A random mediation on blessed bikes, Bike Week and the Ride of Silence

May 18, 2011 / / 3 comments

Some random thoughts as I catch up from the first few wet days of L.A. Bike Week.

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Bishop Jon Bruno, who clearly dressed for the occasion, though I suspect he didn't ride in that.

Despite my firm belief that the human body is incapable of sustaining life prior to 7 am, I found myself rising just after 6 yesterday to for the one hour ride downtown for the Blessing of the Bicycles.

It only took a few minutes of walking the corgi, who was none too pleased to be awakened at that hour — let alone dragged out into the rain — to decide that driving would be a much better option.

So I strapped my bike onto the back of my 17-year old car, which finally chugged past the 105,000 mile mark on the way, and made the drive to Good Samaritan Hospital.

Despite the rain, I  saw a surprising number of cyclists there, with more arriving throughout the hour-long event. Most of whom had the bedraggled look of someone who had braved the elements to get there.

The Buddhist representative warned children to stop doing dangerous tricks on their bikes, or he'd tell the Kung Fu Panda.

I’ll let the CicLAvia blog tell the story, as they were clearly taking much better notes than I was, focused as I was on sucking down some hot coffee and scarfing from the wide array of pastries and fresh fruit.

If the spread they put out for cyclists is any indication of the quality of care patients receive at Good Sam, I may need to switch my medical allegiance from the Jews to the Episcopalians.

Being of a very ecumenical bent, I don’t think God really cares which team you choose, as long as you choose one.

Our newly bike-friendly and apparently fragile mayor arrived with his foot in a cast — not, as might be guessed, the result of another cycling accident, but from wandering through a strange hotel room after dark.

(Insert joke here.)

DWP Employee Chris Bolivar is honored for his heroics in stopping a bike theft by bike owner and Good Sam VP Dan McLaughlin.

For me, though, the highlight was seeing DWP employee Chris Bolivar honored for his heroics in rushing off a Metro bus to stop a thief from stealing a new Trek Madone belonging to Good Sam VP Dan McLaughlin. And then watching him ride off with his wife on a newly-purchased red and white Schwinn tandem.

After listening to an array of Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist and Jewish prayers for our safety — nice work on the shofar, Rabbi — I took my place in a long line of cyclists to be blessed by Episcopal Bishop Jon Bruno, walking my bike since the other half of my cleats were still in my car along with the shoes they’re attached to.

Frankly, I’ll take all the help I can get to safely navigate these city streets.

Evidently, I’m not the only one, as Will Campbell’s blessed ass made the front page of the Times’ Late Extra section.

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Councilmember Bill Rosendahl invites all to participate in Bike Week. KCRW’s Shortcuts blog reports on a soggy start to the week. Metro offers an interactive map to help you plan your route for Bike to Work Day. The afore mentioned Mr. Campbell looks forward to Thursday’s Bike from Work Happy Hour, which also takes place at Pourtal Wine Bar, among other bike-friendly taverns.

Ten deals and freebies for Bike Week. Bike-friendly UCLA observes Bike to Campus Week. More commuters are getting there by bike. Sensible gear for biking to work, and how to dress — or pack — for it.

Even, courtesy of Tucson Velo, if you’re a drag queen.

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Long Beach wraps up Bike Week with the Grand Opening of a new Performance Bicycle shop on Friday, their 100th nationwide. To celebrate, the first 100 people in line will have chance to win one of seven new bikes valued at a total of over $7,000. The store is located at Long Beach Town Center, 7611 East Carson Blvd in Long Beach; distribution of keys for the contest will take place at 8 am, with the doors opening at 9.

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Tonight marks the world-wide observance of the Ride of Silence, a slow paced memorial ride to honor cyclists killed or injured on the roads, raise awareness of cycling and ask that we all share the road safely.

And once again, it won’t be officially observed here in Los Angeles.

There will be ROS rides in other parts of Southern California, though, including Fullerton, Irvine, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, San Diego, Temecula, Thousand Oaks and Ventura, if you live in those areas or can make the trip.

