TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to apply for an MTA grant for a Ciclavia like event in Long Beach, and report back to the City Council in 90 days on the progress of grant application.
DISCUSSION
Since being named "America's Most Bicycle-friendly City" in 2009, Long Beach has made incredible progress in expanding services, infrastructure and events for cyclists. The creation of more than 30 miles of bike lanes and sharrows; events like Kidical Mass, the annual Bike Festival, Ride Your Bike to Work Day, and educational bike "rodeos;" our BIKELB website, which provides information for cyclists; and the Bike Share program have helped reduce traffic congestion, improve our resident's health, promote cycling, and expand our reputation as a bicycle-friendly city.
Long Beach now has an opportunity to improve and enhance our status as a cycling city and bring a unique cycling festival to our city.
Ciclavia is an annual open-street festival in Los Angeles that attracts thousands of cyclists and celebrates bicycle culture and alternative transportation, as well as civic pride. Tens of thsousands of people attend each year from throughout the region. LA County Metropolitan Authority has approved a plan to expand Ciclavia throughout LA County. The MTA Board has approved $2 million to expand CicLAvia to other cities in the County.
Bike advocates, city staff, and community members have been discussing bringing a Ciclavia like event to Long Beach for a few years. Cost to bring the festival to Long Beach has been the main impediment. Long Beach is a perfect candidate for this new MTA funding. Promotion could be facilitated through BikeLB and our local cycling advocacy groups. The funding available from Metro would minimize costs to Long Beach and help boost our local economy.
Long Beach is already a great cycling city, and Ciclavia is one of the nation's premier cycling events. Bringing an event like Ciclavia to Long Beach is a natural and beneficial next step for ...
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