ca bike summit 2013 presentation: university-neighborhood partnerships
DESCRIPTION
Friday, November 8, 2013 in Oakland, CA (10:45A-12:15P) University‐Neighborhood Partnerships for a Bike‐Friendly South Los Angeles In car-obsessed Los Angeles, community groups, transportation planners, and university researchers are teaming up in innovative ways that help tame our urban streets and make them more conducive for biking and walking. Panelists will discuss some of the creative strategies they have developed to promote bicycle safety education, bicycle facility improvements, and community involvement in active transportation. Allison Kendall, Principal Planner+Architect, Kendall Planning + Design; Tafarai Bayne, TRUST South LA; Otto Khera, USC Bike Commuters; Françcois Bar, USC Researcher; Cristian Marroquin, Urban Farmer, Community Services UnlimitedTRANSCRIPT
Bike Education and Safety for the USC Neighborhoods & Community
California Bike SummitNovember 8, 2013
Otto Khera, USC Bike Commuters
Collaborative Project
• Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition + USC (Bike Commuters)
• Funded by the Good Neighbors Campaign which is an employee-funded program designed to improve USC’s outreach and impact on the local, surrounding communities and neighborhoods.
• Goal: To propagate a culture of bike safety and bike traffic skills for USC and the surrounding communities and neighborhoods –> CONNECT PEOPLE who are doing this already …
Context• USC is a large university of 40,000 students and
10,000 employees on on two campuses; with 30,000 students and 6,000 employees on the South LA campus.
• Surrounded by major transportation arteries for Los Angeles, including freeways (110 + 10) and major surface street arteries.
• USC is the largest private employer with a 7% bike commuter rate --- most of whom are students many of whom lack essential bike safety skills.
Bikes Bikes Bikes Everywhere ….
How do we prepare for the future?
• High growth in cycling amongst students, and increased cycling amongst staff and faculty.
• New bicycle infrastructure in Los Angeles and the surrounding area including “My Figueroa!” and other projects in the area.
• Immersed in a car-centric city with generally poor cycling safety behaviors.
Start with the Baseline: LCI Standards
• League Cycling Instructor certification for 12 USC + South LA/LA ‘bike leaders’ –> Let’s make it work for each other. (Standards)
• Bike ‘Rodeos’ or Kids Bike Festivals x2 (Fun)• Themed rides through the neighborhood – food
related; safe routes; trash pick up; family rides --- create some attention and participation that helps join the campus with the community and neighborhoods. (Experts + Fun)
• Outreach to area schools and groups – USC Family of Schools, local organizations, local events. (Attention: Impact)
South LA Kids Bike Festival aka ‘bike rodeo’
Bike Safety & Fun
Neighborhood / Community Rides
Outreach to Area Organizations & Events
Experimentation & Social Connections
Principles to Consider
• Work with existing standards and practices – LCI, institutional realities, local context.
• Leverage strengths of existing experts and institutions.
• Make it FUN! • Get the word out : Get Attention. (Impact …)• Experiment if possible ….