[Ebbc-Talk] Los Angeles Newspaper Group Declares “the Summer of Cycling” | Streetsblog Los Angeles

http://la.streetsblog.org/2013/06/25/los-angeles-newspaper-group-declares-t=
he-summer-of-cycling/

Los Angeles Newspaper Group Declares =93the Summer of Cycling=94

Last week, the Los Angeles Newspaper Group declared the summer of 2013 =93t=
he Summer of Cycling.=94

To mark the occasion, the papers announced a series of in-depth looks and d=
iscussions of bicycling, bicycle culture, laws and customs, traffic enforce=
ment and the future of bicycling. The publisher of papers including the Dai=
ly News, Daily Bulletin, San Bernadino Sun, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Lon=
g Beach Press-Telegram, Pasadena Star-News and many other publications, the=
 Newspaper Group is actually more read than the Los Angeles Times.

But just because the Newspaper Group is big, doesn=92t mean they always do =
the best job covering bicycling and Livable Streets issues. Sure, there are=
 some top notch reporters, the great Dakota Smith at the Daily News springs=
 to mind. But when they announced the Summer of Cycling in concert with a d=
iscussion of the causes of road rage and promised a debate on whether or no=
t cyclists should be licensed and taxed, we started to get a little nervous.

Yesterday=92s moderated online discussion with Bike Nation CEO Derek Freith=
eim was a step in the right direction, but we still think the newspaper gro=
up could use some help. I know Streetsbloggers have a lot of good suggestio=
ns for what would make a good =93Summer of Cycling=94 series, and I look fo=
rward to reading them in the comments section. If you want to see my sugges=
tion, read on after the jump.

Dear Los Angeles newspaper group editors,

If you want the Summer of Cycling to have more impact than the Summer of Ge=
orge, you have to understand =93both sides=94 of the issue. Because you ins=
ist on presenting the issue through the lens of =93bike v car=94 or the sud=
denly world dominating =93bike lobby v everyone else=94 you need to be able=
 to place yourself in the shoes of =93the other=94 which in this case is th=
e cyclist. So I challenge each of your editors and writers who will take pa=
rt in this series to do two things.

First, try biking to work for a week. If you don=92t believe you can handle=
 a ride to and from work, then couple up your trip with the local transit l=
ines. It is possible, I promise.

Second, go for a ride with some of your local bike advocates. Let them choo=
se the route. If you don=92t know how to find them, email me at damien@stre=
etsblog.org. I=92ll find them for you.

Best of Luck with Your Series,

Damien Newton


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