Grant Helps Fund L.A. County Bike Safety Classes

By Matthew Sanderson

Metro announced Thursday the California Office of Traffic Safety has awarded a $203,000 grant to work with local non-profit bike organizations to conduct up to 120 free English and Spanish traffic skills class across Los Angeles County. 

The safety classes begin Friday, July 12, in communities throughout the county, including in Culver City and Santa Monica.

The grant, awarded earlier this year through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will fund bicycle traffic skills classes for prospective or experienced cyclists alike.

“With bicycling becoming wildly popular in L.A. County, it is critically important that our cyclists know the safe ways to ride their bikes on busy L.A. streets, whether for work, school or recreation,” said Metro Board chairperson. Diane DuBois/ 

Metro has contracted with the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, Bike San Gabriel Valley, and Multicultural Communities for Mobility  to conduct three- or eight-hour weekend classes through September 2013.  

Metro plans to reach up to 1,440 people for the classes. Each participant will receive a safety manual, helmet and bicycle lights for successfully completing the course. Classes will be taught in cities throughout Los Angeles County, including Los Angeles City, Culver City, Santa Monica, La Verne and Azusa. Participants must be 18 years or older and be L.A. County residents.  

For a list of upcoming classes, locations and times, visithttp://www.metro.net/bikes/bikes-metro/upcoming-bike-metro-events/. 

LACBC will host 30 eight-hour classes, 30 three-hour classes, and one advanced-level seminar. BikeSGV will provide 30 three-hour classes, and MCM will teach 30 three-hour Spanish language courses. 

"With the help of Metro and OTS, Multicultural Communities for Mobility will be able to continue to conduct Spanish bicycle safety courses throughout the county of Los Angeles to the most vulnerable of cyclists who ride their bicycle as a means of necessity,” said Andy Rodriguez, league certified instructor. “Our work with low-income communities is positively impacted by this grant and we hope to save lives and teach people safe cycling skills."

The number of miles driven in the United Stated has dropped each year since 2005 and fewer young adults are getting driving licenses, according to Metro. Concurrently, bicycling is on the rise in L.A. County. From 2005 to 2012, bikeway facilities within L.A. County have increased 14 percent, raising the bikeway miles from about 1,252 to 1,428 miles. And the total number of bikeway miles continues to increase as cities rapidly grow their bicycle networks.  

In the past year alone, the City of Los Angeles has grown its bike lane network by 101 miles. With increases in bicycling, crashes involving injury and death have also slightly risen. 

“These classes give bicyclists the tools to assess and manage the potential risks of riding in an urban setting, so they can freely ride anywhere with confidence,” said Colin Bogart, education director for the LACBC.  

In efforts to raise awareness for cycling safety, earlier this year Metro also launched the "Every Lane is a Bike Lane" campaign that encouraged motorists to share the road with cyclists and give them a full traffic lane if needed.

For more information, visit http://www.metro.net/bikes.