Jun 30 2008
July 4th is 1000% bikes this year with an awesome Santa Monica Critical Mass/Firewerckx Ride mash up, and a race to the beach put on by Los Angeles Brakeless earlier in the day. Other events this month - the increasingly amazing CRANK MOB, Storm the Bastille on Bastille Day, Venice Critical Mass, some important Santa Monica City Council meetings, and probably a Friends of the Friendless ride.
Jun 17 2008
The Bicycle Film Festival comes to LA July 17th through the 21st. Last year the film festival was a blast, and the afterparty in the Bicycle District was awesome. I’m sure organizers will make this year even better. They need volunteers to help them though. If you’re willing to help then email Ashira Siegel at pinkfixie at yahoo dot com.
(three members of Team Bonobo, and director of the film “Eat! Sleep? Bike!” about the Team, pose outside the Bicycle Filme Festival in 2007)
Jun 16 2008
My friend Stephen Box has organized a meeting of political big shots to present to the Woodland Hills neighborhood council. Seriously - these political alpha dogs are accustomed to being the top dog in most rooms and they’ll all be nervously eying one another on Saturday. It’s a coup of epic proportions, and deserves an epic jinxing effort in return. So, congratulations on your upcoming success on Saturday, Stephen.
Jun 14 2008
I wrote Monday about an important Santa Monica City Council meeting on Tuesday where the council discussed the Land Use and Circulation Element draft (LUCE). When the LUCE is approved it will act as the guiding force for transportation planning in Santa Monica for decades, so it’s important that cyclists make their voice heard. This coming Tuesday there is another meeting, and again the LUCE process will be on the agenda. If you’re interested in cycling & urban planning in Santa Monica I urge you to attend. LUCE will be discussed as item 8-B, following the budget discussions on 8-A. Those begin at 6:45pm, so you can safely arrive at 7:45pm at City Hall (1685 Main St) and not miss any of the action.
Jun 13 2008
Is it okay for a law enforcement officer to drive an SUV aggressively towards a group of cyclists who have broken absolutely no laws, at night, with his headlights lights off? Well, this specific Beverly Hills Police Department officer seems to think it was a good idea, heck, maybe it even taught us a “lesson”. About what, I’m still not sure, but please do read on.
Here’s the jist of the story: Continue Reading »
Jun 12 2008
A first time rider might be mystified by Venice Critical Mass. We probably spent more time stopped than riding, and we played a lot of soccer, sometimes with dogs.
Jun 09 2008
I will be attending an important meeting of the Santa Monica City Council today, Tuesday, at 6:45 pm. If you are concerned about bicycle planning in Santa Monica please show up and speak in support of cycling. If you’re unable to make it this Tuesday, there is another similar meeting next Tuesday.
Jun 06 2008
Why do I have to travel around this great city of ours in fear? Why do I not deserve equal treatment and protection under the same laws that govern non-cyclists? Why is public transportation such a joke in Los Angeles?
Why does a Beverly Hills police officer think it’s a good idea to turn off his lights at night, point his SUV at us, and speed up towards our group in order to teach one of the three of us a lesson about not having a headlight (License plate #1098193, short blond hair, medium build)? Why does the Santa Monica Police Department harass cyclists without even knowing the California Vehicle Code? Why do you robotic, peon police officers harass us when we ARE the F’in future? Why can’t you see this as clearly as I? Why don’t more people watch Star Trek or PBS or read Jules Verne? When did you ever read a (good) sci fi book that still had gas-powered vehicles?
Why do I always beat the Metro Rapid and Big Blue Buses on my way to work? Why does that Blue Line driver talk smack to me every Saturday morning when I bring my bike on board? Why is the Culver City bus from LAX so god damn slow? Why would I want to stop at TWO MALLS on my way home from the airport? Why does the Blue Bus stop at every other street? Why does the Metro Rail not have a designated place for bikes?
Why in the heck are the people that are supposed to protect and serve me, whose pay is partly covered by my taxes, turn against me? Why do I, a zero emmissions motherfucker deserve such shitty treatment? Why do we think “advocacy” is going to work in this polluted city that hasn’t learned it’s lesson in two decades? Why do we get so happy when we hear the word “bikes” in a future-will-be-all-bike-friendly 20 year plan?
Why does one relatively safe bike lane that ends at Bundy and the occasional bike valet make Santa Monica Bike-Friendly?
Aaaargh. See you on the streets I guess.
