LABTheader

 

 

Communal Commuting.

online: www.labiketrains.com

Description
We provide a rolling party to/ from work along select routes run by Conductors – experienced urban cyclists – to harness the safety of riding in a group while kicking it up a notch by making the ride a fun, social experience. And it’s free!

Routes:
#001: Silver Lake to Hollywood (W, 8AM)
#002: Mid-Wilshire to Downtown LA (W, 8:30AM)
#003: Silver Lake to Santa Monica (T, 8AM)
#004: Silver Lake to Downtown LA (Th, 8AM)
#005: West Lake to Long Beach (W, 6:45AM)
http://labiketrains.com/routes/

Conductors:
Each train is a reflection of the personality of the conductor and participants. You might be riding to dance music with Bruce, checking out the diverse local plant life with Nona, or developing a whole new appreciation for peanut butter with Wes. We’re pretty awesome and we hope you’ll ride with us.
http://labiketrains.com/meet-your-conductors/

Commuter Survey:
Don’t see your desired route or start time? Take our Commuter Survey to help us understand when & where the next train should be.
http://labiketrains.com/commuter-survey/

Participate!
Sign up to join a train! Choo Choo!
http://labiketrains.com/participate/

LA Bike Train Routes

Celebrate National Bike Week

in #BikeLA you can bring your bike on public transportation!

May is Bike Month: and #BikeLA is exploding with workshops, rides and events! join us as we kick off official Bike Week events with free maintenance workshops, bike trains, a bike to work happy hour and a feeder ride from Orange 20 Bikes in East Hollywood to Bike Night at the Hammer museum.

  • Monday, May 13—Fix Your Bike Day
    Learn how to fix a flat workshop and more. Q&A with Orange 20 staff on D.I.Y. repair and maintenance from 4-6pm!
  • Tuesday, May 14—Blessing of the Bicycles in the A.M. & Handsome Cycles Comes to L.A. 
    Take your bike to the 10th Annual Blessing of the Bicycles at 8am & Check out the latest sexy developments from Handsome Cycles, beginning at 4pm displaying their current 2013 line up and building bikes up at Orange 20′s gallery space (& drinking beer!).
  • Wednesday, May 15—Guided Ride Day: Bike Lanes and More!  
    Organizations all over LA are hosting local neighborhood rides – and Orange 20 Bikes is hosting a special ride of the East Hollywood neighborhood called the bicycle district. Meet 6:30pm at the shop and finish back at Hel-Mel at Scoops Ice Cream shop.
  • Thursday, May 16—Bike to Work Day
    Give bicycling to work a try with LA Bike Trains! We’re launching 5 bike to work group rides, called ‘bike trains’ (with conductors!) and Thursday stop by Orange 20 for a happy hour stop for water (& possibly some beer..)
  • Friday, May 17-Ride to Bike Night at the Hammer Museum
    Ride your bike with Orange 20 Bikes and LACBC’s Central LA Bike Ambassadors to Bike Night at the Hammer Art Museum!

editor’s note: I’m reprinting the press release from the League of American Bicyclists – because it’s something that most everyday bike riders (especially those who travel) will laugh (or groan) at . But it highlights something extremely important: these abstract planning measurement points (that determine a state’s bicycle friendly ranking) are the same poorly refined measurement ‘tools’ that are needed to do the more glorious tasks: gaining statistical knowledge to secure funding, to create infrastructure and programs. In a way these insane little measurements are what will advance all states. And we need to lobby for creating national, relavant measurement tools (ask the right questions, get better answers).

How can you do that?

 

*Submit this letter to Ray LaHood asking for Bike specific state safety performance measures. You can copy/past from the link. Now you’re really making a difference!

bike friendly state
Washington, D.C. — May 1, 2013 – On the first day of National Bike Month, the League of American Bicyclists has released its latest Bicycle Friendly State ranking.

For the sixth year in a row, Washington continues to lead the nation, with high performance in all categories. But up-and-coming states — including Delaware, Illinois and Arizona –  charged up the ranking in 2013, shaking up the top 10.

“We are encouraged to see significant progress in top states like Washington, Delaware, Colorado and Oregon,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. “But as the scores clearly highlight, there’s much work to be done in critical areas like infrastructure and planning in every state.”

Click here to see the ranking chart. Click here to view the map. Click here to see the state report cards. 

The 2013 Bicycle Friendly State ranking is now even more comprehensive, capturing more information than ever before and delving more deeply into the issues embedded in becoming a more bicycle friendly state.

