Morning Links: LACBC wins national award for work on Mobility Plan; Sadik-Khan says the bikes have won

So Cynthia Rose wasn’t the only one.

We reported yesterday that the founder of the LACBC’s Santa Monica Spoke local chapter had won the Alliance for Biking & Walking’s award for the nation’s most inspirational bike advocate.

Which if you know Cynthia, seems like an understatement.

But we missed the news that the LACBC won a second award, for Winning Campaign of the Year, for their successful work behind the scenes in getting the LA Mobility Plan 2035 approved by the city council.

Which is actually typical of the way the bike coalition seems to work; they may not make a lot of waves, but they get a lot done in ways for which they don’t always get, or take, the credit they deserve.

Congratulations to Cynthia and the LACBC for getting national recognition for their outstanding work.

………

New York Magazine offers a great excerpt from former New York DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan’s new book, declaring the bike wars are over, and the bikes have won.

Or rather, the people of New York, who back her work in reimagining the city’s streets in overwhelming numbers, despite very vocal opposition, came out on top.

None of the bike-lane opponents’ predictions has come to pass. City streets have never been safer, more economically thriving, or offered more transportation options than they do today. My successor as Transportation commissioner is greatly expanding the network of bike paths and doubling the size of the city’s bike-share system…

When you push the status quo, it pushes back, hard. Everyone likes to watch a good fight. And the battle over bike lanes most surely was a street fight: politically bloody and ripped from the tabloids. Call me biased, call me crazy — many people have — but I’ll tell you this: The bikes, and all New Yorkers, won.

Meanwhile, Gothamist and Next City talk with her about her book and the battle over bike lanes.

………

A couple recent bike incidents were caught on video.

In the first, a Ventura County bike rider captures the drifting driver who ran him down from behind as he rode on the shoulder of a roadway; fortunately, he wasn’t seriously injured. Thanks to Erik Griswold for the heads-up.

And a British cyclist captures the passenger in a passing BMW leaning out of the window to push him off his bike.

And yes, that’s a crime, not a prank.

Correction: I had originally said the cyclist was riding salmon, based on the directional flow of the traffic and parked cars. However, Andy S. points out that the person who posted the video says it wasn’t a one-way street, despite appearances. 

………

Local

Like a character from a horror film that just refuses to die, the debate over opening Griffith Park’s Mt. Hollywood Drive to shuttle buses is back for yet another round, with a meeting tonight to present the latest on the Griffith Park Circulation & Traffic Enhancement Plan.

LADOT reports the installation of a new bike corral on Main Street in Venice. But does that red curb mean you could get a ticket if you use it?

Twitter’s topomodesto shows a section of westbound Venice got a semi-protected bike lane between Crenshaw and San Vicente with no fanfare, even if it does need a good cleaning.

 

State

California now ranks fourth in the US for bike commuting, though it remains at just 1.1% of all commuting trips.

A bike has become a four-year fixture at UC Irvine, thanks to a sign attached to the handlebars reading “Jesus ain’t white.”

A Palm Springs writer calls it a terrible waste of energy to argue over whether bicycles should be allowed in wilderness areas, saying the matter is long settled.

Ventura police release a photo that may be the second vehicle in the multi-car hit-and-run that took the life of a 14-year old bike rider last month; unfortunately, it’s very hard to make out any details.

A Stockton bike rider was critically injured when he was collateral damage in a collision between two cars; he had the misfortune of simply being nearby when one driver pulled out in front of the other.

A 74-year old Petaluma bike rider was hospitalized after overshooting his turn and crashing into the side of a bus.

 

National

A new study from the Mineta Transportation Institute finds that despite perceptions, bikeshare is actually safer than riding your own bike.

An Oregon letter writer blames an “inconsiderate” spandexed cyclist riding on the white line, not even in the roadway, for a near collision. And apparently never considering that it’s possible to slow down in order wait for the opportunity to pass safely.

A Seattle writer says instead of the city buying the bikeshare system, people should just go out and buy their own bikes. Except that’s not what bikeshare is for. And no offense, but any bike you can buy at Target for $70 probably isn’t worth riding.

Chicago police and cyclists disagree over whether bike riders are allowed to ride a primary bike path through the Logan Square district after 11 pm; police insist the city park it runs through is closed between 11 pm and 6 am, while bike advocates says people are allowed to ride through as long as they don’t stop. So if they get stopped by the robbers that frequent the path, would they be breaking the law? Thanks to J. Patrick Lynch for the link.