It will also be observed at the L.A. Velodrome tonight, as cyclists will ride 40 silent laps in honor of fallen riders. And we do have a long and tragically growing list of local riders to honor, including James Laing, Jim Swarzman, Danny Marin and Alex Romero, just to name a few.

I tried, and failed, to get an L.A. ride started this year, mostly because I’ve never organized a ride and had no idea what the hell I was doing.

However, I’m committed to getting one off the ground next year, and will start earlier to organize it and get the cooperation of local authorities and advocacy groups.

If anyone wants to help, just let me know.

And thanks to Kieron at the Velodrome for stepping up to make sure local riders won’t be forgotten this year.

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A fascinating look at the rich and powerful former New York DOT commissioner who may or may not be behind the backlash against the city’s successful and popular Prospect Park West bike lanes — despite being married to a leading, and presumably pro-cycling, Senator Chuck Schumer.

HuffPo’s Joel Epstein also offers his typically insightful thoughts on the subject.

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After Sunday’s hard charge up Mt. Etna, Contador still holds the leader’s jersey in the Giro; Bike Snob says he looks pretty in pink. In the wake of Wouter Wayland’s death in Stage 3 of the Giro, organizers have added extra safety measures for a difficult descent on Saturday’s Stage 14.

Colorado bike prodigy Taylor Phinney rides his first AToC. Team Sky’s Greg Henderson takes the overall lead after winning Stage 3 of the AToC; Phinney is currently the top American at 8th. Bicycling profiles the top young Americans in the race.

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LACBC gets a shiny new website, and unveils their latest video with Austin Nichols looking forward to the upcoming River Ride on June 5th. The Coalition also reminds cyclists that comments on the proposed L.A. County bike plan are due by June 3rd, and says it could be a lot better.

And don’t forget you can get a discount for River Ride through BikingInLA, and enter a contest to win a free River Ride.

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LADOT Bike Blog recaps the recent BAC Planning Subcommittee meeting, including implementation of the Bike Plan, extending the crappy, door zone Westwood Blvd bike lanes south to the planned Expo Line station, and bike lane projects around the planned Universal Studios expansion.

The last of which will happen over my dead body unless they allow the L.A. River Bike Path to extend through their property.

The expansion, that is. Not the bike lanes.

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Writing for Streetsblog, Mark Elliot of Better Bike Beverly Hills updates the status of the Westside’s black hole for cyclists; the LACBC’s Marissa Christiansen reports on the South Bay Bicycle Coalition and the area’s new Bike Master Plan. A UCLA student invites you to log your commute times by bike and car to prove bikes are faster for shorter trips. Richard Risemberg calls for a separated cycle track on Washington Blvd to close the gap in the beachfront Marvin Braude bike path through the Marina area. CicLAvia shares a photo from Sunday’s South L.A. ride; word is that July’s scheduled CicLAvia will be cancelled, but October’s will go forward with an expanded route into Boyle Heights. Eco-Village looks at the new bike lanes on Expo and MLK. Learn the art of track racing at the L.A. Velodrome. L.A. Creek Freak objects to “improvements” to the North Spring Street Bridge that would just allow more cars to go faster. Long Beachers are invited to participate in a bike safety study. Long Beach’s biking expats get an unplanned delay in starting their latest cross county adventure. A bike cam catches a car speeding through the Santa Cruz Mountains, only to come upon the same car upside down on the side of the road moments later.

DOT Secretary Ray LaHood calls on cyclists to join the 2 Mile Challenge to replace short cars trips with bikes and raise funds for three worthy organizations. The League of American Bicyclists lists events throughout May’s Bike Month, and partners with AAA to promote bike safety. Examining the myth that gas taxes pay for the roads motorists drive. Amazon discovers bike commuters. Momentum magazine jumps into the great helmet debate, while yet another study shows mandating helmet use is counterproductive; however, Brit James Cracknell credits his with saving his life. Sharrows make their way to small town Oregon. Bike Portland takes the local paper to task for biased reporting. A Tempe cyclist finds his bike on Craigslist the day after it’s stolen, A Denver cyclist is killed by a hit-and-run driver just weeks before participating in the 412-mile Ride the Rockies. Minneapolis cyclists could soon find bike supply vending machines along popular bike trails. Zeke puts his recent first aid training to use, determining that a tourniquet is probably not necessary for minor road rash.

