Due to the time I wasted spent trying to figure out what the CHP was saying about the fatal bike crash in El Cajon — and especially what the hell they left out — it’s too late to start work on a new Morning Links post for Thursday.
Don’t blame me, blame them.
We’ll be back Friday to catch up on anything we missed.
Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay.
A man was killed riding a bicycle in El Cajon Tuesday afternoon.
Yet despite saying the crash is still under investigation, the California Highway Patrol seemed to put the blame on him.
According to San Diego‘s Fox5, the victim was riding north on Blossom Valley Road at Quail Canyon Road, when he was struck by the driver of a Mercedes around 3:52 pm.
The victim, identified only as a 58-year old man, apparently died at the scene. He was reportedly riding a Centurion bicycle, which went out of production in the US at the turn of the century.
The CHP alleges the man “entered the intersection in front of the Mercedes, for reasons still under investigation.”
Which could mean almost anything.
The three-way intersection is controlled only with a stop sign on the base of a hill on Blossom Valley, while there appear to be bike lanes on both Blossom Valley and Quail Canyon.
The CHP also notes that the victim wasn’t wearing a helmet, even though there’s no suggestion that he died of a head injury, or that the crash would have been survivable with or without one.
And they added this comment, clearly implying the victim was at fault.
“We want to remind the public that cyclists must follow the same rules as motorists,” said Cpt. Monteagudo with CHP. “By obeying traffic laws and staying alert, cyclists can protect themselves and others, reducing the risk of serious crashes. Safety on our roads is everyone’s responsibility; let’s ride smart and share the road safely.”
However, there’s no word on where either party was positioned in the intersection.
It’s possible that the driver could have been turning left onto Blossom Valley from southbound Quail Canyon, or she could have been headed south on Blossom Valley and either gone straight, or turned right onto Quail Canyon.
Or she could have been traveling north on Blossom Valley, and somehow rear-ended the victim.
According to the CHP, the driver, who suffered minor injuries in the collision, was not under the influence at the time of the crash.
There’s also no word on whether the victim might have drifted into the traffic lane or turned left onto Quail Canyon in front of the driver. Or he could have been riding against traffic on the wrong side of the roadway.
Which is exactly the problem.
We have no way of knowing what actually happened, or who may have been at fault for this crash.
But that doesn’t seem to keep the CHP from pointing the finger.
(The San Diego Union-Tribune also reported on this story, which could explain more. But their story is hidden behind a paywall for subscribers only.)
This is at least the 47th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 11th that I’m aware of in San Diego County.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones.
Thanks to BikinginLA sponsor Richard Duquette for the heads-up.
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At least now I can name the dog.
CD5 Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky discusses the hit-and-run crash that severely injured one of her staff members and killed the staffer’s beloved corgi — something I mentioned here last week — saying walking shouldn’t have to feel like an act of courage.
And yet, far too often, it does.
Last Sunday morning, someone driving a pickup truck struck a member of our team in a hit-and-run while she was walking her dog in the Miracle Mile neighborhood. She sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized with multiple fractures for several days. She is now in stable condition and recovering. Tragically, her beloved dog, Kobe, was killed in the crash.
Kobe was part of our office family. His playful energy and easy affection brought smiles to everyone who met him, whether in the office or out at community events like CicLAvia, where he was a familiar face. Our office feels emptier without him, and our thoughts are with our colleague as she recovers from both her injuries and this heartbreaking loss.The driver has since turned herself in, but this devastating incident is a reminder that far too many Angelenos are hurt or killed on our streets every year. In 2024 alone, more than 300 people lost their lives to traffic violence, many while simply walking or biking in their own neighborhoods. Behind every death or injury is a family changed forever, a community left grieving.
As I mentioned, the victim is a friend of my wife’s and mine, and Kobe was probably our corgi’s best friend.
They were always together, every time we saw her. And our corgi would run to give her kisses, and around Kobe a like a lovesick puppy.
Which she probably was.
To say I’ve been devastated by this whole damn thing is probably the understatement of the year.
The most heartbreaking part was when she posted news of Kobe’s passing on Instagram, saying her final memory of the dog she adored was staring into one his eyes after the crash, both unable to move to comfort the other.
And if that doesn’t bring tears to your eyes, you’re a stronger person than I am.
There’s no word yet on whether the driver has been charged. But at most, she’ll face a maximum of four years and a fine up to $10,000 for felony hit-and-run causing serious injury. Which LA prosecutors will probably bargain down to misdemeanor to get a guilty plea, unless someone puts pressure on them.
And here in California, the hit-and-run murder of her dog is just a misdemeanor property crime.
He deserves so much better.
Rest in peace, my friend.
Rest in peace.
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Seriously?
The LAPD is finally getting around to asking for the public’s help to find a hit-and-run driver, only five months after the fact.
Talk about letting the trail go cold.
The 64-year old victim, who hasn’t been identified, was reportedly riding on Hoover Street at 20th around 3:15 am on May 28th, when he was hit head-on in a left cross by a driver turning left onto Hoover.
Or maybe the driver was going west on Hoover Street and was making a left to go west on 20th Street, striking the victim as he rode across 20th Street in the crosswalk.
Who knew that both Hoover and 20th could go east and west?
What makes far more sense is if the victim was riding south on Hoover, and was struck by the northbound driver turning left onto 20th. Although you’d think that after five months the cops could get the damn details right.
The suspect vehicle, described only as a white sedan, was last seen headed west on 20th Street toward the 10 Freeway west on-ramp.
The victim was hospitalized with severe injuries. There’s no information on his current condition.
Anyone with information is urged to call Detective Holmes of the LAPD’s West Traffic Division at 213/473-0216.
And yes, there is a standing $25,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest and conviction in any serious injury hit-and-run in the City of Los Angeles.
This is yet another reminder that the LAPD still refuses to use the hit-and-run alert systems provided by both the city and the state, both of which were patterned on Colorado’s successful system that has helped the Colorado state police reach a nearly 100% hit-and-run clearance rate.
Which compares somewhat favorably with the LAPD’s abysmal 1% clearance rate.
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Streetsblog catches us up on the precious few bike and traffic safety bills that actually made it through the legislature and were signed by the governor this year, including —
Governor Newsom also promised to sign a bill next year requiring interlock devices for anyone convicted of DUI, which would be a great step forward.
Maybe next year they could finally do something to stop hit-and-run, too. Because the LAPD sure as hell isn’t.
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No surprise here.
A new study from an Austrian university found that reducing residential speed limits from 50km/h to 30 km/h — roughly 31 mph to 18 mph — would protect bicyclists while having little or no effect on traffic.