The BFS program is more than an annual assessment. Throughout the year, League staff will work actively with state officials and advocacy leaders to help identify and implement the programs, policies and campaigns that will improve conditions for bicyclists.

Delaware took a leap in the 2013 ranking, moving from No. 10 to No. 5 in just one year. U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE)praised Governor Jack Markell, the state legislature, congressional delegation, advocacy organizations and the people of the First State for prioritizing biking.

“Creating more walkable and bikeable communities boosts air quality by reducing the amount of time cars and trucks idle on our roadways releasing harmful emissions.” Sen. Carper said. “Biking also helps decongest our transportation system, allowing individuals to spend more time working or relaxing with their families instead of wasting time and money sitting in traffic. The benefits of biking are countless, and that’s why I’m proud to support dedicated federal funding for biking and walking infrastructure, as well as the efforts of the League of American Bicyclists and others to promote biking as an invaluable piece of the American transportation system.”

Also making a strong showing in this year’s rank is Colorado — and Gov. John Hickenlooper says he plans to be No. 1 very soon.

“An important part of making Colorado the healthiest state is encouraging people to be more active in their everyday routines,” Hickenlooper said. “We’re proud that our bicycle-friendly policies have skyrocketed Colorado’s rank up 20 places in just five years, and we are committed to being No. 1 in the near future.”

In the Southwest, Arizona moved back into the top 10. Among other strides, the state completed its Bicycle Safety Action plan to improve bicyclist safety on Arizona’s highways.

“The goal is to reduce the number of bicyclist fatalities and injury crashes with motor vehicles,” said Michael Sanders, Arizona Department of Transportation’s bicycle and pedestrian program coordinator. “We ‘crash-typed’ nearly 750 reported crashes that occurred over a five-year period to better define the sequence of actions leading to the collision. For example, we found that over half of all crashes occurred while a motorist was making a right turn. The Plan consists of action items addressing potential changes to policies and education programs, or new tools, such as bicycle road safety audit guidelines, to improve bicyclist safety.”

Learn more about the BFS program at www.bikeleague.org/states.

  ***

About the Bicycle Friendly America Program: 
The Bicycle Friendly America program provides incentives, hands-on assistance, and award recognition for communities, universities and businesses that actively support bicycling, and ranks states annually based on their level of bike-friendliness. Learn more.

 

2013 Ranking
1.    Washington
2.    Colorado
3.    Oregon
4.    Minnesota
5.    Delaware
6.    Massachusetts
7.     New Jersey
8.    Wisconsin
9.    Illinois
10.  Arizona
11.  Maryland
12.  Michigan
13.  Maine
14.  Utah
15.  Pennsylvania
16.  Virginia
17.  Tennessee
18.  Connecticut
19.  California
20.  Nevada
21.  Iowa
22.  Texas
23.  Vermont
24.  Georgia
25.  Rhode Island
26.  Idaho
27.  New Hampshire
28.  North Carolina
29.  Louisiana
30.  Missouri
31.  Florida
32.  Ohio
33.  Wyoming
34.  South Carolina
35.  Hawaii
36.  Mississippi
37.  Arkansas
38.  Oklahoma
39.  Montana
40.  Kansas
41.  Nebraska
42.  Indiana
43.  New York
44.  West Virginia
45.  Alaska
46.  South Dakota
47.  Kentucky
48.  New Mexico
49.  Alabama
50.  North Dakota
Learn more about this ranking here.
About the League:
The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of America’s 57 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates.
RiverRide_2013
To honor and celebrate CicLAvia the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is offering a special to participants who sign up for River Ride!
The LA River Ride is an epic series of 8 different rides for everyone from families to dedicated roadies and everyone in between. Join over 2,000 other riders and enjoy a great day of cycling fun, an Eco Expo, raffles, live music, and amazing food.
Take an extra $5 off the asking price, all rides, no matter if you are a member or not. You have a week to do so online to get this discount! The coupon code (expires 12:00am PST April 28th) is CICLAVIA13
Get all the details about the event here.
SATURDAY, 4/20
12PM – 6PM
Echo Park
FREE!
Do it!  ”Explore and discover whimsical chalk art, chain link fence galleries, an art piece scavenger hunt, kids activities, driveway theaters, movie screenings, hands on crafting stations, sculptures, musical and dance performances, live art works, special store promotions and other various creative & mind stimulating public displays of ART!”
Pasadena Memorial Park
FREE!
Join C.I.C.L.E. for a Street Art Ride through Pasadena and pedal along the city’s canvas! Experience the city’s dynamic collection of public art from “Phantasmagoria of Joy” to “The Fork in the Road”. We’ll roll through to various displays of fantastic creativity and learn about the street art along the way.
2PM – 8PM
@ The Douglas House
1326 Douglas St.
Echo Park
Metro: Metro Bus 2, 302, 4, 704
$5 Donation
Even with a broken collarbone, Good Buddy Nate is passionately raising money for his SF -> LA bike ride later in June in support of AIDS research.  And he’s doing it with a Carnival, complete with a clown troupe, a levitation artist, a jail, and a bbq!  I’ll be volunteering for Nate, and you should come to say hello and enjoy a beautiful backyard in Echo Park.  Plus, it’s all for a good cause.
SUNDAY, 4/21
cicLAvia – To The Sea!
10AM – 3PM
@ Downtown LA <-> Venice Beach
FREE!
LA’s biggest block party is connecting Downtown to the Beach!  15-miles of car-free bliss.  Come out to walk, skate, hop, or bike this wonderful event.  If you’ve never done this event before, I’ll just say that I cried tears of joy during the first cicLAvia on 10/10/2010.  True story, that’s how great the day will be.  Along with tons of other performances along the route, Good Buddy Isaac will be joining the gypsy band AK and her Kalashnikovz at the Culver City Hub on the corner of Culver / Washington from 2-4pm.  See you on the route!
After parties ABOUND!
Check out TOLA’s
12:00 pm
BNIB 2684 Lacy St, Los Angeles 90031
3×3 $40 Minimum Tattoos to fund my friend Alains Trip to France
There will be DJS, PRIZES, GIVEAWAYS ARTWORK, RACES and so much more!
Pretty much a huge block party at BNIB! Chicken Hawk will be hosting 1 on 1 drag races! $5 entry, Money will go to the CBNC RV Trip fund. Prizes for top 3! We will hopefully be closing one side of the street to make it as smooth as possible!
Registration will open up at 3pm
Races Start at 4pm
10am
LA City Hall
We’ll ride the new CicLAVia route to Venice, then turn around and make our way to the POOL PARTY along the route!!! Bring all the things you need to make this day great for you and the people around you. Tacos! Friends! Pool & the potential for fame. That’s Treats N Beats.

