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 ….