Bicycles

City employees spent the past several weeks at the Burbank Recycle Center using some elbow grease on a stack of nearly 80 bicycles to distribute as gifts to needy families. In preparation of the Burbank Salvation Army Toy and Food Distribution on Dec. 20, city employees helped repair and revamp the bicycles for distribution. "When families come in to fill out the Angel Tree tags, they usually include what the kids need, like socks, shoes and other clothing," said Salvation Army Lt. Kari Rudd.

More than 150 refurbished bicycles were donated to the Salvation Army on Tuesday by the Burbank Bike Angels, a group of 50 city employees and residents who have been greasing chains, brushing up rusty metal and fixing flat tires for more than three months. The holiday gifts will be distributed to Burbank families later this month. “What we find so heartening is the kids, of course, feel overjoyed to be getting such a big gift, but their parents also feel great about seeing their kid getting a gift when they may not have been able to afford something like that,” said Ferris Kawar, a city employee and Bike Angels volunteer.

The Burbank Bike Angels, a group of volunteers who restore bicycles for needy youth in the community, delivered close to 150 bikes to the Salvation Army on Monday. Lt. Kari Rudd of the Salvation Army Burbank Corps Community Center said it is the third year bikes have been donated to the center. The first year, about 10 bikes were collected. That figure grew to 67 last year, and then to 146 this year. The city of Burbank collects the bikes - usually second-hand - from the public, while members of the police and fire unions donate money for safety equipment and parts.

Ah, yes, summer time. The days are hot, and thousands of school children are idle. Even without a calendar, I could tell simply by observing the increased density of teenagers per square yard in downtown Burbank. Well, they have a need and a right. Same as everyone else. They often don’t come alone though, bringing their bicycles and skateboards. That is not something that troubled me, until they started using them on the sidewalk. On numerous occasions, skateboarders would race around corners and weave through unsuspecting pedestrians who were startled at the sudden sound and close call and recoiled in fright.

Jenna Bordelon BURBANK -- The City Council took steps Tuesday to amend a city ordinance dealing with the areas where scooter and skateboarding aficionados are allowed to ride. The council voted 4-0 to clean up language in the municipal code with respect to designated areas in city parks that are off-limits to self-propelled vehicles. Signs prohibiting skateboards, scooters and bicycles are posted around most of the city's 25 parks, said Michael Flad, director of the Park, Recreation and Community Services Department.

Regarding Steve Urbanovich's letter ("Streets are made for cars, not bicycles," Sept. 18), finally, someone has the courage and insight to connect the dots between bicycle riders and the tragedy of 9/11. Pack your bags, Mr. Urbanovich. You're going to Congress! Charles Carney Burbank Streets used to be for horses I read Steve Urbanovich's Mailbag letter in Saturday's Leader regarding bike lanes (Streets are made for cars, not bicycles," Sept.

After reading Herbert Thrift's letter regarding the two kids on bikes who were ticketed for not wearing helmets, I am compelled to add my own comments. ("Active Policing is Burbank's pride," April 15). Mr. Thrift states "the intersection in question (Olive and Pass avenue) is definitely not the place for 11-year-olds to be riding bicycles." I understand he means well, but he is wrong! Generally speaking, bikes are prohibited from freeways and sidewalks.

Gary Moskowitz HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- It's all about finding yourself a good seat on the Fourth of July. Those wise enough to set up camp early Wednesday evening in and around Burbank's Starlight Bowl for the 2001 fireworks display were treated to fantastic views from their strategic vantage points. Some sat in the beds of their pickup trucks, and some sat on top of their fathers' shoulders, while others kicked back in folding chairs, their feet propped up on coolers.

More than 150 refurbished bicycles were donated to the Salvation Army on Tuesday by the Burbank Bike Angels, a group of 50 city employees and residents who have been greasing chains, brushing up rusty metal and fixing flat tires for more than three months. The holiday gifts will be distributed to Burbank families later this month. “What we find so heartening is the kids, of course, feel overjoyed to be getting such a big gift, but their parents also feel great about seeing their kid getting a gift when they may not have been able to afford something like that,” said Ferris Kawar, a city employee and Bike Angels volunteer.

