It’s May in Culver City. The jacaranda trees are blooming, the weather is fantastic, and the Ballona Creek Bike Path has been re-opened and revamped at Overland Avenue: what perfect conditions to celebrate National Bike Month.
Believe it or not, Bike Month is no spring chicken. Long before global warming, insane gas prices and the obesity epidemic, the League of American Bicyclists, Bike Month’s national sponsor, began it in 1956. “For 55 years, National Bike Month has been the perfect time for new or returning riders to get back on the saddle and ride their bike to work,” states the League’s Web site. Until the 1980s, it was known as American Bike Month, largely a vehicle for the Cycle Trade Association to promote the bike industry. Since then, according to the league, “Bike Month became more about promoting cycling and safe bicycling, not just selling bicycles.”
The goal of Bike Month is to inspire people to ride rather than drive. As the event has grown, so too have initiatives to get Americans out of their cars and onto bikes. Cities, transportation agencies, environmental and health organizations, advocacy groups and individuals nationwide will celebrate not only Bike Month, but Bike Week (May 16-20) and Bike to Work Day (May 20).
Los Angeles Metro has been involved in Bike Week for the past 17 years, kicking-off this year’s celebration at the North Hollywood Metro station on May 16 and hosting a “Blessing of the Bicycles” on May 17 at Good Samaritan Hospital. Metro has chosen May 19 as Bike to Work Day (rather than May 20), and declared May 20 as Bike to School Day.
Bike Month is being celebrated in Culver City as well. The Culver City Bicycle Coalition began the month by sponsoring a two-part bicycle safety class called Confident City Cycling. Ironically, perhaps, we hosted a bike valet at the Culver City Car Show. On May 19, we’re organizing a Bike from Work pit stop: Bike-commuters riding home from work will meet with fellow cyclists for a beverage and free food. The coalition will also host its monthly Family Ride on the last Sunday of the month (see our Web site for more information about both events: ccbike.org).
Another way of celebrating Bike Month is to write Congress in support of Rep. Doris Matsuai’s Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2011 in order to make American streets safer for walking and biking. Introduced this week, the bipartisan bill “would require each state’s department of transportation and metropolitan planning organization to put in place a Complete Streets policy that ensures all federally-funded transportation projects accommodate the safety and convenience of all users” according to a recent press release from Matsuai’s office. California is one of 23 states to adopt Complete Streets policies, which is also the main component of Culver City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Planadopted in November.
Matsuai explains, “Especially at a time when gas prices are putting enormous pressure on the pocketbooks of American consumers, more and more people are looking for alternatives to driving. However, far too often, our roads are designed with one thing in mind – trying to move vehicle traffic as quickly as possible … By completing our streets, we can open up our roadways to pedestrians and cyclists – helping to ease congestion and providing an alternative to gas-powered vehicles. In doing so, we take strides to fight air pollution and global warming and improve our public health and safety.”
Whether it is riding to school or work, supporting legislation, blessing bicycles or merely taking the old 10-speed on an exploratory ride around the block, give biking a try this Bike Month.
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.