Connecticut cyclists back a bill that would increase the fine for careless drivers who hit bike riders or pedestrians from $90 to $500. Needless to say, truckers, who evidently plan on hitting them, think the fine is too high.

New York unveils plans for a protected bike lane to improve safety on a dangerous stretch of roadway. Maybe someday we can see something like that here in LA.

A Georgia collegiate cyclist rises to prominence, overcoming a form of stroke so rare that only six people have ever had it — and he’s the only one who survived.

 

International

Nice piece from the founder of Ella, who looks back on nine things she’s learned after launching a women’s cycling website.

A Montreal journalist is the face of a new pro-helmet campaign after she was seriously injured in a collision last year; however, a science writer says in response that it’s infrastructure and mass numbers of cyclists that really make a difference in safety.

No matter how many cities, states and provinces adopt a three-foot passing law — or one meter, in this case — politicians always seem to act like no one has ever done it before, predicting catastrophe in defeating a proposed bill in Manitoba.

As London mayor Boris Johnson prepares to leave office, he regrets not building more protected bikeways. Meanwhile, a website suggests ten things you shouldn’t do while riding on the city’s new cycle superhighways.

Japan has recorded over 9,100 bicycling violations in the six months since a new law went into effect regulating bike safety; eight men have been required to take a safety course after repeated violations.before being allowed back on their bikes.

 

Finally…

You know e-bikes have caught on when even the pros want one. Like the song says, if you like it, should’ve put a ring on it; no, on his bike, not his finger.

And when your typical day at the office involves driving in ovals at 200 mph, a little 400 mile bike ride should be a breeze.

 

8 comments

  1. Andy S says:

    It does not appear that the British victim of the attempted shove was riding salmon. He was riding on the left side of a two-way road.

    • bikinginla says:

      I’ll have to take your word for that. When I view the video, all the traffic appears to be headed in the opposite direction he’s riding, and the only cars are parked on the opposite side facing the same way, making it appear to be a one way. But given the narrow streets in the UK, it’s possible it’s a two way.

      • Andy S says:

        The person who posted the video to YouTube says “It wasn’t a one way street either, and the BMW wasn’t overtaking the bus as it hadn’t stopped (nor was there a bus stop there).” I’m willing to take his/her word for it.

      • Ralph says:

        Here in Europe there are many one way streets where cyclists are allowed to ride against traffic. These streets are usually posted at 30 KPM (18 mph)

  2. Blue Lights draw me over says:

    Walking is not free.

    Running is beyond the means of many walkers, to do with modern fantastic shoes, socks, shade gear, hydration and infrastructure in support of.

    On a bike you can have a locker of sorts, to allow more then one shopping trip, not just a weapon or whatever to be stowed.

    I’ve advised friends to invest in footwear if not biking, and this is not too obvious to point out.

    Several shoe technologies make huge differences. How you place your feet, and where, do as well. I’ve advised a very old lady to stay off the sidewalk and she says that is helping her very very much- the gravel, not just dirt or grass, with most materials, results in greater shock absorption. By stepping on smaller stuff it can penetrate more, which spreads the force across time and distance. Snowshoes in reverse is walking on textured concrete versus smooth.

    Your point though about the illusion of affordability for almost all urban vehicles deserves this comment going on a bit more.

    One friend used to carry on about how expensive per mile biking was- because he, on a fixed income, kept track of all the expenses, and did the math.

    As a major walker, often not on wheels for extended periods, I can wear out second hand shoes in weeks. They look new when I buy them.

    I have finally found a pair I am going to buy likely mail order new. It had worn out some and I had bought a seemingly nicer pair, same technology but leather, also previously owned, but they failed so I am back to the 3rd or so pair.

    They are elevator high but that is not what I love about them. As they where I start tearing my tendons off my bone, so replacing them before that happens a third time is very important. After seeing some movies last night I made record time uphill the two hour or so hike home last night.

    So yeah a shoe share program is desperately needed. They could be slip over your existing shoes- allowing ladies to step into them with high heels from say a train station to there buildings plaza, where they would step onto the vend/devend machine and it would grab them as they stepped off.

    Storing commuting footwear is not trivial and there is no reason to own your own.

    I would favor such a system over bikes for many urban area’s where the final leg is short enough and pedestrians are not at risk of congesting the right of way excessively.

    Ice skating rinks have always had shoe sharing, as has bowling etc.

