January 31st at 6:00 pm, join us at Portfolio Coffee House on Fourth at Junipero for an additional opportunity to discuss interesting ideas found in Jeff Mapes’ book Pedaling Revolution.
The Long Beach Cyclists Reading Group, organized by Kevin Flaherty, meets monthly to discuss books and news of interest to the local cycling community.
Click EVENTS at the top of the page, and scroll to the January 31st calendar entry to view a map pointing to Portfolio.
The Cyclist Reading Group meets monthly so that cyclists and book lovers can sit down for an hour of literary discussion in a public space.
Sunday evening, December 20, at 7:17 pm, meet with us at Portfolio Coffeehouse to talk about Pedaling Revolution by Jeff Mapes. Whether you have read the book already or not, you’ll enjoy meeting with us to talk about cycling issues.
The Cycling Reading Group comes together to engender growth of knowledge in the area of cycling research. Each month’s literary selection is discussed for one hour. Also, a book or article is identified for future reading and discussion.
On Thursday, November 19th, Jeff Mapes will visit Long Beach. This is a fantastic opportunity to discuss how cycling is impacting our city.
Mapes is the author of Pedaling Revolution—How Cyclists are Changing American Cities. Mapes has much to say about making Long Beach streets more ‘livable.’ With humor and insight, Pedaling Revolution looks at vehicular cycling, and examines road use and various kinds of separate facilities. Mapes looks at what other cities are doing and provides us with many ideas and considerations that we might incorporate or adapt here in Long Beach.
Bicycle with flag illustration by David Drummond.
On November 19th, Jeff Mapes will meet locally at three locations, first at lunch time, then in the afternoon, and then in the early evening.
At noon, Mapes will be downtown for a brown bag lunch, and will talk with a ‘professional’ focus—How is Long Beach measuring up to its goal of becoming the best bike city in America. (Click on EVENTS at the top of the Long Beach Cyclists web page to view the calendar for location and specifics.)
At 2:30 PM, Mapes will be at CSULB (see EVENTS for specifics), and will participate in a lively discussion with an ‘academic’ focus—Social and political changes, and how cyclists are reshaping American cities.
At 6:00 PM, Mapes will be at the Long Beach Museum of Art, and will meet with the public with a ‘community’ focus—What works, what are our concerns, how might we get there.
“In a world of growing traffic congestion, expensive oil, and threats of cataclysmic climate change, a grassroots movement is carving out a niche for bicycles on the streets of urban cityscapes. In Pedaling Revolution, Jeff Mapes explores the growing urban bike culture that is changing the look and feel of cities across the U.S.”
A great story comes through Streetsblog today about the 100th anniversary of paved roads.
For those unfamiliar with the history, cyclists were responsible for getting roads paved because the rutter dirt roads and cobblestones were causing crashes and sending cyclists tumbling down from their High-Wheelers.
Read more about the League of American Bicyclists and how they paved your roads.
January 24, 1907-
In Ormond Beach, Florida, Glenn Curtiss, an engineer who got his start building motors for bicycles, set an unofficial land-speed record on a self-built V-8 motorcycle on this day: 136.29mph.
Read the rest at History.com
Do you have an opinion on cycling you’d like to get out there?
Want everyone to know about the pothole that just keeps getting bigger?
Have a piece of gear that you just love?
Have something to say to the city about bicycling?
Want to share your ride experience?
We are looking for contributor photographers (folks that want to write stuff and take pictures of things)
If you’d like to be able to add your two-cents to this blog, send us an email!
LBCyclists (at) Gmail (dot) com
Click here to visit a fun website that updates over 50 statistics on topics from bicycle production to military spending, births to fish caught… all in real-time, and even gives sources for its data! Imagine that.
I found this graph particularly interesting, I’m sure you can see why.
I would urge you to check out the world-o-meter site and look around. You’ll find at least one statistic that peaks your interest.
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)
