A quick clip of bad driver behavior, and a long list of October bike events

I think I’m getting better at this bike cam video thing.

Here’s the latest, as two drivers cut me off at the same intersection within just a few seconds, a few blocks from my home. And of course, the last one flips me off for being annoyed that he almost ran me over.

………

Bike Talk airs every Saturday at 10 am; listen to it live or download the podcast from KPFK.

Bike Long Beach hosts Bike Saturdays every weekend; ride your bike to participating local shops and business throughout the city to get special offers and discounts.

new support group has formed for people who have been involved in a bicycle collision. Everyone is welcome to share your experiences, gain insight and understanding into your emotional state and develop new coping strategies. The group will meet Saturdays from 11:30 am to 1 pm at 6310 San Vicente Blvd, Suite 401. Current LACBC members receive a discount. To learn more, contact Aurisha Smolarski at 323/203-1526 or email aurisha.smolarski@gmail.com.

Move fast, or you’ll miss the last High Desert Cyclists Brunch Ride of the 2012 season, starting at 7:30 am Saturday at Marie Kerr Park, Avenue P and 30th West in Palmdale; High Desert Cyclists will have their monthly meeting Monday from 7 to 9 pm at Nick’s Pizzaria, 43755 15th Street W in Lancaster.

Saturday, October 13th marks the return of the monthly Spoke(n) Art Ride tour of art galleries in North East L.A., hosted by the Bike oven and the Flying Pigeon L.A. bike shop. Riders meet at the Flying Pigeon LA bike shop, 3404 North Figueroa Street, at 6 pm Saturday, rolling at 6:30 pm. Bikes are available to rent.

Also on Saturday and Sunday, Cyclocross returns to Camarillo as the Newbury Park Bike Shop presents the SoCalCross Pacifica Crossfest, with registration starting at 7:30 am at 1722 S. Lewis Rd in Camarillo.

The weekend’s big news is the return of the Bicycle Film Festival, with screenings at the Downtown Independent theater from 11 am to 10 pm on Saturday the 13th, and an all-ages DTLA block party from 10 am to 6 pm Sunday. Convergence rides are planned for the various events. Email volunteerla@bicyclefilmfestival.com for more information or to volunteer.

Redlands area cyclists also get a bike film festival of their own this weekend, October 12 through 14, as the Inland Empire Biking Alliance sponsors the Bike Film Fest at the Fox Theater, 123 Cajon Street.

The L.A. County Bicycle Festival takes place at the Fairgrounds in Pomona on Saturday and Sunday, October 20th and 21st, including the annual Spooky Cross cyclocross race and a Velo Swap Meet and Market to raise funds for the Pomona Valley Bike Coalition.

Run or bike with the men and women in blue as the LAPD’s Metropolitan Division hosts the 5th Annual Randy Simmons 5K Challenge Run on Saturday, October 20th, with rides of 26 and 52 miles. The rides start at 1880 North Academy Road; register by Thursday, October 18th.

Also on Saturday the 20th, the Antelope Valley High Desert Cyclists host the High Desert Fall Memorial Century, starting at 7 am at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster; registration closes on Friday the 19th.

Sunday, October 21st, Hemet High School hosts a Grad Night Poker Ride featuring five climbs on a 55 mile route. First place prize for the best poker hand is $500, with a $50 prize for the worst hand; lunch provided by Sweet Baby Jane’s BBQ. Thanks to Scott Boyd for the tip.

Wednesday, October 24th, Multicultural Communities for Mobility — the new social justice and mobility organization born from the LACBC’s former City of Lights program — will host the third annual Bicycle Awards Dinner honoring LADOT’s Michelle Mowery, bike lawyer Howard Krepack and John Jones III from Eastside Riders Bicycle Club. The event takes place from 7 pm to 9:30 pm at La Fonda Supper Club, 2501 Wilshire Blvd.

Newport Beach will sponsor a memorial ride for fallen cyclists Sarah Leaf and Dr. Catherine “Kit” Campion Ritz on Saturday, October 28th. The easy, 1.2 mile ride will begin at 8 am, starting from the northwest corner of Santa Rosa and Newport Center Drive, and rolling at a processional pace. A longer, unofficial ride will follow, visiting a number of sites where riders have been injured or killed in the area, as well as the soon-to-be-installed CdM sharrows. The ride will feature a fundraising drive for bike safety improvements, with the city matching all donations on a 3-to-1 basis up to $450,000.

Now here’s a great idea for a ride. The Arthritis Foundation is teaming with one of the L.A. area’s favorite Cuban bakeries and cafés to offer the first ever Tour de Porto’s starting at 8:30 am on Sunday, October 28th. The ride starts at Porto’s in Glendale, travels a short distance to the Burbank Porto’s, then down the L.A. River Bike Path to the restaurant’s Downey location. If the entry fee includes a Cubano or Medianoche, count me in.

The same day, Bike SGV will host a Halloween Bike Train and BBQ, with rides of 25 and 60 miles, as well as a Walk/Jog/Run. The rides start at 9 am and 8 am, respectively, starting at 776 Santa Anita Ave in South El Monte, followed by bike and rider costume contests, barbeque and pumpkin carving.

The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition’s Civic Engagement Committee meets at 6:45 pm on the last Tuesday of each month. The next meeting will be Tuesday, October 30, at Johnnie’s Pizza at Museum Square, 5757 Wilshire Blvd. This month we turn our attention from the November election, and start focusing on next March’s L.A. mayoral and City Council elections. Email bikinginla at hotmail dot com to be added to the email list.

The LACBC’s second Tour de Taste is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, December 2nd; mark your calendar for a unique combination of bikes and great food.

3 comments

  1. John says:

    Wow, that third driver prety blatantly cut you off…the second was close to doing so (another second or two)…too bad noone can give out citations for video evidence like this, it may make things much safer knowing messing with anyone can get you cited.

  2. boyonabike says:

    Thanks for sharing the video evidence of driver misbehavior. I, too, got an “oops” wave from a driver today. Approaching a 2-way stop where I had right-of-way, driver does a California stop and rolls through intersection before seeing me when he’s halfway through intersection. Gives me the “oops” wave and continues on. I’ll remember that next time I see some driver complain about how cyclists “never” stop for stop signs.

  3. re the video: That view looks so familiar! Are you sure you didn’t grab that footage from my helmet cam?

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