(Cyclist Alex Thompson thinks the 405 is one of the smoother roads he's biked in L.A.)
[This article is the second in a three-part series on ways individuals can work to improve conditions for cyclists and encourage cycling. That's exactly the goal of bike activism, so in essence, this is a three-part series about ways to engage in bike activism. Read the first post.]
Two weeks ago I wrote about biking as the most essential act of bike activism, and talking to others about cycling as the natural followup. After you wear out your welcome evangelizing biking to your friends and family (or convert them all), one route to expanding your activism is to volunteer for an organization.
Volunteering is simple, right? You just go to the organization you choose to volunteer for, say "Here I am," and they give you a stack of envelopes to lick. I disagree. Volunteering is a complex and often creative act. There are a variety of factors to consider in choosing for whom you volunteer, and what activities you volunteer to do.
In choosing where to volunteer, you should think about what forms of activism are the most effective for cycling. You might choose a different organization to volunteer for if you believe direct outreach to be more important than advocacy. You are also tasked with evaluating whether the organization you choose is effectively utilizing your effort.
Most importantly, you need to consider what you would like to do. We volunteer our free time and excess energy, so it is important that whatever you choose to do as a volunteer is rewarding. If not, you won't volunteer for very long, and that's no good for anyone. How much energy and time would you like to devote? If you over-commit you won't be very effective, and if you volunteer for a high-energy task when you're tired, you won't be of much help to the organization. Conversely, if you have a lot of energy to volunteer, and you get stuck licking envelopes, you'll be bored to death.
In L.A., I know of five organizations where you can volunteer to help cyclists: CICLE, the three bike repair collectives - the Bike Oven, the Bicycle Kitchen, and the Bikerowave - and the Los Angeles Bicycle Coalition.
C.I.C.L.E., a.k.a. Cyclists Inciting Change Through Live Exchange, recently pulled off a spectacular event series, Bike Week Pasadena, culminating in an all-day Urban Bicycle Commuter Expo. The Expo confirmed that CICLE has the ability and opportunity to delegate to volunteers, as well as access to local government to leverage volunteer efforts. Bike Week Pasadena demonstrated an ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. If you volunteer for CICLE you can be sure that your efforts will be fully utilized.
(Ashira Siegel staffing a booth at the Urban Bicycle Commuter Expo, volunteers for the Bicycle Film Festival.)
CICLE is a multi-faceted organization, so there's more than one way to contribute. They have a local outreach component, which focuses on events like Bike Week Pasadena as a means to reach demographics not always targeted by bike activists. Their news and views is the best aggregation of bike news (mixed with some original content) available, and has international reach. CICLE also produces a variety of beautiful literature to hand out to people interested in cycling.
If you're interested in volunteering, e-mail info@cicle.org.
Bike Repair Collectives -- the Bike Oven, Bikerowave, and the Bicycle Kitchen -- are not-for-profit bike shops that teach cyclists how to fix their bicycles. All three of these organizations have diverse needs. They need mechanics who will do the basic work of teaching customers bicycle repair. They also need people to help with the organizations' administrative functions: promotion, finances, records, policy, scheduling, etc.
Volunteering as a mechanic for a bike repair collective is very rewarding. Firstly, the organizations will train you in bicycle repair, so no prior bike repair experience is required, and you'll end up with expertise in bike repair. Teaching others how to fix their bikes, you are able to immediately witness the impact you've made in the community. You will be constantly sending customers out the door with newly functioning bikes and an education in bicycle repair. When someone approaches you months later whom you don't recognize, and thanks you for guiding them through a repair, it's a good feeling.
(Eric Weinstein, at the Urban Bicycle Commuter Expo, volunteers for the Bikerowave.)
Volunteering on the administrative side is a chance to get your feet wet steering a dynamic volunteer organization. With the Bicycle Kitchen, you have an opportunity to be part of an organization that is having tremendous impact on the community. With Bikerowave and the Bike Oven you have extremely young organizations that are just starting to structure themselves. Both the Bike Oven and Bikerowave have more administrative work to be done than they have workers, so you can have immediate impact by taking care of a task that needs doing.
I suggest, if volunteering at a bike repair collective interests you, volunteering at the one closest to you. Since they are an unusual form of organization, it might be a good idea to go visit in person to get a sense for how they function, before firing off an e-mail offering your help.
Contact information: Bikerowave, e-mail brw-schedule@bikerowave.org.
Visit the Bike Oven's volunteering page and the Bicycle Kitchen's volunteering page.
