bike week
This week is bike week here in Los Angeles, which means there are a few cool events going on sponsored by Metro. I know a lot of people feel like this city is not very bike friendly (and I don’t entirely disagree) so projects like this make me super happy. They are a great way to spread the bike love.
It’s no secret that Shawn and I met on a bike ride, so social rides will always have a special place in my heart. Look at how fun this tweed right from a few years back was (you can tell it was long ago since Shawn is sporting a beard). Everyone dressed up and having a grand time riding around the city together. I truly believe that the best way to experience any city is by bicycle.
Pasadena also has some great events planned, like a bike ride around the Rose Bowl with the mayor and a bike in movie showing Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. So if you’ve been looking for an excuse to get back on your bike, now is your chance. Hope to see you on the streets.
We’re taking a ‘Confident City Cycling’ class this weekend so that we’ll feel safer and venture off the sidewalk 🙂
p.s… I miss the beard!
I’ve been hunting for the perfect bike. It’s hard, because there are few women’s bikes available in my area on craigslist. I wanted to get a used one, but it’s looking like that might not happen. So I might be getting a new one.
Fargo is not very friendly to bikes either. Sure it’s not as big of a city as LA, but there is a fierce debate going on about putting in bike lanes on two well-traveled roads through residential areas. It amazes me that people argue that putting in bike lanes will make things less safe. Bikes already have the right to ride on those streets, which people don’t realize. Putting in the bike lanes will make things more safe for riders in the street.
it’s always hard to find things on craigslist, but rather than looking for a women’s specific bike i recommend just looking for one that is your size. ebay is also pretty good if you know what you want.
i feel like so many bike lane/sharrow projects are really just about informing drivers to be more careful since, as you said, there are already laws in place for cyclists to use the street. the other thing, and why i like bike events, is getting novice cyclists more comfortable on the road and aware of the dangers.
there are certainly roads in los angeles that i don’t ride on, because they just aren’t ideal for cycling, but it is honestly such a nice way to get around and has made me like it here a lot more than i did when i relied only on a car.