Alleged killer Playa driver faces 2 prior DUIs, Bass works to keep Forest Lawn deadly, and “tyrannical bike kings” overtake NYC

May 18, 2026 / / No comments

I may be wrong. 

But somehow, I don’t think this plate I spotted yesterday on motor scooter is an official DMV-issued license plate.

And thanks to everyone who sent items in over the weekend. I’m holding most of it over until tomorrow because of the epic length of today’s post, and my own short attention span. 

………

This is why people keep dying on our streets.

Police identified the man who ran away from a fatal Playa del Rey collision as 28-year old Moises Santiago Rodriguez Leiva of Canyon Country.

Leiva was arrested three days after the May 3rd crash that killed a one-year old boy and his 25-year old uncle, and injured three others — one critically.

Survivors alleged that Leiva crashed into them in an act of road rage, while driving on the wrong side of the road at a high rate of speed.

The Los Angeles Times reports he was already facing two counts of DUI at the time of the crash, one from June of last year, and another from July, 2024. A judge had issued a bench warrant this January for failing to appear.

His arrest after three days on the run gave him plenty of time to sober up if he had been drinking again prior to the Playa crash. He is currently being held on $200,000 bond as prosecutors ponder charges.

This case raises the question of why drivers are allowed to remain on the road after they’ve been arrested for DUI.

A single arrest should result in the automatic suspension of a driver’s license, at least until the driver appears in court to respond to charges.

If they receive a second DUI before the first case is adjudicated, their license should be physically removed by the judge, and their vehicle impounded until such time as they are acquitted, or complete the sentence from both crimes.

That would have kept Leiva off the road. And chances are, one-year old Roger Sandoval and 25-year old Oswaldo Sandoval would still be alive.

Meanwhile, Streets Are For Everyone offers a guide to the state of DUI in the state of California, as well as the 16 DUI-related bills currently under consideration in the California legislature.

Yes, 16.

I say pass them all, and let the courts figure it out.

I’ve already lost a cousin and a childhood friend to drunk drivers. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to lose another one.

And speaking of drunk drivers, a New York driver plowed into a car while traveling at 108 mph, allegedly under the influence, then continued on into a group of pedestrians, killing two people and leaving three others in critical condition.

But sure, let’s let this guy stay on the road once he makes bail.

………

Streets For All alleges Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has intervened to pause, if not halt, the safety work scheduled for Forest Lawn Drive.

According to the traffic safety PAC, Bass reached out to StreetsLA to order a delay in the project at the request of Forest Lawn and Mount Sinai cemeteries, as they apparently attempt to increase their business by killing more of us off.

This project has already been debated for years, and multiple city agencies have concluded that will not only improve safety on Forest Lawn Drive, but won’t significantly interfere with funerals or people going to and from the cemeteries.

And people wonder why nothing ever gets done in this city.

………

No bias here.

A New York writer apparently doesn’t like bike lanes.

Or the people who do.

In a New York Post op-ed, the founding president of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance Greater New York and adjunct fellow of the Manhattan Institute, insists that “tyrannical ‘bike kings'” are taking over the city.

And demanding New Yorkers give up their precious traffic lanes and parking spaces.

New York City is dealing with elevated crime and disorder, failing and emptying schools, taxpayer flight and a fiscally crunched City Hall.

But our ruling class is targeting the “real” emergency: not enough bike lanes.

Cycling activists and their friends at the Department of Transportation have stepped up their crusade against the existential threat of the four-wheeled vehicle, imposing street-redesign plans on neighborhoods, whether residents want them or not.

It gets worse.

The bike kings go to communities with glossy presentations stuffed with buzzwords — “traffic-calming redesign,” “rebalancing public space,” “reimagined corridors.”

Translation: Your car, delivery truck or Access-A-Ride van  — no longer welcome…

And if residents object? Dismiss them as backward, selfish or (worse) suburban-minded.

Face it.

We’re all overprivileged corporate types who don’t care if grandma makes it to her doctor appointment because there’s no parking space for her car. All we care about is reducing traffic lanes to reduce the number of cars.

Never mind that maybe the 81-year old woman with a walker she cites probably shouldn’t be driving in the first place.

Because apparently, bike riders aren’t bus boys. Or college students. Or seniors trying to keep their weight and blood pressure down.

Or maybe just people who don’t want to get killed or maimed riding from here to there. And no self-respecting Chinese American would ever be caught dead on a bicycle.

Right?

But that’s the problem when you see the world in terms of stereotypes. You don’t see people. You see two-dimensional cardboard cutouts who can’t possibly understand your problems, or your perspective.

And you end up talking past one another, instead of with one another.

New York doesn’t need streets designed to conform to the cyclist ideology. It needs streets that make possible greater circulation, commerce and access.

Residents should say no to senseless bike-lane expansion.

Because a city that can’t move and accommodate the people who actually live and work in it isn’t “reimagined.”

It’s just stuck.

Yet somehow, the people going by in the bike lane aren’t “stuck.”

They’re moving. They’re breathing.

They’re living.

And they’re your neighbors.

You know, like us.

………

No bias here, either.

According to the London Telegraph — a bike friendly publication once upon a time — the medieval town on Windsor, home to the famous castle that’s home to the royal family, is being overrun with cyclists.

Make that middle-aged men in Lycra, aka MAMILS.

They are drawn on the 62-mile round trip ride from London because a Windsor cafe is offering a whopping ten percent discount on all drinks and food for anyone who arrives in Lycra, otherwise known as spandex on this side of the Atlantic.

But what some might see as a smart special to draw visitors to town, is somehow an invasion of law-breaking scofflaws who never met a red light they liked.

The paper somehow found a 79-year old woman who apparently doesn’t think it’s fair that bicyclists pay just 90% of the menu price. Never mind that locals get the same deal, Lycra or not, while tourists pay full freight.