Reducing the speed limit to 30km/h across residential areas doubled the amount of bike travel on low-stress streets – creating a safer environment for children and less confident cyclists, said the study’s lead researcher, Dr Afshin Jafari.
“Slowing traffic makes bicycle riding less stressful, encouraging more people to choose bikes as a safe and viable mode of transport,” Jafari said…
Meanwhile, the study – which was published in Cycling and Micromobility Research – found car travel was barely affected by the 30km/h limit, as it was only applied on local streets rather than the busier roads – such as main roads or highways – that were designed to maximise the flow of traffic.
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Now that’s a service dog.
When drivers fail to stop so a blind man can cross the street, his guide dog goes out and gives them a piece of his mind, telling them to stop in no uncertain terms.
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A writer for Cycling Weekly says he was passed so badly by a truck driver that an inch the wrong way would have meant he wouldn’t still be here to tell the story — and that’s normal for bicyclists, who are expected to just accept it. As the bard put it, “‘Tis true, ’tis pity, And pity ’tis, ’tis true.”
No bias here. An Irish TV commentator accuses “mouthy” wealthy cargo bike owners for a property crisis brought on by soaring home prices by trying to “ringfence cities as active travel playpens for the better off,” and forcing an entire generation to live at home with their parents. Although that doesn’t explain why we’re having the same problem over here.
Alameda parents raised safety concerns after a teenager was injured crashing into another bike rider when he tried to pop a wheelie while riding to school.
A woman in Cape Cod, Massachusetts called for more regulation after she was struck by a ped-assist ebike rider, and somehow impaled under her eye by the handlebars.
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President Trump threatened to move next year’s World Cup out of Boston, and take the 2028 Olympics away from Los Angeles, ostensibly because of potential safety concerns. Or more likely, because he just doesn’t like us, never mind that he doesn’t have the authority to do that.
Pasadena residents strongly backed slow speed greenways on El Molino Ave, Wilson Ave, Sierra Bonita Ave and Craig Ave, with over 1,000 people signing petitions backing them, and 18 local organizations endorsing the projects, as well as 200 emails and around 35 speakers who supported them at Monday’s council meeting.
Next door in South Pasadena, Huntington Drive and Fremont Ave are set to get Complete Streets makeovers, including lane reductions and lower speed limits, along with bikeways and better sidewalks.
Ocean Beach installed a stone memorial and plaque memorializing OB resident and UPS employee Steven Krueger on the bike path near Robb Field Skate Park; Krueger was killed when a plane crashed into his mail truck in 2021.
Sad news from Merced, where a 46-year old woman was killed by a hit-and-run driver while riding her bike Monday afternoon; the driver was arrested after he was captured on surveillance video, despite trying to run away from the cops.
You’ve got to be kidding. US House Speaker Mike Johnson says Portland’s “emergency” naked bike ride was “the most threatening thing” he’s seen yet, adding “I mean, it’s getting really ugly;” meanwhile, Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley applauded Portland residents for “demonstrating with joy and whimsy.” Although if Johnson thinks that was ugly, he hasn’t seem me naked on a bike.
As expected, 18-year old Jzamir Keys pled guilty to second-degree murder in the death of former Bell, California police chief Andreas Probst as he was riding a bicycle in Las Vegas, with a sentence of 18-to-life; Keys was a passenger in the car who laughed and filmed the murder as Probst was intentionally run down by 20-year-old Jesus Ayala, who pled guilty last week.
Heartbreaking news from Kansas City, where a ten-year old girl was killed by a van driver in a left cross collision while riding her bike in a crosswalk with the green light on her way to school.
He gets it. A Cambridge, Massachusetts letter writer says bike safety will be his voting priority in the upcoming city election. Which is exactly what we all should do.
A professional bike tester writes that there are six things he never worries about when setting out for a ride, from tire pressure and chain lube to on-bike nutrition.
The Guardian offers “expert” advice on cleaning and maintaining your bike, including a tip that you could save hundreds just by giving your bike a bath once a fortnight. Or every two weeks for those of us on this side of the pond.
Cycling Weekly says you probably haven’t checked the setting on your pedals in years, as the two smallest screws on your bike could have one of the biggest impacts on safety.
Britain’s Neil Campbell set a new world bicycle speed record of 175.89 mph by drafting behind a high-powered pickup truck at a competition in Arkansas last week, topping his previous record of 174.33 mph. And to think I was happy when I finally topped 30 on level ground.
The BBC visits the 900 mile, “87% car-free, culturally rich and surprisingly accessible” Rhine Cycle Route, which follows the river from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea.
A Melbourne, Australia economist and bike advocate says the city is too car centric, and bicycles are just an afterthought.
Your new t-shirt could honor an iconic, if “cheekily named,” two-wheeled BMW. Who needs a white picket fence when you’ve got bike frames?
And I’ve known more pig-faced cyclists than the other way around.
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Be safe, and stay healthy. And get vaccinated, already.
Oh, and fuck Putin.
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It looks like lots of people loved Sunday’s Heart of LA CicLAvia.
One that I missed out on, since neither my wife or corgi were up to it — one because still recovering from a heart attack, and the other after getting a bunch of shots at the vet.
I’ll leave it up to you to decide which was which.
Regardless, Joe Linton offers an open thread and his usual great photos at Streetsblog, making it appear a good time was had by all.
And a trio of videos capture the fun.
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To the surprise of no one, former LA schools superintendent, LA Times publisher and Karen Bass supporter Austin Beutner announced he’s running against Bass for mayor, arguing that Los Angeles needs change.
Beutner was a big supporter of bicycling when he first ran for mayor a little over a decade ago, following a bike crash led him to change careers from building a successful business to serving as Antonio Villaraigosa’s deputy mayor.
We’ll have to see if that’s still a priority for him this time around.
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The Pasadena City Council’s Municipal Services Committee will consider a Local Roadway Safety Action Plan at today’s meeting, focusing on fixing the city’s most dangerous streets with a goal of ending traffic deaths by 2035.
The proposal is then scheduled to go to the full council on October 27th.
Meanwhile, a survey of residents lists driver behavior as their top concern, followed by biking and rolling safety, then crossing safety.
Something we can probably all agree with.
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Streets Are For Everyone reminds you that time is running out to register for the Santa Clarita Finish The Ride, which helps fund the group’s statewide fight for safer streets.
This is shaping up to be our best Santa Clarita event ever, and we can’t wait to see you there.
As a reminder, advance registration prices end at midnight on October 25—register now to lock in the best rate!
Whether you’re riding or running, you’ll be supporting Streets Are For Everyone’s mission to make our roads safer—and we couldn’t be more grateful for your help.
