>> Critical Mass: Ride daily, celebrate monthly <<

Santa Monica Critical Mass
Friday, February 3, 2006
6:30pm
Santa Monica Pier (Ocean Ave @ Colorado Ave.)

FEBRUARY UPDATE:
Following the ride, we will have our 1-year
anniversary party!  The party will take place at the
office of the Santa Monica Greens:

SMCM 1st Birthday Party
2809 Pico Blvd. (entrance in rear)
Santa Monica, CA 90403
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=2809+Pico+Blvd,+Santa+Monica,+CA
(or http://tinyurl.com/b4byx)

There is lots of comfy seating inside, and we will
have bike films shown on the tv.   There is a parking
lot that is available for bike parking, as well as a
bike skillz contest.

Most importantly, the folks from "Mama's Hot Tamale's"
will be at the party, selling their delicious tamales!
  Both vegan and meat varieties will be available.

For those who can't make the ride, the party will
begin beginning around 8:30pm.   However, riders eat
first!

Still want to help out?   We can always use:
- banners and flags
- bike decorations
- musical instruments
- sound systems on bikes
- cool bikes: tall, swing, tandem, choppers, etc.
- more riders!  (UCLA, Venice Beach, etc.)
- fliers for motorists: who we are, how to join us,
mock traffic tickets, etc.
- ideas for where to ride!

Come one, come all!

Ride safe,

Zack

-----------------------------------------------------
Critical Mass is a vision of a joyful, bike-friendly
world replacing our polluted, congested roads.  We are
a protest for better cycling facilities and against
car culture. We are a reclamation of our public space.
We are a just merry ride through neighborhoods of
Santa Monica and Venice with friends. Critical Mass is
all
this and more, rolled into one convenient monthly ride
right after work.  Ride with us!

Santa Monica Critical Mass meets at 6:30pm on the
first Friday of every month, at the Santa Monica Pier.
  We have two early "satellite" meeting points, which
merge into the main group:

- 5:30 pm, UCLA (Westwood Blvd. & Le Conte)
- 5:30 pm, Venice Circle (Main St. & Windward Ave.)

http://www.SantaMonicaCriticalMass.org
-----------------------------------------------------

__________________________________________________
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The Bikeway Coordinator for the County of Los Angeles Department of
Public Works is Alma Fuentes. She can be reached at (626)458-3940 or
at afuentes@...

LFS

Meg,

Here's what happened. Your wrong turn was actually some distance
before the intersection you described. You reached a 4-way
intersection and went straight instead of turning left for the SGRT.
You were on a connector designed to connect SGRT with Rio Hondo and
Lario. Some distance later, you got to the intersection of San
Gabriel Boulevard (not Parkway) and Rosemead Bl. From there you could
go north on the Rio Hondo Trail or south on the Lario (LA River) trail.

The confusion about directions arises from a sharp right turn, away
from the river, just before the 4-way intersection. So instead of
south you were now going west. At the intersection, you should have
turned left to go south again. Instead you kept going west.

Next time, look for the intersection right after you make that sharp
right away from the San Gabriel River.

I hope this helps.

Tom

My instructions were for going South. By the time you reach the San
Gabriel Parkway intersection you have gone almost a mile too far. The
key is, as soon as the trail turns right, 90 degrees directly away from
the river, slow way down. Within 100ft or so you will come to the 'Four
Corners' intersection. This is a fourway bike trail intersection in the
middle of a grassland field. No cars anywhere in sight. This is where
you want to turn left and go up the side of the dam. If you are not on
top of a dam within one minute after turning away from the river you are
going the wrong way.

bike_with_us wrote:

>
>Hi Ramon and Serge:
>
>Thanks for the info.  I am not sure that I will be able to follow your
>direction.  Because the bike path which we were on was the upper or
>northern end of the SGRT (ie, if we wanted to go North, we would just
>turn the bikes around).  However, it ended and forced you out to the
>street corner of San Gabriel pkwy, there was no four corner to be
>seen, but street intersection signal lights to either go straight
>across on same direction, or go across one light then across another
>light in front of a "Bisque Rio Hondo" entrance which is next to the
>next trail.  Sort of like this:
>
>
>(uppr San Gab River
>bikepath)>>>>>>>>>* |signal |
>           ________ |light  |_____
>
>      San Gabriel parkway --->
>          _________ |       |_____
>                    |       |
>                             *>>>>>>> (Rio Hondo/LARIO bikepaths)
>
>note:  *  means trail starts or ends
>       >>> means trails
>
>Not sure that I'll ever find the trail on my own.
>It would have been an awesome ride, if not for the frustration with
>the confusing trails.  I tell my friend and self that it builds
>characters :) Maybe a GPS to bring along would help.
>Thanks so much for all your advise and links.
>Warm wishes and tailwind,
>Meg
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

--- In bikepaths@yahoogroups.com, Bernard Weinraub <bernmart@e...>
wrote:
>
>   Meg, I'm sorry you had a bad time, and I wish I'd been more
> specific in my previous postings.  No question that the
southbound
> direction is more confusing at Whittier Narrows and especially at
the
> West side-to-East side transition than when going northbound.  I
> wrote to the appropriate state agency complaining of the lack of
> signage and the trail's condition months ago.  They've been doing
> much better re the sand and debris, but the signage issue
is "under
> study", apparently.
>
> You know, though, it still sounds like you had a great adventure!
>
Hi Bernie;

Yes, I sure had a great time, after arriving in LBch, and had lunch
at Tequila Jack's.
The chips/salsa was fabuluous, actually anything not moving and
remotely edible would have been great at that point ;)
I've baited my friend's with lunch and margaritas to go riding with
me that day, so had to deliver.
I've told him many times on the ride that being lost and hanging out
there give us characters.  It's an adventure.
Don't think it sticks.