The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is the oldest bike advocacy organization in L.A., founded in 1998. They have a variety of needs for volunteers, mostly centered around fundraisers and their bi-monthly socials or upcoming River Ride. You can find out more by visiting the volunteering section of their website.
(Bikes valet-parked at the Urban Bicycle Commuter Expo.)
Besides these five orgs, one other opportunity is the upcoming Bicycle Film Festival. Last year's festival was spectacular, and with the amazing show they put on, there must be a huge operation behind the curtains. E-mail volunteer@bicyclefilmfestival.com to pitch in for the Bicycle Film Festival when it is in L.A., July 16-19.
That's about it. A parting suggestion: when you volunteer for an organization, apply the same degree of professionalism you do to your life or career. When I was a volunteer manager of volunteers it was frustrating when people did not take it seriously. When you volunteer there are people who will be relying on you, so don't let them down. As always, remember: have fun!
Next week I'll write about more unconventional ways to go about activism (or arguably, just ways that aren't volunteering.)
(Photos by Alex Thompson: Urban Bicycle Commuter flickr set!)
Earth Day came and went, but the green calendar's packed for the rest of the month! Alt Build Expo's already started; but many more festivals and expos are happening all over the L.A. area all weekend:
Earth Weekend at the Aquarium. Sat., April 26 - Sun., April 27, 11 am - 6 pm both days at Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, 1600 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica.
The Aquarium's observing Earth Day a few days late with a weekend-long celebration. There'll be educational activities are planned for the whole family, including ocean pollution workshops, arts and crafts, and face painting. Children under 12 get in free with a paying adult ($2 admission; $5 suggested donation), but if you join the beach cleanup and leave Santa Monica a little cleaner than you found it, you can get in free! Just pick up some cleaning supplies from the beach cleanup table outside the Aquarium, clean a bit, then enjoy the Aquarium activities for free.
Greening the Earth Day Event in Pasadena (PDF). Sat. April 26, 10 am - 4 pm at Memorial Park and the Armory Center, 150 N Raymond Ave., Pasadena.
This free family festival will feature 70 or so exhibitors showcasing all things green, including organic food, hybrid and electric vehicles, alternative energy and green building design.
In conjunction with the event, C.I.C.L.E. will lead a bike ride called Birds, Blossoms, and You. Meet at 1:30 pm at the Levitt Pavilion in Memorial Park to take an Earth Day-inspired bicycle tour of Pasadena's favorite trees. Cyclists of all levels and ages can participate in this relaxed bicycle ride, during which they'll learn the history of Southern California's famous trees and streetscapes as well as receive expert info about tree maintenance and protection. The ride departs at 2 pm Sharp.
Green Gardens Tour. Sat., April 26 from 10 am - 4 pm, starting at 1027 Princeton, Santa Monica.
This year’s tour theme's "Gardening With Intent: Water Management" -- and the tour itself will highlight home gardens in West Los Angeles and Santa Monica that demonstrate sustainable designs, practices, and technologies. All tourists will get a copy of the Green Sourcebook, a free compendium of garden information, ideas and suggestions. Tour prices range from $25-$50; proceeds benefit Virginia Avenue Project, a Santa Monica based nonprofit that uses the arts to help kids discover their full potential. Call (310) 264-4224 to reserve tickets, or buy them in person at 1027 Princeton, Santa Monica on Saturday morning.
Universal Studios Hollywood “Eco-Fair." Sat., April 26, 10 am - 4 pm at the Universal Globe Fountain at main entrance of Universal Studios Hollywood, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City.
"Days of Our Lives" stars will autograph reusable bags and give out CFL bulbs at this free eco-fair, featuring over 30 interactive exhibits. Attendees are also invited to bring their household hazardous waste or e-waste to the event for free drop-off -- and free parking! Hybrid drivers can also park free.
STAR Eco Station's Children's Earth Day. Sun., April 27 from 10 am - 4 pm at STAR Eco Station, 10101 W. Jefferson Blvd. Culver City. Children will love this free outdoor extravaganza loaded with free stuff, celebrity guests, food, games, shopping, crafts, entertainment, giveaways, and more.
Photo by Pretty Kate Machine via Flickr
 Want to go green, but don't want to burn fossil fuels to get to the Sustainable Works Green Living Workshops in Santa Monica? If you live in Pasadena, take advantage of the two remaining "Into Action" Tuesday evenings (PDF) happening at the Armory Center of the Arts this month.
