Traffic Skills 101 will be offered for the first time at Cal Poly Pomona on May 25, 2013.

The first-ever Traffic Skills 101 course (TS101) at Cal Poly Pomona will be held on May 25, 2013. This is one of many classes of its kind to be offered in Los Angeles County in designated priority cities through September 30. TS101 includes in-classroom and on-bike segments covering bicycle safety, parking lot drills, crash avoidance techniques, and a road lesson to increase confidence of bicyclists riding with traffic.

The announcement of TS101 at Cal Poly Pomona comes months after the death of student Ivan Aguilar while riding on campus, and multiple bike-related deaths and injuries happening throughout the county, where Pomona ranks 19 for bicycle-related injury crashes, according to the 2010 Annual Report of the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Bicycle education is one step toward creating bicycle-friendly communities and is a necessity for universities like Pomona experiencing an increase in bicycle use on campus. This has been an ongoing objective of local bicycle advocacy group, Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition, a chapter of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) made up of volunteers, students and professionals from neighboring cities.

TS101 is a one-day, eight-hour course is limited to 12 participants and is taught by two instructors certified by the League of American Bicyclists, Jim Shanman and Cal Poly Pomona alum, Maria Sipin. This class is made possible by the PS1301 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety awarded to Metro. A series of TS101 classes in L.A. County will be administered by the LACBC, and has been organized at Cal Poly Pomona with the help of staff and students in the Urban Planning Department, the College of Environmental Design, the Center for Community Service-Learning, and Gwen Urey, PhD, professor of Urban & Regional Planning.

With this introductory class, partnering organizations hope to generate more interest in bicycle education in Pomona and generate funding from other sources to sustain this program.

For more information about TS101 in Los Angeles County, please contact Colin Bogart, education director at LACBC, at colin@la-bike.org.

We are looking for volunteers for various activities. Quick shifts and fun activities for anyone interested in working with the Pomona community and learning more about bicycle advocacy and education in the area. Volunteers, please sign up here.

• bike art
• safety and repairs workshops
• DIY spoke cards
• night time bike ride (How bright can you be? Show us! Extra lights and reflective wear encouraged!)

Last night, the glowing bike party rode through the Claremont Colleges and downtown area playing electronic and house music. Bring your brightest lights and reflective clothing to our Pomona Art Walk night ride on Saturday, May 11.

Bike activities at Pomona Art Walk on Saturday, May 11, 2013

Bike activities at Pomona Art Walk on Saturday, May 11, 2013

Flyer created by A Healthy Design

A space on Metrolink car designated for bikes. This is not a bike car.

Brace yourself. This is one long post for one long and exciting day on Sunday. Metrolink bike cars have been added for CicLAvia. While we are excited for more bike cars, remember that it is first-come, first-served. With the increased demand for bike cars due to the thousands of people participating in CicLAvia and traveling from outside of Los Angeles, expect limited space, longer lines to get tickets, and busier parking lots at each station. If it’s your first time taking Metrolink, read through the following tips so you won’t be too overwhelmed by the scene on Sunday.

Tips for Riding Metrolink for CicLAvia:

• Add @Metrolink on Twitter for updates.
• Familiarize yourself with the Metrolink mobile site. Know the name of your home station and destination, and which lines to take there. For example: Rancho Cucamonga station to LA Union Station on the San Bernardino Line.
• Check the schedule for bike cars. These trains will have most room for bikes, but there are no guarantees.
• Arrive early. If you’re driving your bike to the station, give yourself plenty of time to unload your bikes and to assist friends and family get from the car to the train platform safely.
• Give yourself plenty of time to buy your $10 weekend pass which is good for your Metrolink fare and transfers to Metro buses and rail. The ticket vending machines (TVM) can be slow sometimes. When you hit a button to advance the screen, it takes a few seconds. Be ready with your form of payment. The TVMs accept credit, debit, and cash. Prepare to have other forms of payment just in case the machine fails in some way.
• Expect lines, and wait.
• Take care when traveling with children. Keep them with you at all times.
• Locate the restrooms on the train when you board. Some cars have electrical outlets for charging your devices.
• Listen to announcements, follow the conductor’s instructions, and properly secure your bikes on the train. Some people may need to move bikes to another car or wait for the next train.
• The CicLAvia route may open to cars while you’re’ still on the west side, and this can cause problems for you and your group. Have a backup plan for returning to Union Station using local buses and/or Metro Rail (or a friend in the city to drive you). Keep track of time and plan to get back to Union Station with extra time to spare.
• Keep a copy of Metrolink’s Sunday schedule and prepare to have a backup plan. It’s easy to get confused with the departure times. In the event that you miss a connection and your train (or the very last one), have a plan ready– buses to get home, friends to call for a lift, or a safe group ride home if it’s an option.
• Have fun. Engage with people on the train, on the route, and on Twitter. If you’re having a blast or not so much, chances are someone out there is experiencing something similar to you. There are lots of ways to connect with the bicycling community, and CicLAvia is one of them.

