TITLE
Recommendation to respectfully request Mayor and City Council to declare May as "Bicycle Month" in Long Beach to promote alternative mobility options and healthier lifestyles for our residents; and
Request City Manager to work with local and regional organizations to support the following bicycle events occurring in Long Beach:
· Changing Gears - May 2nd
· Bike To Work Day - May 14th
· Car Free Fridays - May 22nd, then every First Friday through summer
· Tour de Cure - May 31st
· Los Angeles River Ride - June 7th
· Long Beach Children & Families Ride - June 7th
DISCUSSION
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Long Beach is the perfect candidate for the designation "most bike friendly city in the United States". Our topography, climate and street grid system all support a growing bicycle culture made up of riders from all different skill levels and interests. We are proud to have been the first city in the U.S. to host a Bikestation and one of a select group of cities with a Bicycle Master Plan. Our commitment to increasing bicycle use citywide is evident in our efforts to expand bike lanes, our employee Bike Share program, our grant-funded Bicycle Coordinator position and support for events such as the Long Beach Grand Prix Bicycle Festival and Race.
Similar in nature to our request last year, we are asking the Council to support staff's efforts in planning, supporting and developing bicycle and multimodal events aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of our residents.
Bike Month is part of a national celebration that includes Bike Commute Week, Bike to Work Day and several other events giving residents and commuters a chance discover the ease and liberation of getting to work on two wheels. Bicycling to work is not just for athletes or for people who live close to the office. Now that most buses are equipped with racks, and trains allow bikes on board during off-peak hours, more people than ever are discovering the benefits of bicycle commutin...
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