Two brothers allegedly involved in a knife and bottle fight over a bicycle were arrested on Tuesday in the 1900 block of Victory Boulevard in Burbank, police said. Rodney Matheney, 50, allegedly used his brother Wilbert's bike without his permission. After an argument ensued, Wilbert, 48, allegedly armed himself with a knife; Rodney with a bottle and BBQ fork, according to Sgt. Darin Ryburn. During the altercation, Rodney allegedly threw the bottle at Wilbert's Honda, shattering the rear window behind which Wilbert's grandmother was sitting, Ryburn said.

Bike thefts are on the rise in Burbank, police say, with 144 reported stolen so far this year. That number is more than the 127 bikes stolen from January to July 2011, - an increase of about 13%, Sgt. Darin Ryburn said. “It's a pretty big issue right now,” he said, adding it was a crime trend police were trying combat. The majority of stolen bikes are left unattended or unlocked, Ryburn said. Nine people have been arrested on suspicion of stealing bikes so far this year, including a 34-year-old transient, Leonel Gomez, who was arrested Saturday morning.

I am perplexed as to how my tax dollars could ultimately end up as a nearly half-million-dollar grant to Muir, Jefferson and Washington schools for bicycle infrastructure (“ Cities receive safety grants ,” July 11). I can't speak for Washington, but my three children went to Jefferson, and the rules stated that no students below fourth grade could ride and park their bikes on campus. Also, in the three years that my children went to Muir, I can honestly tell you that I have never seen a student ride a bike to school (we live off Kenneth)

The Burbank Bike Angels, a group of volunteers who restore bicycles for needy youth in the community, delivered close to 150 bikes to the Salvation Army on Monday. Lt. Kari Rudd of the Salvation Army Burbank Corps Community Center said it is the third year bikes have been donated to the center. The first year, about 10 bikes were collected. That figure grew to 67 last year, and then to 146 this year. The city of Burbank collects the bikes - usually second-hand - from the public, while members of the police and fire unions donate money for safety equipment and parts.

Two vehicles and four bicycles have been recently stolen, and items were stolen from several others, police said. Between 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25 and 7:30 a.m. Oct. 26, a laptop and two laptop bags, valued at roughly $1,400, were taken from a 1997 BMW on Sixth Street when the driver's side door and window were pried open. On Oct. 24, a bumper and CD/DVD player, valued at about $1,100, were taken from a Honda Civic on Orange Grove Avenue. Police said it was unclear how entry was made.

I first saw him parked there on his motorcycle at the corner on Seventh Street and Verdugo Avenue. He was facing north. I was going south. I guess I didn't think the stop sign at Verdugo applied to me, so I ran it. The police officer pointed his gloved finger at me and gestured to where he wanted me to stop. Then he wrote the ticket. My first ticket. Driver: Donald Ray Age: 10 Vehicle make: Murray Bicycle. Place of employment: Joaquin Miller School. Occupation: “Grammer School” (That's right, he misspelled grammar, but I must confess that I wasn't the one who caught the gaffe)

City employees spent the past several weeks at the Burbank Recycle Center using some elbow grease on a stack of nearly 80 bicycles to distribute as gifts to needy families. In preparation of the Burbank Salvation Army Toy and Food Distribution on Dec. 20, city employees helped repair and revamp the bicycles for distribution. "When families come in to fill out the Angel Tree tags, they usually include what the kids need, like socks, shoes and other clothing," said Salvation Army Lt. Kari Rudd.

Regarding Steve Urbanovich's letter ("Streets are made for cars, not bicycles," Sept. 18), finally, someone has the courage and insight to connect the dots between bicycle riders and the tragedy of 9/11. Pack your bags, Mr. Urbanovich. You're going to Congress! Charles Carney Burbank Streets used to be for horses I read Steve Urbanovich's Mailbag letter in Saturday's Leader regarding bike lanes (Streets are made for cars, not bicycles," Sept.

Who are the people trying to get people out of their cars and onto bikes ("Hoping to see more bicycle lanes," July 21)? Traffic in Burbank is quadrupling, and they continue to shrink our roads with bicycle lanes. Is this insanity or what? It's almost like a conspiracy to see just how far they can go to really screw things up. The county is falling apart, starting with the president right down to the lower level of local politics. Anyone who rides a bike on the over-car-crowded streets of Burbank should be deemed suicidal.