Introducing Google Maps for bicyclists

Find out if you're taking the best route to Cal State Long Beach on your bicycle.

Google introduced a new feature, showing bicyclists better, faster routes to get from point A to point B.

The announcement came during the National Bike Summit on March 11.

Now, you can chose four different transportation methods by clicking the arrow on the drop box. The four methods include: car, bike, public transportation and walking.

It's the same model for finding directions in a car, which means it's still just as easy.

According to Google Maps, I could have been saving five minutes on my ride to school.

CSULB grad founds innovative bike co-op

Cal State University Long Beach alum Allyson Clark is gearing up for the opening of her bicycle club, the H.U.B. Bike Repair Cooperative, on Saturday, April 3rd from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Visit the Long Beach Cyclists website to view the grand opening events.

Many old bikes have already been donated to the bicycle club from locals and bike shops. Those bikes will be tuned up by volunteer mechanics and then sold by Clark's club. For bicycle owners who are looking for a tune up, the mechanics are ready to help.

"This is a DIY center. The mechanics show you how to do it yourself. It's not that hard," Clark said.

Clark received her B.A. in environmental science. The bike club is a way for Clark to help the community become more environmentally conscious.

"I was into [bike] maintenance," Clark said of her interest in creating a bike club. "I sat on different committees, trying to get [CSULB] more bike friendly. They seemed to focus mainly on cars," she said, concerning CSULB's transportation.

Clark also considers transportation around CSULB to have a lot of "bottlenecks." The term comes from the idea that a narrow pathway slows water from pouring out of a bottle.

"Transportation at Long Beach state is stop, go, stop, go," she said.

The CSULB Cyclists is a major group that supplies volunteers to the bike club. And if there's an event, members are alerted right away.

One of the lead mechanics at the Bike Co-op is junior recreations major Alex Tiberi. He donates old bicycles from his work, Pasadena Cyclery.

He also commutes to school on his bicycle. He begins his route at Studebaker Road.

"They have a bike route, but it's funky. I just ride in the right lane rather than the bike lane," Tiberi said.

One group of people that are using Clark's bike club are Cambodians. They left several rickshaw bicycles at the H.U.B. to be tuned up for the 6th annual Cambodian New Years Parade held on Anaheim Street April 4.

The community benefits from the H.U.B.'s programs: With the bike donations program, the price of a bike is reduced 25 percent, but that discount must be worked for by "being a wrench" or picking up trash at the H.U.B. The Earn-A-Bike program allows youth, homeless people and people who can't afford a bike to get one inexpensively.

"We make deals, but it's not free," Clark said.

Parts that are donated to the bicycle club are about one third of the retail price.

"It's $10 here compared to $30 at a bike shop," Allyson Clark said.

Clark has been trying to receive grants from local level committees for her innovative club. She has yet to apply for larger state grants such as the California Endowment grants because state grants are more likely to have a lot of applicants.

At the local level Clark goes to meetings and actually talks to people so they can get to know her and what she is doing for the community.

The H.U.B. is currently under minor construction, but it is still pushing forward and fixing up bikes. The Bike Co-op is located at 1740 Long Beach Blvd. They are open daily from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Do students who commute to campus do better in school than those who live on campus?

Students who commute to Cal State University Long Beach do better in school than those who live on campus, according to a recent poll, which calculates the average G.P.A of 45 commuters and 45 non commuters during their fall 2009 semester.

I approached students who live on campus at the Residence Dining cafeteria, and I approached students who commute to campus at the Student Union cafeteria. I also asked students for their G.P.A's through email. I did not ask them what grade level or major they were in, which may affect the results.

The common assumption is that students who live on campus are in social party mode, and that the students assume, because they live on campus, they will always have plenty of time to do their homework, whereas students who commute to campus take school more seriously and must be prepared for school before they leave home.

Students who live off campus explain their feelings about homework and campus life:

"I am positive if I lived on campus I would get better grades. The atmosphere at school makes it easier for studying," senior journalism major Stephanie Rivera said.

"I do more homework on campus because it feels more conducive to a work environment. I do a lot of work in the library because I need a computer or I work near a power source where I can use my laptop," sophomore film major Allan Tolkoff said.

"I lived in the dorms my freshman year and my G.P.A was 2.91. Since then, my cumulative G.P.A has raised to 3.33," junior communications major Michael Taylor said.