I think the trails are very pretty and have characters.  You see all
sort of things out there.
The neighborhoods, the equestrians who wore huge sombrellos, the
ponds, birds, and yes, except for the bugs flying at you when you're
close to the beach.

One thing though, Bernie, I've should have paid more attention to
your advise on the food and the headwind!
The trails are awesome with no traffic, but then riding without
traffic, nor stop sign, etc...you get no rest!
therefore knuckleheads like us did not stop.  We just rode on and on.

I've asked my friend to go riding again next time I am visiting.  He
sez NOT until the 'lost' issue is resolved :)
All and all, it was awesome, the trail is great for recreational
riding as well as utilitarian.

Thanks for your advise, Bernie and everyone.  You guys sure have
great bike paths, just need to iron out the signage bugs.
If there's something organized to take care of that ripple, if I am
in town.  I'd help.

Meg

If you're headed south, just remember to turn left when you arrive at
the four corners intersection at the Whittier Narrows dam.  From the
picture here,

http://www.nearfield.com/~dan/sports/bike/river/sg/index.htm
You would have been coming from the right, and should have turned left into the
foreground of the picture.

Peter



>Hi Bernie;
>Well...I rode the trail from the foothills base of the SGRT to the
>beach last weekend.
>The first third portion of SGRT is nice, got over the Santa Fe dam,
>went on the SGR trail, whoa, we were moving good and fast.
>The trail was very clean, except we were only on half or the
>northern third of it!
>
>We got very lost at the SanGabriel parkway after riding an hour from
>Monrovia to this point.  The trail ended, dumped you starring at the
>street signals of San Gabriel pkwy and Rosemead, no signage as which
>direction to take.
>We crossed the signal, to the other side and saw a bike trail sign
>across the intersection, whoa, so happy, we went over there, saw
>sign saying it's the Rio Hondo trail and LARIO, so we went on it for
>a short distance.  Then we came across a fork, sharp left, and
>another not so sharp left, the not so sharp left has the RioHondo
>trail, so we went on it.
>
>The trail from Monrovia has markers, the first one which I've
>noticed saying "34.00" then it decreases as we were heading south,
>until we got to the street intersection, I think the last one before
>the trail portion ended was "21.00".  We soon discovered that we
>were heading back North!  Because the trail markers now starts to
>increase, we got to marker "26.50", but I thought maybe it's one of
>those weird trail system which they change from decreasing to
>increasing, wishful thinking on my part....cause my cohort noticed
>that we're heading back north from seeing the shopping center in El
>Dorado.
>We're lost, we headed back, and just followed the "LARIO" trail
>sign, except it took us back to the same street intersection of San
>Gabriel pkway and Rosemead!  It was disappointing, so we rode on the
>street along the San Gabriel pkwy and saw another bike sign, so we
>went across the street to get on it.  All I recalled is that the
>sign has no name of the trail, just saying that it is the south
>trail.  At this pt, we just wanted to head south, no matter which
>trail it is...So we rode on it for awhile, then guessed what, saw
>one sign saying that the "bike trail end".
>That darn trail ended and dumped us on at a junction of another
>trail, with no signage name for it, of course.  We did not know what
>to do except just ride on it.  Saw one cyclist on the oppposite, so
>my cohort asked him where our trail direction is going, and he
>said "Long Beach", so we just rode that to Long Beach, until we saw
>the painted marker on the trail saying it's "Los Angeles River bike
>path".
>We arrived at Long Beach, riding around and being lost for 4 hours,
>we must have ridden like 50 or more miles.  I've never been so happy
>to get to Long Bch before, boy, I was singing like a fool "Long Bch,
>Long Bch, Long Bch".  We were hungry and worried, caused even if we
>called someone, it'd be hard to tell them where we were to pick us
>up, as there's only certain point to access the trail from the
>street.  I am not from the area, my parents live in the OC.  My
>companion is not versed with the area away from his town.
>We called for pickup as we were not gonna chance it trying to find
>our way back, plus we were both too worn out from the frustration of
>being lost, and  from the ride.  My companion has ridden numerous
>centuries and hilly rides before, and I rode long distance, metric
>and 80-ish miles, but boy that river bike path took its toll on me.
>Although it's flat the ever increasing headwind got to me, the
>closer to the bch the more headwind.
>So my question is, what did we do wrong on the trail?  My companion
>is especially puzzled at this.  He's pulling his hair, what left of
>it :)
>I am a pigheaded person, so I'd try to find the trail and ride it
>again next time I visit my folks.
>And considering the trails were built then, why isn't there better
>signage?  It's a shame that clean, safe from traffic bike paths not
>being used.  Is there some sort of local bike coalition, bike clubs
>who can get the trail system straightened out?  I'd volunteer to
>work on the trail, if it happens while I am visiting.
>
>Thanks for listen to my verbose ride complaint.
>Meg
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

