June 2023

Free rides across the Metro system this weekend to celebrate the debut of the new A and E Lines, 3 new stations and the opening of the Regional ConnectorMetro

Our new A and E light rail lines make their debut this Friday, June 16, at noon when the Regional Connector and its three new underground stations in downtown Los Angeles open to our riders.

The opening will make riding our system more convenient and will provide you with faster light rail trips to and through downtown L.A.

As part of our celebration of this milestone project, we’re offering free rides from 3 a.m. Friday through 3 a.m. Monday on all Metro buses, trains, Metro Bike and Metro Micro. Please come out and ride as much as you like and enjoy the many destinations you can reach via Metro across L.A. County.

As many of you know, the Regional Connector is a highly anticipated project that has been under construction for much of the last decade. We know many of you have questions. Let’s go…

What will the new light rail system look like?

The Connector ties together the A, E and L Lines. As a result, those three lines will become two lines:

•The new A Line will run between Azusa and Long Beach. On maps, the A Line will retain the color blue.

•The new E Line will run between East Los Angeles and Santa Monica. On maps, the E Line will use the color gold.

•It will be easy to transfer between the A and E Lines at any of the five DTLA stations they’ll share: Pico, 7th/Metro, Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill (at 2nd and Hope), Historic Broadway (at 2nd and Broadway) and Little Tokyo/Arts District (at 1st and Alameda). Just step off one train and get on the next. No need to walk to a different platform.

How frequent will trains run?

Here’s the new A Line schedule and here’s the new E Line schedule.

The basics: trains on both lines will run every 10 minutes at weekday peak hours, every 12 minutes the rest of the day and during weekend daytime hours and every 20 minutes in early mornings and later in the evenings.

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A Guide To Flying With Bicycles

From SimpleFlying.com

BYLUKE BODELL ANDJOE KUNZLER

A thorough review of how to fly with a bicycle to and from your destination. Complete with a table of major airlines’ policies.

Ever wondered if you can take your bicycle on a flight as luggage? Maybe you’re flying to a place with lots of cycling trails or bike lanes and would rather use your own two wheels than a hired ride. Since there are no bicycle racks on aircraft, the carry-on bins are too small to accept full-size bicycles, and the flight attendantswould not appreciate any space in their relatively small galleys replaced by bicycle racks; this guide answers the question: What can be done about taking a bicycle on a commercial flight?

To clarify, this guide will concern non-folding bicycles – airlines can have different policies regarding folding bikes, which are easier to store and can often be taken onboard as hand luggage.

Put your bicycle in the hold?

Yes, you can disassemble your bicycle and bring it on your trip as checked baggage, so long as it is suitably packaged up. You can, for instance, place your dissembled bike into a cardboard box to save money, although this increases the risk of your bike being damaged in transit.

Many travelers have not just done that but have also videoed the process for YouTube. One YouTuber thoroughly documented his process using a cardboard box and supplemental materials to dissemble his bicycle for shipping:

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My Brutal UNBOUND Experience – Mud, Gravel & Carnage

The time has come for us to share with you Conor’s muddy yet epic UNBOUND race! It was hot, it was wet, it was full of twists and turns. So how did Conor do? Was this challenge a step too far…?

 

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It’s Time For Everyone to Stop Ignoring E-Bikes

From TreehHugger.com

By Lloyd Alter

Politicians and planners are missing the e-bike revolution with their preoccupation with e-cars. Even the climate activists at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) did it. Now BloombergNEF’s Electric Vehicle Outlook for 2022 has been released and—surprise!—it ignores e-bikes.

It’s big on 2- and 3-wheelers (the mopeds, scooters, and tuk-tuks you find in Asia) and notes the staggering difference between the size of the e-car fleet compared to 2- and 3-wheeled electric vehicles (EVs).

“The acceleration in EV adoption means that combustion vehicle sales peaked globally in 2017 and are now in permanent decline. By 2025 passenger ICE sales are 19% below their 2017 peak. Managing the decline while investing in the future is a major challenge for some legacy automakers.”1

But e-cars are still only 9% of sales and the e-car fleet is under 17 million worldwide, while the 2- and 3-wheelers are at 275 million, showing them at completely different scales on their illustrations.

This description of “2- and 3-wheelers” seemed odd. Surely if you are looking at the state of electric vehicles, e-bikes should be mentioned, not excluded as the note at the bottom of the EV fleet sizes suggests. In the U.S. alone, e-bike sales were up 240% last year with 790,000 imported, compared to 652,000 electric cars, including plug-in hybrids. In Europe, e-bikes are projected to outsell cars by the middle of this decade, whether gas or electric powered. Deloitte recently predictedthere could be 300 million e-bikes by 2023.

Photo by Gotrax on Unsplash

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CicLAvia—South LA – June 18

CicLAvia—South LA

On Sunday, June 18, we’re opening up streets in South Los Angeles so you can jog, ride, bike, skate, run, walk, skateboard, spectate, and enjoy the route however you want. Our routes are welcoming to people of all ages and abilities!

CicLAvia—South LA is presented by Metro. This event will feature the 3rd annual Juneteenth Celebration and Resource Fair brought to you by Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell.

Be sure to join our email list and check out our Local Gems Blog so you don’t miss any event news and updates. Use the CicLAvia digital map to plan which businesses, local gems, activities along the route, and Hubs to check out during the event on June 18th!

 

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7 Easy Ways To Improve Your Time Trial Performance

Do you love TTs but want to ride faster? The answer: ride smarter, not harder! Ollie has seven top tips to improve your time trialling skills, from perfecting your TT position and learning the best pacing strategy, to planning and scheduling around the event. You’ll be flying like Remco Evenepoel or Marlen Reusser in no time!