As usual, there will be an amazing raffle at the event! You can pre-purchase tickets, pick them up at packet pickup, or at our merchandise table during the event!
Thank you for being part of this important cause. We can’t wait to see you at the starting line!
Date: Sunday, October 26th, 2025
Location: West Creek Park, Santa Clarita
Event Options (Routes are subject to change):
Ride:
Run/Walk:
Get all the event details!
♂️♂️ Costumes are encouraged, but optional for participation! ♂️
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It’s happened once again, again. A day after we discussed a Massachusetts driver who used his car as a weapon to run down someone on a bike, we learn that police in the UK are looking for a hit-and-run van driver who ran over a 49-year old man’s bicycle after first “racially abusing” the victim, then deliberately trying to run him over.
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Say hi to Hollywood Blvd’s new bike lane “Sweeping Beauty.”
Fullerton residents called for protected bike lanes and better street lighting at last week’s city council meeting, after two Cal State Fullerton students were critically injured when they were struck by a truck driver while sharing an e-scooter. Although someone should tell the CSUF student newspaper that most trucks still usually have drivers.
NBC News offers video of Portland’s rain-soaked emergency naked bike ride to protest Trump’s militarization of the city; the reported thousands of riders were also confronted by a few dozen counterprotestors. But if the riders are wearing clear rain ponchos, are they really naked?
A college senior in my bicycle-friendly Colorado hometown credits a free bike helmet she got as a freshman with saving her life when she went headfirst over her handlebars, returning to the same event as a volunteer four years later to hand them out herself. And yes, that’s exactly the kind of relatively slow speed crash bike helmets are designed for, not protecting riders from massive SUVs as most drivers seem to assume.
Syracuse, New York has struggled to pass Vision Zero for a full decade, despite a fatality rate 40% above the state average — and could lose out on federal safety funds as a result.
A new bike rider in upstate New York tries to fix her own brakes, finding that she may not need a bike mechanic, but she does need her dad.
A bicyclist in Key Biscayne, Florida shares his perspective on the risks riders face on the roads, explaining that what may look like dangerous “pack mentality” from the outside is just the safest way for large groups to ride
The Toronto Star examines how bikeshare went from death’s door to one of the city’s fastest-growing means of transportation, but says Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s fight to rip out the city’s bike lanes could decide whether it survives.
A British TV show re-examines the collision that killed a 52-year old triathlete competing in a time trial, finding the victim was in the driver’s field of view for 18-seconds before he rear-ended her bike in a “catastrophic misjudgement;” the driver was sentenced to four years behind bars after being convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.
Britain’s busking piano bike player had to cancel a planned tour when someone stole her dad’s van, which held her personal possessions, costumes and spare piano parts.
A new Irish report finds a distressing 262% jump in single-bicyclist collisions over a ten-year period, especially in the Dublin area. Although it’s possible that at least part of that is due to an increase in the country’s bicycling rates over the same period.
Paris set a new record in its transformation to a bicycling city, with counters clocking 1,817 bicycle trips on a single route in just one day.
Roughly a hundred people turned out for a bike ride sponsored by the Danish Embassy in Guangzhou, China to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Guardian looks back on Tadej Pogačar’s total domination of the cycling season, despite battling a bout of mid-season depression, while Tour de France Femmes champ Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s extreme weight loss proves almost as divisive as trans women in amateur bike races.
Pogačar doesn’t like all the comparison’s to the great Eddy Merckx, even if he keeps writing them with his own legs.
Spanish cyclist Francisco ‘Paco’ Mancebo finally called it a career after a remarkable 27 years cycling career that predated social media.
The University of Colorado highlights the return of paracyclist Jason Macom, whose track cycling career ended with a severe knee injury that eventually resulted in an amputation, then a second career as a paracyclist ended when his prothesis irritated his knee; a new procedure that grafted a prothesis directly onto the bone has allowed him to make a comeback, qualifying for this week’s 2025 Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro.
Now you, too, could own Strava — or a piece of it, anyway. Leave your helmet out on your bike too long, and you could be a baby bird’s new mom or dad; thanks to Megan for the link.
And seriously, we get the hint, already.
good morning to the bike lane big finish designers
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Be safe, and stay healthy. And get vaccinated, already.
Oh, and fuck Putin.
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It’s happened again.
Police in Lowell, Massachusetts filed charges against a local man for deliberately using his SUV as a weapon to kill another man riding an ebike.
According to The Lowell Sun, the 36-year old suspect was booked after being extradited from Florida for the August crash.
He was allegedly captured on surveillance video swerving his SUV into the 42-year old victim’s bike at a high rate of speed, with no sign of braking. He then drove off, abandoning his vehicle about three minutes later.
Police say he knew the victim, who had texted a woman living with the suspect just minutes before the fatal crash; she also had a bloodied bag the victim was reportedly carrying at the time of the crash.
Adding another twist to the case, a witness reported seeing a gun lying on the ground after the crash, but the weapon was gone when the police arrived.
Just one more reminder that no one needs a gun when you’ve got a motor vehicle. And every driver is at the wheel of multi-ton potential weapon of mass destruction. Fortunately, most people never use their cars that way.
But in the wrong hands, or under the wrong circumstances, they can be.
And too often are.
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay.
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A large group of people joined a British mayor for his annual public bike ride a couple weeks back.
The mayor of Salisbury, England was joined by his wife and several members of the city council for a ride through the city center, highlighting their efforts to promote sustainable and active travel in and around the city.
Which is a reminder that no LA mayor has bothered to host a community bide ride since Richard Riordan back in the ’90s, who was known for leading regular rides to introduce new bicyclists to the city.
And to my knowledge, the last one to even ride with the public was former mayor and current gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa at the original CicLAvia 15 years ago.
Our current mayor, Karen Bass, campaigned insisting that she was one of us, and enjoyed riding a bike, though she preferred sticking to paths and trails over fighting it out with drivers on the streets.
But if she still does, I don’t know anyone who has seen her on one since becoming mayor.
Maybe if she did — or even just rode streets instead of trails — she might suddenly grasp the dangers we face out there, just as Villaraigosa did with his Road to Damascus moment.
That was when he was knocked off his bicycle by a cab driver back in 2010, despite being surrounded by police and security personnel, while learning to ride a bike so he could ride with his girlfriend.
That led to LA’s first — and so far only — Bike Summit with city officials, who listened for more than two hours as one person after another told them how desperately we needed change on our streets if bicycling was going to survive in this city.
That let to the almost immediate changes, from bicyclists meeting weekly with the police to advocate for fairer enforcement, to the groundbreaking 2010 bike plan and a short-lived commitment to build a minimum of 80 miles a bike lanes every year.
