Map highlights safe bike routes

Billy Fried's new bike map details safe bike routes, where to rent bikes and more in Laguna. (Courtesy Billy Fried)

Billy Fried has had two epiphanies: One in 2002, when he decided to share his love of kayaking with paying customers, and a second in 2010, when he was inspired to create safe and eco-friendly bicycle routes through town.

Now, his bike map is a reality.

Drawn by local artist Jesse Miller, the map includes bike routes but also highlights historic architecture, community gardens and examples of public art.

Fried himself vetted the highlights and conceptualized routes that would show off the natural and man-made glories of Laguna as well encourage folks to get out of four-wheel vehicles and onto bicycles.

“About two years ago, it occurred to me that one way to galvanize our community to think of Laguna Beach as bike-friendly was to create a route through town that avoided major streets that put cyclists at risk,” said Fried, an avid cyclist and Transition Laguna board member

“This is not for the spandex riders that clog major city streets; it is a sight-seeing experience. My hope is that it will also reduce our parking problems.”

–Barbara Diamond, @CoastlinePilot, Coastline Pilot

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