By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — BikeLA will host its third annual LA Bike Fest happy hour, fundraising celebration from noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 23 at Highland Park Brewery, 1220 N. Spring St.
The event, BikeLA’s signature bike party and fundraising event, is designed to bring together bike-minded people from daily commuters to weekend warriors and everyone in between.
The pedal-powered party, just one of several open street celebrations that happen yearly throughout Southern California, is open to all ages, and encourages attendees to ride to and from the festival via what they call the healthiest, happiest, most sustainable and equitable transportation available — the bicycle — a low-impact activity that can help improve physical and mental health.
Biking in Los Angeles has steadily increased in popularity since 2019, mostly due to the pandemic. It’s now considered a common mode of transportation, leisure and exercise.
BikeLA (formerly known as the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition), is a membership-based nonprofit organization that works to make all communities in Los Angeles County healthy, safe and fun places to ride a bike through advocacy, education and outreach.
The organization envisions an L.A. County that is a great place for everyday, year-round bicycling and where people live in healthier, more vibrant communities, where the air is cleaner and streets are both quieter and safer.
They visualize a place where more women, families and children ride their bikes and appreciate opportunities to enjoy their neighborhoods and their city, and all people of varying cultures and backgrounds can ride their bikes safely and conveniently.
“2024 has been a year of extremes from key local wins … that will make LA more bikeable and livable to the results of the federal election and the very real impact the new administration, a Republican Congress, and the Supreme Court will have on our vision for Los Angeles,” said Eli Akira Kaufman, BikeLA executive director. “Which is why BikeLA can’t wait to host our third annual BikeFest Happy Hour to celebrate the growing community of folks who already bicycle in Los Angeles and who advocate for a Los Angeles where more people will feel supported to bike L.A.”
This year, BikeLA will announce three recipients as its 2024 Spoke Award Honorees, for their passionate, dedicated and collaborative efforts in making Los Angeles a more bikeable region. All of the honorees will be acknowledged during the Bike Fest.
Honorees include Ester Song, for her service to the bicycling community as the co-founder of Road Runner Bike Bags, which fabricates hardy handmade bike bags produced in downtown Los Angeles. Song is also a member of the board of directors of the Mt. Wilson Bicycling Association.
Loaded Skateboards, the Los Angeles-based company that provides the entire active transportation community with functional long-board commuter skateboards, will be honored for its commitment to those who love bicycles.
Kimberly Fisher, former outreach manager for Bicycle Transit Systems at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and now in the MTA’s Office of Equity and Race, will be honored for her commitment to cultivating the intentional space of the Wild Wolf Cycling Collective for all gender-expansive and women riders.
BikeLA Highland Park Brewery is open to all ages, but you must be 21 to be served beer. Tickets are $25 in advance, $35 at the door, if capacity allows.
Highland Park Brewery will have a bar in a designated area where additional beer can be purchased. It also will offer a special menu (including a vegan option) for purchase.
This year’s Bike Fest sponsors and silent auction donors include WAYMO, the Wonderful Company, Fehr & Peers: transforming transportation consulting through innovation and creativity; Bicycle Transit Station, Spurcycle: better bicycle bells and other enduring bike accessories; Road Runner Bags, pickpockets, Tern, Brompton and Tranzito-Vector.
Ticket proceeds and additional donations help fund BikeLA advocacy and programming to make Los Angeles more bike friendly.
The entrance fee includes free bike valet, one beer or non-alcoholic drink, a commemorative golden BikeLA bandana and a bike-themed silent auction.
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
