League of Bicycling Voters Los Angeles

The US Department of Transportation established that about 25% of Americans aged 16+ ride bikes. For the city of Los Angeles that means 300,000 – 400,000 cyclists among those who are registered to vote. Now consider this: In the city’s last mayoral election, only 285,000 people cast ballots. Which makes bicyclists one of the largest voter blocks in Los Angeles — and potentially one of the most powerful. Conclusion: Cyclists are well placed to elect the next mayor - and the city better get the bike parking in shape at the polling stations.

That’s the purpose of the League of Bicycling Voters Los Angeles: A new organization initiated by Ted Rogers, Josef Bray-Ali and Michael Cahn, dedicated to harnessing the power of the cycling community to influence the electoral process. The League will host forums and debates to get candidates on the record for their stands on biking issues, it will endorse and support bike-friendly candidates and propositions, and hold elected officials accountable for keeping their promises. Report cards, the whole lot. After observing and denouncing an administrative machinery which consistently fails to recognize the benefits of a bicycle friendly infrastructure, the League marks a step towards the next level.

This group is not liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican. It does not represent any one group or style of cycling. It represents you, and thousands of other bicyclists in Los Angeles County, to help ensure safer streets and a more bike-friendly community for all us.

Click here to join the conversation of the Google Group and help us form the new League of Bicycling Voters LA. See the introductory announcement and join the Facebook group to stay in the loop and spread the word. We need all the help we can get to grow this into a fully transparent and powerful player in the Los Angeles Region. Lawyers, lobbyists, fund-raisers, political analysts, experts in not-for-profit governance and everybody else: Here is your opportunity to do the right thing. Let us build a powerful grassroots voter group from the spokes up, because a better environment for cyclists is a better environment for everybody. Conveniently for Bruins and their neighbors, the first organizational meeting is scheduled for Saturday morning, May 15, 2010 on the UCLA Campus. Details to follow.