Bike valets provide safe, centralized, luxury parking for cyclists, who are too often relegated to locking up their bikes at the nearest young tree or signpost. Valets are also a way for bike businesses and associations to reach out to the cycling community and show those who are considering cycling that bikes are encouraged and welcome. For event organizers, bike valets are an incredibly simple way of going green and reducing the traffic and parking problems that their events create.
Transition Culver City, in partnership with the Culver City Bicycle Coalition (CCBC), ran its first bike valet at the car show this May – which happens to be National Bike Month. Last Saturday, the coalition parked more than 30 bikes at the incredibly successful Culver City Art Walk. Cyclists took home goody bags with donations from Wonderful Pistachios, Sport Eve, Subway and MTA. The coalition also raffled a pair of Dodger tickets to members who joined during the bike valet, as well as six pairs of tickets to the American Cinematheque for those who signed up for the coalition’s mailing list.
The Culver City Cultural Affairs initiated the valet and Sony donated the bike racks to the city. Valet partners included the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and the Culver City Bicycle and Pedestrian Initiative.
Look for a huge coalition bike valet at the upcoming Eat Real Festival (food trucks, do-it-yourself projects, demonstrations and more) at the Helms Bakery on July 16 and 17.
For the third year in a row, Fiesta La Ballona will also provide a bike valet to encourage patrons to leave their cars – and parking challenges – behind. Palms Cycle will run the valet, assisted by the Culver City Bicycle Coalition, August 26-28 in Veterans Memorial Park.
Bike Safe, Bike Smart! is a weekly column to promote responsible cycling by providing information, education and advice about riding. It’s written by members of the Culver City Bicycle Coalition (CCBC), a local chapter of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. The CCBC hosts a family ride each month. For more information, go to ccbike.org.