However, the growing number of cyclists has coincided with a spate of rule-breaking on London’s roads. Traffic lights and zebra crossings are frequently ignored by some cyclists, leading police to consider tougher penalties for those who break the law…

Meanwhile, councils have been accused of waging a war on motorists in an effort to promote cycling, walking and other forms of “active travel” as part of efforts to tackle climate change…

In Windsor, though, the cyclists keep on coming – not for the castle but for cut-price coffee.

All that, because some local cafe came up with a successful promotion.

And chances are, a few of the people on bicycles may happen to notice the castle while they’re there.

………

A 37-year old Santa Monica woman was arrested for suspicion of bicycling under the influence after she allegedly kept riding after colliding with a car, causing minor damage.

Demonstrating once again that a) it is against the law to bike while drunk or stoned, even if the penalty is less than it is for DUI, and b) you are required to stop after a collision, just like drivers are.

………

The war on cars may be a myth, but the war on bikes just keeps on going.

You’ve got to be kidding. A North Carolina bike rider was handcuffed when cops arrived on the scene and assumed he was an aggressor — even though he was actually the victim of a collision; police swore he was actively resisting. I’d be actively resisting, too, if I got handcuffed for getting hit by a driver.

You’ve got to be kidding, part two. A bike rider in Edinburgh, Scotland was held 50% responsible for getting doored by the driver’s insurance company, which ruled he should have been riding further away from the car.

But sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.

A Redditor complains that her bicyclist boyfriend encouraged her to buy a bike, then came up with reasons why it was impossible to ride together. Hint: Dump the guy, keep the bike. 

A 24-year old Cincinnati man was busted for grabbing ass as he rode by women on his ebike, including local comedian Kelly Collette.

………

Local 

Streetsblog will host the great D-Line Dash tomorrow, pitting a bike rider against people driving and taking the subway from Beverly Hills to DTLA. My money’s on the subway, followed by the bicycle. 

The LAPD busted a suspected shooter after a ten-minute chase that began near Fountain and Formosa avenues, then crossed over into West Hollywood as the suspect jumped on a bicycle — which may or may not have been his — and ended in WeHo’s Plummer Park.

South Pasadena approved a Complete Streets concept for South Huntington Drive, but council members were unable to reach a consensus on how to improve Fremont Ave.

Pasadena residents gathered Saturday to build more than 100 bicycles for the twice-yearly Eva Lin Team’s Charity Bike Build to ensure every child who wants a bicycle can have one.

That doesn’t sound good. A Saugus bicyclist was seriously injured after landing a jump at the Haskell Canyon Bike Park neck first.

This is who we share the road with. Two Valencia teenagers were arrested for an intentional assault on a peace officer when one of the teens swerved his dirt bike into the deputy’s motorcycle, causing the cop to crash.

Harrison Ford is one of us, taking to mountain biking in the Santa Monica Mountains following his 2015 plane crash.

 

State

The Orange County Transportation Authority and the City of Mission Viejo teamed up to host the “Pedal La Paz Road” Bikeway Demonstration Event on Saturday, demonstrating how cities can rethink wide arterial roads to prioritize safety, accessibility, and mobility for everyone, even as nearby Fullerton continues to struggle with disconnected bikeways.

The Cyclovia Encinitas returned to the coast highway for the 6th consecutive year.

This is who we share the road with, too. A driver was arrested after plowing through a group of people standing outside an Oakland market, killing three people and injuring five others; the juvenile alleged killer attempted to flee the scene, but was captured by witnesses.

After a 1,550-mile bike ride from Venice to Athens, a couple who originally met in San Francisco realizes that getting married probably won’t be the hardest thing they do. Although based on 27 years of matrimonial hindsight, I’d say the bike ride is way easier. 

Sacramento bike riders decorated their bikes with bright lights and loudspeakers, and wore colorful outfits, Friday night for the monthly Big Party Sacramento.

Davis residents were warned to be careful riding after a mountain lion was spotted near a popular bike path. If you encounter a mountain lion, or any kind of wild cat, remember you can’t outrun it. So stay still, try to make yourself look as large as possible, yell loudly, and if you have anything you can throw at it, do it. 

 

National

Redditors say wiggle your handlebars, or maybe your butt, to add an air of unpredictability and encourage drivers to give you a little more space on the road.

Life is cheap in Las Vegas, where a man is looking for answers after the driver who killed his bike-riding wife two years ago walked without a day behind bars, and a lousy 100 hours of community service and a $1,140 fine, despite an original charge of manslaughter.

A Detroit man learns the hard way that if you’re going to lead a life of crime, leave your distinctive ebike at home.

The New York Times Wirecutter newsletter offers tips to make bicycling less intimidating. Although what could be less intimidating than just getting on a bike and turning the pedals?

Amazon is using big box ebikes for last-mile deliveries in DC. And yes, they do actually have to be pedaled, albeit with a pedal-by-wire drivetrain.

Savannah, Georgia cops finally got their man — or woman, in this case — nearly two years after a hit-and-run driver killed a 37-year old man riding a bicycle; the 29-year old driver was charged with vehicular homicide, as well as attempting to coverup evidence of the crime.

At a time when our government is kicking refugees from “shithole” countries out of ours, a former competitive cyclist is helping Georgia refugees get on a bicycle by refurbishing donated bikes to provide them with reliable transportation.

A Florida triathlete is recovering after she was sideswiped by a hit-and-run driver while riding her bike, suffering an extensive list of serious injuries, but credits her helmet with saving her life; a crowdfunding campaign has raised over $52,000, topping the $50,000 goal.

 

International

Just in time for Metro’s not Bike to Work Day, Road.cc offers tips on how to avoid common bike commuting mistakes.

Bike lock manufacturer Litelok is offering a real-time look at where bike thefts are occurring so you can avoid hotspots. That’s easy. Everywhere. 

Road.cc guides you through the weird, wacky and wonderful world of alternative bike seats.

While US cities are cracking down on ebikes, a UK petition is calling for raising speeds for ped-assist ebikes to 20 mph.