All of which peaked with former Mayor Eric Garcetti dragging his bigass desk out to Boyle Heights to sign his Vision Zero proclamation. Which, like most of his other visionary proclamations, was never followed up on, as risk-averse city officials watered it all down until the whole damn thing went down the drain.
So maybe if Mayor Bass would ride with us once or twice — or maybe even hold her own bike summit — she might fight a little harder for her self-proclaimed fellow bike riders, rather than just ignoring us.
If not actively fighting against us, as with her ongoing efforts to avoid implementing Measure HLA.
We could hope.
She might even have a shot at regaining our support before next year’s mayoral race, which threatens to turn into a runoff between Rick Caruso and Austin Beutner.
Okay, maybe just a small shot.
But still.
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Thanks to Norm for forwarding a pair of videos
The first punctures the myth of the “Arrogant Cyclist” — the idea that cyclists are selfish, reckless, and entitled — to reveal who’s really acting entitled on our roads.
And it ain’t us.
The second examines a new Dutch-style protected intersection in Montreal, which some local drivers have labelled an “anti-car labyrinth.”
Although, to be honest, I’d be totally down with that.
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No bias here. Bodycam footage shows a Portland cop blaming the victim of a road rage attack — who happened to be a Licensed Cycling Instructor familiar with the law — for the crime of riding legally in the traffic lane, which apparently enraged a motorist to the point of, yes, using his car as a weapon. Then again, that cop would probably blame a shooting victim for standing in front of the bullet.
No bias here, either. Reaction to a photo of a woman using hooks to hang her bicycle on the Mumbai Metro drew mixed reactions, ranging from praise to comments that features like that aren’t “meant for a country like India.”
An Indian man was beaten to death after he denied borrowing a bicycle from a shopkeeper, leading to political tensions in the West Bengal region since one of the suspects is a member of a local political party.
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No news is good news, right?
It was a rough weekend for bike riders in Northern California, with bicyclists suffering serious injuries when they were struck by drivers in Martinez, Fresno and Sacramento County.
Sacramento police have arrested three men on murder charges, three months after a man was reported missing when family members found his bicycle abandoned near a creek trail, not far from from blood stains and spent bullet casings, as officers termed his disappearance “suspicious in nature.” Gee, ya think?
Thousands of Portlanders turned out in the cold and rain for an emergency edition of the World Naked Bike ride to protest the “militarization” of the city, in the most Portland way possible. Meanwhile, we can’t get even a fraction of that in Los Angeles for a protest ride with their clothes on, let alone off. Which might explain why city leaders ignore us.
A Wisconsin bike rider asks what can be done about the “goose bombs” in a local park, because he’s tired of getting bird poop on his legs when he rides.
Great idea. Atlanta residents are challenged to get out and explore the city on their bikes this month, with the city’s Biketober Challenge.
Bike Biz considers whether bikeshare systems help or hurt bike sales, by encouraging more people to ride, or leeching potential customers away.
Who needs track cycling when you can score a tryout for the Canadian bobsled team?
A Scottish curb-level bike path has been branded the worst bike path in the world, because “it zigs and zags all over the place” while pedestrians wander in and out, unaware it’s even there.
Also a great idea. A bicycle advocacy group is hosting more than 40 group rides around the UK to protest the lack of safe bike routes for women, as 58% of women say safety concerns and a lack of suitable infrastructure has limited their ability to ride their bikes.
This is how to stop traffic violence. A driver in the Netherlands was arrested after a crash that killed a 23-year old man riding a bicycle, standard procedure following a deadly traffic collision in the country.
Australia’s shadow foreign affairs minister is one of us, after the high-ranking official with the opposition Liberal Party broke her leg while riding bikes with her husband.
Tadej Pogačar capped his dominance of the cycling world by winning Il Lombardia for the fifth time in a row, tying the legendary Fausto Coppi’s record wins for the year’s final Monument, while becoming the first man since Eddy Merckx a full 50 years ago to win three Monuments, the Tour de France and a world title in a single season.
A Belgian cycling commentator says Tadej Pogačar is very beatable, but only on a flat course with limited ascents, because no one in the peloton can match his climbing ability.
Cycling News says goodbye to a raft of riders who called it a career after the year’s final road race.
The Netherland’s Lorena Wiebes held off Marianne Vos to win the World Gravel Championship, going 1-2 with Italy’s Silvia Persico coming in third.
NPR talks with Christopher Blevins, the first American male to win the cross-country mountain biking World Cup in 34 years, in the sport we literally invented. Oh, and he’s Black, too.
Velo considers whether budding French star Kévin Vauquelin can lead Britain’s Ineos Grenadiers back to the Tour de France promised land.
The Times of Israel complains that the Premier Tech cycling team betrayed the country by dropping Israel from its name, even if that meant being met by protests and denied entry to international races.
An Olympics-themed website examines the risk of cycling crashes, as increasing speeds have resulted in too many deaths and serious injuries in recent years, which is driving a number of riders into an early retirement.
New Zealand mountain biker Sammie Maxwell rode into history as the country’s first person to win a UCI World Series title, clinching the mountain bike cross country title despite the resurgence of an eating disorder she thought she’d put behind her.
A writer for Cycling Weekly says UCI’s new rule banning time trial helmets from road racing couldn’t have come soon enough, asking if they ruined cycling photography by making riders look too ridiculous. Short answer, yes. Longer answer, still yes.
When you’re riding a stolen bicycle with a bag full of guns and illegal weed, maybe make sure it doesn’t have an air tag on it, first. Who needs a bike chain when you can just 3D print a daisy chain of colorful gears — or even a rear triangle, for that matter?
And if you’re not going to do coke off your Olympic cycling gold medal, what good is even having one?
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Be safe, and stay healthy. And get vaccinated, already.
Oh, and fuck Putin.
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No bias here.
A Boulder, Colorado driver is stymied by helmetless “stealth” bicyclists who zoom through when he has the right-of-way, ultimately concluding that there is only one possible explanation.
Narcissism.
And he would know, because he used to ride a bicycle before he gave it up because of all those dangerous drivers out there.
I’ve finally reached the conclusion that it’s all about narcissism. It’s all about appearance. It’s all about ego. People want to look cool. Dark helmets and clothes are cool. Bright helmets and clothing are not. Apparently, they are only for nerds.
It’s commonplace knowledge that we live in a culture of narcissism where one’s appearance and self-presentation are everything. And part of the culture of narcissism in Boulder is the desire to appear to others to be living life effortlessly and successfully without restrictions, just gliding masterfully through life, exempt from fear, looking good. It’s this same desire that results in motorcyclists (“organ doners,” (sic) as professional truckers call them) riding without helmets. I have a friend who spent a summer during college working in a clinic for people with head injuries. They were all men, and a high portion were motorcyclists. He said that after that experience, you could not pay him to ride a motorcycle.