These "Into Action" evenings are intended to help you explore "global warming, the influence of urban environments on the oceans, energy and water, conservation, green living practices at home and more." While the series may be less action-specific than the Sustainable Works program, they'll get you thinking deeply about urban environmental issues and solutions -- hopefully leading to enviro-activism on your part. Plus, the events are free!
- Tues., April 15: Watch "Sustainable Table: What’s On Your Plate?" A documentary film that takes a close look at the food we eat, then join the dialogue on healthy, sustainable farming and eating with the filmmakers, members of the community farm EarthWorks and Whole Foods Market Arroyo.
- Tues., April 22: On Earth Day, participate in "Green Living," a community panel and discussion on how to make your homes and lives more eco-friendly. Community experts will talk about energy and water conservation, solar power, green remodeling, green design and more.
The series takes place at the Armory Center for the Arts, 145 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Did I mention the events are free?
Earth Day celebrations in Pasadena will actually continue after Earth Day itself. Greening the Earth & Family Arts Festival (PDF) happens on April 26 -- save the date!
 The City of Los Angeles has pledged to make a complete switch to 100% post-consumer recycled copy paper! Nine other big California cities and counties have pledged the same: Berkeley, Pasadena, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, and the County of Marin.
This switch to paper from paper was announced yesterday by Green Cities California, a coalition of sustainable cities that brings together environmental executives of these jurisdictions to cooperatively and collectively undertake enviro-friendly initiatives. Each Green California Cities member is committed to the "Green Cities California Sustainability Resolution," which encourages cooperative sustainable action.
In addition to switching paper, Green Cities California members will also work on paper conservation efforts, electronic document storage to double-sided copying. Some of Green Cities California members, such as Santa Monica and Santa Barbara, have already been using only 100% post-consumer paper. Santa Monica, for example, switched from 50% to 100% post-consumer copy paper in 2004, according to Craig Perkins, director of Santa Monica's Environmental & Public Works Management Department.
Los Angeles, on the other hand, uses only some 100% post-consumer paper at the moment. Why? The city actually hasn't been able to find a paper supplier that can meet L.A.'s big green paper needs, according to Shannon Parry, an environment analyst for Santa Monica's Environmental Programs Division who's been working with Green Cities California. In fact, what Green Cities California is trying to do is drive the green market to make sustainable options more readily available while creating green Californian jobs.
"Right now, it's sort of a chicken and an egg situation with paper," Parry said. "What has been said to us [by the paper companies] is there is not enough of a market for this paper." Now, cities are proving companies wrong by committing to buying this eco-friendly paper the day it's available -- in large quantities. After all, Green Cities California members annually purchase half a billion sheets of office paper, at a cost exceeding $5 million. The commitment to buying eco-paper shows paper companies that what's holding back the green movement "is not desire, it's not cost -- it's availability," Parry said.
While switching to eco-paper will in itself bring environmental benefits, Parry said Green Cities California's long-term goal is to bring about big changes in the California economy and job market. At the moment, the paper used in Santa Monica goes to China for recycling because California no longer has any paper recycling plants. If we created a bigger market for recycled paper products in California, we could foster the creation of our own paper recycling plants -- lowering our carbon footprint while providing green jobs for Californians. "It's not longer the jobs OR the economy dialogue," Parry emphasized. "It's about jobs AND the economy."
Each quarter, Green Cities California will announce a new eco-initiative, like eliminating bottled water, promoting manufacturer responsibility for solid and toxic waste, and purchasing local foods. Imagine what would happen to California agriculture if all municipal governments in California started demanding local and sustainably-produced foods from its food suppliers!
In the meantime: Are you a paper supplier with lots of 100% post-consumer recycled paper to sell? The City of L.A.'s ready to buy your products.
Image courtesy of Fuji Xerox
I didn't get the organic cotton socks I wanted over the holidays, but thanks to a little store in Pasadena, I got four pairs of black bamboo trouser socks for just $15!
 Soft Forest, tucked away in a little alcove in Pasadena, is a store wholly dedicated to bamboo: Bamboo robes, bamboo towels, bamboo sheets, etc. A very pretty and comfy-looking bed made up in the store shows exactly how pretty your bedroom could be if you went all bamboo. In fact, if you wanted to, you could dress up your bedroom, kitchen and bathroom in bamboo with a single shopping spree at Soft Forest. Soft Forest products are Oeko Tek 100 certified as chemical-free, and are made in a Chinese factory with ISO 14001 certification, which shows that some environmental guidelines are in place. (More details on bamboo-related certifications here)
However, none of Soft Forest's certifications address labor issues -- a major concern for goods originating from China. That's to say that the socks I got are probably better for the earth than most socks you can get at this price -- but are definitely not the most socio-environmentally friendly socks out there.
