Mark your calendar for a long list of upcoming meetings and events, including the opening of the Elysian Valley leg of the L.A. River path, a Christmas parade and toy rides.
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The long-awaited Elysian Valley segment of the Los Angeles River Bike Path officially opens this Saturday, December 4th from 10 am to 2 pm at Fletcher Drive and Crystal Street (aka Ripple Street), with the dedication taking place at noon. LACBC is sponsoring a 15-mile ride to celebrate the opening, meeting at 9:30 am at the Autry Center in Griffith Park, with 10 am departure.
Also on Saturday, the 2010 Tour of Altadena bike ride runs from 9 am to 11 am, with registration beginning at 8 am, starting and ending at Loma Alta Park, Bronco Pavilion. Sponsored by the Altadena Sheriff’s Station and L.A. Sheriff’s Athletic Association, the ride offers a 10 mile Family Fun Ride and a 12.5 mile Hill Challenge.
Flying Pigeon’s monthly Brewery Ride will go to the Weiland Brewery, located next to the Little Tokyo Metro Station at 400 E. 1st Street Downtown on Saturday the 4th. The ride will meet up at 3 pm at Flying Pigeon, 3714 N. Figueroa St. in Highland Park.
Holiday events are starting early this year, beginning with the Montrose-Glendale Christmas Parade at 6 pm on Saturday, December 4th. The central viewing area will be at the corner of Honolulu and La Crescenta Avenues in Montrose; cyclists wanting to participate are invited to decorate their bikes and wear festive clothing (no Santa suits allowed), and meet at Honolulu and La Crescenta at 7 pm.
On Sunday, December 5th, SC Velo and Incycle Bicycle Stores are sponsoring the SC Velo Toy Ride, departing from the San Dimas Incycle Store at 561 West Arrow Highway at 8:45 am; all toys donated will be delivered to needy children in the area; thanks to the Claremont Cyclist for the heads up.
Friday, December 10th, Midnight Ridazz will follow-up with the 5th Annual All-City Toy Ride, with 10 or more rides converging on the historic Plaza de Los Angeles gazebo; riders are asked to bring an unwrapped toy valued at $5 to $25.
The Metro Board of Directors will consider the proposed Wilshire Blvd Bus Rapid Transit lane on Thursday, December 9th, at 9:30 am at Metro Headquarters, 1 Gateway Plaza, Downtown. The BRT lane would provide a shared bus/bike lane during morning and evening rush hours, but faces opposition from wealthy condo owners in the Westwood area.
Flying Pigeon and the Bike Oven host the free Spoke(n) Art Ride on the 2nd Saturday of every month; the next ride will take place on Saturday, December 11th, starting 6:30 pm at 3714 N. Figueroa St. in Highland Park.
West L.A.’s Bikerowave bike coop hosts a free bike swap meet on Sunday, December 12th from 11 am to 3 pm at 12225 Venice Blvd in Mar Vista.
Santa Monica will hold a public open house on December 13th to gather input on their proposed new bike plan; the meeting runs from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at the east wing of the Civic Center Auditorium.
Bike Long Beach sponsors a two part Traffic Skills 101 Course to teach cyclists how to ride in traffic. November’s session has been cancelled due to expected rain; the next class is scheduled for Wednesday, December 15th from 6 – 8 pm, with part two following on Saturday, Dec. 18 from 9 am – noon at Cal State Long Beach.
The Los Angeles City Planning Commission will meet at the San Fernando Valley City Hall at 8:30 am on December 16th to consider last minute revisions to the 2010 draft bike plan, based on complaints from cyclists at last month’s meeting.
Mark your calendar for the LACBC’s all-day Holiday Open House on Tuesday, December 28th at the Library Alehouse, 2911 Main Street in Santa Monica. Festivities begin at 11 am and continue until closing with great food and beer, fun and raffle prizes; a percentage of the days sales will be donated to the LACBC.
Explore the effects of bicycles on art and culture at Re:Cycle — Bike Culture in Southern California, at U.C. Riverside’s newly relocated Sweeney Art Gallery at the Barbara and Art Culver Center of the Arts, 3834 Main Street in downtown Riverside, exhibition continues through December 31st.
The Bikerowave will ring in 2011 with a New Years Eve party, starting at 8 pm on December 31st at 12255 Venice Blvd.
And it’s never too early to mark your calendar for the second CicLAvia on April 10th, 2011.
Update: I neglected to mention that the City of L.A. Bicycle Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, December 7th at 7 pm at the Hollywood Neighborhood City Hall, 6501 Fountain Avenue, in Hollywood to consider a very full agenda; you’ll have a chance to complain about the condition of L.A. streets as representatives from the Bureau of Street Services will attend for the first time.
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The L.A. Weekly touts Stephen Box as the “only grassroots contender in District 4 with a sliver of a chance” to unseat incumbent Tom LaBonge. Downtown’s Good Samaritan Hospital, home to the annual Blessing of the Bicycles, marks its 125th year. Santa Monica cyclists seem to be gaining clout at City Hall; you can thank the members of the Santa Monica Spoke, among others, for that. Meanwhile, SaMo riders are warned to lock their bikes well, especially during the holidays. Napa cyclists will ride on Sunday to honor Don Mitchell, a killed by a car on November 10th. Portland police search for a suspect in possible gay-bashing of a cyclist. Another option to fight bike theft — a new anti-theft GPS. A University of New Mexico law professor is killed by a garbage truck on his way home from work; absurdly, the story notes that he was wearing a helmet, as if any helmet could protect against a multi-ton trash truck. My hometown teaches cyclists to ride year round, which is a lot easier here than it is there. New York’s Taxi of Tomorrow could eliminate dooring by cab passengers. Hugh Jackman rides a bike in NYC. Taking Maryland to task for a flawed three-foot passing law. A Navy pilot survives a 7-month deployment in the Middle East, only to be killed by a Florida hit-and-run driver. More testing for suspect cyclists in 2011. London’s bike share plan crashes on the day it’s opened to the public.
Finally, even without a single bike lane, it’s faster to bike than drive at rush hour in Lyon, France.