Yes, unlike, say, human beings, bike riders base their entire decision on what to wear on whether they like it, and think it looks good on them.
When we all know that anyone who cared about safety would put on their oversized shoes, bright yellow vests and full clown makeup before ever leaving home.
Oh, and a screaming neon bike helmet, because everyone knows a little bit of plastic on your head will make your body impervious to any injury that might otherwise be inflicted by a speeding, distracted driver in massive SUV.
Seriously, I’m as safety conscious as anyone.
I try to wear clothing that contrasts with the environment — bright at night and cloudy days, dark on bright, sunny ones. Not because I’m a raging anti-narcissist, but because decades of experience tell me it can help get the attention of drivers.
Okay, some drivers.
And yes, I also wear a helmet, not because it’s the moral equivalent of seat belts, air bags and crumple zones, but because it might offer some degree of protection should my thick skull make contact with the pavement.
Although recognizing that bike helmets are designed to protect against relatively slow speed falls, not high-speed crashes — and acknowledging that other people may make other choices, informed or otherwise.
Because that’s what other people do.
I also believe in lighting my bike up like a Christmas tree, day and night, not because those flashing lights look pretty, but because it’s the best way I know to try to catch the attention of the people in a big, dangerous machines.
And trust me, if I knew a better way, I’d do it in a New York minute. Which somehow seems to be faster than other minutes, through some strange quirk of quantum physics.
Never mind that if you’re going to live your life in fear, you might as well just stay home hiding under the couch cushions.
And I don’t know about you, but I refuse to live that way.
As the late, great Damon Runyon wrote, “All life is 6 to 5 against.” You accept that, do what you can to improve your odds, and live your life anyway.
Narcissism be damned.
Unfortunately, the Boulder op-ed is hidden behind the paper’s paywall, so you may have trouble seeing it. Because, apparently not fully grasping how the internet works, they somehow expect you to subscribe to newspaper a thousand miles from Southern California that you may never read again.
And yes, I know print media struggling, and needs all the help they can get.
But that’s not the way to make it work. Especially when drawing more distant eyeballs could help raise ad revenue.
Today’s photo of a narcissistic ninja by Iren Fedo from Pexels.
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Rebecca forwards news of a teenaged girl killed by a hit-and-run driver while walking in Monrovia on Sunday. And even though this site is about bicycling, it’s worth sharing in an effort to find some justice for the victim, identified as Sulmy Merary Lopez.
A 16 year old was killed on Sunday in Monrovia in a hit and run. I haven’t seen much public about it yet, but the Monrovia police department has a request out for information on their socials, which has been picked up by Monrovia Now.
There is also a gofundme out. I cannot confirm the validity of this. I certainly hope it is valid, but I have no personal information.
In interesting timing, the city currently has a federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program planning grant, and they are having a first listening session on Monday.
The crowdfunding page, which is in Spanish, reads,
To all kind-hearted people who would like to contribute to the funeral of my little sister Sulmy, who was born on January 9, 2009, and passed away yesterday, October 5, 2025, at just 16 years old. She was hit by a car in a terrible accident. I hope the police can investigate these events and give us the answers we so desperately need. We sincerely ask for your help so we can repatriate her to Guatemala. My mother, Juana López, and my brother, Breily Rivas, will be grateful to any kind people who want to contribute. Thank you and many blessings.
As of this writing, the page has raised just $465 of the modest $3,500 goal.
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Like using a cannon instead of a flyswatter, Leeds, England is banning all bikes from the city center to address the problem of a relative handful of rude blokes on electric motorbikes.
An Irish city councilor complains that a protected bike lane should be “reviewed,” because cabbies can’t pull right into it to pick up or drop off passengers, even though it’s used by commuters and school kids. But what’s a school kid or two if it keeps taxi passengers from walking a few more feet?
A reporter for The London Telegraph stood on a corner in the city’s virtually carfree Bank District and counted 172 bike riders running red lights in a single hour, claiming it’s only a matter of time before someone gets killed. No one should ever go through a red light or crosswalk when people are crossing or riding in the other direction, but they seem to be mistaking bicycles for big dangerous machines that hurt a lot more when they hit you.
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Don’t forget CicLAvia’s 15th anniversary return to the Heart of Los Angeles this Sunday.
Los Angeles County’s proposed Urban Natureways initiative would reimagine the region’s underutilized flood control channels and utility corridors as “vibrant” greenways; the key corridors identified for the first phase include Compton Creek, the San Gabriel Valley’s Emerald Necklace, the Lower Los Angeles River and the Pacoima Wash.
Santa Barbara is installing 250 new — and presumably more secure — bike racks downtown and on the waterfront, replacing the city’s old hitching-post style racks.
This is why people keep dying on our streets. A 48-year old Oakland woman was arrested on DUI and hit-and-run charges after allegedly injuring a Berkeley bike rider — despite having an open DUI case from last year. Maybe we should require interlock devices as a condition of bail for anyone arrested on a DUI charge.
An adventure travel site ranks the top ten bicycling destinations in the US, with San Diego at number two. And yes, riding the city’s streets was definitely an adventure back when I lived down there.
A 36-year old Arizona man is facing a first-degree murder charge after allegedly stabbing a 65-year old man to death at a bus stop to steal his bicycle. As we’ve said before, no bike is worth your life. Give it up and live to ride another day.
Albuquerque, New Mexico is getting criticism for proposing an incomplete street makeover of a four-lane roadway, with plans a road diet but no bike lanes.
A writer for Road Bike Action goes bikepacking on Missouri’s 240-mile rail-to-trail Katy Trail.
This is how Vision Zero is supposed to work. A Northern Kentucky bridge is getting a Complete Streets makeover, removing a traffic lane in each direction while installing buffered bike lanes, in response to demands for change after a woman was killed by a hit-and-run driver while riding across the bridge with her boyfriend. But why do changes like this always seem to come only after it’s too late?
A Pittsburgh woman credits total strangers with saving her life, as well as her ability to walk, after she flipped her ebike into a ditch and felt her neck snap; a man who had just proposed to his girlfriend spotted her bike while driving by and got out to help — and the couple just happened to be a nurse/paramedic and an EMT.
New York advocates say the only real solution to safety for everyone in Central Park is to build protected bike lanes around and through it.
Cycling Weekly calls Tern’s compact e-cargo bike the ultimate family vehicle, saying it’s “so easy to ride and so adaptable, it can help anyone get ‘stuff’ done.” Which I only mention because it’s exactly what I would buy, if only I could afford the price of a decent used car, which I can’t.