People who ride bikes on Metrolink– thank you for bringing your bikes aboard and not holding back when it comes to demanding spaces for bikes on trains. There is a group of passionate advocates (your friends at @MetrolinkDiary / @BikeMetrolink) reading every tweet about the need for bike cars, and passing your comments along to Metrolink, along with the Twitter admins behind Metrolink’s own Twitter account, @Metrolink. Continue tweeting, and be heard! Share your stories: good, not-so-good, bad, and everything in between.

Today, a meeting with Metrolink, organized by Cuong Phu Trinh, Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition member, called for the provision of this Metrolink Bike Car Schedule for CicLAvia this Sunday among other marketing and service-related items. Click here to read the official news release from Metrolink.

Here is a disclaimer:

Below you will find the cars that are scheduled for CicLAvia but I must inform you that this is not a guaranteed schedule. An incident along our system could disrupt the CicLAvia plan listed below.

From the desk of William Ringland, sales & marketing coordinator at Metrolink.

Additionally, the Metrolink website says:

*NOTE* Historically, Metrolink has experienced record bike ridership on CicLAvia weekend. Make sure to arrive at the station early and please note that the conductor has the right to ask bikers to relocate to another passenger car or wait for the next train.

Antelope Valley Line – Modified Metrolink Timetable for CicLAvia on April 21, 2013

I highlighted Metrolink Sunday service on the Antelope Valley Timetable to reflect added bike cars.

San Bernardino Line – Modified Metrolink Timetable for CicLAvia on April 21, 2013

I highlighted Metrolink Sunday service on the San Bernardino Timetable to reflect added bike cars.

Orange County Line – Metrolink Timetable for CicLAvia on April 21, 2013

Saturday and Sunday Metrolink service on the Orange County line

Bike Car Roster for CicLAvia on April 21, 2013

Antelope Valley Line

1 Bike Car

• Lancaster to LA Union Station: 260, 262, 268
•  LA Union Station to Lancaster: 263, 265, 269

San Bernardino Line

2 Bike Cars and 1 Hybrid Car

• San Bernardino to LA Union Station: 351, 359
• LA Union Station to San Bernardino: 354, 364

3 Bike Cars

• San Bernardino to LA Union Station: 357, 369
• LA Union Station to San Bernardino: 362, 368

2 Bike Cars

• San Bernardino to LA Union Station: 367, 377
• LA Union Station to San Bernardino: 366, 376

Orange County Line

3 Bike Cars

• Oceanside to LA Union Station: 661, 665, 663, 667
• LA Union Station to Oceanside: 660, 662, 666, 664

Related links:

• CicLAvia guide: How to rent a bike, fix a flat, join a feeder ride and more tips (By Machiko Yasuda, 89.3 KPCC)
• Introducing the Bike Safe Rules of the Road Pocket Guide | LACBC
• Hits and Misses from CicLAvia 2012
• CicLAvia Official Website
• Map: CicLAvia to the Sea (PDF)

Claremont’s fifth annual Earth Day Celebration

Claremont’s fifth annual Earth Day Celebration takes place on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 10 a.m. – 3p.m. Join us for a variety of sustainability-themed events and workshops for kids and adults.

I’m volunteering with Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition to facilitate bike-related activities. See you there!

Location:
2nd Street
Yale to Oberlin

Activities include:
Bike rodeo and skills contests
Tile making
Kids’ activities
Live music
Solar boats
Pomona College sustainability tour
Green products and workshops
Speakers tent
Used shoe donation
Whole earth building tour
Green demonstrations by local schools

This event is presented by the City of Claremont, Sustainable Claremont, and the Interfaith Sustainability Council.

Kidical Mass Santa Monica event details

The city of Santa Monica is hosting its first-ever Kidical Mass ride on Saturday, April 13th. Kidical Mass is the youth-friendly version of the popular monthly Critical Mass bike rides that take place in cities all over the world.

I highly recommend this event if your family is interested in riding in West LA and specifically learning more about youth biking programs in Santa Monica. This is the perfect activity for youth to learn good riding habits and safety tips before they embark on summertime biking adventures.

This event is sponsored by many of the same organizations that presented the Santa Monica Family Bike Fest, another first for the city. I had a positive experience teaching at this event and leading rides for children under 12.

This free event offers activities for children and adults, safety presentations, prizes, and post-ride party. Dressing up to fit the “green” theme is highly encouraged.

Helmets are required at all times during the 2.5-mile ride, which begins and ends at John Adams Middle School. Bike rentals are available from local bike shops. Prices vary.