--- In bikepaths@yahoogroups.com, zero@d... wrote:
>
> The picture in the webpage sited below is indeed the 'four corners'
> intersection in Whitter Narrows. Coming South from the Santa Fe Dam you
> will be following the trail with the San Gabriel on your left. In
Whitter
> narrows you will find that to your right there is a ditch and a
grassland
> area. You will also notice a much lower dam than the Santa Fe ahead of
> you. This is the Whittier Dam. Right before you reach it the trail will
> turn 90 degrees to the right. A very short distance later your trail
will
> cross another trail. A right turn will lead you to Legg lake, a short
> distance away. Legg lake is pretty but the trails around it are not long
> and don't go anywhere. A left turn will once again put you face to face
> with the Whittier Dam. Proceed ahead and climb the dam. Descend on the
> other side past the golf course until the trail exits onto a car bridge
> over the San Gabriel. This is another part that can be confusing. Cross
> the bridge against traffic and rejoin the trail on the opposite side of
> the river and continue south to Seal Beach.
>
> You, of course, went straight crossing Rosemead, linking up with the Rio
> Hondo/Lario. Just past the driveway of the museum you can descend
the ramp
> to the trail leading north up the Rio Hondo as you discovered. The South
> direction is accessed by continuing straight to the next light, crossing
> the street and then entering the trail at the south corner which
starts on
> an old abandoned section of road.
>
> Happy Trails!
> Serge
>
>
> Ramon Otero
> > Ok try this link it gives photos of route on SG trail at Whittier
narrows
> > http://www.nearfield.com/~dan/sports/bike/river/sg/index.htm go
down about
> > 5 or six photos and you will see the intersection that will take
you to
> > Whittier narrows dam from there to Pico Rivera to Seal Beach also try
> > http://www.labikepaths.com/ for maps of all the bike paths.
> > Ramon

Hi Ramon and Serge:

Thanks for the info.  I am not sure that I will be able to follow your
direction.  Because the bike path which we were on was the upper or
northern end of the SGRT (ie, if we wanted to go North, we would just
turn the bikes around).  However, it ended and forced you out to the
street corner of San Gabriel pkwy, there was no four corner to be
seen, but street intersection signal lights to either go straight
across on same direction, or go across one light then across another
light in front of a "Bisque Rio Hondo" entrance which is next to the
next trail.  Sort of like this:


(uppr San Gab River
bikepath)>>>>>>>>>* |signal |
            ________ |light  |_____

       San Gabriel parkway --->
           _________ |       |_____
                     |       |
                              *>>>>>>> (Rio Hondo/LARIO bikepaths)

note:  *  means trail starts or ends
        >>> means trails

Not sure that I'll ever find the trail on my own.
It would have been an awesome ride, if not for the frustration with
the confusing trails.  I tell my friend and self that it builds
characters :) Maybe a GPS to bring along would help.
Thanks so much for all your advise and links.
Warm wishes and tailwind,
Meg

Meg, I'm sorry you had a bad time, and I wish I'd been more
specific in my previous postings.  No question that the southbound
direction is more confusing at Whittier Narrows and especially at the
West side-to-East side transition than when going northbound.  I
wrote to the appropriate state agency complaining of the lack of
signage and the trail's condition months ago.  They've been doing
much better re the sand and debris, but the signage issue is "under
study", apparently.

You know, though, it still sounds like you had a great adventure!

--- In bikepaths@yahoogroups.com, "Tom Guyette" <guyette@a...> wrote:
>
> Meg,
>
> I'd suggest you contribute what you can to the Wiki page on the SGRT
> trail so others will have it for reference.
>
> Bear in mind any changes should be factual and impersonal ... see the
> existing pages linked here
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_bike_paths) for a guide to
> the style.
>
>
Hi Tom;

I would gladly add my input to the page, but as lost as I was, I am
not sure how/what I can contribute to the Wiki page.
All I can say is that all the trails:  SanGabRiv, RioHondo and LARiver
are clean, ride-able, just lots of graffiti in parts of trails; make
you wonder about the neighborhood - so be watchful.  Almost all the
mileage sign posts on the LARiver trail have been vandalized, some of
which the info is not legible anymore.  Too bad that there are
destructive individuals out there who ruin things for all of us.  And
lastly, the area we were lost in has a shooting range, it was a bit
unnerving to hear gun shots around you.

Meg

The picture in the webpage sited below is indeed the 'four corners'
intersection in Whitter Narrows. Coming South from the Santa Fe Dam you
will be following the trail with the San Gabriel on your left. In Whitter
narrows you will find that to your right there is a ditch and a grassland
area. You will also notice a much lower dam than the Santa Fe ahead of
you. This is the Whittier Dam. Right before you reach it the trail will
turn 90 degrees to the right. A very short distance later your trail will
cross another trail. A right turn will lead you to Legg lake, a short
distance away. Legg lake is pretty but the trails around it are not long
and don't go anywhere. A left turn will once again put you face to face
with the Whittier Dam. Proceed ahead and climb the dam. Descend on the
other side past the golf course until the trail exits onto a car bridge
over the San Gabriel. This is another part that can be confusing. Cross
the bridge against traffic and rejoin the trail on the opposite side of
the river and continue south to Seal Beach.

You, of course, went straight crossing Rosemead, linking up with the Rio
Hondo/Lario. Just past the driveway of the museum you can descend the ramp
to the trail leading north up the Rio Hondo as you discovered. The South
direction is accessed by continuing straight to the next light, crossing
the street and then entering the trail at the south corner which starts on
an old abandoned section of road.

