Oxy Bike Culture

As the transportation group is dutifully tackling the task of getting the bike-sharing program off the ground, I have been thinking about what some of the needs of this club are going to be in the long and short term. Aside from all the logistical concerns of renting bikes up, making repairs, assembling bikes etc., one of the biggest challenges I believe the club will face is how to establish itself, much like FEAST is currently trying to do, as an institution at Oxy -- among the ranks of the Oxy Weekly, KOXY and the new Green Bean Cafe. In order to make the new bike-sharing program more visible as well as promote a more permanent bike culture at the school, I think it would be wise to engage in an ad campaign promoting the various cycling events and groups in Los Angeles in conjunction with the club's start.

Oxy's location is prime for introducing students to Los Angeles bike culture, as Northeast LA is currently a hotbed for emergent avant-garde art and cycling culture. In addition to the plethora of bicycle shops in the area, there are a number of easily accessible organizations and monthly events that promote sustainable transportation, friendship, fitness, festivity and the arts. Here is an overview of a few of those groups and events:

C.I.C.L.E. - Cyclists Inciting Change thru Live Exchange is a Los Angeles (Eagle Rock!) based nonprofit organization devoted to advocating and campaigning for the bicycle as an environmentally, physically and cost efficient means of transportation in the city. They promote bike use through instructive riding courses on bike handling skills, traffic reading and planning rides.

more info at: www.cicle.org/


Midnight Ridazz - While C.I.C.L.E. appeals to your conscientious side and teaches riding skills, the Midnight Ridazz are here to show you how fun cycling is. The party-on-wheels that is the Midnight Ridazz travels around our fair city on the second Friday of every month as well as at most major Los Angeles bike events. They take to the road in packs for monthly art rides, as well as sight-seeing tours and pub crawls.

more info at: www.midnightridazz.com/


Downtown Art Ride - This ride that takes place on the second Thursday or every month coincides with the Downtown Art Walk. The ride is guided and the route is semi-regularly modified to keep things interesting for riders month to month. Almost every gallery that participates in the Downtown Art Walk is on the route of the ride, making it a nice way to get out and see the city and plenty of art. As most galleries that participate in the Downtown Art Walk have DJ's or bands and wine, these rides serve as great social events -- fellow riders are friendly! -- as well as an opportunity for some evening exercise.

more info at: http://downtownartride.com/


Spoke(n) Art Ride - Much like the Downtown Art Ride, but even closer! This ride through Highland Park and Eagle Rock on the second Saturday of every month coincides with the Second Saturday Gallery Night hosted by all the business in Northeast Los Angeles that are a part of NELAart. The ride begins at Ave. 50 and Figueroa and travels up Ave. 50, west on York, north up Eagle Rock and finally east on Colorado Blvd to the edge of Eagle Rock -- hitting every art gallery on the way. Rides usually conclude with an after-party at the Bike Oven on Figueroa.

more info at: http://bikeoven.com/spokenart/

Hopefully if we, as a class, can get the word out on these highlighted organizations, events and more along with out bike sharing program we can create not only effective transport for our fellow students, but also establish a more permanent bike culture on campus that directly contributes to building friendship, fitness and ties to our community.