District No. 4 Councilman Tom LaBonge isn’t the only civic leader around town to trumpet the benefits of bicycling, but as a city official he definitely does more than talk the talk; his elected butt is damn sure seen in the saddle more than anyone past or present, perhaps with the exception of Mayor Richard Riordan.

The last time I saw LaBonge he was pedaling up to be a part of the 5th-annual Blessing of the Bikes at Good Samaritan Hospital during Bike To Work Week in May. And there he was again last night leading a group of about 50 riders on 4th Street (4SBB Live The Dream!) from Shatto Park east of Vermont  west to its end at the Park La Brea compound. With a stop at L.A. City Fire Station No. 61 at 3rd and Cochran, followed by free ice cream at the Larchmont Village Baskin-Robbins, last night’s ride was a virtual repeat of the one LaBonge hosted last August (Flickr set here), and the first this summer of a total of five Wednesday nighters he has planned:

• Jul. 30: Silver Lake & Griffith Park
• Aug . 06: City Hall & Downtown
• Aug. 13: Toluca Lake & North Hollywood
• Aug. 20: Hollywood & Hancock Park

The scheduled start times are 6:15, with about a two-hour duration. Routes will reportedly be posted in advance on the councilman’s website at: www.tomlabonge.com. I believe the start point for next week’s ride is Mulholland Fountain at Riverside Drive and Los Feliz Boulevard. Hope to see you out there.

Flickr set from last night’s ride, here. 

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3. Well, 3.5 Years Later I Guess I Can Finally Stop Saying That Councilman Tom LaBonge Is A Nonresponsive Disinterested Bastard
4. Bike co-op film shows the power of the bike community in LA
5. LA Bike Culture Gets LA Mag Inkage