LA bike riders have to worry about car horns, while British riders are concerned with cow horns in the countryside this time of year.

An Irish couple shares the lessons they learned by bicycling 7,500 miles around the world, including “don’t camp with bears” and “it really is all in your mind.” Not to mention your thighs. And butt. And calves. And back. And…

France is offering the equivalent of $4,600 to trade in your car for an ebike.

Spanish bicyclists will continue to be expected to use the shoulder, but only when it’s passable and never if there’s a separated bikeway — and they’ll be fined if they ride the shoulder when there is a bike path

Bicyclists in Jerusalem are pushing for a more bike-friendly city, as a massive annual event drew bicyclists out to the streets.

Israel is set to mandate license plates for all e-scooter and ebike riders, but the plates will apply to the rider, not the bike, so you could apparently transfer your license from one vehicle to another.

China is starting to leave the Western bicycle industry behind, just like the country is doing with electric vehicles.

An 81-year old San Francisco man is now leading Tokyo bike rides of up to 35 miles on behalf of the fittingly named Half-Fast Cycling.

Frustrations are growing over Japan’s new policy of fining bicyclists for a host of violations, with some people believing the fines go too far and others who think they don’t go far enough, even though most people think they’re about right. Meanwhile, bicyclists also have to deal with fake cops fining riders on the spot.

Aussie bike shops faces fines up to $1.1 million for selling fixies without front and rear brakes, as well as meeting a host of other standards.

 

Competitive Cycling

Good for them. Two Cycling Canada board members resigned from the national sport organization in response to the decision to not field a women’s team pursuit squad in the world championships or the upcoming ’28 Olympics.

Seven-time-ex-Tour de France champ Lance Armstrong is helping to design the mountain biking course for the LA Olympics, after the LA Olympic Committee was apparently unable to find any non-dopers willing to do the job.

Nineteen-year old Danish wunderkind Albert Withen Philipsen was lucky to escape without major injuries following a training crash at 50 mph, even if he’s been left “mummified” in bandages.

Once again, stupid, idiotic, no-good “fans” have interfered with the peloton, as two 19- and 20-year old men were arrested for stepping onto the roadway during the Giro, and reaching out towards the riders.

 

Finally…

Now you, too, can take a biking vacay just like Richard Branson. Now you, too, can help a bike rider through cartoon traffic, even if the situation is anything but funny.

And you, too, could have had a painting of a bike rider being abducted by aliens.

But you’re too damn late, because someone already bought it.

………

Be safe, and stay healthy. And get vaccinated, already.

Oh, and fuck Putin. 

Category: Morning Links / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bad ebike bills bite the dust, Florence-Firestone ride goes up against Ride of Silence, and past and future OC & Ventura County rides

May 15, 2026 / / One comment

Just a couple quick notes today.

I’ve been battling a migraine all week, and the meds finally got to me today; I’ve been barely conscious and mostly incoherent all day.

And to be honest, I’m not in a good place mentally. Sometimes I feel like I’m just shouting into the wind, which is the most polite — and hygienic — way I can put it right now.

After two decades of doing this, it seems like we’re just as far from getting anywhere as we were when I started.

Or maybe I’m just down because I’m not riding a bike these days; if I stay on my current meds, there’s a good chance I’ll never ride again. You’ll know I’ve given up when my bikes aren’t hanging in a corner of my apartment anymore.

Maybe someone can start a GoFundMe to pay for my next tatts, which will remind me a) not to judge others, and b) life is good.

Yeah, I didn’t think so.

I’ll see you on Monday.

And I promise to be in a better place.

………

However, on the plus side, a couple of bad ebike bills went down in flames at the state legislature Thursday.

Twitter post

Twitter post

………

On the downside, what should be good news is less so just because of timing.

According to the LA Times The Wild newsletter, a Los Angeles advocacy group is holding a “colorful” ride through Florence-Firestone on Wednesday, which sounds like a celebration of bicycling.

1. Illuminate the streets of Florence-Firestone
People for Mobility Justice, an L.A.-based transportation equity collective, will host a bike ride from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday starting at Ted Watkins Memorial Park. Riders are encouraged to decorate their bikes with colorful and creative lights for this free Glow Ride through the streets of the Florence-Firestone neighborhood. Register at eventbrite.com.

Except the third Wednesday of May is the annual Ride of Silence, the one day each year reserved for silent and sober rides to remember those who have lost their lives to traffic violence while riding their bikes.

And we have a lot to remember. We’re already up to 30 souls lost while riding this year, putting us on a pace for nearly 90 deaths this year if we keep up at this pace.

To be honest, I haven’t heard of any local rides yet, but they do tend to come together at the last minute. So if you’re holding a ride, or know of one, let me know and I’ll mention it next week.

So maybe it’s just me, but the Florence-Firestone ride seems kind of disrespectful.

……….

Finally, let me share a couple of press releases I received this week, one from the Orange County Transportation Authority about a Bike Week ride in the OC; the other about the expansion of a popular San Diego ride into a second edition in Ventura County next month.

………

More than 130 Cyclists Roll through Orange
for OCTA Bike Rally

The annual Bike Rally features a 4-mile ride, and there’s still time to pledge to bike during May for a chance to win an e-bike while staying active

ORANGE – More than 130 cyclists took to the streets of Orange early Wednesday morning, riding together in a show of community spirit and support for active transportation as part of OCTA’s annual Bike Rally, a signature event celebrating May as Bike Month.

The 4-mile group ride began at the Orange Metrolink Station and traveled through city streets and a slice of Santa Ana to OCTA headquarters, highlighting how easy, accessible and enjoyable biking can be for commuting, recreation and everyday trips across Orange County.

“Events like this are about more than just a ride, they’re about promoting safer streets, healthier lifestyles, and more transportation choices,” said OCTA CEO Darrell E. Johnson, who participated in the ride, along with OCTA directors William Go and Mark Tettemer. They were joined at the finish line by OCTA directors Tam T. Nguyen and Kathy Tavoularis for the rally.

