COMMUTERS LEAVE CARS FOR BIKE-TO-WORK DAY.Byline: Eugene Tong tong 1 tr.v. tonged, tong·ing, tongs To seize, hold, or manipulate with tongs. [Back-formation from tongs. Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - Commuters from as far away as North Hollywood ditched their cars Thursday as they arrived to work on bicycles in support of National Bike to Work Day. Some 104 people - from city staffers and students to employees at Princess Cruises Princess Cruises is an American cruise line, based out of Santa Clarita, California, that operates cruise ships also shares the same building with Cunard Line headquarters. It is one of the many cruise lines operated by the Carnival Corporation. and Valencia-based bike suspension maker Answer Products - put feet to pedals to promote the transportation alternative. The event, held by the city and Santa Clarita chapter of the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Bicycle bicycle, light, two-wheeled vehicle driven by pedals. The name velocipede is often given to early forms of the bicycle and to its predecessor, the dandy horse, a two-wheeled vehicle moved by the thrust of the rider's feet upon the ground. Coalition, has grown since it was first held locally last year, when only three employers participated. ``It kind of spurs people to give it a try, and who knows, they might keep up with it,'' said Maria Gutzeit, the local coordinator for the county bike coalition. ``We have great weather, pretty good trails. Once you figure out your route and you know how long it's going to take you ... it's not too bad.'' Employers who turn out the most riders can score a companywide ice cream social, sweetening the event. Most participants, including Mayor Cameron Smyth Cameron Smyth is a Republican who has represented Califoria's 38th Assembly district since December of 2006. He succeeded Keith Richman who was term limited. Prior to being elected to the state legislature, Assemblyman Smyth served on the Santa Clarita City Council, where he and City Manager Ken Pulskamp, came to work from nearby homes in Valencia or Newhall. Others went the distance. An Answer Products employee came in from Frazier Park, and Paul Brotzman, the city's planning and economic development director, arrived from his home in North Hollywood. That trip to City Hall took about an hour and a half. ``You got on the road, and you got to see the sun out of the horizon,'' he said, recalling dawn on Thursday. ``It's a beautiful clear day and it's kind of a fun ride.'' Brotzman only took up cycling about six months ago, when his daughter and son-in-law SON-IN-LAW, in Latin called gener. The husband of one's daughter. - both professional cyclists This is an incomplete list. Please add to this list if you are aware of an omission. This is a list of cyclists by decade. Cyclists by decade Cyclists before the 1880s
``I've just been into it since,'' said Brotzman, who goes on 60-mile rides on weekends. ``I can't think of a better exercise.'' Gutzeit hopes the event will encourage more people to give cycling to work a go. ``We know it's not the answer, just like not everybody's going to take the train and not everybody's going to take the bus,'' she said. ``It's just a way for this to grow. ``People are interested in fitness, we have great weather and it's good for the traffic situation. Once you sit through a couple of lights in traffic and look for a parking spot, it takes as much time as a bike ride.'' Eugene Tong, (661) 257-5253 eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com |
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