Author Archives: Dave Sotero

Bike Week special announcement: Metro to partner with C.I.C.L.E to sponsor 20 community bicycle rides throughout Los Angeles County

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Above: a photo gallery from Saturday night’s ride between Union Station and Dodger Stadium. About 80 cyclists participated. Photos by Dave Sotero/Metro.

Here’s the news release from Metro: 

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) today announced a partnership with Cyclists Inciting Changes Through Live Exchange (C.I.C.L.E.) to sponsor 20 “Urban Expedition” community-based bicycle rides throughout L.A. County over the next two years.

The ambitious effort kicks off Bike Week L.A., May 13-19, and will continue through Bike Week 2015.  Destinations and routes for these group rides are being organized and are intended to introduce new and veteran bicyclists to some of L.A. County’s iconic destinations they might not visit on their own. Metro and C.I.C.L.E. conducted the inaugural ride Saturday, May 11 from L.A. Union Station to Dodger Stadium where bicyclists enjoyed secure bike parking, an exclusive tour and special discounts to see the Dodgers battle the Miami Marlins.

The rides focus on safe bicycling etiquette, rules of the road and basic maintenance. Before each ride, participants are given a “safety workshop” so they learn safe road bicycling along the route and practice proper methods of taking a bike on public transit.

“These rides are for all people from the first-timer to experienced rider,” C.I.C.L.E Executive Director Dan Dabek said. “Each ride is led by a trained guide who will not only point out places of interest, but will instruct riders how to negotiate live traffic lanes and bike paths.”

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Metro promotes bicycle activities and festivities during official “Bike Week LA” May 13 to 19

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Here’s the news release from Metro:

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is sponsoring “Bike Week LA” activities from May 13-19 to encourage Angelinos to ride bicycles to work, school and other destinations throughout LA County to reduce traffic and air pollution. Bring a bicycle or bicycle helmet on Metro buses and trains for a free ride on Bike to Work Day, May 16.

Metro will be offering a chance to win several prizes, such as a commuter cycling package from REI valued at $750, to those who pledge to bike to work on Bike to Work Day, Thursday, May 16. Pledges may be made online at www.metro.net/bikeweek. Schools, workplaces, and advocacy groups will hold bicycle pit stops that day with free refreshments, giveaways, and bicycling information for bicycle commuters.

Metro has plans to help increase the number of bicycle trips in L.A. County, and has invested close to $200 million in bike facilities and programs. Besides direct investment in bicycle projects, the expanding network of Metro buses and rail service enables more cyclists to extend their trips by combining bicycling with public transit.

All Metro buses are equipped with front bike racks. Bikes may also be taken on Metro trains. On Bike to Work Day, Thursday, May 16, Metro will offer free rides to bicyclists on Metro buses and trains throughout Los Angeles County. Culver CityBus, Glendale Beeline, LADOT, Long Beach Transit, Montebello Bus Lines, Norwalk Transit, Pasadena ARTS, Santa Clarita Transit and Torrance Transit will also offer free transit rides to bicyclists who board with a bicycle or bicycle helmet. Metrolink will offer free transit rides to bicyclists who board with a bicycle.

Cyclists may bring their bicycles on Metro trains during all system hours.

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Bike Week Coming to L.A. May 13-19

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Bike Week L.A. Cometh. Cyclists ride Downtown L.A. during previous Bike Week L.A.

Bike Week L.A. Cometh. Cyclists ride downtown L.A. during previous Bike Week L.A.

Metro, in partnership with agencies and organizations throughout L.A. County, is sponsoring “Bike Week L.A.” this May 13-19.  There’s a ton of cycling-related activities to get you on your bike next week.  Here’s Metro’s news release.

Metro Promotes Bicycle Activities and Festivities during Official “Bike Week LA” May 13-19

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is sponsoring “Bike Week LA” activities from May 13-19 to encourage Angelinos to ride bicycles to work, school and other destinations throughout LA County to reduce traffic and air pollution. Bring a bicycle or bicycle helmet on Metro buses and trains for a free ride on Bike to Work Day, May 16.

Metro will be offering a chance to win several prizes, such as a commuter cycling package from REI valued at $750, to those who pledge to bike to work on Bike to Work Day, Thursday, May 16. Pledges may be made online at www.metro.net/bikeweek. Schools, workplaces, and advocacy groups will hold bicycle pit stops that day with free refreshments, giveaways, and bicycling information for bicycle commuters.

Metro has plans to help increase the number of bicycle trips in L.A. County, and has invested close to $200 million in bike facilities and programs. Besides direct investment in bicycle projects, the expanding network of Metro buses and rail service enables more cyclists to extend their trips by combining bicycling with public transit.

