Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition

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The Los Angeles County Bike Coalition (LACBC) is an advocacy organization founded in 1998. It works with administrators and politicians to achieve a more bike-able Los Angeles County. Currently the organization is funded partly through membership fees, and partly by providing consultancy and management services for public entities (Metro, municipalities, CALTRANS etc). It uses its accumulated expertise to remind planners of the needs of the bicycle community.

Contents

History

Founding

Initiatives

  • Engaging Police, Residents, and Cyclists about Ballona Creek access gate closures.
  • Working with MTA to help them identify a safe, level bike route along the planned Expo Line through Cheviot Hills (a route which has been omitted from recent planning documents).
  • Tracking the Universal/NBC Development for the opportunity to include bicycles in the traffic mitigation plan and to get another section of LA River bike path completed adjacent to the project.
  • Submitting detailed policy recommendations to the 2008 City of Los Angeles Bicycle Master Plan Update.
  • Submitting detailed policy and funding recommendations to Metro's Long Range Transportation Plan.
  • Examining and recommending improvements for bicycle and pedestrian linkages to 5 Metro and Metrolink stations in low-income neighborhoods in Los Angeles County.
  • Survey and recommend the replacement of dangerous storm grates in the City of Los Angeles.
  • Supporting state legislation and local efforts to incorporate the 'complete streets' concept into road-building policy.
  • Get LACBC's sharrows campaign, which has stalled at the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, moving forward towards a test implementation.
  • Managing more than 450 Metro and Metrolink bicycle lockers.
  • Helping the Los Angeles Department of Transportation locate new sidewalk bike racks.

Past Accomplishments

  • Revived PCH task force in response to two cyclist deaths.
  • Maximized bicycle amenities and minimizing reversible lanes for autos in the Sepulveda Pass.
  • Advocated for $50,000 to be added to the Bicycle Master Plan to address connectivity to the Playa Vista Development.
  • Advocated for adding lanes on Lincoln Boulevard between LMU drive and Jefferson.
  • Encouraged Metro policy changes that have eliminated the need for bicycle permits, increased the hours when bicyclists are allowed to bring bikes on trains, and installed bike racks on all buses.
  • Encouraged adding bike lanes to Silverlake Boulevard.

Events

Since October, 2007, LACBC has held a Thursday Night Social every two months: October, 2007: Downtown LA (LACBC Headquarters) December, 2007: Highland park (Bike Oven) February, 2008: Culver City/Mid City/West Adams (Bassworks) April, 2008: North Hollywood (NOHO Gallery)

Los Angeles River Ride

Every year the Coalition puts on a public bicycle ride along the length of the bicycle path alongside the Los Angeles River. The Los Angeles River Ride is a fund-raising event for the LACBC, and it is intended also to heighten public awareness of the importance of the river and its preservation.

Mission

The LACBC's mission, as stated on their website, is:

Founded in 1998, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) works to build a better, more bike-able Los Angeles County. LACBC is the only nonprofit, membership-based organization working exclusively for the millions of bicyclists in Los Angeles County. Through advocacy, education and outreach, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition brings together the diverse bicycling community in a united mission to make the entire L.A. region a safe and enjoyable place to ride.

Scope

Organization

Structure

The LACBC is organized as a non-profit "501(c)(3)" corporation. Until March 2008 it's board was elected by an annual vote of the members. Each member served two year terms and approximately half of the board seats were open during annual elections. However, in the March 2008 elections the LACBC members approved an amendment of the bylaws which in essence allows the board to elect the next board.

Current Board

Staff

Jennifer Klausner is the Executive Director of the LACBC. Former board member Aurisha Smolarski stepped down in order to take a staff position; Aurisha and Megan Dean were both recently hired to replace Monica Howe as Outreach Coordinator and Bike Locker Programs Manager. Dorothy Le is the Planning and Policy Director.

Budget

Recently LACBC board member Kent Strumpell revealed that LACBC's budget would likely be approximately $140K. LACBC has recently received a sizable three-year grant from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health aimed at reducing chronic disease such as heart disease and diabetes through encouraging people who lead sedentary lifestyles to bicycle or walk for short trips. This grant raises LACBC's budget, but it may not be allocated for LACBC's Advocacy, Outreach, and Education programs outside of the scope of the project.

In the past the LACBC's budget has been as high as a quarter million dollars annually.

Controversy and Criticism

The LACBC has been criticized by some Los Angeles bicycle activists and riders, who claim that the Coalition accomplishes little in the way of tangible improvements for LA cyclists. Specifically, some of its critics charge that its relationship with Metro and other arms of local government is too cozy, and that the Coalition's reliance on grants and consulting funds from Metro make it reluctant to take an adversarial stance against the agency when necessary. A few riders also accuse it of failing to reach out to LA's burgeoning urban cycling subculture.

Some have asked how LACBC is employing four staff in light of board member Kent Strumpell's recent disclosure (see comments) that this year's budget will probably be approximately $140K.

External Links

Retrieved from "http://www.ibikeu.com/wiki/index.php/Los_Angeles_County_Bicycle_Coalition"
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