You Can’t Be Neutral

Posted on by Matt Ruscigno 1 Comment
Dropping serious knowledge. Watch this and send to 24 people.

http://www.streetfilms.org/wp-content/plugins/flowplayer_wp/flowplayer/flowplayer.swf?REFRESH_FLAG

Instead of preparing for my 24 hour mountain bike race this weekend, I’m writing about veganism and getting worked up over bike/pedestrian policy here in Los Angeles and nationwide. Six and seven years ago when I first got involved in bike advocacy in Los Angeles the bar was low, as were my expectations. Any improvement or mere mention of bikes outside of our circles was reason for excitement. Fast forward to 2010 and I’m almost overwhelmed with the progress. Almost. We are making gains, but now I want more. It makes so much sense in our unique position today with the economy, environmental concern and a renewed interest in urbanity to shift resources to promote bicycling and walking. But then LA Dept of Transportation General Manager Rita Robinson says stuff like I wish we were New York and could magically make things happen. Argh.

It’s up to us to show her it is not magic. To start here is a post by the US Dept of Transportation in support: What we know about bike infrastructure: people want it. This is the freakin US DOT!! I never could imagine seeing this just a few years ago. And here we are. But, and this is a big but, too many people are not seeing this. Or understanding it if they are. Too few people get this:

As anarchist academic and hero-to-many Howard Zinn says, ‘You can’t be neutral on a moving train.’ Everything is political. Your actions do matter. If you ride a bike, exclusively or occasionally, it’s up to you to share the statement above. AND its political importance. Bicycle infrastructure is good for everyone. Fewer people in fewer cars has social, environmental, health and personal benefits. So study up and share with others. We cannot wait for policy change to come from people like Rita Robinson. We need to change ourselves and to share these benefits with our circles.

Here’s a challenge. While I am riding my single-speed mountain bike for 24 hours this weekend, can you send one of the links above to 24 people?

the future

Posted on by Matt Ruscigno 1 Comment

Yo! Wow. Epic month. You’d think that the more epic = more posts, but unfortunately often that’s not the case.
We’ve had parties, picnics, races, travels and other stuff I can’t remember. The best stuff often doesn’t make it to my blog, like my New Zealand trip and riding the Great Divide. So while I sort these old events, here are some events in the future.

Bake Me Up! vegan bake sale in Echo Park at Mooi Foods from 11-5. This is a benefit for PAWS LA and Kitten Rescue. Other vegan events on www.quarrygirl.com.

My friend Deanna Adams is racing the inaugural Arizona Trail 750, which starts today at the Mexico/US border. It’s self-support style like the 2700 mile Tour Divide race along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from Banff to Mexico. What does this mean? No entry fee, no support, no checkpoints. Very awesome. The first part is along the Arizona Trail 300 which has been raced the last few years. The AZTR 750 requires a 22-mile bike portage through the Grand Canyon. Seriously. No bikes allowed. No rolling, pushing, pulling. It must be dismantled and carried on one’s back. Sound miserable? I wish I was racing. I’d love to be out there on this epic journey of desert, mountains, heat, snow, pedaling, hiking….gawd. Beautiful way to spend one’s days. Anyhow, you can follow Deanna’s progress here: http://trackleaders.com/aztr. Oh yeah, she’s on a fixed gear.

Lastly, the Swarm! twitter is active. Great links related to veganism, bikes, racing, streets, the environment, etc posted throughout the day. Check it out.

Bike Night at the Hammer April 8

Posted on by Matt Ruscigno 3 Comments

My good friend Lisa, with whom I share a love for bikes, vegan food and mayhem, not to mention a willingness to wait over an hour for two tacos, has made Bike Night at the Hammer happen for the second year in a row. Last year Breaking Away on the big screen was fantastic and I’m sure Pee Wee’s Big Adventure will be just as fun. All of this at a freakin museum.

I helped create the menu for the vegan dinner, too. What more could you ask for? Oh yeah, bike valet and it’s all free.
Keep your eyes on www.midnightridazz.com for group rides to the museum.

Feel My Legs, I’m a Racer 2010

Posted on by Matt Ruscigno 2 Comments



Feel My Legs, I’m a Racer hill race (5th year anniversary!) Sunday March 28th, 8am
Meet at Sunset Blvd / Griffith Park Ave (where Silver Lake Farmers Market is)

background and FAQ from 2009

More soon, but wanted to get the hills up so people know! This so exciting. The Finishers patch is so dope. Come get it! The race will be followed by the Crucial Vegan Friendship picnic (Brian Farhy Commemorative edition) where your friends can meet you and you can grub hard. The picnic starts at 1pm and hopefully we’ll be done by then.

1. Mt Washington drive / Self-realization (Mt. Washington)
2. Eldred st (Highland Park)
3. Amethyst st (El Sereno)
4. Thomas st (Lincoln Heights)
5. White Knoll/Marview (Echo Park)
6. Echo Park ave/Baxter (Echo Park)
7. Micheletorena (Silver Lake)
8. Silver Lake blvd/Duane (Silver Lake)
9. Fargo st (Echo Park)
10. Stadium way/Academy/Boylston (Elysian Park)

http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=109824254261595547968.0004612f22c589d6eab43&ll=34.088777,-118.23143&spn=0.068239,0.109863&z=13&output=embed
View Feel My Legs, I’m a Racer 2010 in a larger map

[Update]

Patch for all finishers!

Spoke card by Creative Thing

Stuff I Eat

Posted on by Matt Ruscigno 1 Comment

Vegan spot in Inglewood. And that's really the name. This is a
quesadilla. So so delicious. Almost (almost) more food than I could
eat after a Black Eyed Pea soup and cornbread.
Check it out.
Unrelated: did a sweet 100 miles today. Felt like the first non-winter
ride of the year. So stoked.