Morning Links: LA sheriff’s agree PCH cyclists belong in the lane; women could race in 2015 Pro Challenge

Don’t tell Seth Davidson.

But he’s rapidly turning into one of Southern California leading bike advocates.

After meeting with the police chief of Santa Paula on Friday, along with the LACBC’s Eric Bruins, in the aftermath of the recent anti-bike You Tube fiasco, the author of Cycling in the South Bay followed up with Sunday’s Sheriff’s Department ride-along on PCH.

Along with members of Big Orange Cycling, Davidson organized a demonstration of why large groups of cyclists belong in the traffic lane, riding abreast, rather than hugging the curb or weaving in and out of the lane while riding single-file.

In a result that should surprise no one, with the possible exception of most motorists and many law enforcement personnel, the deputies agreed that riding abreast in the lane was far safer than the other alternatives, and posed fewer problems for the drivers around them.

Which means that riders on PCH can expect fewer unfair and unfounded tickets for violating the requirement in CVC 21202 to ride as far to the right as practicable, which doesn’t apply on non-sharable lanes.

And the deputies agreed that the right lane of PCH is too narrow for a bike to safely share with a motor vehicle. Especially once the new three-foot passing law goes into effect in September.

As he points out, this is less a victory than a step in the right direction.

But it’s a damn big step.

And we all owe Seth, and the other riders involved, a round of thanks for fighting for our rights and helping them take it.

Thanks to Al Williams for the heads-up.

……..

Now that Kazakhstan-based Astana rider Vincenzo Nibali has won it, the Central Asian country wants to host the Tour de France. After a fan lost his helmet cam while filming stage three of the Tour, Europcar rider Kevin Reza films himself finishing the stage, then returns it to the owner. A team founded by Jock Boyer, the first American TdF rider, hopes to be the first all-African team to compete in the race. Jens Voigt looks back on the last of his 17 Tours.

And following the successful Le Course women’s race at the Tour de France, the USA Pro Challenge may consider letting women race next year.

……..

Local

A Freedom of Information request confirms an LAPD officer had no basis to claim bike lanes would delay emergency response times on North Figueroa, despite what he said during a sham hearing put on Councilmember Gil Cedillo.

CicLAvia is working on a route through several cities in southeast LA County for spring of 2016.

A new urban cycling bike shop is opening in Santa Monica, with a pre-grand opening happy hour on Wednesday.

Two Long Beach riding groups will meet Wednesday to discuss how to get more women riding in the city.

 

State

The Palm Springs area could get its own bike share program.

Mountain View is looking for a new Mobility Coordinator. I’ll take the job if I can do it from here.

 

National

A six-year old Portland girl makes her own sign criticizing the thief who stole her father’s bike.

My already bike-friendly Colorado hometown is getting buffered bike lanes.

Red Kite Prayer remembers mountain bike framebuilder Tom Teesdale, who died of a heart attack during Iowa’s RAGBRAI.

A question I’ve often asked myself — should you speak up when you see someone riding in a risky manner?

New York’s Citi Bike is cheaper than other transportation options, and faster than most.

 

International

Moving story of yet another bicycling visitor to this county whose life was cut short by an American driver; this time a young Toronto man run down outside Memphis.

The son of a fallen cyclist asks London’s mayor to stop promoting bicycling in an unsafe city.

A new Indian concept bike could fit in a backpack, and be reassembled in just 10 minutes.

Could a single bad decision ruin Tokyo cycling forever?

 

Finally…

A Boston-area cop begs to differ when a rider claims he can’t be arrested for refusing to give his name after running a red light. And a nice story, as LA Sheriff’s transit deputies and support staff buy a new bike for disabled Reseda man after his is stolen from the Chatsworth Orange Line Station. Nice work, guys.

 

4 comments

  1. PatrickGSR94 says:

    I live about 25 miles from where the Canadian rider was killed here in western Desoto County, on Highway 61 heading towards the casinos in Tunica, Mississippi. Highway 61 in this area is not limited access like an interstate, but it is divided, 2 lanes each side, with a speed limit of 65 MPH. The shoulder is gravel. A LOT of 18-wheel semi-trucks travel this highway.

    The story from local authorities is that he was riding the wrong way, northbound, on the southbound side, and was struck by an 18-wheeler. He was likely on the gravel shoulder, and either swerved to miss something, or the air current from one passing truck caused him to swerve out into the path of another truck. Or the truck could have drifted off the side of the road. No one knows for sure. I’m guessing he was probably back-tracking to a gas station convenience store or something, not wanting to cross all the way over the grass median to the northbound side.

    Condolences to his family.

  2. Chuck says:

    Ironically, I did comment the last time I saw someone riding poorly when this hipster that was in front of us swerved across 2 lanes of traffic on 101 in Carlsbad without even a backwards glance in order to salmon up the bike lane on the opposite side of the road.

    His response to me calling him out…was to heckle my kit. Genius.

  3. […] Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: LA sheriff’s agree PCH cyclists belong in the lane; women could race in 2015 Pro Ch… […]

  4. Mark Elliot says:

    I sent a letter to the Santa Paula police chief urging action (this before the reservist resigned) and he was so courteous as to reply by email. He totally concurred with the bike community’s position as I expressed it in my communication to him: http://betterbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Santa-Paula-Police-Chief.pdf

    My post on the matter: http://betterbike.org/2014/07/further-proof-that-law-enforcement-needs-pro-bike-training/

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