Happy Trails!
Serge


Ramon Otero
> Ok try this link it gives photos of route on SG trail at Whittier narrows
> http://www.nearfield.com/~dan/sports/bike/river/sg/index.htm go down about
> 5 or six photos and you will see the intersection that will take you to
> Whittier narrows dam from there to Pico Rivera to Seal Beach also try
> http://www.labikepaths.com/ for maps of all the bike paths.
> Ramon
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: bike_with_us
>   To: bikepaths@yahoogroups.com
>   Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 12:45 PM
>   Subject: [bikepaths] Lost in the wondertrails (of SGR and LosAngeles
> River)
>
>
>   --- In bikepaths@yahoogroups.com, Bernard Weinraub <bernmart@e...>
>   wrote:
>   >
>   > >
>   > > Hi Bernie;
>   > > Thanks for your advise.  I will do the ride with more confidence
>   since
>   > > i don't know the area well.
>   > > Tailwind to you,
>   > > Meg
>   >
>   >
>   > Hi, Meg--Let us know how your ride goes.  I did the "top part"--
>   Azusa
>   > to Santa Fe Dam--a few days ago, and it was in great shape.
>   >
>   > Cheers,
>   >
>   > Bernie
>   >
>   > Hi, Meg--Let us know how your ride goes.  I did the "top part"--
>   Azusa
>   > to Santa Fe Dam--a few days ago, and it was in great shape.
>   >
>   > Cheers,
>   >
>   > Bernie
>   >
>   Hi Bernie;
>   Well...I rode the trail from the foothills base of the SGRT to the
>   beach last weekend.
>   The first third portion of SGRT is nice, got over the Santa Fe dam,
>   went on the SGR trail, whoa, we were moving good and fast.
>   The trail was very clean, except we were only on half or the
>   northern third of it!
>
>   We got very lost at the SanGabriel parkway after riding an hour from
>   Monrovia to this point.  The trail ended, dumped you starring at the
>   street signals of San Gabriel pkwy and Rosemead, no signage as which
>   direction to take.
>   We crossed the signal, to the other side and saw a bike trail sign
>   across the intersection, whoa, so happy, we went over there, saw
>   sign saying it's the Rio Hondo trail and LARIO, so we went on it for
>   a short distance.  Then we came across a fork, sharp left, and
>   another not so sharp left, the not so sharp left has the RioHondo
>   trail, so we went on it.
>
>   The trail from Monrovia has markers, the first one which I've
>   noticed saying "34.00" then it decreases as we were heading south,
>   until we got to the street intersection, I think the last one before
>   the trail portion ended was "21.00".  We soon discovered that we
>   were heading back North!  Because the trail markers now starts to
>   increase, we got to marker "26.50", but I thought maybe it's one of
>   those weird trail system which they change from decreasing to
>   increasing, wishful thinking on my part....cause my cohort noticed
>   that we're heading back north from seeing the shopping center in El
>   Dorado.
>   We're lost, we headed back, and just followed the "LARIO" trail
>   sign, except it took us back to the same street intersection of San
>   Gabriel pkway and Rosemead!  It was disappointing, so we rode on the
>   street along the San Gabriel pkwy and saw another bike sign, so we
>   went across the street to get on it.  All I recalled is that the
>   sign has no name of the trail, just saying that it is the south
>   trail.  At this pt, we just wanted to head south, no matter which
>   trail it is...So we rode on it for awhile, then guessed what, saw
>   one sign saying that the "bike trail end".
>   That darn trail ended and dumped us on at a junction of another
>   trail, with no signage name for it, of course.  We did not know what
>   to do except just ride on it.  Saw one cyclist on the oppposite, so
>   my cohort asked him where our trail direction is going, and he
>   said "Long Beach", so we just rode that to Long Beach, until we saw
>   the painted marker on the trail saying it's "Los Angeles River bike
>   path".
>   We arrived at Long Beach, riding around and being lost for 4 hours,
>   we must have ridden like 50 or more miles.  I've never been so happy
>   to get to Long Bch before, boy, I was singing like a fool "Long Bch,
>   Long Bch, Long Bch".  We were hungry and worried, caused even if we
>   called someone, it'd be hard to tell them where we were to pick us
>   up, as there's only certain point to access the trail from the
>   street.  I am not from the area, my parents live in the OC.  My
>   companion is not versed with the area away from his town.
>   We called for pickup as we were not gonna chance it trying to find
>   our way back, plus we were both too worn out from the frustration of
>   being lost, and  from the ride.  My companion has ridden numerous
>   centuries and hilly rides before, and I rode long distance, metric
>   and 80-ish miles, but boy that river bike path took its toll on me.
>   Although it's flat the ever increasing headwind got to me, the
>   closer to the bch the more headwind.
>   So my question is, what did we do wrong on the trail?  My companion
>   is especially puzzled at this.  He's pulling his hair, what left of
>   it :)
>   I am a pigheaded person, so I'd try to find the trail and ride it
>   again next time I visit my folks.
>   And considering the trails were built then, why isn't there better
>   signage?  It's a shame that clean, safe from traffic bike paths not
>   being used.  Is there some sort of local bike coalition, bike clubs
>   who can get the trail system straightened out?  I'd volunteer to
>   work on the trail, if it happens while I am visiting.
>
>   Thanks for listen to my verbose ride complaint.
>   Meg
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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Meg,

I'd suggest you contribute what you can to the Wiki page on the SGRT
trail so others will have it for reference.

Bear in mind any changes should be factual and impersonal ... see the
existing pages linked here
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_bike_paths) for a guide to
the style.


