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brianaOne of Long Beach’s most vocal and well-versed bicycling advocates, Brian Addison, will be honored by the California Bicycle Coalition (CalBike) with the organization’s inaugural Bicycle Dreamer Award on Monday, November 2. The event will be held at MADE in Long Beach from 6:30PM to 8:30PM and is open to those who RSVP in advance.

The award honors an individual who has extraordinarily assisted in the advancement of the CalBike’s mission and dream, to see all Californians able to ride their bicycles safely and conveniently wherever they wish to go and, as a result, watch communities and their residents thrive. Addison has used his writing and social media prowess to engage, educate and inform readers of the fortuitous opportunities bicycling presents.

Addison’s award will be presented during the annual California Dream Ride fundraising tour, a ride to raise awareness and funds to improve bicycling throughout the Golden state. This year the ride will leave Santa Barbara on October 30 and go to San Diego, after making a stop in Long Beach and ending November 4.

In an interview with Long Beach bicycling advocate Melissa Balmer, Addison mentioned the top three changes he would make to create better bicycling conditions and a more connected community.

Addison said the number one priority would be connecting North Long Beach, “where many don’t use bikes because it makes them fashionable or seem progressive but because they need them for day-to-day survival.”

Secondly, Addison said that hosting more ciclovias events in the area would increase visibility and make a bold statement that cyclists are here to use and improve our city’s infrastructure.

Lastly, the always-opinionated Addison called for putting an end to the “bragging-rights driven motivation that brings a lot of infrastructure to Long Beach,” and called for the city’s implementation of solutions that actually work and move us forward, instead of attempting to be the “first in doing something.”

Addison was also honored this year with the coveted Online Journalist of the Year award from the LA Press Club for his work at both Longbeachize.com and for his time as associate, then executive editor of the Post.

So stop by MADE in Long Beach and give one of the city’s more influential bicycling advocates a handshake or high five.

To RSVP for the ceremony, click here. Food options will be available from Lola’s Mexican Cuisine and should also be reserved online in advance to ensure availability. A craft beer bar, silent auction, DJ and a short program featuring CalBike’s executive director will fill the evening.

MADE in Long Beach is located at 236 Pine Avenue.

Editor’s Note: Brian Addison is the former Executive Editor of the Long Beach Post. He now works as Communications Manager for the Downtown Long Beach Associates and as Editor of LongBeachize.com.

Above, left: file photo. 

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Asia Morris is a Long Beach native covering arts and culture for the Long Beach Post. You can reach her @hugelandmass on Twitter and Instagram and at [email protected].