timeline1

A History of Cycling in LA

Los Angeles Eco-Village
7 – 9 pm

This event is an experiment in group ethnography of the L.A. bike movement since 1997. Sponsored by the Center for Ethnography. Join Colin Bogart, Kelly Martin, Ben Guzman, Alexis Lantz, Ron Milam, Adonia Lugo, Aurisha Smolarski-Waters, Roadblock, Jimmy Lizama, and others as we create an experimental group ethnography of the Los Angeles bike movement from 1997 to the present.

Contact adonia@labikemvmt.org for more information.
Sponsored by the Center for Ethnography and the Bicicultures Roadshow.

editor’s note: I don’t simply copy/paste existing content, but this recent post by LA’s Don Ward, Organizer of the Marathon Crash Race (which I recently participated in and LOVED) a leader in LA’s bicycling movement as an advocate and instigator of things like Wolfpack Hustle and Midnight Ridazz, says it all perfectly.

A message re: enforcement of rule 1.2.019 by UCI / USA Cycling

Open letter to
Steve Johnson, President of USA Cycling
210 USA Cycling Point, Suite 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80919

Mr. Johnson

Recently, it has come to my attention that the UCI and it’s subsidiaries (including USA cycling) have decided to enforce UCI rule 1.2.019 which states:

“No licence holder may participate in an event that has not been included on a national, continental or world calendar or that has not been recognised by a national federation, a continental confederation or the UCI. A national federation may grant special exceptions for races or particular events run in its own country.”

Sadly, this reaction by sanctioned racing bodies appears to be aimed directly at promoters such as myself and hugely popular unsanctioned races and events such as our Marathon Crash Race and Trimble Racing’s Red Hood Crit. Both are races that are doing something sanctioned racing argue-ably hadn’t done in years… draw new riders and new audiences to cycling. That fact makes this move to bar participation in our events come off as arrogant and fearful. Declaring the ability to levy fines on sanctioned riders who participate in our races, read: making money off events that other’s organize?

That’s gangster.

As the organizer of one of the largest unsanctioned bike races in the world, I admit, I personally have never raced in a sanctioned event and probably never will, the process seems a bit too cumbersome for me the casual racer. Yet this certainly doesn’t merit dismissal by your organization. In fact, I have spent the last 9 years of my life riding week after week with riders of all ages backgrounds and abilities through group bike rides and especially through our Monday night fast paced “Hustle Ride,” learning, teaching, coaching and encouraging literally thousands of riders to get better at navigating the dangers of live traffic – and having a blast doing it. I’ve seen completely new riders come to rides – often on frankensteined co-op built bikes – get dropped, come back, get strong, race our races and get completely hyped on bikes.