The annual rally brings together riders of all experience levels and showcases OCTA’s ongoing efforts to expand safe and convenient biking options throughout the county. Participants enjoyed free Bike Month T-shirts and light refreshments, and were entered for a chance to win prizes, including an Aventon Pace 4 Step-Through e-bike.

While the rally has wrapped up, there is still time for the public to take part in Bike Month. Those who pledge to ride during May can be entered for a chance to win an Aventon Soltera 2.5 e-bike, courtesy of Bike Month sponsors Aventon E-bikes and Spectrumotion.

OCTA continues to encourage residents to consider biking not just during Bike Month, but throughout the year, as an easy, efficient and environmentally friendly way to get around.

Beyond events like the rally, OCTA is investing in projects that make biking safer and more accessible, including protected bike lanes, regional trail connections and improvements that better connect neighborhoods to transit.

Riders are also reminded to make safety a priority. OCTA offers an e-bike safety video with tips for riding responsibly, and those who watch can enter for a chance to win a $100 gift card.

For more information about Bike Month activities or to make a pledge to ride, visit www.octa.net/bikemonth.

………

Local Businesses and Organizations Partner with Bike the Coast Ventura Ahead of Inaugural Event

The Ventura community will be represented at the 2026 event through local charities, tourism boards, restaurants and more

VENTURA, Calif. – Bike the Coast Ventura will be hosting their inaugural event on June 13, showcasing the charm of the Ventura community. The event has put a strong emphasis on its local involvement, focusing on building partnerships with businesses and organizations within the Ventura region and authentically connected to the community. Registration for the 2026 event is now open.

This year’s sponsors and partners include Visit Ventura, Downtown Ventura Association, Ventura Coast Brewing Company and Ventura Coast Cycling. The event has also partnered with local charity organizations, including The Los Angeles Chapter of National MS and the Downtown Ventura Foundation. The event will also host Ventura-based band The GAMBLE at their free Finish Festival, which will also include various local food, drink and vendors for riders, spectators and community members to all enjoy.

“Bike the Coast is an event that is meant to be enjoyed by all. We push the idea of this being a ‘ride, not a race’ so that participants can truly take in all that Ventura has to offer, whether it be the scenery or the amazing community that has already been so supportive of our event,” said Mike Bone, president and CEO of Spectrum Sports Management, producer of Bike the Coast Ventura. “Ensuring that this is a community-centric ride is very important to us, and we hope that our participants feel that at our inaugural event.”

The event welcomes riders of all ages and experience levels, offering three course options: the Metric Century 65-mile ride, a 35-mile ride and the rider’s favorite 17-mile family ride. Participants of the Metric Century 65-Mile ride will enjoy a tour of the coastline with some hills in neighboring cities. The 35-mile and 17-mile ride will also highlight constant ocean views along their rules of the road routes. All courses are stocked with support and gear locations to ensure riders are provided opportunities to rest and nourish.

Bike the Coast Ventura is an expansion of the original Bike the Coast event hosted in San Diego County, which is entering its fifteenth year of riding. The growth of the event has led to its expansion into Ventura, where riders are able to enjoy what Bike the Coast is all about: a leisure oceanside ride with a post-race party that gets people to “Come for the Ride – Stay for the Party”. The 2025 Bike the Coast San Diego ride saw great results in fundraising efforts as well, as it raised over $10,000 for Bike MS, a record amount for the event after just three years of partnering with the organization. Bike the Coast is produced by Spectrum Sports Management, a recognized leader in endurance and sporting events in Southern California.

For more information on Bike the Coast Ventura, visit www.bikethecoastventura.com. Follow the event on Instagram and Facebook.

Category: Morning Links / Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Happy Bike to Work Day (not you LA), Reseda hit-and-run critically injures e-scooter user, and USDOT takes credit for Biden funding

May 14, 2026 / / One comment

Happy Bike to Work Day, or wherever the hell you want to ride.

Just get on your bike, and ride somewhere.

Unfortunately, Bike to Work Day seems to be a bust here in Los Angeles. Instead of the dozens of Pit Stops we enjoyed back in those heady pre-pandemic days, Metro is observing Bike Day with free Metro bus, bike and train rides.

But they’re doing it next Thursday, rather than today, for reasons known only to them. And the link for more information on their site was dead when I tried it last night.

Although it will be interesting to see if any of mayoral candidates or city council candidates rides a bike today, or even makes note of the day. So far, if any of the leading mayoral candidates other than Nithya Raman has even mentioned bicycles, I haven’t heard it.

But all is not lost.

A handful of other cities in the LA area still observe Bike to Work Day, to wit:

Look, I’m not saying I’m old. But I remember when Bike to Work Day used to be, you know, fun.

………

A man riding an e-scooter — or “e-shooter,” as KABC-7 called it — was critically injured in a Reseda hit-and-run last week, suffering what was described as “severe injuries.”

Although why we’re just learning about it now is anyone’s guess.

According to KABC-7,

The hit-and-run crash happened the morning of May 7. A dark-colored SUV traveling east on Strathern Street hit the victim who was riding an e-schooter in the bike lane along Reseda Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Anyone with information is urged to call LAPD detectives at 818/644-8025. Never mind that they might have gotten more help if they’d asked sooner.

………

Seriously?

The good news is the US Department of Transportation is releasing nearly $1 billion in Safe Streets and Roads for All grants, funding a total of 521 projects nationwide.

But they’re also making a point of putting President Trump’s and USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy’s names all over it. And taking an uncalled for swipe at their predecessors while they’re at it.

In April, Secretary Duffy announced the program had been retooled to remove DEI and environmental justice requirements installed by the last administration. These absurd requirements were bogging down the system and making it harder for dollars to flow to critical safety projects across the country.

“Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg inserted radical DEI and Green New Scam requirements into these safety grant programs – making it harder for communities to apply for these funds and delaying critical projects. Under President Trump’s leadership, we’ve put aside the woke nonsense and focused on one goal: safety,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “We’re moving these investments at the speed of Trump to save lives and deliver infrastructure upgrades that will benefit the American people for generations.” 

It continues funding at about the same level as under Biden, who established the program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, providing $5 billion in competitive grants from 2022–2026.

I really don’t care if Trump and Duffy want to take credit for a program Biden created and funded.

But seriously, come on, already.

………

Streetsblog is sponsoring a three-way race from Beverly Hills to DTLA next week, according to their Headlines yesterday.

Next Tuesday May 19 is Streetsblog L.A.’s D Line Dash commuter race: a cyclist vs. a driver vs. a subway rider – all racing from Beverly Hills to Downtown Los Angeles. Watch this week’s short videos introducing the racers:bicyclist Michelle Moro and driver Rachel Reyes! Subway rider Kalayaan Mendoza will be featured tomorrow.

………

The war on cars may be a myth, but the war on bikes just keeps on going.

No bias here. Reuters writes that 50,000 people turned out for the opening of a new 1.2-mile bike and pedestrian bridge in Helsinki, Finland, yet focuses on the lack of car lanes and money the city has invested on public transport and bike lanes. Even though lumping the two together makes no sense, since public transport is a hell of a lot more expensive than bike lanes, and virtually any American city would kill for the cold and windy city’s 9%–11% bicycling rate.

Road.cc says viral video of “hated” bicyclists legally riding two abreast actually makes a better argument for protected bike lanes.

Twitter post

But sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.

No bias here, either. A Milwaukee letter writer confuses free bike licenses with the kind drivers get after passing a test, saying those darn dangerous bike riders have to obey the law or be held accountable and fined. For anyone unclear on the concept, bicycles are licensed so they can be recovered and returned to the owner if they’re stolen, while driver’s licenses are intended to ensure people are capable of safely and legally operating their big, dangerous machines, even if they don’t actually do it in practice.

………

Local 

LAPD traffic detectives are still looking for the hit-and-run driver who severely injured a man in his 60s riding a bicycle at 20th and Hoover streets last May, although the “new video” cited in the story is nine months old.

Streets For All wants you to tell the City Council Rules Committee to fix the Public Works Department at this afternoon’s meeting. Because the way it works now, Public Works doesn’t. 

 

State

The Orange County DA’s office is opening a special unit to prosecute illegal ebike and e-motorcycle use, with a focus on potential criminal cases involving juveniles, adults and parents who knowingly allow children to ride illegal e-motos.

San Diego Mayor Gloria released his revised budget, which restores some funding for libraries and a dog park, but does nothing to reverse bike and traffic safety cuts.

The La Mesa City Council voted 4 to 1 to approve a new ebike ordinance, prohibiting children under 12 from riding any kind of ebikes.

San Francisco officially opened a new bikeway that closes a gap along the waterfront, providing a continuous route through Mission Bay.

Caltrans joined with a hundred or so Sacramento bicyclists to mark Bike Month last week.

 

National

A Reno, Nevada driver rolled the dice by fleeing the scene after killing a bike rider, running the victim down from behind while they were riding in a bike lane.

New York Mayor Mamdani is adding funding for additional bike and bus lanes to the city budget, and will extend an Astoria bike boulevard by installing a traffic circle to divert drivers from continuing forward.

Philadelphia advocates are marking Bike to Work or Bike to Anywhere Day by demanding safer streets for bike riders and pedestrians.

A Pennsylvania paper reminds us of next week’s Ride of Silence. Which LA Metro will probably ignore, too. 

The DC area is celebrating Bike to Work Day tomorrow, with over one hundred actual pit stops. Unlike a certain SoCal megalopolis I could name.

 

International

A writer for Cycling Weekly says he won’t ride without his rear-facing bike radar, calling it an essential safety device, despite initially dismissing it as “an expensive gimmick, a rich boy’s toy.”

Google Maps will now show bikeshare locations and how many bikes are available in ten cities around the world, including four in the US. And no, Los Angeles is not one of them. 

Momentum highlights the top 12 Canadian rail trails.

Speaking of commuter challenges, bicyclists dominated a series of bike versus car races in Victoria, British Columbia, with just a single driver winning their race, compared to 16 bike riders. Even though the the story mistakenly flips the numbers. 

 

Competitive Cycling

Thirty-two-year old Dutch sprinter Arvid de Kleijn is returning to the peloton after a turbulent off-season that included the birth of his first child, the death of his father, and a violent, unprovoked attack by a group of teens during a training ride that left him with a broken nose.

Spanish pro Igor Arrieta came back for a last-gasp win in stage 5 of the Giro, despite a fall, and taking a wrong turn near the end of the race.

 

Finally…

Crossing guards here, lollipop ladies there.

And that feeling when you want to float above your handlebars.

Reddit post

………

Be safe, and stay healthy. And get vaccinated, already.

Oh, and fuck Putin. 

Category: Morning Links / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

East LA bike rider suffers serious injuries as driver runs away, and arraignment postponed for OC e-motorcycle mom

May 13, 2026 / / No comments

A bike rider suffered serious injuries in an East LA collision Monday night, as a driver hit multiple vehicles as well as the victim’s bike.

The driver fled the scene on foot afterwards, literally running away.

The crash occurred at 10:30 pm in the 5300 block of Whittier Blvd, near Amalia Ave.

A photo taken after the crash shows the victim’s mangled bike resting on the curb, with the seat and handlebars snapped off the frame.

There’s no description of the victim or the suspect at this time.

Unfortunately, this occurred outside the City of Los Angeles in LA County, so the city’s standing hit-and-run reward doesn’t apply.

………

An Aliso Viejo mom’s arraignment was postponed until next month, as she made her first court appearance yesterday.

Tommi Jo Mejer is charged with involuntary manslaughter, with prosecutors attempting to hold her responsible for her 14-year-old son crashing his illegal e-moto into an 81-year old man in Lake Forest last month.