The CBC says some people in the local bicycling community have been scared off their bikes in Prince George, British Columbia due to a lack of safe infrastructure, in the months since one man was killed and another seriously injured when they were struck by an alleged drunk driver while training for a charity bike ride; the driver faces DUI, hit-and-run and dangerous driving charges.
Up to one-third of British bike riders may not know they’re breaking the law by riding on the sidewalks. Yes, I know the story says “pavements,” but that’s what they call sidewalks in the UK. You know, that whole “two countries divided by a common language” thing, and all.
Cycling Weekly says Italy’s carfree Sellaronda Bike Day following Giro d’Italia routes through the Dolomites may be hard, but riding it is pure joy.
Bicycling Australia dives into the wonderful world of e-cargo bikes.
A 21-year old college graduate is setting out to revive the British grassroots bike racing scene from the ground up. Which is kinda what “grassroots” means, but still.
Twenty-eight-year old Canadian cyclist Derek Gee is trying to break his contract with the Israel-Premier Tech team, saying he is “simply unable to continue racing for the team,” despite facing possible damages of more than $48.6 million.
French cyclist Arnaud Démare joins the growing list of pro cyclists calling it a career, announcing his retirement after just 14 seasons, 97 victories, 10 grand tour stages and one Monument.
Mexican cycling star Isaac del Toro may have a future in this sport after all, matching the 17 wins Tadej Pogačar had in his first two seasons as a pro.
Seriously, doesn’t everyone have a secret bike rack in the back of their Rolls?
And getting an early jump on Halloween from inside your wheel. Hint: Don’t click on it if you’ve got a weak stomach.
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Be safe, and stay healthy. And get vaccinated, already.
Oh, and fuck Putin.
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With everything that’s been going on lately, I almost forgot to remind you that the mostly annual Heart of LA CicLAvia rolls this Sunday.
Arguably the country’s largest and most popular open streets event, CicLAvia 
returns to the streets of DTLA, Boyle Heights and Westlake/MacArthur Park almost exactly fifteen years to the day after the original 10/10/10 event.
And yes, I still have the T-shirt, though I now keep it safely packed away for posterity.
And no, that has nothing to do with a little apparent shrinkage affecting the mid-section.
Meanwhile, LAist highlights some of the “legendary eateries” you’ll find along the way.
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Speaking of bicycling events, I received the following press release for the first-ever Resilience Ride at Lake Casitas Campground in Ojai next month.
“Ride. Recover. Thrive.” — First-Ever SoCal Resilience Ride Launches November 14–16, 2025
A new annual cycling and recovery event in partnership with The Phoenix & Trudging Buddies
Ojai, CA — This fall marks the inaugural SoCal Resilience Ride, a first-of-its-kind weekend bringing together cyclists, people in recovery, and community members for three days of connection, challenge, and healing. Held November 14–16, 2025 at Lake Casitas Campground in Ojai, the event blends purpose-driven rides, wellness activities, and recovery-centered fellowship.
The SoCal Resilience Ride is co-presented by Trudging Buddies and The Phoenix, two nonprofit organizations dedicated to creating recovery communities rooted in strength, service, and hope. Together, they are laying the foundation for what will become a signature annual event for Southern California’s cycling and recovery communities.
“This first year is about building something lasting. The SoCal Resilience Ride combines the healing power of community, the challenge of cycling, and the spirit of recovery into one unforgettable weekend.” — Dave O’ Brien Trudging Buddies Board Chair
What to Expect — Three Days, One Journey
Friday, November 14 — Arrival and check-in at Lake Casitas Campground, community welcome, and dinner.
Saturday, November 15 — The ride! Choose between 20, 38, or 88-mile routes with full on-route support. Non-cyclists can enjoy hikes, kayaking, and other outdoor activities. All meals provided.
Sunday, November 16 — Breakfast, morning activities, and closing community circle before departure.
With bagged lunches, full SAG and mechanical support, rest stops, and community programming, the SoCal Resilience Ride ensures a safe and memorable experience for riders of all levels.
“We’re proud to partner with Trudging Buddies to bring the SoCal Resilience Ride to life. This event creates space for resilience, unity, and sustainable recovery.” — Andy Short, The Phoenix
Sponsored by Community
This first-year event is made possible through the generosity of sponsors.
Presenting Sponsor: No Matter What Recovery
In-Kind Sponsors: Clif Bar, Nuun Hydration, St. James Iced Tea, and VUUM
Their support helps fuel participants, power programming, and bring the vision of the SoCal Resilience Ride to life.
Registration & Deadlines
Early-bird registration: $150 (includes meals, camping, ride support, and activities)
Price increases to $200 on October 15 — register now to save your spot.
Register here: https://ride.trudgingbuddies.org
Call to Action
Spots are limited to 200 riders and 50 volunteers. Secure your early-bird registration before October 15 and join us for a weekend of cycling, community, and recovery.
Register today: impact.thephoenix.org/event/socal-resilience-ride/e698795
November 14–16, 2025 | Lake Casitas, Ojai, CA
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This is the cost of traffic violence.
A friend of mine was seriously injured, and her dog killed, by a hit-and-run driver in the Miracle Mile neighborhood in Los Angeles Sunday morning.
According to NBC Los Angeles,
The Los Angeles Police Department told NBC4 Investigates exclusively that the woman was taking her dog for a walk in the area of 8th Street and Cloverdale in the Miracle Mile neighborhood at around 8:30 a.m. Sunday when she – and the dog – were struck by a Toyota pickup truck.
When the truck, which may have run a stop sign, pulled over, the passenger from the car got out, but the people in the truck quickly took off from the crash site without offering to help the victim, according to the LAPD.
The story goes on to say that the driver turned herself in Sunday night. Which would have given her plenty of time to sober up if she was under the influence at the time of the crash.
Fortunately, our friend is going to recover. But her dog, who was our corgi’s best friend and the sweetest boy ever, was killed — okay, murdered — by someone who didn’t have the basic human decency to stop afterwards to see if they were okay.
And while felony hit-and-run resulting in serious injury is punishable by u to four years behind bars in this state, you can expect LA’s overburdened prosecutors to plea bargain it down to a misdemeanor, which carries a max of six months in county jail.
But since the woman turned herself in — albeit belatedly — she’ll probably walk with nothing more than probation, especially if it’s her first offense.
Meanwhile, dogs are just considered property under California law, so fleeing the scene after killing it carries a penalty of a very limp slap on the wrist.
If that.
To say I’m angry, sad and disgusted all jumbled together is the understatement of the year.
I’m also heartbroken to think our friend will come home from the hospital to an empty house, surrounded by reminders of the dog she loved.
And that none of us will ever get to see that sweet boy again.
