Without a Car in the World!

There are plenty of reasons to ride your bicycle in Beverly Hills. It's good for the environment, your physical and mental health, and it's easy on the pocketbook.

Resident Ron Durgin moved here from Washington in 1999. He chose to settle in Beverly Hills because of its central location within the hustle and bustle of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Incredibly, Durgin has been without a car for close to 15 years. He navigates the streets of Beverly Hills and beyond on his customized bicycles.

City streets can be dangerous for those pedaling rather than hitting the gas, but when you're a confident, educated cycler you can prepare yourself for the bumps in the road that come with choosing two wheels over four. And Durgin can help you become the educated bike rider you need to be to stay safe on the road.

As the founder of sustainablestreetsla.org, our local rolling role model offers free classes for adults 18 and up so they can learn to ride safely, legally and with confidence on city streets. Check out the list of classes on his website.

What's Durgin's favorite Beverly Hills street? Burton Way, he says, because it's the fastest route from his house on the east side of town to the Beverly Hills Farmers' Market. He also uses the road as a quick way to head westward to destinations such as Santa Monica.

"The city has some great streets that could be made better for everyone with a few modifications," Durgin said. "Clifton Way and Charleville would be fantastic candidates for Bike Boulevards, like what is being proposed along Fourth Street throughout Los Angeles."

Durgin gives the Beverly Hills Public Works Department two thumbs-up for keeping our street surfaces smooth and well maintained. Rough roads are the most common cause of riding mishaps.

With the support of residents and visitors, Durgin hopes that Beverly Hills will ultimately introduce new bike paths and signage within the city. He's also hoping for improved bike racks.

What else can you do to help the cyclers' cause in Beverly Hills? Attend and speak out at City Council meetings and tell your city officials that you want more done to encourage bike riding in town.

More earth-friendly ideas: Make your bike errand-worthy by attaching a basket to your handlebars. Or the next time you and friends dine out together, pedal as a group to your dinner destination (but be sure your bicycles have reflectors and/or lights). Who needs the hassle of finding a place to park?

Where do you ride your bicycle in Beverly Hills? If you don't bike, why not? What can Beverly Hills do to make the city safer for bike riders? Let us know in the comments section below!