Vietnam vet Ed Ashman died two weeks after he was struck on April 16th.

Prosecutors allege the 51-year old mother was repeatedly warned by police that her son was riding his illegal Surron e-motorcycle in a dangerously irresponsible manner.

He was reportedly popping wheelies when he crashed into Ashman, then fled the scene afterwards.

According to ABC-7,

“We have her on body-worn camera talking about and understanding the dangers and the illegality of this particular vehicle,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a recent interview with Eyewitness News. “I’m charging the mother because she provided the motorcycle, she was aware of it, she was warned on a prior occasion that this was a dangerous vehicle that her son could not legally possess, and certainly couldn’t ride. And, irrespective of those admonitions and warnings, she continued to allow him to do so.”

Mejer faces additional felony counts of child endangerment and being an accessory after the fact, along with misdemeanor charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and providing false information to a peace officer, as well as an infraction for permitting an unlicensed minor to drive a motor vehicle.

She faces a maximum sentence of seven years and eight months in state prison if convicted on all counts. There’s no word on what charges her minor son may face, if any.

Mejer was released on $100,000 bond, with her arraignment rescheduled for June 30th.

A crowdfunding campaign to help pay Ashman’s medical expenses has raised over $120,000.

………

Santa Monica Spoke is hosting a Handlebar Happy Hour for Bike to Work Day tomorrow.

………

The war on cars may be a myth, but the war on bikes just keeps on going.

A longtime Glendale resident complains about bike lanes on La Crescenta Ave, hitting nearly every note in the standard roster of bike lane complaints, from the bike lanes are empty to the majority of residents oppose them. Which actually translates to some of the people he knows opposes them, unless he somehow took a poll of all the city’s residents, or at least everyone he knows.

An English city spent the equivalent of $3.65 million to rip out a bike lane they already spent the equivalent of $2.3 million to build — which means they spent nearly $6 million building and removing it, but at least traffic is “running smoothly” now. Apparently unlike whatever it was doing before all that.

But sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.

The mayor of Girona, Spain ordered the police to investigate video of a bicyclist riding down the 400-year old stairs of the Pujada de Sant Domènec, one of the most recognizable points of the Old City, complaining that some bike tourists “disdain the city’s heritage and use it to show off.” Seriously, don’t do that.

………

Local 

Los Angeles Public Press profiles the candidates to replace Bob Blumenfield in LA’s 3rd Council District.

 

State

This is who we share the road with. The victim of last week’s e-moto crash in Garden Grove has been identified as a 13-year old Garden Grove boy; he was riding a non-street legal electric dirt bike when he hit the center divider at 35 mph, while wearing a regular bike helmet instead of a motorcycle helmet. Never mind that he couldn’t legally ride the bike to begin with.

Thanks to David for forwarding more news about Porsche shutting down the carmaker’s four-year old ebike division, as well as software and vehicle infotainment subsidiaries, including the company’s store in Costa Mesa’s South Coast Plaza.

Tijuana is working with US Customs and Border Protection over a proposal to build a binational bike path connecting the Mexico city with Imperial Beach.

Bad news from San Luis Obispo, where a 12-year old ebike rider was flown to a trauma center after being struck by a driver last week, and is in stable condition following several surgeries; the kid was not wearing the bike helmet required under state law. A photo shows what appears to be a crumpled ped-assist ebike in the middle of the street. Or at least it had pedals, anyway. 

Good question. A local San Francisco website examines the candidates for the city’s 2nd Supervisor District, asking them “Where should bike lanes go?”.

 

National

AARP reports that head injuries are rising among older people, corresponding with the use of shared ebikes, e-scooters and bicycles. Although they should know that correlation does not imply causation. 

Today is Bike Everywhere Day in Seattle. Or as it’s known in Los Angeles, Wednesday. 

A pair of East Idaho motorcycle clubs are giving away a trailer-full of kid’s bikes on a first come, first served basis.

Wisconsin is planning to announce a 900-mile gravel bike network next month,  taking advantage of existing farm roads and trails paved with the state’s red granite.

Bike to Work Week is taking on added meaning in West Michigan this year, as gas prices make driving more expensive, while rising gas prices have driven some drivers in New Haven, Connecticut into trading their cars for bicycles.

 

International

Police in the UK found the body of a man in a ditch, five days after the 62-year old father was reported missing; police are still looking for his missing bicycle.

A council member in Gqeberha, South Africa warned bicyclists to be vigilant and not ride alone on the beachfront, following violent attacks by thieves; however, police were unable to confirm the reports. Bonus points if you can pronounce the city’s name without looking it up, because I sure as hell couldn’t. 

Heartbreaking news from India, where a woman’s family carried her body to the police station on the back of a bicycle, her bare feet dangling from a shroud, as they allege police failed to arrest the suspect in her murder after she clashed with neighbors over a construction project; her sister-in-law was also hospitalized with serious injuries.

 

Competitive Cycling

Members of the Canadian women’s track squad are reportedly indignant over the decision not to compete in the women’s team pursuit at this fall’s Track World Championships in Shanghai, China, or qualifying for the ’28 LA Olympics, describing it as “gut wrenching and infuriating.”

Italian cyclist Giulio Ciccone took the leader’s maglia rosa in the Giro, aka pink jersey, “if only for a day or a night.”

Don’t bother booking your reservations for the women’s Tour de Romandie in Switzerland this month, after the race was cancelled due to a lack of sponsors and “event overload.” Whatever the hell that means.

 

Finally…

That feeling when you have to steal your own bike back. Mr. Loophole says bike riders should wear helmets, just like drivers do.

And why ride a bike when you can play it?

………

Be safe, and stay healthy. And get vaccinated, already.

Oh, and fuck Putin. 

Category: Morning Links / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Driver asleep at the wheel in mass bike crash, criticizing criticism of criticizing reporters, and quitting bicycling because of bike rage

May 12, 2026 / / No comments

I guess that makes it okay then.

