Putting the Pedal to the Metal

Posted on Posted onBy Shannon Cavanagh
Photographed by Erik Jay - Written by Shannon Cavanagh

Every once in a while, you meet someone who is so positive, so in love with life and where they live and comfortable in their own skin you instantly want to know them (and their secret). Meet Monique Leahey Sugimoto who is a Lunada Bay resident and an archivist at the Palos Verdes Library District. She is the tour de force behind The Pedal Project, Pedal PV. With Pandemic fatigue being very tangible and widely felt Monique realized she needed to figure out a way to keep the community excited about the library and our local history. Monique has been riding an electric bike from her home in Lunada Bay to the library where she works for years. She recently set out to document her local electric bike rides around Palos Verdes discovering preserves, showcasing our history, visiting landmarks, experiencing the great out-doors and essentially becoming a moving window to our community. Her husband plays cinematographer to her director and location scout; and she even has playlists that accompany each ride-adventure and a YouTube Channel. Monique maps out her Pedals in 3 – 4 minute YouTube vignettes and encourages residents to cycle the routes.

She encourages route suggestions and is eager to connect with the community she loves. Connectivity is at Monique’s core. A proud Palos Verdes resident, wife, and aunt to many nieces and nephews, she is passionate about the Peninsula. She brings our beloved community together through The Pedal Project and has a deep rooted love for PV History. She created ‘Your Story is the Peninsula’s Story’ on the Palos Verdes Library District’s website. She realizes the importance of documenting what’s happening now for future generations. Residents are encouraged to document and share their life during COVID and before. Be it a bike ride, family hike, Easter egg hunt, surf patrol, wedding photos, historical photos, multi-generational or contemporary ones.

Monique, PVLD and Palos Verdes Magazine invite you and encourages you to visit The Pedal Project at YouTube and set out on your own path or two-wheel adventure. Share your journey on Instagram and tag @palosverdesmagazine and @palosverdeslibrary. We would love to see where you take us!

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2 Replies to “Putting the Pedal to the Metal”

  1. Pedal PV is a great channel on YouTube! It inspired us to get out, explore, and we have started pedaling around the Peninsula and beyond! It is definitely an antidote to pandemic fatigue!

    Carrie S. says:

    1. Thank you, Carrie! Good to hear you’ve found Pedal PV. If you have suggestions for a Pedal episode, do let me know. Monique –

      Monique Sugimoto says:

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