Nathalie Winiarski stood at a Glendale intersection Thursday evening with red and white bike lights, as well as reflective bands, in hand.
Along with her fellow volunteers from Walk Bike Glendale, a local chapter of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, Winiarski hoped to catch commuters cycling home from work to educate them about roadway rules and hand out bike lights.
NEWSLETTER: Stay up to date with what’s going on in the 818 >>
“We got free stuff to give away,” she called out to one cyclist, who pointed to his headphones and continued biking. Legally, she said, cyclists are only allowed to keep a bud in one ear. “It’s really dangerous – if they can’t hear me, they can’t hear their environment.”
Five joggers ran past shortly after, each of them snagging reflective bands to use when exercising outside at night.
1/9
Nathalie Winiarski, with the Walk Bike Glendale Steering Committee, shows her volunteers the packet of information to be given to pedestrians and cyclists on the corner of Flower Street and Sonora Avenue in Glendale, as part of Operation Firefly on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. Operation Firefly’s intention is to make sure people riding bikes in Los Angeles County are riding safely at night. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
2/9
Vice Chair of Walk Bike Glendale Martha Sensel, of Glendale, talks with a cyclist about riding safely at night on the corner of Flower Street and Sonora Avenue in Glendale, as part of Operation Firefly on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. Operation Firefly’s intention is to make sure people riding bikes in Los Angeles County are riding safely at night. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
3/9
Nathalie Winiarski, with Walk Bike Glendale, demonstrates to Michael Dennis, of Burbank, how she would like him to light up a sign using one of the safety lights on the corner of Flower Street and Sonora Avenue in Glendale, as part of Operation Firefly on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. Operation Firefly’s intention is to make sure people riding bikes in Los Angeles County are riding safely at night. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
4/9
Nathalie Winiarski, with Walk Bike Glendale, talks with a members of a Disney triathlon team Daniel Silva, of Los Angeles, Angela Jay, of Glendale, and Monique Diman, of Burbank, about being safe running at night on the corner of Flower Street and Sonora Avenue in Glendale, as part of Operation Firefly on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. Operation Firefly’s intention is to make sure people riding bikes in Los Angeles County are riding safely at night. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
5/9
Vice Chair of Walk Bike Glendale Martha Sensel, of Glendale, is helped by volunteer Michael Dennis and Nathalie Winiarski with additional safety lighting on the corner of Flower Street and Sonora Avenue in Glendale, as part of Operation Firefly on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. Operation Firefly’s intention is to make sure people riding bikes in Los Angeles County are riding safely at night. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
6/9
A cyclists, without a tail light, passes through a group of volunteers with Walk Bike Glendale on the corner of Flower Street and Sonora Avenue in Glendale, as part of Operation Firefly on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. Operation Firefly’s intention is to make sure people riding bikes in Los Angeles County are riding safely at night. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
7/9
A pedestrian crosses against a “don’t walk” light on the corner of Flower Street and Sonora Avenue in Glendale, as part of Operation Firefly on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. Operation Firefly’s intention is to make sure people riding bikes, and walking, in Los Angeles County are doing so safely at night. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
8/9
The hands of a volunteer assembling one of the free safety lights that will be given to pedstrians and cyclists on the corner of Flower Street and Sonora Avenue in Glendale, as part of Operation Firefly on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. Operation Firefly’s intention is to make sure people riding bikes in Los Angeles County are riding safely at night. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
9/9
Nathalie Winiarski of the Walk Bike Glendale Steering Committee gives instructions to her team of volunteers on the corner of Flower Street and Sonora Avenue in Glendale, as part of Operation Firefly on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. Operation Firefly’s intention is to make sure people riding bikes in Los Angeles County are riding safely at night. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
“This is fantastic,” said jogger Angela Jay, who was training for a triathlon with her co-workers. “Safety is such a big deal.”
During the nearly two-hour operation, volunteers distributed 15 sets of red and white bike lights, as well as numerous reflective bands purchased by the city, to pedestrians and cyclists at the intersection of Flower Street and Sonora Avenue.
Volunteers handed out brochures with safety tips, like how to fix a flat tire and stay visible on the road.
While cyclists are required to use a white front light at night, along with rear, side and pedal reflectors, Winiarski recommended that bikers wear reflective vests, white or light-colored clothes, and extra lights.
“I’ve never had lights on my bicycle before,” said passerby Matthew Popp, 44, who, along with 13 others, was surveyed on his cycling habits and knowledge of roadway laws. “I was careless and irresponsible — I’m going to do all the things I learned tonight.”
The organization held a similar light distribution event two years ago, and this time around, Winiarski noticed that more cyclists were already equipped with bike lights.
“It’s all about being seen,” she said.
--
Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com
Twitter: @atchek
--
ALSO:
USC Verdugo Hills Hospital doctor known for house calls retires after 53 years
Glendale pair convicted of laundering more than $1 million in Medicare fraud
Four suspects charged in connection to Glendale street robberies