--- In bikepaths@yahoogroups.com, "bike_with_us" <bike_with_us@y...>
wrote:
>
> --- In bikepaths@yahoogroups.com, Bernard Weinraub <bernmart@e...>
> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Hi Bernie;
> > > Thanks for your advise.  I will do the ride with more confidence
> since
> > > i don't know the area well.
> > > Tailwind to you,
> > > Meg
> >
> >
> > Hi, Meg--Let us know how your ride goes.  I did the "top part"--
> Azusa
> > to Santa Fe Dam--a few days ago, and it was in great shape.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Bernie
> >
> > Hi, Meg--Let us know how your ride goes.  I did the "top part"--
> Azusa
> > to Santa Fe Dam--a few days ago, and it was in great shape.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Bernie
> >
> Hi Bernie;
> Well...I rode the trail from the foothills base of the SGRT to the
> beach last weekend.
> The first third portion of SGRT is nice, got over the Santa Fe dam,
> went on the SGR trail, whoa, we were moving good and fast.
> The trail was very clean, except we were only on half or the
> northern third of it!
>
> We got very lost at the SanGabriel parkway after riding an hour from
> Monrovia to this point.  The trail ended, dumped you starring at the
> street signals of San Gabriel pkwy and Rosemead, no signage as which
> direction to take.
> We crossed the signal, to the other side and saw a bike trail sign
> across the intersection, whoa, so happy, we went over there, saw
> sign saying it's the Rio Hondo trail and LARIO, so we went on it for
> a short distance.  Then we came across a fork, sharp left, and
> another not so sharp left, the not so sharp left has the RioHondo
> trail, so we went on it.
>
> The trail from Monrovia has markers, the first one which I've
> noticed saying "34.00" then it decreases as we were heading south,
> until we got to the street intersection, I think the last one before
> the trail portion ended was "21.00".  We soon discovered that we
> were heading back North!  Because the trail markers now starts to
> increase, we got to marker "26.50", but I thought maybe it's one of
> those weird trail system which they change from decreasing to
> increasing, wishful thinking on my part....cause my cohort noticed
> that we're heading back north from seeing the shopping center in El
> Dorado.
> We're lost, we headed back, and just followed the "LARIO" trail
> sign, except it took us back to the same street intersection of San
> Gabriel pkway and Rosemead!  It was disappointing, so we rode on the
> street along the San Gabriel pkwy and saw another bike sign, so we
> went across the street to get on it.  All I recalled is that the
> sign has no name of the trail, just saying that it is the south
> trail.  At this pt, we just wanted to head south, no matter which
> trail it is...So we rode on it for awhile, then guessed what, saw
> one sign saying that the "bike trail end".
> That darn trail ended and dumped us on at a junction of another
> trail, with no signage name for it, of course.  We did not know what
> to do except just ride on it.  Saw one cyclist on the oppposite, so
> my cohort asked him where our trail direction is going, and he
> said "Long Beach", so we just rode that to Long Beach, until we saw
> the painted marker on the trail saying it's "Los Angeles River bike
> path".
> We arrived at Long Beach, riding around and being lost for 4 hours,
> we must have ridden like 50 or more miles.  I've never been so happy
> to get to Long Bch before, boy, I was singing like a fool "Long Bch,
> Long Bch, Long Bch".  We were hungry and worried, caused even if we
> called someone, it'd be hard to tell them where we were to pick us
> up, as there's only certain point to access the trail from the
> street.  I am not from the area, my parents live in the OC.  My
> companion is not versed with the area away from his town.
> We called for pickup as we were not gonna chance it trying to find
> our way back, plus we were both too worn out from the frustration of
> being lost, and  from the ride.  My companion has ridden numerous
> centuries and hilly rides before, and I rode long distance, metric
> and 80-ish miles, but boy that river bike path took its toll on me.
> Although it's flat the ever increasing headwind got to me, the
> closer to the bch the more headwind.
> So my question is, what did we do wrong on the trail?  My companion
> is especially puzzled at this.  He's pulling his hair, what left of
> it :)
> I am a pigheaded person, so I'd try to find the trail and ride it
> again next time I visit my folks.
> And considering the trails were built then, why isn't there better
> signage?  It's a shame that clean, safe from traffic bike paths not
> being used.  Is there some sort of local bike coalition, bike clubs
> who can get the trail system straightened out?  I'd volunteer to
> work on the trail, if it happens while I am visiting.
>
> Thanks for listen to my verbose ride complaint.
> Meg
>

----- Original Message -----

From: bike_with_us

To: bikepaths@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 12:45 PM

Subject: [bikepaths] Lost in the wondertrails (of SGR and LosAngeles River)

--- In bikepaths@yahoogroups.com, Bernard Weinraub <bernmart@e...>
wrote:
>
> >
> > Hi Bernie;
> > Thanks for your advise.  I will do the ride with more confidence
since
> > i don't know the area well.
> > Tailwind to you,
> > Meg
>
>
> Hi, Meg--Let us know how your ride goes.  I did the "top part"--
Azusa 
> to Santa Fe Dam--a few days ago, and it was in great shape.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Bernie
>
> Hi, Meg--Let us know how your ride goes.  I did the "top part"--
Azusa 
> to Santa Fe Dam--a few days ago, and it was in great shape.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Bernie
>
Hi Bernie;
Well...I rode the trail from the foothills base of the SGRT to the
beach last weekend.
The first third portion of SGRT is nice, got over the Santa Fe dam,
went on the SGR trail, whoa, we were moving good and fast.
The trail was very clean, except we were only on half or the
northern third of it!