The Florida Highway Patrol says the pickup driver who plowed into a group ride in Deland was “asleep or fatigued,” at the time of the crash, which left three of the victims in the hospital awaiting surgery for potentially “life-changing” injuries.

After all, what possible option could someone have when they’re too tired to operate their vehicle safely?

It’s not like they could, you know, just not drive or something.

And if plowing through eight people on bicycles like they were bowling pins is the cost of people carrying out their God-given right to drive no matter what condition they’re in, we just have to accept that.

Right?

………

He gets it.

A Pacific Beach resident offers an “unsolicited response” to a recent piece in one of San Diego’s least bike-friendly publications criticizing the criticism of journalists for their reporting on bicycle crashes, and saying bike riders should just “try safety first.”

In it, Paul C. LeBlanc argues that her central premise is off the mark.

The author contends that, rather than “lecturing reporters on how to do our jobs,” attention should be directed toward instructing cyclists to safeguard their own lives. That framing invites a more fundamental question: are journalists not themselves subject to critique? Thoughtful scrutiny of language and framing is not an affront to journalism; it is one of its necessary companions. Reporting, particularly on matters of public safety, carries an obligation to be precise, neutral, and grounded in evidence. To question how incidents are described is not to lecture, but to engage.

This discussion is not about absolving cyclists of responsibility. Cyclists, like motorists, are bound by traffic laws. Rather, it concerns the implications of language that may assign fault before facts are established. Words matter. They shape perception, and perception often precedes understanding. Precision, therefore, is not a luxury in reporting; it is its discipline.

LeBlanc goes on to make the argument that roadway design can have a significant influence on collisions, bike and otherwise. And that “sensible policy addresses conditions, not merely conduct.”

It’s worth reading the whole thing.

Because he makes a very good case that how articles about bicycling are framed makes a big difference.

………

Seriously?

A columnist for The Times of London says it’s not getting older that’s put him off bicycling, it’s the risk of unpleasant interactions with other bike riders.

Being 61 rather than 31 was the least of my reasons for quitting. The main factor was other cyclists. They made me feel unsafe and ashamed. I loathe their aggression and their entitlement. Many cyclists now behave as monstrously as the worst road-rage motorists, as if the rules don’t apply to them and the whole road (plus the pavement) should give them priority. Now I prefer a combination of train, bus and my own two feet. Once a bicycle evangelical, I’m now an apostate, like those people who were fans of Wham! or the Human League, but only their early stuff, before they got popular…

The anger and arrogance is extraordinary. Cyclists used to be mild-mannered hippies. Now they’re often foaming-at-the-mouth bullies, not caring who or what is in their path. Or they’re sneaky GoPro provocateurs, looking to film reactions incited by their own crazy manoeuvres. Then there are the Just Stop Oil zealots, bursting with self-righteous fury, deliberately holding up traffic by sticking to the middle of the road.

Because people never get into disputes with other people on buses or when walking or anything.

I’ve had my life threatened when bicycling, walking, riding a bus and writing this blog. But oddly, never by someone else on a bicycle.

In fact, I’ve had far more pleasant interactions with other bicyclists and pedestrians than otherwise. That even goes for drivers, too.

It’s just that we’re hardwired to remember the unpleasant interactions, which get replayed over and over in our minds, while the friendly ones slip into the mists of time.

So if he doesn’t want to ride a bicycle anymore, that’s his choice. But don’t paint all of us with the same dirty brush.

………

Streets For All is urging you to contact your legislators to oppose a bill that could outlaw a number of currently legal ebikes.

Sacramento is moving fast on e-bikes, and one bill could do serious damage.

AB 1557, currently advancing through the Assembly, would outlaw thousands of e-bikes that meet legal standards across the country — including cargo bikes and shared mobility services (like Baywheels and Lime) that San Franciscans (and Angelenos) depend on every day.

This legislation isn’t a solution to a real problem. A report from December 2025, required by a bill we supported, found that the vast majority of e-bike injuries and fatalities are caused by illegal high-powered e-motos, not legal e-bikes. The evidence points clearly to one fix: crack down on illegal devices and invest in protected infrastructure.

But AB 1557 does the opposite. It punishes legal riders, burdens the e-bike industry, and does nothing to address the actual danger on our streets.

Eight e-bike bills are moving through the legislature right now. Some are smart, but AB 1557 is not — and it needs to be stopped.

Streets For All is fighting back. Take 60 seconds to use our tool and contact your legislator today.

………

Calbike is hosting a webinar on May 27th to discuss their 2030 strategic plan.

Hello friend –  I invite you to join me, CalBike Executive Director Kendra Ramsey, and members of the Board of Directors for A Future Full of Bicycles: CalBike’s Strategic Plan for 2030, a coalition webinar at noon on May 27 about the work ahead. Register now.

We will dive into CalBike’s 2030 Strategic Plan is a roadmap for the next chapter of bicycle advocacy in California: safer streets, stronger local movements, long-term funding, and a broader coalition for change. Leadership will share where CalBike is headed, what we believe this moment requires, and how our coalition can move together toward a California where bicycling is safe, joyful, and possible for everyone.

Together, we will take a look at our main priorities through 2030:

– Priority 1: Create a built environment where biking and walking are safe and accessible choices in all communities
– Priority 2. Secure long-term active transportation funding to support the mode shift required to meet California’s climate goals
– Priority 3. Strengthen the power of the active transportation movement in California
– Priority 4. Elect bike champions to public office and work in partnership with them to create a policy landscape that prioritizes bicycling
– Priority 5. Strengthen CalBike

As we often say, the most important word in our name is “Coalition” that means you, friend. So please, bring your questions about what we can do together to create a future full of bicycles.

………

OB Cycler offers a visual reminder that it’s not always the person on the bike who’s at fault when a pedestrian gets hit.