Lucky for you and USA Cycling this is only the beginning.

I would like to introduce you to Wolves like Beatriz Rodriguez, a rider who cut her riding teeth with our ride, developed her skills, won Dog Tags (our most coveted prize) in our races and then went on to score a national championship in your races. Nothing got the people talking like when she returned last summer to claim another set of Dog Tags in our Midnight Drag Race and then again returned to compete in the Marathon Crash Race to battle it out with 4000 other riders.

And now, your organizations are threatening to bar her and others like her from continued participation in the community?

She was our hero before she was yours.

Furthermore, I want you to consider guys like John “the Roadie” Gabriel, a cocky SOB who actually came from sanctioned racing to ride with us every week, in traffic, and push our crew to new limits. People see him show up to rides in his 3 time CA state champion kit and get inspired. If you had the ability to enforce your rules 3-4 years ago, would he be riding and racing with us? Knowing JTR the answer is an emphatic fuck yes, but still… Thankfully, that was never a question and looking forward, it shouldn’t ever be a question. Riders are already talking about pseudonyms and other methods of hiding from your view – we will do what we can to make sure they escape fines or penalties until USA Cycling comes to it’s senses and embraces what we are doing.

Indeed, as our East Coast brother David Trimble voiced earlier, the fall of pro-cycling was one of the best things to happen for us… but if you think about it, it was good for everyone including you and your organization. As David extended an invitation, so do I… Ignore the UCI rules and realize what grass roots race events like ours are doing for the sport as a whole – growing it.

Don Ward
Race Director
Wolfpack Hustle: The Unified Title Series

I’ve been lusting after the women’s reflective leather loafers for a little while. And now they’re on sale! What could be better? They come in his & hers (you can be eccentric & safe together!) and they also slipped in something kinda brilliant: a slew of other amazing leather goods, from bags to wallets and belts (even a reflective wine cooler… I mean, the essentials) using what must be some proprietary pleather treatment technology. I have a little feeling that there’s a brilliant bike loving designer or two at Cole Haan, and all I can say is: keep it up!

PS: I’m a size 39 (aka. 8) shoe, belt size small…

urlcolehaanreflective bagreflective belt cole haan reflective penny loafercole haan reflective shoe

Zsófi Geréby is an amazingly talented apparel designer and cyclist based in Budapest, Hungary. If you didn’t already know through things like Hungarian Cycle Chic and various news reports about how awesome the cycling culture is – now you do. I moved to Budapest in 2006, in no small part because the bicycling was killer, Hungarian people are amazing and hardcore and because I met Zsófi. We were both passionate about making a line of functional but beautiful apparel around the idea of the everyday urban cyclist. I moved back to NYC to start my own line and Zsófi started Urban Legend. And holy cow is it amazing!

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UrbanLegendOUR PHILOSOPHY

Urban cycling is addictive. UrbanLegend products are created for passionate women who are not afraid of pouring rain or snow on the road, who know the labyrinth of their city as the back of their hands. Combining the best quality sportswear fabrics and practical details with feminine cuts and ergonomic design UrbanLegend products are designed and handcrafted without compromise

UrbanLegend is all about garments that can make everyday cycling more comfortable, more safe, or just simply more fun. Our garments incorporate high quality waterproof, wind stopper, breathable fabrics, reflective surfaces, ventilation panels, thoughtfully placed pockets, and lengthened waists. Every piece is designed with special care and attention to amiable details to meet your cycling needs.
Our passion for finding better and better solutions drives the on-going development of each and every product. We are inspired by everyday situations and our constantly challenging urban environment as we strive to fuse form and function. UrbanLegend produces durable pieces for you to wear proudly on and off the bicycle.

Designed and produced exclusively in Budapest, Hungary.

I loved this video and was even happier to discover all the videos in Adidas’ new #mygirls series. It feels great to see beautifully produced looks into the lives of young women seriously living the lives of professional athletes – and who look gorgeous, strong and well supported. The team kits, sports apparel for adidas never looks as good or as inspiring as looking at these women live, train and compete.

Doesn’t being on a womens track team in the U.K. look awesome?

 

Adidas #mygirls teams/individuals represent track cycling in UK, boxing in Jordan, soccer in Nigeria, Diving in Brasil. I hope they continue this series!
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM-bRdh5zDg93xuPDKyQe5_cMqg7o73Az

-via ARTCRANK