We got very lost at the SanGabriel parkway after riding an hour from
Monrovia to this point.  The trail ended, dumped you starring at the
street signals of San Gabriel pkwy and Rosemead, no signage as which
direction to take.
We crossed the signal, to the other side and saw a bike trail sign
across the intersection, whoa, so happy, we went over there, saw
sign saying it's the Rio Hondo trail and LARIO, so we went on it for
a short distance.  Then we came across a fork, sharp left, and
another not so sharp left, the not so sharp left has the RioHondo
trail, so we went on it.

The trail from Monrovia has markers, the first one which I've
noticed saying "34.00" then it decreases as we were heading south,
until we got to the street intersection, I think the last one before
the trail portion ended was "21.00".  We soon discovered that we
were heading back North!  Because the trail markers now starts to
increase, we got to marker "26.50", but I thought maybe it's one of
those weird trail system which they change from decreasing to
increasing, wishful thinking on my part....cause my cohort noticed
that we're heading back north from seeing the shopping center in El
Dorado.
We're lost, we headed back, and just followed the "LARIO" trail
sign, except it took us back to the same street intersection of San
Gabriel pkway and Rosemead!  It was disappointing, so we rode on the
street along the San Gabriel pkwy and saw another bike sign, so we
went across the street to get on it.  All I recalled is that the
sign has no name of the trail, just saying that it is the south
trail.  At this pt, we just wanted to head south, no matter which
trail it is...So we rode on it for awhile, then guessed what, saw
one sign saying that the "bike trail end". 
That darn trail ended and dumped us on at a junction of another
trail, with no signage name for it, of course.  We did not know what
to do except just ride on it.  Saw one cyclist on the oppposite, so
my cohort asked him where our trail direction is going, and he
said "Long Beach", so we just rode that to Long Beach, until we saw
the painted marker on the trail saying it's "Los Angeles River bike
path".
We arrived at Long Beach, riding around and being lost for 4 hours,
we must have ridden like 50 or more miles.  I've never been so happy
to get to Long Bch before, boy, I was singing like a fool "Long Bch,
Long Bch, Long Bch".  We were hungry and worried, caused even if we
called someone, it'd be hard to tell them where we were to pick us
up, as there's only certain point to access the trail from the
street.  I am not from the area, my parents live in the OC.  My
companion is not versed with the area away from his town.
We called for pickup as we were not gonna chance it trying to find
our way back, plus we were both too worn out from the frustration of
being lost, and  from the ride.  My companion has ridden numerous
centuries and hilly rides before, and I rode long distance, metric
and 80-ish miles, but boy that river bike path took its toll on me. 
Although it's flat the ever increasing headwind got to me, the
closer to the bch the more headwind.
So my question is, what did we do wrong on the trail?  My companion
is especially puzzled at this.  He's pulling his hair, what left of
it :)
I am a pigheaded person, so I'd try to find the trail and ride it
again next time I visit my folks.
And considering the trails were built then, why isn't there better
signage?  It's a shame that clean, safe from traffic bike paths not
being used.  Is there some sort of local bike coalition, bike clubs
who can get the trail system straightened out?  I'd volunteer to
work on the trail, if it happens while I am visiting.

Thanks for listen to my verbose ride complaint.
Meg

--- In bikepaths@yahoogroups.com, Bernard Weinraub <bernmart@e...>
wrote:
>
> >
> > Hi Bernie;
> > Thanks for your advise.  I will do the ride with more confidence
since
> > i don't know the area well.
> > Tailwind to you,
> > Meg
>
>
> Hi, Meg--Let us know how your ride goes.  I did the "top part"--
Azusa
> to Santa Fe Dam--a few days ago, and it was in great shape.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Bernie
>
> Hi, Meg--Let us know how your ride goes.  I did the "top part"--
Azusa
> to Santa Fe Dam--a few days ago, and it was in great shape.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Bernie
>
Hi Bernie;
Well...I rode the trail from the foothills base of the SGRT to the
beach last weekend.
The first third portion of SGRT is nice, got over the Santa Fe dam,
went on the SGR trail, whoa, we were moving good and fast.
The trail was very clean, except we were only on half or the
northern third of it!

We got very lost at the SanGabriel parkway after riding an hour from
Monrovia to this point.  The trail ended, dumped you starring at the
street signals of San Gabriel pkwy and Rosemead, no signage as which
direction to take.
We crossed the signal, to the other side and saw a bike trail sign
across the intersection, whoa, so happy, we went over there, saw
sign saying it's the Rio Hondo trail and LARIO, so we went on it for
a short distance.  Then we came across a fork, sharp left, and
another not so sharp left, the not so sharp left has the RioHondo
trail, so we went on it.