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BlueSky user Glenn with 2 Ns offers great thread recounting a recent ride through the newly reopened Monrovia Canyon Park.
For some reason it’s not letting me embed the post, but you can click through for the full thread, although you may or may not need a BlueSky account.
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It used to be Amsterdam that everyone used as an example for how to transform a car-choked city to a bicycling city.
But a new study shows how Paris transformed itself over just a few short years, with bicycling traffic increasing by 240% between 2018 and 2023, while car traffic steadily declined — and one in ten trips are now made by bike in central districts.
So maybe there’s hope for Los Angeles yet, if city leaders would just get their heads out of their asses take providing alternatives to driving seriously.
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Surprising news from Iran, where a 19-year old bicycle tourist with dual French and German citizenship was unexpectedly released by government officials.
Lennart Monterlos had disappeared in June while riding across the country after Israel launched an attack against Iran.
Weeks later officials revealed he was being held on espionage charges, accused of taking pictures near a nuclear power plant.
There’s no word on what, if anything, the country may have received to secure his release.
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Thanks to Norm for forwarding a video examining bike infrastructure in Nanaimo, and how the city on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island “went Dutch.”
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Thousands of students walked, biked or skated to LA County schools yesterday to mark National Walk and Roll to School Day.
The Los Angeles Times offers advice on how to plan an extraordinary bikepacking trip to Catalina Island.
Calbike explains what all the various bikeway signs mean. Like the one that says No Motor Vehicles, which isn’t actually a Latin term for “drive here,” despite what some motorists seem to think.
San Diego’s Pedal Pushing Bicycle Shop says they’re already struggling under the weight of Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum.
San Luis Obispo County will add crosswalks and bike lanes on a popular beach access road leading to the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.
Monterey’s Sea Otter Classic bicycle festival is going Down Under.
Bike Portland says the new mayor of Tigard, Oregon is one of us. And for real, not just photo ops. Unlike the recent mayors of a certain SoCal megalopolis I could name.
The owner of a Tucson, Arizona bike shop says the city needs more options for bike riders than a single primary bike loop, especially after a bike rider was fatally stabbed there in a confrontation with a homeless man.
No surprise here, as emergency responders trying to reach an injured Idaho bicyclist were repeatedly delayed by inattentive drivers, who “failed to yield and were not paying attention to their surroundings.” Kind of like drivers everywhere else.
Colorado’s “oldest and largest weekly family-friendly cruiser ride” drew a whopping 2,600 people to their rides in Longmont, Colorado this summer.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota is set to get its first bicycle boulevard.
Indiana children’s bikemaker Guardian Bikes called on the Trump administration to steeply increase tariffs on bicycles and bike frames, as well as the aluminum content of ebikes with motors greater than 250 watts, arguing that reshoring would eliminate over 200 million pounds of steel imports and 40 million pounds of aluminum imports. Even though it would probably be the death knell for the rest of the American bicycle industry (see San Diego bike shop, above).
A Pittsburgh judge ordered a local business association to post a $40,000 bond if they want to halt work on a new bike lane, as business owners once again, and predictably, try to shoot themselves in the foot by blocking bike lanes, even though they have been repeatedly shown to boost business.
New York Streetsblog says the city’s detour for construction work on the East River Greenway is simply unsafe for bicyclists.
Safety improvements are finally underway in Bethesda, Maryland, three years after US diplomat Sarah Langenkamp was killed by a driver while riding her bike, just weeks after moving back with her family to escape the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Cycling Weekly says bike bells may be deeply uncool, but every bicyclist should have one, because you can’t rely on your free hub to tell people you’re there. Something I’d totally agree with if most bike riders didn’t already come equipped with a voice, which can do the same work more effectively, if not as charmingly.
A new British study show that e-cargo bikes really are replacing car trips for errands and short commutes, while reshaping family travel norms to ride more and drive less.
The editor of an English-language newspaper in Florence, Italy fondly remembers her first issue, when her husband loaded stacks of the paper onto his bicycle for distribution, grateful for their 20 years printing the paper, after he died from Alzheimer’s earlier this year. A reminder that bicycles so often figure prominently in many people’s best memories.
A British man bumped into legendary musician Paul Weller of The Jam in Sorrento, Italy, as the man was preparing to bike up Mt. Vesuvius to mark two years of sobriety, while comparing notes with Weller on his twenty years. Although I prefer to remember Weller’s time with The Style Council, myself.
Apparently, bike lanes are big with Portuguese communist city council candidates. Look, I’d consider going red if that would mean more green bikeways. Or bike greenways.
Former pro cyclist Lilian Calmejane accepts an invitation to visit the headquarters of French bikemaker Van Rysel, promising to make a “grovelling apology” if they convince him he’s wrong about the brand holding back rising French star Paul Seixas.
Seriously? Bike racing journalist and analyst Thijs Zonneveld says pro cycling has a Tadej Pogačar problem, arguing that he could continue his current dominance of the sport for years. Just like the sport had an Eddy Merckx problem before him, or a Jacques Anquetil or Fausto Coppi problem, right? Never mind that American guy who shall not be named.
Honey, I shrunk the Pashley. The slick and sticky science of keeping bikes upright, and helping riders slide when they don’t.
And is it just me, or are these new pickups just getting too damn big?
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Be safe, and stay healthy. And get vaccinated, already.
Oh, and fuck Putin.
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Call it a mental health day.
I couldn’t get my head straight after writing about Sunday’s fatal bicycling crash in Lemon Grove, and just didn’t have it in me to write anymore about bikes yesterday. Or anything else, for that matter.
All these years of writing about fallen bike riders is really weighing on my heart, and I honestly don’t know how long I can keep it up.
Then again, if I don’t, who will?
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Of course he gets it.
Longtime community advocate Earl Ofari Hutchinson writes for the Los Angeles Wave Newspapers about the ongoing hit-and-run epidemic in South Los Angeles, even as the rate of hit-and-runs has declined in the rest of the city.
Although you could have fooled me on that last part.
And only an infinitesimal amount of LA’s hit-and-runs ever results in an arrest.
Here’s an idea of how rare that is. There were more than 7,000 known hit-and-run accidents in Los Angeles from 2022 to 2024. While only a small percent of the hit and runs resulted in death, the troubling, eye popping statistic was that an infinitesimal number of hit-and-run drivers were ever arrested. How infinitesimal? Exactly 1%.
It gets even worse. The number of hit and runs, according to Los Angeles Police Department figures, have dropped in the last year. But not in South Los Angeles, where a disproportionate number of the hit and runs occur. And as the figures show, the likelihood of an arrest is slim to almost none.
He also goes on to explain the most common reasons drivers flee.