Event details:
Saturday, April 13, 2013
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
2425 16th Street, Santa Monica

RSVP by April 11th to Samantha Sommer.
(310) 458-8716
samantha.sommer@sustainableworks.org

Flyer for National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day celebration event on April 10, 2013

Participating in a national campaign started by Advocates for Youth to promote an awareness day for HIV and AIDS has been a great experience so far. The most enjoyable part of this process is talking to youth about the importance of this day and getting them involved in sharing the message in their own ways. We’ve taken lots of pictures and filmed videos as a way to express our feelings about HIV in our communities.

Why is an awareness day needed?

About 1 in 4 (26%) of all new HIV infections are among youth ages 13 to 24 years. About 60% of youth with HIV do not know they are infected and don’t receive treatment. This puts them at risk for sickness and early death. These youth can also unknowingly pass HIV to others.

It’s not easy to start talking to people about HIV and AIDS, but these conversations are necessary to reach youth and other members of the community so that we can take steps to address this epidemic among youth. An awareness day is one way to reduce the stigma around HIV and AIDS, and getting more people to recognize it (HIV negative and positive supporters alike), can help the fight against HIV and AIDS.

There are many ways to support NYHAAD. We are emphasizing participation through social media, in addition to creating, sponsoring, or attending events in the community. Social media is a large component of promoting NYHAAD, and I hope you join the conversation using the hashtag #NYHAAD.

In the last month, my agency has created a NYHAAD toolkit to provide resources for people interested in organizing NYHAAD-related activities in their communities. Download the NYHAAD toolkit to energize youth and their supporters this month for the awareness day.

Here in Los Angeles, I’m planning a free event with my colleagues to get youth and allies involved in talking about HIV through spoken word, collecting photos, and filming videos to screen at our event on April 10. Join us!

My whole week has been dedicated to this campaign. I’ve been taking everyone’s photos with this sign, and finally– here’s mine!

The best example of riding to an unplanned destination is our recent visit to the Santa Anita Race Track. Some of my friends and I have never been there in our 20+ years of living in the area and finally got to experience it this past weekend. Thanks to biking on Huntington Drive through Arcadia at a leisurely pace, we made a left turn into a gigantic parking lot, and the rest is history.

Panoramic shot of Santa Anita Race Track

The ride to Cal State LA along the San Bernardino line would have been better if we had an easier time securing our bikes on the train.

We need more space for our bikes! Bike car, where are you?

A random Metrolink ride along the San Bernardino line led to our stop at Cal State LA and a short ride through the San Gabriel Valley

Riding through Alhambra and Arcadia and stopping by yard sales along the way

I love these stripes!

This is silly. This is what a U-Lock shortage looks like.

This is what happens when people forget to pack bike locks. Squeeze.

Help! We’ve never bet on horse races before!

All smiles, mostly.

A little bit of fascination as we watched our horse win. We bet $2 to win $9. Good day, indeed.

My Instagram collage of our day at the races

Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition took its first Metrolink group ride on February 16. Members boarded the San Bernardino line from stations between Rancho Cucamonga and Covina and met up in the bicycle car. This train was full of passengers headed to the Chinatown Lunar New Year celebration, but we had other plans.

@metrolink @bikemetrolink #bikecar #lariver @goldenroadbrew ride is ready to go! #labike lockerz.com/s/283704664

— PValley Bike (@PVBike) February 16, 2013

Strava map of our LA River bike ride

Our casual group ride began at Union Station. This first leg involved a chaotic ride through the outskirts of Chinatown until reaching the Los Angeles River bike path entrance at Riverside Drive. The LA River ride to Atwater Village/Glendale was slow-paced to our first stop: Golden Road Brewing located on 5410 West San Fernando Road, where we refueled before our return ride to downtown.

Photos from my iPhone 5:

Bike parking at Union Station

It’s @pvbike & the pigeons @ Union Station bike parking. Let’s change the vibe @bikemetro @lausmp @metrolosangeles! twitter.com/ahealthydesign…
— Maria (@ahealthydesign) February 16, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

LA River scenery

The bike racks are full!

PVBC refueling at Golden Road

I highly recommend this delicious pretzel from Golden Road

Riding off of the LA River bike path into downtown

Next, we rode to Angel City in the Arts District/Little Tokyo where bike parking was scarce, but we made it work. The day ended with the group parting ways here, but I ended up in Old Town Pasadena via Gold Line and taking the last train out of Union Station.

Makeshift bike parking at Angel City

Taking the very last train out of Los Angeles: San Bernardino 378 departing Union Station at 11:30 p.m.

My wheels and footwear

Group photo at Golden Road
Additional photo gallery: Cuong Trinh

Thanks to everyone who came out to our ride! Hope you had fun! #labikelockerz.com/s/283744996

— PValley Bike (@PVBike) February 17, 2013