Whenever I am discussing with friends and family about our commute to work on a daily basis, the inevitable questions arise:
1) Do you ride your bicycle all the way to work and back every day?
2) Does the Metrolink Train have designated 'bicycle racks' on each car? If so, how many?
3) You actually physically take your bicycle with you on the train?
Kayla and I eventually were tired of answering the question with a vague answer of the following to #2: Yes, there are designated bicycle racks on each car, but there is not always space. In addition, periodically I would see a Metrolink Train car designated "bicycle car" with a large --looks like a magnetic sign on the side of the car. I decided to take action and compose a letter to my local politicians and extend that letter to State politicians.
Last weekend, I started to compose the letter to local and State politicians only to be side tracked by a blog post -- Advocacy for Bike Infrastructure -- that was a practice run on my blog on this site. Check it out. There are pictures which start to explain my purpose--which is to rally for a designated 'bicycle car' on every Metrolink train line.
As of last night (Thursday, November 13th 2014) the advocacy movement by the Kaiserwellnesscenter has officially begun. I just sent the letters to the following local and State politicians: Mayor Eric Garcetti (Los Angeles), Mayor Zareh Sinanyan (Glendale), Congressman Adam Schiff (Burbank), and the City Council Members for both Los Angeles and Glendale. In addition, I contacted my Metrolink Train representative here at California State University at Northridge and asked her to forward all of the advocacy materials presented here.
The purpose of this page is to provide the reader with the letters sent (an example of each will be given in a webpage link below, cited reports by the American Heart Association (validating action needed), and a power point presentation that shows the problem along with a solution from a visual standpoint--which drives home the message.
As we learn more or hear back from politicians, we will update the progress with either blog posts to this page or other pages with appropriate links.
Our second endorsement -- Congressman Adam Schiff!!!!
I encourage anyone interested in the material here on this site to use the data or pictures to advocate or educate the public on bicycle issues. There is no doubt that Kayla and I (J. Mike) have raised the quality of life through stress reduction -- incorporating bicycling into our daily commute. I hope that you find better health as well by bicycling more.
Click on any highlighted text to access materials below to read about our efforts. If you are experiencing difficulty, please do not hesitate to e-mail us and suggest improvements to the site or point to potential issues. Have a great day.
Direct Advocacy Efforts (letters, presentations, and outreach) to Local, State, and Federal Agencies and Politicians
1) Our (J. Mike Kaiser and Kayla Kaiser) letter to Mayor Eric Garcetti rallying for at least 1 "dedicated bicycle car" on each Metrolink Train.
2) Our (J. Mike Kaiser and Kayla Kaiser) Power Point Presentation to Mayor Garcetti with pictures illustrating the need for a solution--titled "Motivation for a Dedicated Bicycle Car on each Metrolink Train" (note: Other presentations to both Congressman Adam Schiff and Mayor Zareh Sinanyan were similar except with different closing quotes at the end of the presentation).
3) American Heart Association's Public Policy Agenda 2010-2014
4) American Heart Association Guide forImproving Cardiovascular Health at the Community Level, 2013 Update.
5) J. Mike Kaiser's letter sent to the American Heart Association requesting support/information in advocating/funding opportunities/suggestions in increasing our effectiveness toward advocating for bicycle commuters.
7) 1st Letter to the Department of Transportation Librarian Services regarding (possible) grants/funding measures that the Metrolink Train Organization could apply for to implement 'a dedicated bicycle car' on each Metrolink Train.
8) June 17, 2014 Letter from the Los Angeles County Active Transportation Collective.
9) Cuong Trinh (of Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition and Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition) writes a letter to Metrolink's CEO Mr. Michael DePallo which prompted the first wave of bicycle stalls on Metrolink trains--Thank you Cuong--A well written and convincing argument! Access the March 8, 2013 Letter here in a post.
10) First letter received from the Metrolink Train association regarding the incorporation of 'dedicated bicycle car' on every train.
11) Response from the American Heart Association for a request of information regarding advocacy efforts/funding/effectiveness--a great start for educating future advocates!
12) Response from the Alliance for Biking and Walking for a request of information regarding advocacy efforts/funding/effectiveness--Very Resource Rich--Check it out!
13) 1st Response from the Department of Transportation Librarian Services regarding grants that the Metrolink Train Organization could apply for to implement 'a dedicated bicycle car' on each Metrolink Train.
14) Bikecar101 receives an official endorsement from the American Heart Association!!!!!!!!!!
15) Bikecar101 receives an endorsement from Congressman Adam Schiff by offering his transportation representative to help our advocacy efforts.
16) We created a 'Landing Page' -- www.bikecar101.com to educate the public. On the same page is a 'widget' that we are using to collect 'electronic signatures' to rally support for 'Bikecars' on each train. There are two PowerPoint Presentations: A) What is a Bikecar? and B) Motivation for a dedicated bikecar on every metrolink train.
17) We created a "Bikecar101" logo shown below:
18) We created a business card for easy dissemination of our message and websites shown below:
19) We created a Facebook page for Bikecar101 -- like us!
20) We created a Twitter page for Bikecar101 -- to photo-document the amount of bicycles aboard metrolink trains.
21) Mike and Kayla show up to the Metrolink Board meeting when the vote to incorporate a 1/2-Bikecar on every train is in progress. Additionally, Mike comments on the need for a bikecar on every metrolink train -- as shown below:
22) Metrolink Board members vote to add a 1/2-bikecar to each metrolink train by the end of the calendar year.
23) Mike Kaiser of Bikecar101 gives a PowerPoint presentation at the California Bicycle Summit in October titled "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Advocating for a dedicated bicycle car on every metrolink train."
24) Mike and Kayla along with other metrolink riders and Walk/Bike Glendale members paint a mural titled 'human powered' and get recognized by the Crescenta Valley News!!!!
25) Mike and Kayla continue to work with local bicycle coalition groups (LACBC, Walk/Bike Glendale) spreading the message for the need for a dedicated bicycle car on every train. This includes taking part in educating children regarding bicycle safety!
26) Additionally, Mike and Kayla have advocated for a "safe route to CSUN" from the Metrolink station at Northridge to the campus of California State University at Northridge. PowerPoint presentation -- here!
Stay tuned for more updates on Advocacy Efforts for Bicycle Commuters! Have a great day!