All Metro buses are equipped with front bike racks. Bikes may also be taken on Metro trains. On Bike to Work Day, Thursday, May 16, Metro will offer free rides to bicyclists on Metro buses and trains throughout Los Angeles County. Culver CityBus, Glendale Beeline, LADOT, Long Beach Transit, Montebello Bus Lines, Norwalk Transit, Pasadena ARTS, Santa Clarita Transit and Torrance Transit will also offer free transit rides to bicyclists who board with a bicycle or bicycle helmet. Big Blue Bus will offer free transit rides to bicyclists who board with a coupon and a bicycle or helmet. Metrolink will offer free transit rides to bicyclists who board with a bicycle.

Cyclists may bring their bicycles on Metro trains during all system hours.

On Bike to Work Day, Metro is co-sponsoring more than 60 bicycle pit stops across Los Angeles County with local organizations. Bicyclists are invited to stop by for refreshments and free giveaways at various times of the day. For locations and times, go to www.metro.net/bikeweek.

Metro is again hosting the annual Golden Pedal Awards to celebrate those who ride their bikes to work every day.  The public may nominate themselves, friends and colleagues for different cycling awards online at http://www.metro.net/bikes/bike-week/golden-pedal-awards-form/.

Free bike maps detailing more than 1,200 miles of bike paths, bikeways and bike lanes in Los Angeles County are available to plan bicycle trips. Maps may be downloaded online at www.metro.net/bikes/. Free copies are also available at any Metro Customer Center; call (213) 922-2811 to request a copy.

Schedule of Events

Saturday, May 11
C.I.C.L.E., the East Side Bike Club, Metro and the Dodgers will kick off Bike Week Los Angeles with the “Bikes, Baseball and Dodger Blue Ride,” a special bicycle ride between historic landmarks Union Station and Dodger Stadium at Chavez Ravine to watch the Dodgers battle the Miami Marlins. Meet-up is at 2 p.m. in front of Union Station (Alameda), departure at 2:30 p.m. For additional ride details, visit www.cicle.org.

Monday, May 13
Bicycle initiatives will be highlighted during Bike Week LA.  During the Bike Week LA kickoff ceremony Monday, May 13 at Grand Park beginning at 10 a.m., Metro, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), Los Angeles Dodgers, the City of South Pasadena, the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC), and Cyclists Inciting Change through LIVE Exchange (C.I.C.L.E.) will announce specific initiatives that promote bicycling during Bike Week LA and year-round.

Tuesday, May 14
Metro also supports the annual interfaith Blessing of the Bicycles at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 14. For more information, visit www.goodsam.org.

Wednesday, May 15
C.I.C.L.E., LACBC, and other bicycle groups will host several guided bike rides on Wednesday, May 16 on bicycle lanes and bicycle routes around Los Angeles County, including Culver City, Pasadena, the San Fernando Valley, downtown Los Angeles, and South LA.

Thursday, May 16
Metro and other municipal transit providers will offer free rides to bicyclists on Metro buses and trains throughout Los Angeles County.

Friday, May 17 Through Sunday, May 19 – Bike Local Weekend
All weekend Metro’s Destination Discount partners will offer bicyclists discounts who mention “Bike Week” at over 60 retailers and other venues.

Bike Week LA is sponsored by Metro and other partners and sponsors, including Caltrans, C.I.C.L.E., City of Los Angeles, Good Samaritan Hospital, Grand Park LACBC, LADOT Bike Program, Metrolink, Clif Bar, REI, Better World Club, and RydeSafe.

Bike to Work Day bicycle pit stop hosts include the City of Burbank, City of Covina, City of Glendale, City of Pasadena, City of South Gate, City of Santa Clarita, City of Santa Monica, City of Torrance, City of West Hollywood, City of Whittier, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, California State University Long Beach, California State University Los Angeles, Compton Community College District, Glendale College Police Department, UCLA Transportation, Friends of Chandler Bikeway, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Bike San Gabriel Valley, Bike Walk Glendale, Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition, Stans Bike Shop, Chubby’s Cruisers, Orange 20 Bikes, R.A. Physical Therapy, National MS Society, Western Asset, Century City Transportation Management Organization. Paradise Consulting, Alta Planning + Design, Pasadena Towers, Equity Office, Ampco System Parking, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp, Equity Office, Fehr and Peers, Princess Cruises, IDS Real Estate Group, Bike to Wellness, Maguire Partners, Burbank Transportation Management Organization, The Aerospace Corporation, Raytheon, Howard Hughes Center, and Yahoo!.

