C.I.C.L.E. (Cyclists Inciting Change thru Live Exchange) is a great resource for LA cyclists. Founders Liz Elliot and Shay Sanchez are energetic and creative advocates for cycling as practical and fun transportation. They have recently hooked up with outdoor gear retailer Patagonia to host a series of Pasadena events focused on environmentally-friendly commuting. They are calling it One Mile at a Time.
Increasing Pasadena's awareness of the value of car-free or car-light commuting is the goal of this new collaboration. The kick-off started with a gathering last Tuesday night at the Patagonia store in Old Town, where a group of about 80 listened to Pasadena's eco-minded Mayor Bill Bogaard, store manager Aimee Gilchrist, and Liz from C.I.C.L.E. speak about the need for green transportation options. A portion of the NY documentary Contested Streets was screened, which highlighted the bike friendly policies of Copenhagen, Denmark. The film elicited cheers from the audience.
"Our goal is to educate and inspire the Pasadena community to travel around our city in more environmentally friendly ways than traditional car commuting," said store manager, Aimee Gilchrist.
Liz summed it up by saying "We believe in the possibility of clean air, calm and friendly streets, and a more closely connected community. By utilizing the bicycle to meet our transportation needs, we can begin to actualize this vision."
It was the first of many events planned for March. Roll with them this Friday, March 9, at ArtNight, an annual Pasadena event featuring late hours and free admission to over 14 local museums and galleries, via a bicycle tour starting at 5:45 pm. One Mile at a Time series invites people to experience the wide variety of art in Pasadena through a slow-paced, social and relaxing ride.
On Saturday, March 10, you can wear out some shoe leather on the Old Town Walking Tour, starting at 9 am. Ann Burkle from Pasadena Heritage will lead a winding stroll through the streets of Old Town Pasadena discussing the rich array of historic buildings.
Then on Sunday, March 11, at 11 am, hop on your bike again and ride down the Arroyo. Jeff Chapman, C.I.C.L.E. board-member and teacher/naturalist at the Audubon Center in Debs Park, will guide a 7-mile bike tour of the beautiful Arroyo Seco Watershed. Learn about this environmental, cultural and recreational oasis in our own backyard. Visit Pasadena's Lower Arroyo Park to see how the city is restoring this famous stream. Learn about water quality and habitat, and discuss how this can be a model for other Southern California streams.
On the first day of Spring, March 21, at 7 pm, Patagonia will screen the complete Contested Streets. This excellent documentary film explores New York City street life historically, before and after the introduction of automobiles -- and then goes on to show how traffic-snarled cities can follow the examples of London, Paris and Copenhagen to reclaim their streets as vibrant public spaces. Watch a trailer here.
Finally, to wrap up the One Mile at a Time month, Liz and Shay will ask the following intriguing question: How would you like to lose 3,000 lbs in one day? On March 28 at 7 pm, you can go on the Amazing Car-Lite Diet -- to drop the weight of your daily automobile usage and gain a more intimate connection with your community and yourself. That's what this workshop promises to teach. Learn how easy it is to start living a car-lite lifestyle, how to create great bike routes, how to carry loads on your bike, how to keep your experiences positive and fun. As the C.I.C.L.E. stickers proclaim -- Viva La Velorution!
For more information, call Patagonia Pasadena at (626) 795-0319. All events will be held or begin at Patagonia Pasadena, 47 N. Fair Oaks, Pasadena.