The trail from Monrovia has markers, the first one which I've
noticed saying "34.00" then it decreases as we were heading south,
until we got to the street intersection, I think the last one before
the trail portion ended was "21.00".  We soon discovered that we
were heading back North!  Because the trail markers now starts to
increase, we got to marker "26.50", but I thought maybe it's one of
those weird trail system which they change from decreasing to
increasing, wishful thinking on my part....cause my cohort noticed
that we're heading back north from seeing the shopping center in El
Dorado.
We're lost, we headed back, and just followed the "LARIO" trail
sign, except it took us back to the same street intersection of San
Gabriel pkway and Rosemead!  It was disappointing, so we rode on the
street along the San Gabriel pkwy and saw another bike sign, so we
went across the street to get on it.  All I recalled is that the
sign has no name of the trail, just saying that it is the south
trail.  At this pt, we just wanted to head south, no matter which
trail it is...So we rode on it for awhile, then guessed what, saw
one sign saying that the "bike trail end".
That darn trail ended and dumped us on at a junction of another
trail, with no signage name for it, of course.  We did not know what
to do except just ride on it.  Saw one cyclist on the oppposite, so
my cohort asked him where our trail direction is going, and he
said "Long Beach", so we just rode that to Long Beach, until we saw
the painted marker on the trail saying it's "Los Angeles River bike
path".
We arrived at Long Beach, riding around and being lost for 4 hours,
we must have ridden like 50 or more miles.  I've never been so happy
to get to Long Bch before, boy, I was singing like a fool "Long Bch,
Long Bch, Long Bch".  We were hungry and worried, caused even if we
called someone, it'd be hard to tell them where we were to pick us
up, as there's only certain point to access the trail from the
street.  I am not from the area, my parents live in the OC.  My
companion is not versed with the area away from his town.
We called for pickup as we were not gonna chance it trying to find
our way back, plus we were both too worn out from the frustration of
being lost, and  from the ride.  My companion has ridden numerous
centuries and hilly rides before, and I rode long distance, metric
and 80-ish miles, but boy that river bike path took its toll on me.
Although it's flat the ever increasing headwind got to me, the
closer to the bch the more headwind.
So my question is, what did we do wrong on the trail?  My companion
is especially puzzled at this.  He's pulling his hair, what left of
it :)
I am a pigheaded person, so I'd try to find the trail and ride it
again next time I visit my folks.
And considering the trails were built then, why isn't there better
signage?  It's a shame that clean, safe from traffic bike paths not
being used.  Is there some sort of local bike coalition, bike clubs
who can get the trail system straightened out?  I'd volunteer to
work on the trail, if it happens while I am visiting.

Thanks for listen to my verbose ride complaint.
Meg

>
> Hi Bernie;
> Thanks for your advise.  I will do the ride with more confidence since
> i don't know the area well.
> Tailwind to you,
> Meg


Hi, Meg--Let us know how your ride goes.  I did the "top part"--Azusa
to Santa Fe Dam--a few days ago, and it was in great shape.

Cheers,

Bernie

--- In bikepaths@yahoogroups.com, Bernard Weinraub <bernmart@e...> wrote:
>
>   Hi, Meg--The trail is still in good shape, and it's a pleasant
> ride.  I assume you'll be heading south; leave some energy for the
> return trip, which is a slight upgrade.
> exists, so do your own navigating!
>
> It should be a great experience for you; just writing about it brings
> up pleasant memories, and gives me the urge to do it again sometime
> soon!
>
> Bernie

Hi Bernie;
Thanks for your advise.  I will do the ride with more confidence since
i don't know the area well.
Tailwind to you,
Meg

>> Critical Mass: Ride daily, celebrate monthly <<

-----------------------------------------------------
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY
-----------------------------------------------------

Santa Monica Critical Mass
Friday, February 3, 2006
6:30pm
Santa Monica Pier (Ocean Ave @ Colorado Ave.)

FEBRUARY UPDATE:

- This is our one-year anniversary ride!   Indeed,
TIME FLIES.   How about a house party, instead of the
usual end at Cha-Cha Chicken?  Please contact me, if
you can help plan a post-Mass party.   We have a
location in mind in Santa Monica, but we need
volunteers who will NOT be riding, to setup.  Of
course, people are still free to go wherever they
choose, after the ride.    Send me your ideas!

- Although the idea to start the ride earlier was
well-meaning, several people have emailed me about the
original 7:00pm starting time being better.    Also,
there were a number of riders who missed the start of
last month's ride, due to the earlier time.
Therefore, we should vote on which time is better.
Feel free to arrive early, but let's plan on waiting
for latecomers.

- What can YOU do to help make this ride a success?
Distribute fliers?   Bring 10 friends?    Supply a
bike trailer for an audio rig?   PLEASE get involved!

Zack

-----------------------------------------------------
Critical Mass is a vision of a joyful, bike-friendly
world replacing our polluted, congested roads.  We are
a protest for better cycling facilities and against
car culture. We are a reclamation of our public space.
We are a merry ride through neighborhoods of Santa
Monica and Venice with friends. Critical Mass is all
this and more, rolled into one convenient monthly ride
right after work.  Ride with us!

Santa Monica Critical Mass meets at 6:30pm on the
first Friday of every month, at the Santa Monica Pier.
We have two early "satellite" meeting points, which
merge into the main group:

- 5:30 pm, UCLA (Westwood Blvd. & Le Conte)
- 5:30 pm, Venice Circle (Main St. & Windward Ave.)

http://www.SantaMonicaCriticalMass.org
-----------------------------------------------------

__________________________________________________
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Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Bernie, could you make sure what you have to say is represented in
some form at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Los_Angeles_bike_paths ?

Bernie, could you make sure what you have to say is represented in
some form at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Los_Angeles_bike_paths ?

Hi, Meg--The trail is still in good shape, and it's a pleasant
ride.  I assume you'll be heading south; leave some energy for the
return trip, which is a slight upgrade.  The elevation is gained by a
series of fairly steep, quite short mini-hills, no one of which is a
problem, but collectively they take their toll.  This is particularly
true during the five miles below Santa Fe Dam, and the very last mile
of the trail in Azusa.  Again, it's no big deal, but pace yourself
appropriately and take food.