Why even experienced cyclists sometimes ride on the sidewalk; Carlton Reid looks at the legalities of UK sidewalk riding, as well as confusion between cycle tracks and sidewalks. London cyclists win an important victory to keep bike lanes on a bridge with heavy bike commuter use. An around-the-world adventurer starts a campaign to give Scot children more space to ride to school. Even in rural Scotland, cyclists get honked at by drivers who could easily pass. British design and Chinese manufacturing — as if any western country makes much of anything these days — combine to build a cheap, colorful single-speed bike. For the second time in three years, someone has tried to sabotage the Etape Caledonia. Debuting at Cannes, a gritty, bike-centric modern fairy tale from Belgium; thanks to Rex Reese for the heads-up.

Finally, Pittsburgh police take different sides on citing a cyclist for Biking Under the Influence.

Category: General / Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Win a free 2011 L.A. River Ride — or save $10 now on River Ride registration!

May 17, 2011 / / One comment

I’ve always been a firm believer in paying it forward when opportunity allows.

It all goes back to my father, who never left a stranger stranded on the side of the road. If he couldn’t fix their car on the spot, he’d give them a ride into town to call for help. Sometimes he’d even drive them to our home, grab his tools, and go back to fix it himself while they waited.

Whenever someone tried to reward him for his efforts, he’d just say they’d have a chance to help someone else someday.

And when that day comes, do it.

So when I unexpectedly found myself with an opportunity to participate in this year’s 11th Annual L.A. River Ride — one of Southern California’s largest and most popular fundraising rides — I tried to figure out what I could do to get you to ride along with me, and a few thousand of our closest friends.

I’d actually planned on working as a volunteer in the LACBC booth at the L.A. River Ride, until leading L.A. bike attorney Howard Krepack, one of the LACBC’s most consistent and generous sponsors, graciously offered to let me ride as his guest.

And no, in case you’re wondering, he did not make that offer in exchange for being mentioned here. This is just my way of thanking him for his very kind and generous gesture.

Almost immediately, it occurred to me that there might be a way I could share my good fortune with you.

So I emailed JJ Hoffman, the LACBC River Ride Coordinator, with two suggestions — first, to offer a special discount on River Ride registration for readers of this blog, or second, hold a contest to give away a free River Ride registration.

And JJ, who’s clearly of a generous bent herself, responded by saying why not do both?

So here’s the deal.

If you’ve been on the fence about participating in this year’s River Ride — or you just enjoy a great bargain — you can sign up online for the 11th Annual Los Angeles River Ride anytime between now and June 4th and save $10 off your registration.

All you have to do is visit the River Ride site on Active.com and sign up using the special discount code TEDBC11 (case sensitive).

That means a $65 registration for the Century or 70-mile rides will cost you just $55. The Half Century and 36-mile rides will run just $45 with the discount. And you can sign up for the 15-mile Family Ride, normally $50, for just $40.

You can thank me later.

On the other hand, maybe that’s still out your reach this year. Or maybe you’re just feeling lucky. Either way, one person is going to win a free River Ride registration courtesy of the LACBC.

All you have to do is email me at ridetheriver2011@hotmail.com, and explain in 50 words or less why you, or someone you know, deserves to ride this year’s River Ride for free.

Maybe you had a hard year, or done more than your share to help others. Maybe, like me, you’ve never done the River Ride and always wanted to. Or maybe you know someone who is deserving of a special gift this year.

Whatever your reason, send it to the address above, and I’ll remove any identifying information and forward your email to the LACBC’s staff and River Ride volunteers. They’ll make the choice; and yes, their choice is final. All entries are due no later than midnight on the night of Thursday, May 26th; the winner will be notified by Tuesday, May 31st.

Unfortunately, we won’t be able to contact everyone who didn’t win. So if you haven’t heard anything by the 1st, it just means it wasn’t you this time.

Nothing personal.

Fortunately, that still gives you a few days to sign up using the discount code.

And join me and the LACBC — and a couple thousand other cyclists — in Riding the River this year.

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Volunteers are still needed for the River Ride on JUne 5th, and to help get ready in the days leading up to the ride. Contact RRVolunteer@la-bike.org.

