Cycling Advocate Mark Bixby Dead in Plane Crash

The Los Angeles Times reports that cycling advocate Mark Bixby has died in a plane crash at Long Beach airport. Community leaders Tom Dean and Jeff Berger were also killed; also onboard, Mike Jensen is listed in critical condition.

Mark was an avid cyclist and blogger. His blogging passion was related to the Desmond Bridge; a complete rebuild is planned. This billion dollar design originally did not include access for pedestrians and cyclists. Mark was tenacious in his efforts to convince the parties involved to make this access an essential component of the redesign. He found allies at City Hall and at the Coastal Commission; just yesterday he posted a letter from the Coastal Commission in support of bike lanes and pedestrian access on his blog.

I recently interviewed Mark with his pal and fellow advocate Allan Crawford. We met at his office; Allan bringing his video camera to record the recording. Mark and Allan described the struggle to get the attention of CalTrans and the Port of Long Beach and right after our interview they would be on the phone for an update on the status of their request. I could stay and sit in. The phone call went well; we were all feeling the tide had changed: Caltrans and the Port agreed, bicycle and pedestrian access would be part of the new construction. “Come to lunch?” I didn’t want to leave, the atmosphere was electric, “I’m meeting Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal downtown,” and together we celebrated.

I credit Mark Bixby for this blog; he encouraged me as I first began writing opinion pieces on cycling safety issues locally here in Newport Beach. Mark found this commentary and encouraged me. “You ought to interview Charlie Gandy;” the minute he said it, it seemed so obvious, so I called Charlie and the rest you see here on this blog.

What a personable man. When I sat down with him for the interview I handed him a copy of my dance book; I do that to allay my guests’ concerns as I’m about to ask to take their picture and many professional people are rightly concerned about their image. The next day he called me to describe how he shared the book with his daughter, then he goes on to say that he could see himself doing something similar someday, spending time behind a camera. Few people call to share such dreams. Once the interview posted he wrote a personal comment: “you’re a great story teller;” a little encouragement like that goes a long way with me. He was someone who, even though we’d just met, or initially when we’d only met over email, I felt he was someone who took a personal interest in me and what I was doing.  He’d call again, this time just last week on his way to Mammoth for several days of skiing. “Could we meet when I get back? I’m interested in podcasting; I think I could do it in my commercial real estate business. I know a lot of cool people to interview.” Would I help? I immediately offered a time to get together, but it didn’t work for him; he’d be off skiing.

See the prior post featuring Mark and Allan; more details can be found at bikinginLA.

Adventure Cycling’s Jim Sayer snapped this photo last summer when he rode the Pacific Coast from border to border with his 3 daughters. Andrea White celebrated his visit with a BBQ and a bike ride with Mark.

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