How does one weigh the benefits of buying an eco-friendly product from a local L.A.-area store vs. the potential labor issues happening in the Chinese factory? After mulling it over a bit, I decided to go with stimulating the local green economy ... especially since Bamboosa, with its all U.S.-made shop, doesn't offer trouser socks. I still feel a bit guilty though that this bargain 4-for-$15 price was snagged on the backs of mistreated Chinese workers -- argh!
As for the quality of the socks themselves: They're soft, they're stretchy, and they're comfy -- and both the black color and texture are holding up well after a few washes.
Soft Forest. 146 S. Lake Ave., Ste. 106. Pasadena. 626.796.1805.
 Think socio-eco friendly flowers are expensive? Not if you take advantage of the Valentine's Day special happening at Pasadena's Ten Thousand Villages tomorrow. The deal: A dozen fair trade certified roses for just $25 on Valentine's Day!
In fact, you can even get the roses free -- because 10KV's offering a free rose for every $10 you spend in the store. Go nuts and spend $120 in fairly-traded, eco-friendly gifts at the store, and you won't have to shell out a penny for your dozen roses.
 Best of all, if you buy the roses, ALL of that money will go to Fair Trade LA, a local group "committed to proactive, ideal/realistic solutions in a global movement for social and environmental justice." For each rose you get free, FTLA will get a buck from 10KV.
This special deal ONLY happens tomorrow, Feb. 14. Like Organic Rush, 10KV's one of those stores I'd be in all the time if it were closer to me. I got my gorgeous red bamboo fruit bowl (below) there. The store also has a great selection of affordable jewelry, purses, household items, and of course, fair trade chocolates and coffee.
 If you can't make it over there, here's another eco-flower special: A dozen certified organic roses from a local company for $89 -- tax and delivery included! Call Wisteria Lane Organic Floral Design at 888.345.6101 with promotional code WP0208 to receive the discount.
Ten Thousand Villages Pasadena. 496 S. Lake Ave. Pasadena. (626) 229-9892.
Update: Due to the weather, the Walkabout has been postponed until March 1.
Live in Pasadena? Then clear your Saturday for the Downtown Pasadena Walkabout. Join Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and your fellow Pasadena Peeps to make Downtown Pasadena a more walker-friendly city -- by -- walking together.
Basically, the walkabout is a walker's audit of Dowontown Pasadena. You'll show up, enjoy a FREE continental breakfast, hear Bogaard give a speech, then split up in small groups to start walking and assessing 25 downtown walking routes. You'll evaluate and record your walking experience, ideas and recommendations. Then you'll meet back up and enjoy a FREE lunch.
When: Saturday, January 26, 8:30 am to 2pm.
Where: Meet at Pasadena Presbyterian Church, South Hall, 585 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
RSVP: Contact the Playhouse District Association at 626.744.0340 or email info@playhousedistrict.org.
A main goal of the event's to make walking the favored way to get around downtown Pasadena. At the end of the day, Pasadena will have a specific plan of action "to improve Downtown Pasadena walking conditions in the short-, medium- and long-term."
The event sounds like it could be a lot of fun -- and I'd totally be there if I lived there. It's sort of like my Walking Santa Monica project, except with more than one person, and an end action plan --
Reader Mary Kathryn Campbell sent these photos to me last night. Apparently, Pasadena Ford's new ad slogan is "Don't Take the Bus."
Weird, annoying -- but also somewhat gratifying to see that car dealers are starting to feel a bit threatened by public transportation! The dealership at least had the sense to put "can" in "You can always be on time." I suppose you can, theoretically, but you won't because you'll be sitting in traffic (see above photo).
The whole "Bad credit, no credit" thing makes me laugh these days, because I've seen "Saturday Night Live's" "Don't Buy Stuff You Can't Afford" clip.
 Mary Kathryn is asking people to contact Pasadena Ford to protest, noting that "The buses that frequent this stop serve the neighborhood and the students at Pasadena City College across the street. The buses run on natural gas and hold up to 60 people."
I'm sort of of the opinion that this ad idea is so spectacularly bad it'll have anything but the desired effect. Then again, people do seem to have a habit of buying more and more crap they don't really want and can't afford.
Photos by Mary Kathryn Campbell
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