bayshore. And as with all questions of bike infrastructure, reception among cyclists and advocates was mixed. The boxes were lauded by some as important improvements sure to increase cyclist safety. Others saw the boxes as a welcome sign that the city was taking steps to support cyclists, even if they weren’t sure the boxes would actually improve things. Still others decried the boxes, thinking them counterproductive, sure to make things more confusing and more dangerous for cyclists.
All of these opinions are currently moot, because with the recent resurfacing work on 2nd, the Boxes (and all other road markings) have disappeared.
While we wait to see whether the boxes make a return, researchers at Portland State have studied the effects of Portland’s many recent bike box installations, and they have concluded the bike boxes improve safety. Read this detailed post at bikeportland.org to learn all about the study and its findings, and let us know what you think about Bike Boxes.
Lee, September 22nd 2010 |
Tags: infrastructure
Posted in Current News, Uncategorized, advocacy
So we Southern Californians are finally catching up to South America!
At 9:00a on Wed, Sep 22 on the South Steps of City Hall Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, along with some other city folk and cyclists, will announce the route for LAs first-ever CicLAvia.
The new CicLAvia is a temporary public space along 7.5 miles in LA, stretching from Heliotrope & Melrose in East Hollywood to 1st & St Louis in Boyle Heights, to promote cycling and walking in the fair city. A collaboration between the City of Los Angeles, CicLAvia, and the cycling community, this new facility hopes to encourage healthy, active transportation and connect communities.
CiclovÃas started over 30 yrs ago in Bogotá, Colombia, to answer the congestion and pollution of the city. And we’re just now getting our own..
The real fun stuff will take place on Sunday, October 10, 2010 from 10:00a to 3:00p when the CicLAvia opens to the public for actual use.
Hurray to a more bikeable Southern California!
photograph courtesy of La Vida Es Loca
travis, September 22nd 2010 |
Tags: annual event, cicLAvia, ciclovÃa, ride, routes
Posted in advocacy, event, ride
Brian Ulaszewski reports from LBPOST in favor of linking non motorists to San Pedro Basin from Long Beach
Please join Long Beach Cyclists for the public meeting at City Hall September 28, 2010 at 3:30pm.
READ THE STORY HERE
bmckeever, September 21st 2010 |
Tags: advocacy, commuting, Gerald Desmond Bridge, Port of Long Beach, roads, routes, San Pedro, Terminal Island, traffic
Posted in Education, advocacy, meeting
You will want to cycle to the Port of Long Beach for this one! Participate in a guided cycling tour of portions of our port. Enjoy the many educational and fun activities that take place during Green Port Fest.
Long Beach Cyclists will help lead a cycling tour around parts of the port not normally open to the public. Also, we will offer free bike valet. Contact us (lbcyclists@gmail.com) about helping LBC for a small block of time so that each one of us can participate in some of the many cool activities that will take place.
Click the postage stamp on the right for details. Learn more about Green Port Fest by going to the Port of Long Beach Green Port web page.
MichaelB, September 21st 2010 |
Tags: bike valet, fun, Green Port Festival, ride
Posted in event, ride
For Jews around the world, it is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the most solemn day of the Jewish year. And in Israel, this manifests itself in a very special way. The country comes to a literal halt at sundown, and like that Arcade Fire song, No Cars Go.
The streets and highways are quiet. Empty. Across the whole country. The religious folks spend the holiday fasting and praying. But the secular folks seize the opportunity to bike, rollerblade, and otherwise play in the empty streets.
Over the past few decades, Yom Kippur has become THE day for bikes in Israel. Bike retailers see a huge increase in sales in the days leading up to Yom Kippur, as parents buy their kids their first bike, or upgrade them to a nicer one, so they are all set to ride all day long.
Read all about it in this Jerusalem Post article. And watch this Youtube video from last year, Riding on Yom Kippur 2009.
And an Easy Fast to all who are observing Yom Kippur!
Lee, September 18th 2010 |
Tags: Holiday
Posted in Current News
Run, walk or RIDE!
The 2010 Long Beach International City Bank Marathon is a month away, on October 17, 2010. Those of us who have walked and run the course know that it’s a really great marathon, with great volunteers and crowd support.
But did you know that you can also RIDE the marathon? Cyclists get to complete the same 26.2 mile course, but before everyone else. The Bike Tour starts at 6am, when it’s still dark. Imagine the thrill of crusing the closed-down streets of Long Beach and watching the sun rise over the city, one of a huge group of cyclists,  of all ages and all kinds of bikes. There are lots of families riding together, and roadies racing to new personal bests, and everything in between.
And if that isn’t enough, it’s a lot cheaper than footing the Marathon — you can register for the tour right now for $45. And you get a really cool medal, and there’s even a Finish Line Festival specifically for the Bike Tour.
Just remember – helmets are mandatory, and make sure you have lights on your bike– the sun doesn’t rise until an hour into the ride.
If this sounds good to you, get all the Bike Tour info here!
Lee, September 17th 2010 |
Tags: annual event, marathon, ride
Posted in Current News, event, ride
Nothing wrong with a little solar assistance, especially if your are touring with a very large instrument by bike
Read the Treehugger story!
Photo courtesy of Kristin Rule
bmckeever, September 16th 2010 |
Tags: accessories, bike to work, commuting, music, women
Posted in Featured