Students who live on campus explain their feelings about homework and campus life:

"I do all my homework [on campus]. My friends and I do homework together and work on projects together," freshman chemical engineer major Tauri Smith said.

"I find it difficult to study and do coursework in the on-campus housing, as there are no quiet places during the evening, which is when I have the most time available for my schoolwork," senior English major Bertrand Ithurburn said.

Campus roads closed, Saturday, due to 5K marathon

On Saturday, March 6, many campus roads will be closed to all vehicles from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The Long Beach Transit buses will change their route from 5:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. They will drive as close to campus as possible, making stops at 7th Street and Bellflower Boulevard. The Student Center for Professional Development (SCPD) is hosting its second annual 5K Run/Walk. The event celebrates fitness and raises money for various programs run by the center.

Click here to view the 5K Run/Walk course map and parking

PUBLIC NOTICE OF DETOUR

LONG BEACH TRANSIT

To accomodate The CSULB 5K Run/Walk

Long Beach Transit Lines 91,92,93,94,171 and Passport Line D will be on Detour from 5:30 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. Saturday, March 6. There will be no service inside the university.

You may board Lines 91,92,93,94 and Passport Line D (outbound to Bellflower and sterns) in front of the Veteran's Affairs(VA) hospital on 7th Street at Channel Drive.

You may board inbound Line 171 (to PCH and Santa Fe) on 7th Street in front of the VA hospital.

ROUTE 91/92/93/94:

Outbound:

Regular route east on 7^th Street

Detour via right on PCH

Left on Channel Drive

Left on 7^th Street

Stop at the VA and announce your direction of travel

Right on Bellflower Boulevard

Resume regular route

Inbound:

Regular route to Beach Drive

Detour via continuing south on Bellflower Boulevard

Left on PCH

Left on Channel Drive

Left on 7^th Street

Resume regular route

Route D:

Outbound:

Regular route to Channel Drive at 7^th Street

Detour via left on 7^th Street

Stop in front of the VA announce your direction of travel

Right on Bellflower Boulevard

Resume regular route

Inbound:

Regular route to Beach Drive

Detour via continue south on Bellflower Boulevard

Stop at inbound 171

Stop at Anaheim Drive and Bellflower Boulevard

Left on 7^th Street

Right on Channel Drive

Resume regular route.

Route 171:

Outbound:

Regular route to Bellflower Boulevard

Detour via right on Bellflower Boulevard

Left on 7^th Street

Right on Channel Drive

Resume regular route

Inbound:

Regular route to 7^th Street

Detour via left on 7^th Street

Stop in front of the VA announce your direction of travel

Right on Bellflower Boulevard

Left on Anaheim Road

Resume regular route


Cal State University Parking and Transportation Services must close roads when there will be heavy pedestrian traffic. Signs have been posted near entrance roads and parking lots. Campus regulations mandate that signs be put up at least 72 hours before the event.

Four parking service employees will set up barricades and cones. Then, one employee will gather the equipment as areas become clear, according to Field Service's Operation Manager Alan Moore.

"The race starts at 9 a.m. People finish at their own pace. Last year, people started finishing in 45 minutes," Shelia Hill, host of the 5k Run/Walk, said.

These street signs were posted Tuesday in nine different areas on campus.

Posted at Deukmejian Way and State University Drive

Posted at parking lot 8A in front of the Fine Arts 4 building

Posted at parking lot 7 in front of the Theatre Arts building

Posted at South Campus Drive and West Campus Drive

Posted at parking lot 5 in front of the Language Arts 5 building

Posted at parking lot 18 in front of Brotman Hall

Posted at parking lot 17 in front of Brotman Hall

Posted at parking lot 14 section C on the North end of campus

Posted at parking lot 14 section B in front of the Pyramid

Riding a bike to get to class

I ride my red beach cruiser bicycle 2.5 miles to class Monday through Wednesday. It's not as fast as the other lightweight or gear-shifting bikes, but it gets me there. During my first semester at CSULB, I bought a $135 parking pass, but found myself parking on Bellflower Boulevard because there were never available parking spaces. So, instead of raising my blood pressure, looking for parking, I decided to ride my bike.

