Griffith Park and LA River Highlighted in the Tour LaBonge

Tour LaBonge, the Councilmember’s series of summer evening bike rides, celebrated its fifth night on Wednesday with a 17-mile ride that began at the historic Mulholland Fountain.
The Councilmember led the way through the rolling hills of Griffith Park on Crystal Springs Drive, past the Autry National Center and onward along the Los Angeles River. Thanks goes to Pasadena's Incycle Bicycles for providing free bicycle tune-ups beforehand!
Riders were treated to sweeping views of the river, which was alive with great blue herons, great egrets, black-crowned night herons, a mass of Black-necked stilts, and even a double-crested cormorant. Thank you to rider Olive Kearn for identifying the various species.
Librarian Clare O'Callaghan was recognized for commuting to work regularly on her bike after one of the LaBonge rides inspired her to climb onto a bicycle for the first time since her childhood.
“Clare O’Callahan was motivated by Tour LaBonge to keep on bicycling, but I’ve met so many people who are motivated by her,” Councilmember LaBonge said. “That is the great thing about cycling: we’ve all got it in us. Thanks to Clare for being today’s inspiration through the climbs of Griffith Park.”
The annual Tour LaBonge bike rides are fun events that promote cycling as an inexpensive, environmentally friendly and healthy form of transportation. Every ride includes a police escort that will lead, accompany and follow the group.
The final bike ride on Wednesday, July 21 will take cyclists through Hollywood. It will begin at Councilmember LaBonge’s Hollywood Field Office at 6501 Fountain Avenue.