And yes, I’m sure they’ll understand if you need to back out because you won the free registration.

Category: General / Tags: , ,

Tuesday’s Blessing of the Bicycles will go on rain or shine

May 16, 2011 / / Comments Off on Tuesday’s Blessing of the Bicycles will go on rain or shine

Despite today’s ample L.A. sunshine, the weather forecast calls for rain overnight and into tomorrow.

However, Katrina Bada of Good Samaritan Hospital confirms that the Blessing of the Bicycles will go on Tuesday morning, rain or shine. The multi-denominational event takes place from 8 to 9:30 am at Good Sam, 616 S. Witmer Street in Downtown L.A.

While L.A. streets are nowhere near as dangerous as your out-of-town relatives think, a little divine intervention never hurts.

And you can tell your mom you sort of went to church or temple this week.

Category: Bike Events / Tags: , , , ,

Update: Teenage driver tries to pass himself off as witness in Fountain Valley hit-and-run

May 16, 2011 / / 6 comments

Late last night, I reported on the death of a cyclist in Fountain Valley, with virtually no information other than the time and location of the collision.

As usual, the morning brings more details.

An anonymous tip reported that the case was a hit-and-run, and that a 19-year old driver had been arrested after calling police investigators claiming to be a witness.

Now the Long Beach Press-Telegram confirms Huntington Beach resident Adam Garrett was arrested yesterday after further investigation revealed he was the driver in the collision, rather than an innocent bystander.

Twenty-five-year old Hung Khac Do, also of Huntington Beach, was riding west on Warner Avenue near the 405 when he was allegedly hit by Garrett’s 1994 Toyota Camry just after 3 am Sunday, and left in the street to die as Garrett fled the scene.

My source reports that Garret had previously been ticketed for failure to stop at a stop sign, as well as failing to wear a helmet while bicycling while still a minor. Now he’s under arrest for suspicion of felony hit-and-run, facing up to four years in prison, plus any additional charges that may be filed.

Police are urging anyone with information to call the Fountain Valley Police traffic bureau at 714/593-4481.

He is the 29th cyclist to be killed in Southern California so far this year — an average of 1.5 each week — and the 5th to be killed in Orange County since January 1st. This is the 6th fatal hit-and-run involving a cyclist this year.

My deepest sympathy to the friends and family of Hung Do.

Category: Bicycle Safety, Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , ,

Orange County man hit and killed by car in Fountain Valley

May 15, 2011 / / Comments Off on Orange County man hit and killed by car in Fountain Valley

The Orange County Register reports that 25-year old Hung Do of Huntington Beach was killed early Sunday. Do was hit by a car on Warner Avenue near the 405 in Fountain Valley just after 3 am, and was pronounced dead at UCI Medical Center in Orange at 3:42 am.

No other information is available at this time.

He is the 29th cyclist to be killed in Southern California so far this year — an average of 1.5 each week — and the 5th to be killed in Orange County since January 1st.

Thanks to Allan Alessio for the heads-up.

Update: More information has come in indicating this was a hit-and-run, and a suspect has been arrested after calling police pretending to be a witness.

Category: Bicycle Safety, Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , ,

News from the pro world, Signh pleads not guilty, People for Bikes unveils Downtown bike video

May 15, 2011 / / Comments Off on News from the pro world, Signh pleads not guilty, People for Bikes unveils Downtown bike video

Oscar Gatto wins Stage 8 of the Giro d’Italia, as Contador makes a leap to 5th overall. And Bike Snob notes that there is another, much shorter and less intense race starting in Tahoe on Sunday.

Jens Voigt considers the risks of racing on the eve of the Amgen Tour of California, following the death of his friend Wouter Waylandt; Waylandt will be honored by the ToC peloton. The opening stage of the Tour of California may have to change course due to snow.

Meanwhile, Colorado’s upcoming pro tour adopts a good cause, and yet another really crappy name. The investigators going after Lance Armstrong look to the French for help, while UCI ranks every rider in the 2010 Tour de France on their odds of doping. Notably, UCI doesn’t deny it, but points out that suspicion is not the same as guilt.