Cal State Long Beach and the city of Long Beach are bike friendly. In fact, the city of Long Beach is trying to make Long Beach the most bike friendly city in America. CSULB has one bicycle club called the CSULB Cyclists who meet at USU 205 every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 2 p.m. They also have a facebook page. The club promotes "cycling as a fun, valued and sustainable transportation choice on and off campus through community, advocacy, and education," according to the CSULB Cyclists' website.

Travis Bos, a co-founder of the CSULB Cyclists, lives in downtown Long Beach and takes a ten mile commute to and from school. He expressed some of his rules-of-thumb: "I always wear a helmet while pedaling about, [I] use lights when it's dark [and] I use a u-lock to secure my frame and rear wheel to a bike rack."

There are many bike rules, but knowing a few essential ones will help correct simple on-the-road errors. More importantly drivers appreciate a confident and predictable bike rider.

This gentlemen rides his bike in the middle of the lane:

He does not swerve in between parked cars, entering in and out of traffic

bikexpert.com image

Opening car doors cannot reach him

bikexpert.com image

Cars cannot squeeze him off the road by trying to pass him in his lane

bikexpert.com image

"Cars have as much right to the roads as I do. [I] just wish motor vehicle drivers were more informed when it comes to the rights and responsibilities of cyclists. I've had a handful of close calls with motor vehicle run-ins, mostly because the motorist wasn't paying attention to traffic signals/signage or was unwilling to accept my presence on the road," Bos said.

Riding the bus to get to class

I had my bike and my identification card ready when the Passport bus arrived. "Let's go," the bus driver yelled at the woman and I getting on the bus. Cal State University students take the Passport bus for free as long as they have their student identification card. Passport D is the bus that goes to Cal State University Long Beach. It stops every thirty minutes at the "Passport A & D" bus stops. The logo can be found on the bus stop sign, which may be located on the front or back of the post. Students also use the Long Beach transit buses to get to school. These buses cost $1.25 one way. There are many different reasons students choose the bus system, but the main reason is not having a car. Additionally, some students live far away and don't want to pay the gas money or deal with the wear and tear of the long drive; some students live so close to campus it is faster to take the bus than walk across several parking lots; and some students don't want to bother searching for a parking space in their own vehicle.
"Since it's been free, I've noticed more people using the bus," international biology graduate student Mario Espinoza said. "My only complaint is that there are less buses after 6 p.m. and even less after 9 p.m."
The Passport bus seats 23 people and can hold eight standing people. The Long Beach Transit bus holds more.
"It's usually half full, noisy and upbeat with friends talking to each other, people on the phone, and people talking with other people," said Jessica Nelson, 20, while waiting for the bus to take her to work. She transfers from the Passport bus to the Long Beach Transit bus at the Language Arts 1 building. Visit www.lbtransit.com for routes and schedule information. Once on the bus, grab a "route and schedule" booklet to keep in your backpack. Hit the Passport's "stop" button to get off the bus and into class.

Take the highway/freeway to get to class

California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90840
USA
CSULB Maps, Parking and Traffic Information

Campus Directory(Click to enlarge)
Bellflower Boulevard and the main entrance are on the left. The visiting information center is a drive through. It will be in the far right lane on Beach Drive.

CSULB website image


Freeways to CSULB

CSULB website image

From Pacific Coast Highway heading South
Take PCH to Bellflower Boulevard. Make a left. Next, turn right on Beach Drive. The visitor information center will be on the right hand side.

From Pacific Coast Highway heading North
Take PCH to Bellflower Boulevard. Make a right. Next, turn right on Beach Drive. The visitor information center will be on the right hand side.

From the 405 heading South
Take the 405 to Bellflower Boulevard. Exit Bellflower (South). Get into the left turn lane. Turn left onto Los Coyotes Diagonal. The first right is Bellflower Boulevard. Next, make a left onto Beach Drive. The visitor information center will be on the right hand side.

From the 405 heading North
Take the 405 to Bellflower Boulevard. Make a left on Beach Boulevard. The visitor information center will be on the right hand side.

From the 22 heading West
Take the 22 and merge onto the 405. Take the 405 to Bellflower Boulevard. Make a left on Beach Boulevard. The visitor information center will be on the right hand side.

From the 605 heading South
Take the 605 and merge onto 7th Street (North). Make a right onto Bellflower Boulevaard. Make a right on Beach Boulevard. The visitor information center will be on the right hand side.