L.A. County Bicycle Coalition Spins Off Another Successful Bike Project

August 2, 2012 at 2:05 pm | Posted in Bike News | 2 Comments
Tags: city of lights

City of Lights volunteers pose at the Spanish bike safety PSA/CicLAvia press conference in April.

After over 3 years as a successful and award-winning LACBC program addressing the needs of low-income cyclists in Los Angeles, City of Lights has branched out to form its own organization called Multicultural Communities for Mobility. Much like CicLAvia started as a sub-committee of LACBC to become the strong and successful non-profit it is today, MCM will become its own non-profit organization to expand its reach beyond cycling to cover transit and pedestrian issues in low-income communities of color.  Below is the City of Lights press release:

L.A. County Bicycle Coalition spins off another successful bike project

Originally formed as a volunteer committee to provide bike lights and safe cycling information to Spanish-speaking immigrant cyclists, City of Lights has grown to be a nationally recognized, award-winning community outreach program serving L.A.’s Latino and low-income population. Yet while the LACBC takes great pride in its success, the Coalition recognizes that it’s time for City of Lights to stand on its own as a separate organization as the program moves beyond basic bicycling issues.

According to Jennifer Klausner, Executive Director of the LACBC. “We’re very proud of City of Lights’ development at LACBC and we look forward to working with them on cycling issues facing all Angelenos. They’re ready to expand beyond our core audience of bike riders so it’s the right time for them strike out on their own. We wish them the best and we’re here to help however we can.”

City of Lights will maintain its focus on advocacy work for low-income cyclists, as well as expanding to address broader transportation issues for communities of color. “There are low-income people in Los Angeles that depend on bicycles and non-motorized transportation for their livelihoods, and we’re excited to grow our work in empowering these communities to be safer,” said committee member Allison Mannos.

Mannos, who later became an LACBC staff member until 2011, was an intern with the Coalition when she helped found the City of Lights program under the umbrella of the Coalition and worked with other staff members and volunteers to help build its success.

The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition will continue its work on behalf of bicyclists throughout Los Angeles County, as well supporting community efforts to provide bicycle safety and advocacy programs in low-income and minority communities.

Just a few years ago, CicLAvia began as a committee within the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. Today, it operates as a separate and highly successful non-profit organization, encouraging the people of Los Angeles to celebrate the streets of their city as one of the largest bike and pedestrian events in the U.S.

Founded in 1998, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) works to build a better, more bike-able Los Angeles County. LACBC is the only nonprofit, membership-based organization working exclusively for the millions of bicyclists in Los Angeles County. Through advocacy, education and outreach, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition brings together the diverse bicycling community in a united mission to make the entire L.A. region a safe and enjoyable place to ride.

We would like to thank and congratulate all of the volunteers that make City of Lights/MCM what it is, especially founders Allison Mannos, Adonia Lugo, and Andy Rodriguez. We wish City of Lights/MCM the best of luck in continuing to provide communities of color with resources to fulfill their transportation needs, and we look forward to continue working with City of Lights/MCM to create a more inclusive bike movement.

MCM will also be having its first fundraiser this month, and we encourage you all to enjoy good company, dancing, food, and more, all while supporting a good cause!

Multicultural Communities for Mobility Friendraiser & Social

When: Friday, August 10; 7 PM

Where: 546 N. Commonwealth Ave., Los Angeles, 90004

See Facebook event.

You can also find the MCM Facebook page to keep up with happenings.

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