UCLA Bicycle Academy: March 2019

Sunday, March 24, 2019

Mitch Katz Rides On

The UCLA Bicycle Academy will hold a round table meeting to bring together hospital executives, community benefits managers, and bicycle advocates on 3 May 2019 at 11:00 (Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, 757 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles 90095, Conference Room 6-6234) We are natural allies, both focused on healthy communities, but we have not been speaking much to each other in the past. We are grateful to the former head of LA County Public Health department who has kindly allowed us to call this conversation "Mitch Katz Rides On". Gustavo Friederichsen of the LA County Medical Association has been the main midwife for this effort. UCLA Health kindly provided a conference room. Paul Watkins, CEO of Northridge Dignity Health and previously sustainability champion at UCLA Santa Monica hospital will join us, Linda Khamoushian from CALbike in Sacramento, Eli Kaufman from the LA County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC), Vanessa Gray from C.I.C.L.E., Jim Shanman from Walk 'n Rollers and a number of Community Benefits managers. The scope of the meeting is to learn how bicycle advocates and medical providers can work together to advance a common agenda for better health in our communities.

"Mitch Katz Rides On" will share best practices by bicycle friendly providers, which include

Hospital based safe cycling education provided by certified coaches. Exciting opportunities through the Metro BEST program
Health providers increasing their support for active commuting choices for staff and facilitate Bicycle User Groups
Wayfinding for locations and appointments should no longer reproduce the notion that everybody drives in LA (include transit and bicycle access in appointment reminders)
Make sure leases for medical offices do not include bundled parking
Improved stairways in medical offices
Enhanced bike parking racks that carry a health message like "The Chief Medical Officer has determined that cycling and walking is good for your health"
Hospitals to be League certified as bicycle friendly business
Community Benefits Programs which support active and healthy transportation, Safe Routes to School
Hospital based Blessing of the Bicycles, etc

There are a huge number of medical practitioners throughout LA who personally have discovered the pleasures of two-wheeled transport. They are waiting for the right signal from the leadership and are ready to become champions of such an agenda.

If you want to be involved in the event, please get in touch. Bike advocacy is health advocacy. And it is urgent.

Our Board

Phillip Bonacich (President) is emeritus professor of sociology with an interest in the economy of power in groups. He is a long time bicycle commuter and his daughter, Cory Caletti, is a senior transportation planner and bicycle program manager for the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission. Phillip cycles from Mar Vista.
Michael Cahn (Secretary) has "invented" the Bicycle Academy in 2008. He occasionally teaches a class on the history of transportation for the history department. He is a former board member of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and previously served as secretary of the Cambridge Cycling Campaign. He runs a secondhand bookshop in Cambridge (UK). He cycles from Santa Monica.
Jack Katz (Director) is professor of sociology with an interest in video documentation of the interactions of cycling in urban traffic. He would like to work with others to evaluate local candidates for political office for their track record on cycling issues. He picked up a 20$ bike at a garage sale on the way back from the car repair place 15 years ago, and would never be without one since. In the morning, he puts the bike on the 20 / 720 bus near Koreatown, and enjoys the ride back from campus.
Michael Manville (Director) is a professor of Urban Planning at the Luskin School of Public Affairs. He rides to campus from West Hollywood. Lucky him, he says he has been able to avoid for car commute for most of the positions he has held in the past. He is an active participant in regional planning issues and contributes to legislative initiatives on housing and transport.
Suzanne Paulson (Director) is a professor of Atmospheric & Oceanic Science and at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. She rides to campus from Sunset Park in Santa Monica on a quality steel bike. She has cycling company on her commute because her son Ry attends Geffen Academy on campus. He likes to use her panniers to transport his books to school.
Alex Purves (Director) is an Associate Professor of Classics at UCLA. She bicycles to campus from Santa Monica and also cycles with son to his elementary school. She is currently writing a book on Homer, who knew neither bicycles nor cars, but who did sing of the odd collision between chariots and pedestrians.
David Williams (Director) is a professor of Ophthalmology and Neurobiology at UCLA. He does research and teaches on the retina, and would like to see more motorists using their retina to view the road rather than their smart phones. He cycles in Westwood, but prefers places where there are fewer motor vehicles.

Purpose and Membership

The purpose of the UCLA Bicycle Academy is to improve conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians at UCLA. The Academy will
* Advocate for bicyclists’ and pedestrians’ interest on UCLA facilities
* Work with the campus and agencies and communities surrounding the campus in order to improve bicycle and pedestrian access to campus.
* Host social and educational events with a focus on bicycle/pedestrian issues related to UCLA.
Membership is open to current or former staff or faculty or visiting scholars of UCLA. Partners and family members of the above are also eligible as members. Students are welcome to all our functions.

UCLA Bicycle Academy

Sunday, March 24, 2019

Mitch Katz Rides On

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