Metro to add rail service for weekend mega events April 20-21

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Here’s news release:

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) plans to add train capacity on several Metro Rail lines in anticipation of major Los Angeles area events scheduled the weekend of April 20-21, including Festival of Books, CicLAvia – To The Sea, Long Beach Grand Prix and Staples Center sporting events.

Metro Rail offers convenient access to many of these activities, and remains the best option for beating parking hassles and traffic congestion for these simultaneous weekend mega events, which individually draw many tens of thousands of participants.

The focus of this weekend’s events will be on the Metro Expo Line, which serves Festival of Books at USC and CicLAvia – To the Sea.  On both Saturday and Sunday, Expo trains will operate every 6 minutes rather than the normal 12-15 minute weekend schedule.  Metro will also staff key Metro Rail stations with personnel to help manage passenger flows on and off trains, including passengers with bicycles.

Additional passenger capacity will be provided on the Metro Gold, Red, Purple and Blue Lines at various times to assist passengers traveling to and from this weekend’s other events, including Long Beach Grand Prix and Downtown L.A. sports venues. Metro also will add Metro Silver Line standby buses at El Monte Station and Artesia Station terminals to transport additional passengers as required.

On Saturday, April 20, and Sunday, April 21 the Festival of Books at USC is expected to generate a large number of attendees, many of whom will be traveling there directly by Metro Rail for the first time in the book festival’s 18-year history.  The Expo Line has two stations immediately adjacent to the event area at USC: Jefferson/USC and Expo Park/USC Station.  On Sunday, April 21, the CicLAvia — To the Sea route will travel between Downtown L.A. to Venice Beach primarily via Venice  Boulevard. The Metro Red/Purple Line parallels the route as it travels near Union Station, Civic Center, Pershing Square, 7th/Metro, and Westlake/ MacArthur Park. The route then travels south and west via Venice Boulevard, passing the Culver City Metro Expo Line Station at Venice and Robertson.  As this station is approximately halfway between Downtown Los Angeles and Venice, event attendees are anticipated to use the station when traveling via Metro Rail to and from the official CicLAvia route. CicLAvia attendees should anticipate some delays in accessing trains at this station, and be prepared to wait for the next train or subsequent train in order to board safely.

Bicycles are welcome on Metro Rail, but CicLAvia cyclists should follow a few important safety rules. Always walk with your bike in the station and on trains. If the train is crowded, wait for the next train. Please allow other passengers to exit and enter the train before boarding. Always stand with your bike in the designated open area while onboard. Always keep doors and aisles clear and give priority to wheelchair passengers. Bicyclists under 14-years-old must be accompanied by an adult. Fuel-powered, 3-wheeled, tandem, recumbent and over 6-foot long bicycles, as well as all mopeds and trailers, are not allowed.

In order to make the most out of their transit-riding experience, Metro patrons are encouraged to purchase a Day Pass on their TAP cards.  The Day Pass will enable patrons to board trains all day long without having to get in line to purchase multiple one-way fares.

For more information on the Los Angeles Times Festival of books, visit http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/.  For more information on CicLAvia — To the Sea or to view a route map, visit www.ciclavia.org/events.  Please note, limited edition CicLAvia TAP cards pre-loaded with a day pass will be available at Hub sites along the route for a donation of $20 or more.  To plan your trip via Metro, go to www.metro.net.

Can L.A. learn from Bicycle-Friendly Rotterdam?

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Rotterdam

Transit-friendly bike parking facilities in Rotterdam Netherlands.

L.A. cyclist Roger Ruddick has a cool piece running on KCRW comparing L.A. cycling infrastructure with Rotterdam, a progressive bicycle-friendly city in the Netherlands.

Click here to hear KCRW story.

As Roger writes in his intro, “Rotterdam is not your typical Dutch city, with charming canals and gabled houses. Instead, with its wide boulevards and glass and concrete towers, the city actually resembles parts of Los Angeles– like the viewscape along Wilshire or La Cienega.”

Roger’s insights and interviews are intriguing as L.A. gears up for CicLAvia — To the Sea this Sunday, April 21.

Having taken a trip to Rotterdam several years back, I was personally amazed to see how well the city accommodates bicyclist parking at transit nodes.  These amenities are quite common in the Netherlands. Just don’t forget where you parked…

Rotterdam1


Key Wilshire off-ramp to Westside opens early

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Metro’s I-405 project contractor, Kiewit Infrastructure West, reopened the Southbound I-405 off-ramp to Westbound Wilshire Boulevard at approximately 8 a.m. Saturday morning March 16, a full week ahead of schedule. That puts another early end to the third installment of “Ramp Jam,” with more ramp closures planned later this year.