As I've written before, the only tricky place on the trail is where
it switches from the west side of the river to the east side, at San
Gabriel River Parkway.  There's probably still no signage telling you
what to do; just cross to the opposite side of the river and pick up
the trail again.  Most of the locals don't even know the trail
exists, so do your own navigating!

It should be a great experience for you; just writing about it brings
up pleasant memories, and gives me the urge to do it again sometime
soon!

Bernie

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Gabriel_River_bicycle_path

Hi Bernie et al;

I am planning on riding down SGR trail from Monrovia this week.

I would appreciate any advise, tips on direction, signage, anything to
look out for.

Thanks in advance,
Meg

--- In bikepaths@yahoogroups.com, Bernard Weinraub <bernmart@e...>
wrote:
>
> I rode this trail round-trip, end to end yesterday, and I'm happy
to
> report that it's in good shape and a pleasure to ride.  There's one
> place, near the intersection with San Gabriel Blvd., where the
> traffic is shunted from west side of the river to the east side (if
> you're going north to south; opposite if you're proceeding south to
> north).  The complete absence of signage makes this confusing.
>
> Otherwise, it's a great trip--just about 75 miles round trip.
>
> Happy New Year!
>
> Bernie
>

The Santa Monica City council will be going over the
circulation element of the general plan tonight.  The
item is first on the Agenda, when the Public Session
starts at 6:45pm.

Santa Monica City Hall
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Here are two maps to City Hall, in Santa Monica:
1)
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1685+Main+St,+Santa+Monica,+CA+90401
(or http://tinyurl.com/8mp9b)
2)
http://santa-monica.org/city_departments/map_cityhall.htm

This is a great opportunity to advocate for more City
support for bicycles, such as support for:
- an elementary school "bike to school" program
- bike U-racks city-wide! (especially at schools and
retail areas)
http://www.bicyclela.org/images/InvertedU.jpg
- required secure bicycle parking in all Apartment
complexes
- "Bicycles Allowed Use of Full Lane" signs, a la CVC
21202:
http://flickr.com/photos/paul/65365124/
http://www.scorcher.org/screed/samp/bikelaw.txt
- a "Bike Depot", a la Long Beach Bike Station
(http://www.bikestation.org)
- bike lanes and bike paths, European style (if you
dig them)
- [insert your pet bicycle project or favorite issue
here]  :)

It would be good to have any of you there.   At your
request, you can be granted 1 or 2 minutes to speak
your mind.

Ride safe,

Zack

--------------
REMINDER:
Santa Monica Critical Mass is one week from this
Friday!
February 3rd, 2006
(and every 1st Friday of every month)
6:30pm
Santa Monica Pier
http://www.santamonicacriticalmass.org
--------------

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Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
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Does anyone have suggestions for bike rides near the downtown area?

There is 1 message in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. New Bikeway Coordinator
From: "Stuart A. Harvey"


________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 15:33:58 -0800
From: "Stuart A. Harvey"
Subject: New Bikeway Coordinator

It was reported today in the SoCalCycling group that there is a new Bikeways Coordinator -- Alma Fuentes. The Bikeways Coordinator is an excellent person to report kudos and issues regarding the Los Angeles County bikeways (e.g. San Gabriel River Trail, Coyote Creek, Los Angeles River, Rio Hondo, etc).
Alma Fuentes
Bikeway Coordinator - Programs Development
LA County Department of Public Works
(626) 458-3941

[This message contained attachments]



________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________



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>> Critical Mass: Ride daily, celebrate monthly <<

-----------------------------------------------------
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY
-----------------------------------------------------

Santa Monica Critical Mass
Friday, January 6, 2005
6:30pm
Santa Monica Pier (Ocean Ave @ Colorado Ave.)

JANUARY UPDATE:
Following tonight's ride is the Kickoff Party to the
upcoming Bike Winter festival:
http://winter.bikeboom.com

For those riders that want to attend, we'll ride en
masse to the party, which starts at 9:00pm in Los
Angeles:
http://www.bikeboom.com/webcalendar/view_entry.php?id=98&date=20060106

However, many riders may not want to ride towards Echo
Park.   So for those who don't want to ride to the
party, we'll have a regular Critical Mass ride,
locally.   So join us tonight, and decide where you
want to ride!

-----------------------------------------------------
Critical Mass is a vision of a joyful, bike-friendly
world replacing our polluted, congested roads.  We are
a protest for better cycling facilities and against
car culture. We are a reclamation of our public space.
We are a merry ride through neighborhoods of Santa
Monica and Venice with friends. Critical Mass is all
this and more, rolled into one convenient monthly ride
right after work.  Ride with us!

Santa Monica Critical Mass meets at 6:30pm on the
first Friday of every month, at the Santa Monica Pier.
We have two early "satellite" meeting points, which
merge into the main group:

- 5:30 pm, UCLA (Westwood Blvd. & Le Conte)
- 5:30 pm, Venice Circle (Main St. & Windward Ave.)

http://www.SantaMonicaCriticalMass.org
-----------------------------------------------------



__________________________________________
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Just $16.99/mo. or less.
dsl.yahoo.com

Hello everyone!

My family and I live in Whittier, and am wondering if there are any
good tracks my boys and I could ride?  My boys do BMX, so difficulty
isn't an issue for THEM (it's a whole different story for me, but I'll
manage).
Thanks for the help!
-Mom on the go
Marisa
<><