 

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The 9 Best Bikes You Can Buy Right Now

From Bicycling.com

BY KEVIN CORTEZ

FROM CARGOS TO COMMUTERS TO E-BIKES, THESE ARE THE MOST IMPRESSIVE RIDES ON THE MARKET.

Mountain bikes, roadies, cargo haulers, gravel bikes, cyclocross rides, e-bikes—it doesn’t matter the style—we’ve likely tested it. Hunting for the best bicycle for you can be challenging, especially if you’re a beginner. We’ve spent countless hours riding and testing the greatest bikes out there, so whether you want to hit the trails or you’re looking for a reliable commuter to haul groceries, you can find the right ride for you. Check out some of the best bikes that money can buy, according to our experts.

What to Consider

Style and Use

Are you looking for a daily commuter or something to take with you on RV vacations a few times per year? Do you need to haul groceries each week, or are you just looking for a weekend workout? The bike you purchase should be one that best suits your lifestyle.

The right bike for you doesn’t always correlate directly with wheel size or tire tread—consider the foldable bike, for example, for those living in small spaces—but knowing your needs will help you find the bike best for you.

Take into account the type of trail (or lack of) you’d use your bike on, as well as how much or little you’ll haul, the maintenance you can handle, your fitness level, and if you’ll ever need to toss this thing in a bus, car, or train.

As a general rule of thumb: The fatter the tire, the better it is on rough terrain. City-dwellers may do best with a road bike with skinnier tires for speed on pavement and smooth surfaces, but if you plan on taking weekend trail trips, lean toward gravel and hybrid bikes. These can better rip through rocks and dirt roads.

As for frames, steel is the heaviest material you can buy, though it can take a harsher beating than lighter materials like aluminum and carbon. Opt for an aluminum or carbon bike if you need something that you can easily load into your car or the train. Lean toward steel if you plan on riding rugged terrain more often than paved roads.

Image courtesy of Aventon

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The 15 Best Arguments for Bike Boosters: Part Three

From StreetsBlog.org

By Kiran Herbert and Martina Haggerty

People for Bikes recently developed a a 15-point fact sheet to help counteract misconceptions that often arise when advocating for change, as well as to promote strategies we know work. Here’s the third installment.

11. E-bike subsidies work

While the federal government currently offers a federal tax credit for electric cars of up to $7,500, nothing similar exists for people buying an electric bike. With a lack of federal initiative, more and more states, counties, and cities across the country are taking matters into their own hands, creating e-bike incentive programs that are as varied in substance as they are geographically. While many programs are relatively new, the data is compelling.

Launched in the spring of 2022, Denver’s incredibly popular e-bike incentive program has led to some notable results, including $1 million in cumulative annual savings for the city. Researchers also calculated that the program avoided considerable amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, with some 71 percent of survey respondents claiming to use their gas-powered vehicles less often (those surveyed rode their e-bikes an average of 26 miles per week, replacing 3.4 round trip vehicle trips). Importantly, 29 percent of Denver e-bike redeemers who completed the program survey indicated they were also new to riding.

12. Shared micromobility is a good investment for cities

Bike and scooter share, known collectively as shared micromobility, is a good investment for cities. When shared micromobility is done equitably, it can help alleviate transportation insecurity and lead to better public health, environmental, and economic outcomes. Unfortunately, not nearly enough municipalities treat shared micromobility as an integral part of their transit landscape or fund it accordingly. That’s a huge miss.

A 2021 study found that bike share systems are a boon for public health, saving the U.S. healthcare system more than $36 million a year on average. Another research paper from that same year looked at New York’s Citi Bike and found that the system — the largest in the U.S. — is a net win for the climate. In Britain, a more recent study found that if one-fifth of car trips were taken by shared electric bikes or scooters, the result would be a more than $1.2 billion boost to the economy.

Photo by Mark Stosberg on Unsplash

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Training For The Biggest Gravel Race In The World!

Unbound is considered the unofficial world championships of gravel and Conor has signed himself up for this year’s race! Now three years retired from pro racing, it’s going to be quite a challenge, but with serious motivation and serious training, he’s ready for this brutal race. With the help of Oli Beckingsale and TrainingPeaks, here’s his journey to the start line…

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10 best Apple Watch biking features to try on your next ride

From TomsGuide.com

By Kate Kozuch

Our favorite Apple Watch tips for cyclists of all levels

Whether you’re a casual biker or well-seasoned cyclist, the Apple Watch is a useful device filled with all sorts of biking features. From frictionless ways to launch workouts to potentially life-saving safety tools, there are lots of ways the Apple Watch can improve your cycling experience.

With bike riding part of my regular cardio routine, I’ve discovered quite a few biking features built into the Apple Watch. Some might seem pretty obvious, but others are definitely lesser-known. There are also some excellent third-party Apple Watch apps dedicated to biking that can further enhance your rides.

If this sounds like tips you’ve been looking for, check out the best Apple Watch biking features below. All apply to the Apple Watch SE, the Apple Watch Series 8and the Apple Watch Ultra, as well as any Apple Watch device with watchOS 9 installed.

Say you’ve started your bike ride, but forgot to launch a cycling workout to track your activity and close your Apple Watch rings. Attempting to launch the workout while you’re already moving can be difficult, not to mention dangerous. While you can try to trigger Siri and ask the voice assistant to start your workout, it might be better to let your Apple Watch pick up on the fact that you’re riding. Here’s how to set it up:

Image Courtesy of Apple

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