Community Corner

Local Bike Group Lets Spokes Do the Speaking

Bicycle enthusiasts pedal home their message of staying lean and green.

In place of their regular monthly meeting, members and friends of the South Bay Bicycle Coalition (SBBC) decided to hop on their bikes and deliver a message of personal fitness and environmental awareness to the Earth Day celebrants at Polliwog Park on Saturday.

The purpose, said SBBC chairman Todd Dipaola, was to "expand our ranks, educate the public and get more folks on their bikes."

The coalition recently received a big boost with that effort in the form of a $240,000 grant from the county's Department of Public Health. Along with a $6,000 micro-enrichment grant from the Beach Cities Health District, the money will be used to create a master bike plan for the South Bay.

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The Earth Day bicyclists—more than 70 in all, including 30 children and one local councilmember—began pedaling at 10 a.m. from Marine Avenue Park, ending up at nearby Polliwog Park. Kids, parents and Patch's own student columnist, Adam Gerard, joined in the ride, which received a motorcycle escort from Manhattan Beach Police Lt. Andy Harrod.

"It was an exciting eco-friendly Earth Day bike ride," Councilmember Wayne Powell said Monday.

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The coalition's next meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 18, in the Joslyn Community Center. For more information, visit the group's Web site.


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