Bike Summer, what happen?
Thread started by
sexy at 11.26.07 - 9:02 pm
Whatever become of bikesummer? We all know that Montreal dropped the ball in 2006. New Haven was suppose to make it happen in 2007.
I heard that they didn't do anything with it? Is this true?
I looked at the Website and it wouldn't come up for me. I don't know if its my computer or the site is gone.
If it still belongs to LA, I know there was talk of Pittsburgh for 2008, but I think it would be great to see it happen in San Diego. They got somethings happening already. I don't know if they are up to do something like that, it takes lots of people power. The quality of people in SD, makes it my other favorite bike city, next to LA.
I know this isn't the proper venue for this conversation, but I was curious as to what happen with BikeSummer
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The site comes up,
http://www.bikesummer.org/2007/main.htm
This was the first I heard that LA was hosting it this year! How did I sleep through it? SD host it? How bout a European city hosting it? I can think of three right off the top of my head that would be a great host. Amsterdam, Paris and Budapest. And there's a ton of other Euro cities that I would include before SD. Sorry SD, that's just IMHO.
User111.26.07 - 10:21 pm
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a what does IMHO mean al?
skano11.26.07 - 11:47 pm
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and wait sexy SD nex up afta smelLA out of all the other dope ass city to bike SD for real,,naw man ATX,PDX,Philly,BOSTON,NYC,ATL.VANCUVER,SEATTLE,SanFran,new orleans,
Im guessing SD cuz u would like to keep it close to smelLA ?right
skano11.26.07 - 11:54 pm
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IMHO - I'm Mike Homie Oh!
User111.26.07 - 11:59 pm
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insane mad hang over..yo
skano11.27.07 - 12:11 am
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Sexy, I was thinking about the "BikeSumer"/"BikeWinter" thing a few weeks ago.
Take a look at this Friday's calendar - three rides. Saturday - 5 fuckin' rides. A damned parade entry for bicycles on Sunday.
Who needs these events?! Not L.A.
We need to step it up another notch.
If you read about the mayor's bullshit plan to oneway Pico and Olympic Blvd's - and no mention of "green" gutures for L.A., nor bicycling, nor walking, nor air quality - just good ol' dick sucking of motorists by our local elected leaders.
BikeSummer isn't going to do it at this point. We need to Bike the Vote - we need to become a lobby in local government. We need to steer money towards projects we like (take away car lanes, add bike lanes or slow car travel speeds) and steer our votes towards politicians we like at the local, county, state, and federal levels.
ubrayj0211.27.07 - 12:28 am
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When I said "Who needs these events?" I was referring to BikeSummer and Bike Winter. We've outgrown them. We're blowing up.
ubrayj0211.27.07 - 12:29 am
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Isn't IMHO just another way to spell that word for those people who have a flap of hair covering one side of their face?
And listen to Hawthorne Heights', and tend to act real, angsty all the time?
bentstrider11.27.07 - 3:43 am
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There may not have been a Bike Summer LA 2007, but it sure was a hell of a bike summer in LA in 2007.
PC11.27.07 - 4:39 am
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I think it’s great that BS never left. Endless Bike Summer LA! BikeSummer did so much for LA we should recommend it to other cities that are just starting to build up bicycle culture. And there is no reason why it has to be in only one city. Let’s recommend a BS structured summer to every city.
I would like to work with some people on doing this just outside of LA (OC, Anaheim) OR focused in one spot in LA (Watts, Santa Monica). OR! as a traveling band where we do as many events as we can in one day, ride somewhere else the next day, then put on as many events as we can there. Traveling band style…Do this with me!!
alec11.27.07 - 9:35 am
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i think my orignial question and statements was taken out of context and the question never really answered, but que sera.
I was thinking about this BRU post and thinking about what I said about us, just talking about the same old problems, makes me ask...
Ubray02, what can we really start doing to take bike activisim to the next level. You gave some examples of what needs to be done, but what I think I'm asking/saying is that we need some leaders to kick us in our behinds and get it going.
Alex did a great job with the SM city council, there was the Pasadena city council. Box is everywhere at every dam meeting there is, I would assume being proactive. When I got bad info about the Echo Park neighborhood council, that even got people out to the meeting.
Box talk about a crew to go out to different meetings. I know from Ubray02 Againist the Machine dot blogspot, you get out there too.
There is probably other that do also. I know about BAC meetings the same night as SFV-CM/
Since you guys are already doing it, why not start rallying us up to get out there with you when the opportunity arises. Being proactive, isn't as always as sexy as being reactive, but it's better to be on the attack to change things, then to be on the defensive when they come after us.
There are rides almost every night, and we all get to at least 2 to 3 a week, why can't we start doing some activist work 2x or 4x a month.
We need leaders, and I'am calling on you to take us into battle to make our city/cities/county a better place to be bicyclist.
sexy11.27.07 - 10:42 pm
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This will enter screed territory, but here goes, my three points of friggin' light:
(1) END L.O.S.: Stop the exclusive use of "Level Of Service" by transportation departments measuring the success of a roadway. This is a purely political fight to have elected leaders force or encourage City Managers or Planning Departments to change their policies with respect to the measurement of a roadway's success. Institue bike-freindly road measurements.
(2) STEAL $ FROM GENERAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDS: Most transportation funding can be perverted to non-car uses. It only goes to cars because of construction industry types, unions lobbyists, and car industry people who benefit from car-only roadway construction. Cut the union guys and construciton types in on the bike friendly road rebuilding racket, and you might be able to buy your own bike-friendly politician.
(3) BIKE THE VOTE: If we can organize small groups of a few dozen to a few hundred cyclists in targeted areas, we can force our issues onto a local politician's agenda. We can start a 501(c)(4) group to collect money and lobby for policies we like - our lobbying will indirectly benefit our candidates in local elections. In small cities, $2,000 to $10,000 in ads & material and some good local knowledge can win you an election. That is a person who can write laws, seize property, and influence the interpretation of local laws on our side. Pro-car lobbyists don't even bother with this type of stuff anymore, and we can get NIMBY's and local business districts interested in the low-pollution, pro-local business, benefits of bicycle infrastructure. Here's a slogan: "Imagine a future of no more road building bonds." - bicycles are low to no impact on roadways. We're cheap, we don't pollute, we lower death and injury rates, we shop locally, we are better neighbors. The facts are on our side.
ubrayj0211.28.07 - 7:00 pm
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its all about sharing and inspiring the culture of the bicycle. I think LA has got it in spades.
I vote New Orleans. Get that reconstruction done right!
btw MiniBikeWinter #5 is coming up:
Feb 13-18 in blustery Portland Oregon
last year was a spectacle unlike all others
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/182/394149083_1dbcb318d5_o.jpg
better start designing your chariots now
revphil11.29.07 - 2:13 am
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Our own Atomic Cycles - Paul V. and the Choppercabras are already well set up to go for that event.
Joe Borfo11.29.07 - 2:31 am
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Yeah rev, where you get off stealing my chariot race? You even bit my name for it! Grrrrr!
rev10611.29.07 - 7:03 pm
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rev vs rev Tangs to PDX
alec11.29.07 - 7:24 pm
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It sounds like Rev and myself are in an official dumb off. I think the Choppercabras events are dumber. Nenernenernener!
rev10611.29.07 - 7:31 pm
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Choppercabras is teh dumbestur rydrzzz
User111.30.07 - 12:06 am
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Portlander!!!! you bastard, I hope the sea reclaims your stinking hippy town. Steal my charriot race will ya! Why youse......
rev10611.30.07 - 9:02 am
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Ridazz Roulette!
Bike 4-EVER!