    Some running shoes cost so much being able to rent them for a day or a week, or however many miles, not having to fly marathon and trainers with you, all kind of no brainer.

    It is a bike case in reverse ok?

    Walmart like Target sells a lot of simulated bikes. There 700’s used to have skinny high pressure tires, but now they don’t even bother. An effort to do 27.5 inches has failed and they are clearanced at under $100.

    On such bikes old, abandonded, designs in componentry are found.

    At first I thought Kenda was making a proprietary size, as they distributed the Good Year replacements at $20 each.

    I see schoobuses getting liquidated right now, 84 passenger models, barely teenager’s, and what should be done is the bike share expanded to usurp as much of the bus nonsense as possible.

    For most students walking is faster then taking the school bus.

    In college I used to take naps walking home a few miles very late at night. You can train yourself to sleep walk- no joke.

    A complete street has a sleep walking lane I dare say. And I’m not making fun of blind people. They should not use the sleeping only lane! My point, secondary to the fact that this would be helpful, is that time spent exercising, talking, is not lost. Even such micronaps along the way are worth far more then a reduced trip time at obscene, really obscene, cost.

    To put children on a bus for many minutes a day, is, not oughta be, illegal.

    One movie introduced to me, and most I assume, the expression “Number 3″… and that term could apply to sweating. Walking though is not to sweat- you only sweat if you lack a man made cooling system! I am aware people believe that sweating is the point, or otherwise valuable on it’s own. Like pissing, or pooping, or…, but I am willing to give it up in the summer altogether and saw for $15 at a thrift store a barely used ice water pumping Igloo chest with grid power supply, volume control, instructions.

    Very tempted! It used standard clear small bore tubing, a pair, in a insulated rubber conduit jacket a few feet plus long. ALthough the snap on connector and not included knee insulator and tubed wrap was proprieter those tubes could work with home made gear.

    What makes us sweat is not the temp of the air we breathe, or the amount of work we are doing. We sweat and overheat when we fail to cool our blood sufficiently. Being in the sun alone can do that if you do not carry an air conditioner and/or ice.

    Drinking cold water is a utterly demented way of reducing body temp.

    Track athletes have ways of nearly instantly chilling there blood back down between sprints. To do so over an appendage with a small surface area vacuum is employed to increase the flow of blood despite the cold temp.

    The only reason we can bike is because full body armor is not required. Perhaps it should be, but mandates are not the only way to create markets for genuinely cooling gear.

    So whether you are losing too much heat, or not enough, the free energy your shoes waste just heating up as you compress and decompress them over and over again has not been addressed with personally owned socks and tread on disposable shoes!

    If just ten percent of the capital being slurped up by wealthy people for chemical battery powered cars was instead available for active cooling insoles it would cost GM millions of dollars in profit for every few thousand invested.

    Leasing a small conventional compression chilled water system costs less then having your flats fixed in a shop.

    The only reason, let’s be as honest as possible, people own cars at all, is because we imprison any potential inventor’s of the accessories we need to walk before they get out of diaper’s nearly.

    WE basically all know how for weeks or months every year we work to pay for shit we don’t want- bombs, roads, amputations…. and some of that money we can manage to spend appropriately if we get organised.

    That means we don’t have to wear hats like we live in the country when we are waking in city limits- the government is there to plant trees or put a roof over our heads. If is our decision if the sidewalk is better for cooking on then preventing us from running a fever just from burning fat hustling to our next appointment. Nobody elses! Ours.

    They sell cardboard TV sets also.

    The commentor might pay for a dentist etc. for his wife, when inflatable spouses can be bought for under a thousand, and you can probably subscribe to get a new one every other year for a few dozen dollars a month. Ones that can talk, walk, whatever even.

    But where you can go in a certain time naked, without your own air supply, only ‘sweating’ available to keep your brain in top gear, is not relevant to anything! If people by and large where limited to clothing, under $10,000 a decade bikes to own and operate, they would by and large only drive. We would see owning and driving a car, alone, be the choice of 90+ percent of the population. That would not be a pretty scene- one I would not suffer for a lifetime and that is for sure.

  3. Blue Lights draw me over says:

    FOer the record I was responding to your link to Dud- saying “Plus, walking is free while Pronto charges $8 to $85 for passes allowing rides up to 30 minutes.”

  4. That’s right, we won! All that’s left now is mopping up isolated pockets of resistance.

    And I have this bridge I’m trying to get rid of.

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