Explore LA! Adventures on two-wheels: NoHo to Griffith Park

Spring (or is this one long perpetual summer?) is back and adventure options for those on two wheels are endless! After travelling to a few other places, we wanted to get back on our local tourism tip!

This bicycle tour features destinations in between the Red Line North Hollywood Station (in NoHo) and the Griffith Park Sunday Drum Circle. Yes, a drum circle! This 8.5 mile-long bike ride travels along different bike facilities (bike paths, lanes, and routes) and features a variety of LA neighborhood attractions from shops & entertainment in NoHo to nature & culture in Griffith Park.

Come along for the ride! To prepare, you need: a bike, a bike lock, some kind of map or smart phone, water, snacks, and don’t forget your sun protection, because it can get HOT!

Pleasant 8.5 mile-long bike ride features the NoHo Arts District, Burbank and Griffith Park. Photo: Google Map

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Bicycle Repair Stations hit LA streets today!

Bicycle Repair Stations unwrangled in Los Angeles!

Bicycle repair enthusiasts! We have posted before about the upcoming rollout of Los Angeles’ very first Bicycle Repair Stations, and after receiving many applications from interested businesses we are excited to say that this morning we installed four locations throughout the city. We’re excited to see this project in the ground and happy to offer this unique opportunity for business owners to encourage bicycling in their community. Bicyclists in L.A. can make use of a Bicycle Repair Station at any one of the following locations:

• 1731 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles 90041, sponsored by Organix
• 5125 York Blvd., Los Angeles, 90042, sponsored by The Hermosillo
• Sunset Triangle Plaza next to 1521 Griffith Park Blvd., sponsored by Pine and Crane
• 4343 Leimert Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90008, sponsored by Kaos Network

A close up look at the tools available at each bicycle repair station

Thank you to all the community partners who make these repair station possible including our business partners and Council Districts  10, 13, and 14. We couldn’t do this without you!

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Safe Moves program teaches bicycle safety education to L.A.U.S.D. students

A student bicycles through the Safe Moves City.

Improving the safety of our bicyclists is a huge priority for LADOT. It’s a driving force behind the work we do at the Bicycle Program and the reason we’re working to install more bike paths, lanes and routes in the city than ever before. However, providing adequate bicycle infrastructure is only one component. To truly create a better cycling environment and see safety improvements, we need to teach current and future bicyclists about safe bicycling practices.

Safe Moves- School Bicycle Safety and Transit Education Program

Currently, LADOT contracts with the Safe Moves program to educate over 175,000 students a year about habits and skills they can adopt to be safer bicyclists. Safe Moves works with students to teach defensive bicycling habits such as making eye contact, checking over one’s shoulder, and being aware when walking and bicycling. An interactive course allows students to bike through a mock city where students are exposed to the same risks posed by a real-life urban cycling environment. Although the course is designed to create a fun experience for the students, it’s also designed to guide each student through traffic issues they could encounter. The mock city course features railroad tracks, cars laving and entering driveways and signalized intersections. Instructors demonstrate where the door zone is, proper signaling techniques and the dangers presented by riding the wrong way against traffic.

In addition to educating students about safe bicycling skills, the Safe Moves program create a social environment where students can feel comfortable asking questions and try out different types of bicycles. Safe Moves strives to create a dialogue about how students currently travel and the alternatives to driving to school.

Students listen to an instructor before trying out the course. Helmets provided by Safe Moves.

 Bringing Safe Moves to your school

If you’re interested in bringing a Safe Moves workshop to a school, you can contact Safe Moves at their website or you can make a request with your local principal or school administrator. Safe Moves hosts workshops during school hours (usually one per grade level), after-school workshops, community, and weekend events so you can work with Staff to design a workshop that fits your community’s needs.

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Visit us at the LA Bicycle Commuter Festival!

Credit: Bruce Chan http://jiachi.tumblr.com/

The LADOT Bicycle Program is excited to take part in the Los Angeles Bicycle Commuter Festival & Summit! This day-long event is intended “to entertain, educate and connect the ‘bike curious’ of Los Angeles to the joys of riding bicycles for transportation.” The festival features workshops and information on the basics of biking for transportation, local bicycle advocacy efforts, group rides and all things Bike-L.A. related.

Workshops and panel discussions will provide a platform to exchange ideas and experiences with other bicycle commuters. Visitors are encouraged to learn about new and existing resources to help make their bicycle commute a more enjoyable experience. In addition, there will be a number of cool bike vendors attending, a silent auction of bicycle goodies and a party immediately following the main event.

LADOT Bicycle Program will be at the festival with our usual collection of reflective ankle straps, lights, maps and other information. In addition, LADOT People St will be in attendance to answer questions and explain how residents can help transform Los Angeles’ streets into active, accessible public spaces through the implementation of plazas, parklets, and bike corrals.

The festival takes place Sunday, February 16 from noon to 8 p.m. at The Village at Ed Gould Plaza at 1125 N McCadden Pl, Los Angeles, CA.  Please note that this is a ticketed event; registration is $10 for individuals and $15 for families. See below for full details. Hope to see you there!

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Alex Baum Bridge re-dedication ceremony this Thursday (You’re invited!)

Making way for the new plaque to be installed

On Thursday, from 11 to 12 p.m. LADOT and Councilmember Tom LaBonge will be re-dedicating the Alex Baum Bicycle Bridge in a ceremony from 11 to 12 at the bridge, located above Los Feliz Blvd. The dedication ceremony will showcase new bronze plaques (unveiled earlier this year at the Blessing of the Bicycles) honoring Alex Baum and his role in promoting bicycling in Los Angeles (just in time for his birthday.) Parking will be limited so we are encouraging attendees to bike, take transit or carpool to the ceremony. Join in the celebration to get a first-hand look at the plaques and a chance to hear guest speakers honor Alex’s accomplishments and L.A’s long bicycling history.

Please note, that the bicycle bridge will be closed to bicyclists from 10:30 to 11:30 for the purpose of the ceremony. A clearly signed detour will be available for bicyclists passing through the area at this time.

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Community Profile: Society of the Spectacle

Two LADOT bike racks in front of bicycle friendly Society of the Spectacle. Photo credit: Walk Eagle Rock

(This post is part of our community profile series, which provides an insightful look into bicycle friendly and bicycle related businesses in the City of Los Angeles. We hope to show why these businesses choose to be bike friendly, and how they are helping to improve the qualify of life for all Angelenos. The LADOT Bike Program is committed to encouraging and supporting bicycling in the City of Los Angeles. If you know of a business that would like to be included in our series here on the LADOT Bike Blog, feel free to leave us a comment below, fill out our form, or email us at ladotbikeblog@gmail.com.)

Featured in today’s community profile are Amy and Katie O’Connell, owners of the eye wear store Society of the Spectacle, located on 4563 York Boulevard in the Highland Park neighborhood. Both are very enthusiastic about cycling and enjoy riding around the Highland Park and Eagle Rock area.

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Community Profile: Endo Customs

Editors Note: The LADOT Bike Blog would like to introduce our newest series, Community Profile. This series will provide an insightful look into bicycle friendly and bicycle related businesses in the City of Los Angeles. We hope to show why these businesses choose to be bike friendly, and how they are helping to improve the qualify of life for all Angelenos. The LADOT Bike Program is committed to encouraging and supporting bicycling in the City of Los Angeles. If you know of a business that would like to be included in our latest series here on the LADOT Bike Blog, feel free to leave us a comment below, or fill out our form, or email us at ladotbikeblog@gmail.com. 

Endo Customs owner Bobby Endo standing next to our bicycle rack marking

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