Well, duh.

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Satnam Singh pleads not guilty in the drunken hit-and-run death of Nick Haverland, and injuring 5 other people in Ventura Tuesday evening; he faces up to 18 years if convicted on all counts.

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Metro staff recommends the full 7.7 mile Wilshire Blvd Bus (and bike) Only Lane, despite the objections of County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and L.A. Councilmember Bill Rosendahl; if approved, the project would include repaving of at least the right lane of what is now one of the city’s worst streets for bikes.

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People for Bikes unveils the Bikes Make Life Better video filmed recently in Downtown L.A. Yes, it was worth the wait. They also say for every mile you ride instead of drive, you save at least a buck. And Tim Blumenthal of Bikes Belong talks to cdmCyclist.

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Austin Nichols — yes, that Austin Nichols — debates where to park for next month’s River Ride. Gary raises red flags about the planned Expo Bikeway, which may not be much of what everything we expected. Preserving a little precious parking could mean a bike lane bypass on Foothill Blvd in the Valley. Steve Montalto says cyclists aren’t the only scofflaws on the road; sometimes you get hit whether you’re biking or walking. Bikeside surveys the candidates for the 36th Congressional District race. Battle lines are drawn at BPIT, while work moves forward. Downtown News looks at Tuesday’s upcoming Blessing of the Bicycles. KCRW’s Steve Herbert offers practical advice on the how-tos of commuting to work; Plan Bike’s Jody Brooks offers 10 good reasons to ride. L.A. Bike Week encourages Angelenos to rethink commuting by car. L.A. considers requiring more bike parking. LAPD experiments with electric bikes. L.A. Firefighters document the aftermath of a bike collision in Tujunga, implying the rider was at fault. Pasadena cyclists discuss the new bike plan. Thousand Oaks will soon get 2.5 miles of new bike lanes. Long Beach’s cycling expats prepare to set sail once again. San Diego gets sharrowed. Bike culture rises on the streets of San Francisco. Sacramento is rapidly becoming a cycle-tropolis. Now that’s what I call an urban bike shirt.

Nice thought: you don’t have to make a big change in your life to make a difference in the world. The bike boom bypasses women, and goes in reverse for children. Albuquerque may be bike-friendly, even if not all it’s streets are. Charleston MA installs bike lanes, removes said lanes, and paints them back again; not unlike Westwood’s Westholme Ave, where the sharrows were recently covered over by slurry coating — for the second time. New York launches their long-planned “Don’t Be A Jerk” campaign, directed at cyclists rather than the city’s notoriously jerkish drivers. A proposed new bill would make Complete Streets the law of the land throughout the U.S; another would pay you $40 a month to commute by bike, which you could use to get your boss to pay for your next tune-up. A DC survey shows Bike to Work Day can lead to lasting changes. Learning the hard way what happens after you get hit by a car. Maryland passes legislation toughening penalties for drivers who hit cyclists or pedestrians; bike attorney Bob Mionske applauds them for finding the middle ground. Georgia is the latest state to adopt a 3-foot law; California could be next. U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood cares about the safety of urban cyclists, but isn’t sure if that makes him a hipster; link courtesy of BikeBlogNY.

The U.S. has a lot to teach other nations about providing political support at the highest levels for sustainable transportation. The afore mentioned Bob Mionske asks if dooring is really an accident, saying Montreal police clearly don’t get it. New York Mayor Bloomberg backs the United Nation’s Decade of Action for Road Safety. Great Britain gears up for next month’s Naked Bike Ride. A Brit twit tweets about hitting two cyclists and fleeing the scene; turns out it was a cyclist with a very warped sense of humor. A British survey suggests whatever happens, it was probably your fault. Local bike paths mean higher home prices Down Under. Cyclists and pedestrians get to sample Glasgow’s newest highway, in sort of a one-time Scot ciclovia. Bob Marley was mellow, but did he ride a bike?

Finally, bikes must be dangerous, unlike all those big, fast metal things on the street. And a medical school professor — who really should know better — says bikes really are dangerous, but opposes bike lanes that might make it safer to ride them; thanks to Cyclelicious for the heads-up.

Category: General / Tags: , ,
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