Long Beach Bikeways—Where to? What are they like?

During the past year, we see Bikeway signs posted here and there across town.

Each Long Beach Bikeway route is assigned a number. Some signs also have arrows or destination information. How might we make use of these new traffic tools?

Local cyclist Peter Dopulos—no ties to the City of Long Beach nor to Long Beach Cyclists—has been cycling newly posted bikeways. Over time, Peter has been describing what he has observed and felt while cycling the routes he has explored so far. To read his interesting descriptions, full of discovery, see www.everythinglongbeach.com/lb/long-beach-bikeways/.

Peter visited Long Beach Cyclists during a recent monthly meeting to share what he has observed and learned. It was wonderful to hear Peter’s stories and sense his enthusiasm as he explores routes on his bike, without initially knowing where a new route will lead him.

What Long Beach Cyclists knows from our ongoing interactions with City planners and engineers is that many cycling-related projects are being contemplated or sketched out, and some are already being implemented. City staff developed a detailed list of preliminary route options. However, City engineers in turn are making adjustments, based on road widths, traffic flow and other considerations. Someday not too far off it would be good to have in hand an excellent map for cyclists indicating all of the eventual numbered bikeways.

Lacking a map of bikeways already posted no doubt has made Peter Dopulos’ adventure of sniffing out the where to’s all the more fun for him.

No Comments

LBCyclists, August 21st 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Education, advocacy

Reasons to Ride

What do the numbers say about cycling? About healthy living? About our environment?

The windy road image above is found on the People for Bikes dot org web site. The web site includes links to more interesting statistical information found at Bikes Belong dot org based in Boulder, Colorado. A key idea behind People for Bikes (which is an initiative of Bikes Belong) is to gather the electronic signatures of one million cyclists—which translates into the lobbying power of one million people who love cycling.

Thank you Long Beach Cyclists member Jessica A. for drawing our attention to the sites and the stats.

1 Comment

MichaelB, August 16th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in advocacy

Traffic Skills 101—Wednesday eve, July 21

Traffic Skills 101—the short-duration course that helps you develop skills to cycle Long Beach streets more safely—is taught by instructors (LCI’s) who are certified by the League of American Bicyclists. The course at CSULB Pyramid Annex is free, but advance registration is required. Click EDUCATION at the top of the longbeachcyclsts.com page for more information and to link to the CSULB web site to register.

This will be will be the last opportunity to take Traffic Skills 101 in Long Beach this summer.

By the way, the photograph was lifted from the cover of the Smart Cycling pamphlet of the League of American Bicyclists. Given that the League is based in Washington, D.C., can you identify which building we see in the background? And… can you identify who is the LCI in the photo? Hint, he is well known in the Long Beach cycling community.

1 Comment

MichaelB, July 12th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Education

Traffic Skills 101—Wednesday June 16 and 19

Traffic Skills 101—the short-duration course that helps you develop skills to cycle Long Beach streets more safely—is offered only a handful of times each year. The course at CSULB Pyramid Annex is free, but advance registration is required. Click EDUCATION at the top of the longbeachcyclsts.com page for more information and to link to the CSULB web site to register.

The last opportunity to take Traffic Skills 101 this summer will be in July.

1 Comment

MichaelB, June 13th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Education

Riding Bikes With The Dutch—Thurs June 10

1 Comment

MichaelB, June 9th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in advocacy, event

Bike Movie at the Art—Thursday, June 10th

Don’t miss this special screening of Michael Wolfgang Bauch’s film “Riding Bikes With the Dutch.”

Images of Southern California automobile traffic—including scenes shot here in Long Beach—are juxtaposed against images of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Bauch and his family have lived in both Long Beach and Amsterdam.

Come see a special screening of Bauch’s film at the Art Theater (Fourth Street close to Cherry Avenue) Thursday evening, 7:00 pm, June 10th. We hear that Michael Bauch will be present to talk with us about his film and respond to questions.

In terms of traffic conditions and lifestyle choices of most residents, the contrasts between Long Beach and Amsterdam are stunning.

Bauch’s film may fill us with hope. Our efforts locally to make Long Beach a more livable city aim us in the right direction.

For more information about Michael W. Bauch’s work, go to www.everydaybike.com.

1 Comment

MichaelB, June 7th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in event

Monthly LBC meeting at Jax—Wed June 2nd

Long Beach Cyclists meeting — Wednesday, June 2nd at Jax

Long Beach Cyclists meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:17 pm. Hope to see you at our next meeting… and at any or all other events. Click EVENTS at the top of the page to view our calendar and a map of how to get to Jax (corner of Bellflower and Spring).

Note that many of us cycle together to the meeting from near the shore. We depart Orange and Second Street at 6:30 pm.

No Comments

MichaelB, May 28th 2010 | Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in meeting

Traffic Skills 101—Wednesday, May 19 & 22

Traffic Skills 101—the short-duration course that helps you develop skills to cycle Long Beach streets more safely—is offered only a handful of times each year. The course at CSULB Pyramid Annex is free, but advance registration is required. Click EDUCATION at the top of the longbeachcyclsts.com page for more information and to link to the CSULB web site to register. The next opportunities to take Traffic Skills 101 will be in June and July.

No Comments

MichaelB, May 15th 2010 | Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Education, advocacy

Pedestrian and Bike Safety Workshop for professionals

Attention transportation, planning, engineering and design professionals, (and others interested in gaining an insiders view of the latest bicycle and pedestrian design tools): Register before May 3rd for the MAY 17th training workshop called Designing for Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety.

Click on the image for details.

No Comments

LBCyclists, April 27th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Education, advocacy

L.A. Street Summit builds momentum for change

Livable cities! Cities for people! Streets and community spaces for pedestrians and cyclists!

Long Beach, California is embracing cycling and pedestrian life more now than anytime in recent decades. The month of May 2010 is one filled with numerous cycling-related activities—City-sponsored activities on one hand, and the initiatives and rides of numerous cycling clubs and organizations and individuals on the other. The Long Beach Bike Fest—with races, artists, fixed gear and gold sprints fun, bike valet, easy rides, a film festival and more—will take place May 7th, 8th and 9th. Bike-to-Work Week will take place the third week of May. Other rides and cycling fun take place almost every other day throughout the entire month.

Make sure your bike tires are inflated, your chain is oiled and your brakes are properly adjusted because there will be many great reasons to get out on your bicycle this spring. Click EVENTS at the top of the longbeachcyclists.com page to see just some of the fun coming up. 

We all can see that cycling is catching on in Long Beach… and we know that what’s happening is part of something even larger. People in many cities across the U.S. and in other countries around the world are talking bicycles as a significant component of making our communities more livable.

Recently, more than 500 people from around Southern California met up at Occidental College and at Los Angeles Trade Technical College to talk about making more of the southland great for “walking, biking and beyond.”

To get a sense of the positive energy seen at the recent L.A. Street Summit, (held March 20th, 2010 in Los Angeles), check out the streetfilms.org video produced by Clarence Eckerson. Long Beach was present as well; many of us boarded our bicycles aboard the Metro Blue Line to make the trip to Los Angeles easy and fun.

www.streetfilms.org/l-a-street-summit-2010-building-momentum-for-change/

No Comments

LBCyclists, April 27th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in advocacy
« Older Posts