The off-ramp is a key freeway exit point for motorists driving in from the San Fernando Valley and points north who access Westside jobs and other destinations. Originally closed on Friday night, March 8, the off-ramp was scheduled to be closed for two full weeks.

Kiewit  was able to begin partial construction of the new ramp in advance, minimizing the need for an extended closure. Kiewit used the week to complete the remaining ramp and tie it in with the portion already built.

Metro has committed to opening parts of the project as soon as they are completed, so rather than one big ribbon-cutting ceremony, roadway and freeway improvements will be delivered incrementally. The project is officially two-thirds complete.

Stay tuned for more installments of Ramp Jam. The next ramp closure – the Northbound I-405 off-ramp to Eastbound Wilshire Boulevard – is scheduled to take three weeks and will start this summer.  Specific dates will be released as soon as they’re available.

Southbound I-405 between 101 and Getty Center Drive is scheduled for full closure March 9

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Construction crews will place falsework on the Southbound I-405 this weekend.

This photo shows falsework previously installed for the rebuilt side of the Mulholland Bridge.  Work crews will install falsework over the Southbound I-405 for the north side of the bridge that has yet to be built.

The I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements contractor is scheduled to implement a full southbound-only freeway closure for approximately four miles between the U.S. 101 and Getty Center Drive ramps on the night of Saturday, March 9, 2013 to construct falsework for the Mulholland Bridge in the Sepulveda Pass.

The project contractor will place plate girders for the span of the bridge in the Southbound direction of the freeway.  The bridge deck will be constructed on top of these temporary plate girders once installed.

Ramps within the freeway closures limits may begin to close as early as 7 p.m. and freeway lanes will begin to close as early as 11 p.m., leading up to the full directional freeway closure beginning at 1 a.m. and ending at 7 a.m. Sunday morning, weather permitting.

What: Falsework construction to support the reconstruction of the north side of the Mulholland Bridge

When: Full directional southbound freeway closures are anticipated to occur on Saturday, March 9, 2013, weather permitting.  Each night, ramps within the freeway closures limits may begin to close as early as 7 p.m. and freeway lanes will begin to close as early as 11:00 pm, leading up to the full directional freeway closure beginning at 1:00 a.m.

Where: Between the 101 freeway and the Getty Center Dr. ramps

What to expect:

  • Sepulveda Blvd. will remain open during the nights of the full directional freeway closures and will be used as a detour route.  Detour maps are available at www.metro.net/405
  • Emergency access will be maintained at all times
  • For a listing of daily closures and latest updates visit our website at www.metro.net/405 or follow us on twitter: twitter.com/I_405 and Facebook at facebook.com/405project

Metro’s 405 freeway paving work ends 29 hours ahead of schedule

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Yesterday’s 405 lane reductions wreaked havoc on traffic for most of the day, but enabled Metro’s contractor to expedite paving work and reopen all lanes of the freeway between Montana and Getty Center Off-ramps by midnight. Metro has prepared this statement regarding yesterday’s work:

    Metro thanks motorists for their patience following lane reductions on the northbound I-405 that caused significant delays Saturday. The extended lane reductions, however, enabled the contractor to safely and aggressively perform needed paving work in the area. As a result, the contractor completed work 29 hours ahead of schedule, sparing drivers from another day and a half of adverse traffic impacts. 

Paving work on northbound I-405 ahead of schedule, may end early

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Metro’s contractor reports that 405 paving work is currently ahead of schedule in the 2.5-mile lane reduction area of the northbound I-405 between Montana Avenue and Getty Center Offramps.

Barring any major issues or equipment problems, the contractor estimates that it can open the No. 3 lane by 9 p.m., helping to improve traffic flows through the area.

A full northbound freeway closure will NOT be required tonight.

If all goes according to plan, the work should be completed and all northbound lanes reopened to the public by early Sunday morning.

405 work update

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Photo by Dave Sotero/Metro.

The I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements contractor is on schedule with Northbound I-405 paving work between Montana Avenue and Getty Center Offramps. Earlier this morning, the contractor completed grinding the pavement in this 2.5-mile area, and is now paving lanes. Striping work and K-rail shifts will follow as work continues today.

With extended delays now occurring on the 405 as a result of lane reductions in the area, motorists are reminded to avoid this part of the 405 and seek alternate freeway routes. Monitor traffic conditions at Caltrans Quickmap web site.