Julian Katz was beloved cycling advocate
Julian Katz, a former board member of the South Bay Bicycle Coalition, managed to be both a zealous advocate and a friendly face. Photo courtesy South Bay Bicycle Coalition The cyclists had a tough road to climb. In 2010, the El Segundo City Council was holding a hearing on the South Bay Bicycle Master Plan, and members of the audience were urging rejection. Not enough people rode bikes, the skeptics said, to justify approving the plan, especially not senior citizens. It was at that point that the South Bay Bicycle Coalition deployed their “secret weapon,” 80-year-old board member Julian Katz. Katz stepped up to the microphone and, without a drip of malice in his voice, said, “Hello, I’m Julian Katz. I’m a senior citizen, and I ride a bicycle. So now you’ve met a senior citizen who rides bikes.” Todd DiPaola, a Manhattan Beach resident and former president of the coalition, shared the story Sunday morning during a memorial bike ride for Katz. The Hermosa Beach resident passed away last week due to complications from prostate cancer. He was 88. Friends, family, and colleagues recalled Katz as a dedicated but mild-tempered volunteer and advocate, one whose energy and commitment will…
Read this story on easyreadernews.com