Bluesky post

………

The war on cars may be a myth, but the war on bikes just keeps on going.

It’s happened again. A road-raging driver drove up on a Lewiston, Maine sidewalk to intentionally ram a man riding a bicycle following an altercation; fortunately, the victim was not seriously injured.

But sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.

It’s happened again, again. A mob of teen “ebike” riders violently attacked a Huntington Beach man riding an e-scooter on a date night with his wife, apparently because he asked them to slow down, or maybe just because he tried to navigate through a few hundred teens hanging out on the beach and boardwalk. Although judging by the photos, those ebikes look more like illegal e-motos and dirt bikes; hopefully, they can find the attackers, who should be held accountable legally and civilly.

………

Local 

Streetsblog’s Joe Linton reports that Los Angeles has resumed street repaving, rather than just “large asphalt repair,” but apparently nothing large enough to trigger the requirements of Measure HLA, leaving “Angelenos on track for failing bumpy unsafe roads for years ahead.”

This is where your bike or other stuff ends up if you leave it on an LA Metro bus or train.

 

State

A correction to yesterday’s story, as Amazon voluntarily removes “hooligan” ebikes from their website in California, banning anything in the state that travel faster than 28 mph, rather that 40 mph as we said yesterday.

When a bobcat is catnapping on a California bike park, you might want to find another place to ride. Just saying.

A 12-year old San Diego boy remains in a medically induced coma, more than a week after he was struck by a driver while riding an ebike, and his helmet came off when he struck the car’s windshield.

Le Mesa moves forward with a ban on ebike use for kids 11 and under.

A Palm Springs active transportation subcommittee considers a number of bicycle and pedestrian issues, from downtown wayfinding to a proposed bidirectional bike lane.

A Santa Barbara writer says a Vespa and an out-of-class ebike pose the same risks, but only one requires a license and registration. Except the real difference is that one is street legal, and the other isn’t.

Sad news from Woodside, where a 75-year old man died ten days after he was struck by a driver while riding a bicycle.

 

National

Momentum reminds CNN that there are other ways to commute besides driving, as gas prices continue to rise due to Trump’s little “excursion” in Iran.

The rich get richer. My Platinum level bike-friendly Colorado hometown continues to make improvements for bicycles, on streets I used to ride and streets that didn’t exist when I was a kid. I was also today years old when I learned there’s something called a “Michigan turn.”

A writer for Cycling West recalls bike touring through Yellowstone last September.

Sad news from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where a local website writes in remembrance of a kindhearted local bike advocate who refurbished and gave away hundreds, or possibly thousands, of bicycles; ironically, he had stopped by the website’s offices last week to remind them of Bike Month events, including next week’s Ride of Silence.

Baltimore will build 17 miles of new bike lanes over the next three years, which will put the city over the 300 mile mark. Although it doesn’t say whether those are centerline miles or lane miles, which would count each side of the road separately, resulting in half the amount of actual roadway.

 

International

Cycling News examines how seriously professional bike racing is taking sustainability. But you’ll have to be a member if you want to know the answer, because apparently it’s a secret. 

A German website explains what’s true or false about seven “bicycling myths.” Surprisingly, none of the myths turn out to be true. 

Collisions involving bicyclists and e-scooter users set a record high in Prague, Czech Republic last year, as the city failed to invest in bike infrastructure.

 

Competitive Cycling

Tejay Van Garderen says fellow former American pro cyclist Taylor Phinney can win gold in the ’28 Los Angeles Olympics at what will then be the ripe old age of 37, because Phinney “doesn’t do anything if he’s not ready to give it 100%.”

Canada pulls the plug on its women’s team pursuit squad due to a a lack of funding and fears they won’t be competitive in time for the ’28 Olympics, although the men’s squad will go on.

 

Finally…

That feeling when a favorite actor stars in a competitive bicycling psychological thriller in his “slutty little bike shorts.” Bike polo has gone international.

And that feeling when a collision leaves your motorcycle dangling from a traffic light.

I know it has nothing to do with bicycles.

But still.

………

Be safe, and stay healthy. And get vaccinated, already.

Oh, and fuck Putin. 

Category: Morning Links / Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Man riding bicycle killed in Santa Ana collision Sunday afternoon; cops blame victim for not riding in nonexistent crosswalk

May 11, 2026 / / One comment

You’ve got to be kidding.

Someone was killed riding a bicycle in Santa Ana early Sunday afternoon. And the local cops were quick to show they don’t seem to understand bike law.

According to multiple reports, the victim was struck by a driver traveling south on Fairview Street while crossing Fairview at 12th Street around 12:09 pm Sunday.

The victim, identified only as an adult male, died at the scene.

The driver remained following the crash, and did not appear to be under the influence.

However, for some reason, the press release issued by the Santa Ana Police Department stressed that the victim was crossing the street outside of a crosswalk. As if there was some super secret section of the law that requires, or even implies, that bicyclists are supposed to use a crosswalk.

There isn’t.

Bicycles are required to follow the same rules as motor vehicles. So until drivers are required to use the crosswalk, there can be no expectation that bike riders should, either.

And just like drivers, people on bicycles can cross or turn mid-block, or continue forward on a cross street.

However, unlike motor vehicles, bike riders are allowed to use a crosswalk, which is considered an extension of the sidewalk. Someone riding legally on a sidewalk can continued forward in the crosswalk, regardless of whether they are traveling with or against traffic.

It’s also worth noting that there is no crosswalk on Fairview at 12th, which would make using one rather difficult.

So whether or not the victim was in a crosswalk is totally irrelevant. Maybe someone could pass that on to the Santa Ana cops, who don’t seem to grasp that concept.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to call Detective K. Briley of the Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigation Unit at 714/245-8215, or the Santa Ana Police Traffic Division at 714/245-8200.

This is the 30th bicycling fatality that I’m aware of in Southern California this year, and the third we know about in Orange County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and all his loved ones. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,
« Older Entries  
Wordpress Theme by ThemeZee