A driver who strikes another vehicle or — worse a pedestrian — often panics. They fear arrest, jailing and potentially a conviction and imprisonment.
There are many circumstances that cause hit-and-run accidents. The most common are drug and alcohol impairment, speeding, driver distraction, cell phone use and sleep deprivation drowsiness.
Drivers that hit and run flee because they have been involved in a crime, lack a valid driver’s license and/or insurance, are intoxicated or on drugs. At the very least, a driver involved in a hit and run fears not just prosecution but loss of a driver’s license.
These days, you can add immigration status to that, as people fear they could be deported by ICE if they get arrested, let alone convicted, of a traffic crime.
Hutchinson goes on to add that even LA’s standing $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of killer hit-and-run drivers isn’t enough to get witnesses to come forward, who too often fear getting involved.
The solution, according to Hutchinson, is a proposal to create special multi-agency law enforcement hit-and-run task force, followed by tough prosecution of the drivers.
All I can say is about damn time.
And good luck with that.
Because California’s lenient hit-and-run laws actually provide an incentive to flee, since the penalty for hit-and-run is often lower than for DUI or other crimes. And LA prosecutors usually bargain away serious penalties to get a guilty plea, rather than go to trial.
But even if a driver is sentenced to jail time, California’s overcrowded penal system means it’s too often a revolving door that results in an unwarranted released after serving just a fraction of their term.
If you’ve been reading this site for awhile, you know what I propose to address, if not solve, the problem.
But one way or another, we have to do something.
Because failing to make an arrest, let alone get a conviction, not only means the driver won’t be held accountable.
It means the victims have to bear to full cost of recovering from their injuries.
And more California drivers will just continue to flee.
Today’s photo may be from Long Beach’s popular Beach Streets open streets event, but it’s a gentle reminder for drivers after a crash, too.
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At last there’s justice for former Bell police chief Andreas Probst, who was intentionally run down by a pair of teenagers while riding his bike in Las Vegas two years ago.
The crash was recorded by Probst’s killers, and shared with their fellow high school students. And quickly became one of the highest profile crashes in a nationwide rash of deliberate vehicular assaults on bike riders by teens in stolen cars, and recorded for social media.
According to Las Vegas News 3, the driver, Jesus Ayala, faces a sentence of 20 years to life after pleading guilty to felony counts of robbery, battery with the use of a deadly weapon, and second-degree murder.
The deadly weapon being a car, in this case.
Jzamir Keys, the passenger who filmed the attack and laughed afterward, is scheduled to enter a guilty plea on Tuesday of next week.
Probst’s wife and children have filed a lawsuit against Ayala and Keys, as well as Hyundai Motor Company, alleging that a defect in Hyundai Elantras enabled them to steal the car they used to murder him.
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The Victorville community is rallying to support a 13-year old boy who was severely injured by a DUI driver while riding his bike last week, according to the Victorville Daily Press.
A crowdfunding campaign has raised nearly $5,000 for the victim, identified as Manuel Sanchez.
According to his uncle, he’s hospitalized on a breathing tube, with injuries including a broken leg, broken arm, lacerated liver and kidney, internal bleeding in his stomach, as well as bruised lungs and injuries to his small intestine and spleen.
Thirty-six-year old Victorville resident Rosalie Marie Morales was released on $250,000 bond, after she was booked on suspicion of DUI involving both alcohol and drugs causing severe bodily injury.
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BikeLA is gearing up for its annual Bike Fest fundraiser and silent auction next month, which replaced the beloved LA River Ride as the group’s primary fundraising event.
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Anyone who has ever tried to bike through the notorious, traffic-choked Wilshire and Western intersection probably wishes there was still a roundabout controlling traffic.
Although LA drivers probably still wouldn’t know how to navigate one.
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Dr. Grace Peng rightfully complains that bicyclists are not allowed to use the “beautiful newly widened underpass where PCH crosses the old Pacific Electric Railway in Manhattan Beach.”
The only problem is, Manhattan Beach refuses to allow bikes to use it. @calbike.bsky.social @streetsforall.org @bikinginla.bsky.social @streetsblogla.bsky.social
— Dr Grace Peng (@gspeng.bsky.social) 2025-10-05T23:14:19.340Z
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A workshop will be held tonight on the campus of Cal State LA to discuss options for the now-canceled 710 Freeway extension through Alhambra.
And yes, I’d vote for this one.
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Don’t miss the latest edition of Bike Talk, which has shifted from its original local Los Angeles focus to a national perspective.
@strongtowns.org founder Chuck Marohn with Strong Townish Love Letter to Suburbia author Diane Alisa, @ericbrightwell.bsky.social on the fight for bikes in WeHo, Boston Bikeway Block Party, Bikes, Birds, & BART with @bikingmzstacey.bsky.social, and more. soundcloud.com/biketalk/253…
— Bike Talk (@biketalk.bsky.social) 2025-10-07T02:17:46.017Z
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Megan forwards news of Boston drivers availing themselves of a local bike path to bypass traffic.
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It’s the last day of the fall Amazon Prime Day, as Velo, Singletracks and Cycling Weekly highlight the best deals.
Or you could visit your local bike shop, and spend your money right here at home, where it will do the most good.
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No bias here. A Palo Alto website notes the opening of a $55 million protected bike lane — then complains that it’s “sparsely used” when only one bike rider passes by in the first 15 minutes.
Police in the UK complain about “inaccurate” news reports that they won’t investigate bike thefts from train stations if the bikes have been parked for more than two hours, before confirming that it is, in fact, true.
There’s a special place in hell for the alleged Brooklyn hit-and-run bike rider accused of crashing into a 12-year old dog walking in a Prospect Park crosswalk with her owners; the elderly dog will need hip surgery.
A Brooklyn family is demanding answers after a 60-year old woman was killed when she was struck by two men riding an ebike, just moments after she got off a bus. Although have you ever noticed that that bike riders always get blamed anytime they collide with someone, but it’s always just an “accident” when drivers do.
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Keep your eyes open for kids walking and biking to and from school today, as students throughout LA Country were urged to take part in today’s National Walk and Roll to School Day, while calling attention to bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Here’s your chance to name LA’s shiny new bike-pulled Hollywood Blvd protected bike lane sweeper.
A writer for Vogue says if you really want to get to know Los Angeles, ride the bus. Or better yet, ride a bike, like she did to get to her bus after moving here from New York after college.
Happy days are here again, as newly revived LA-based bikewear maker SWRVE reopens their office showroom for in-person shopping from 11am to 4pm Saturdays, offering closeout deals and items not sold online.
The Hermosa Beach City School District was honored with the Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association for its Be Safe, Be SMART ebike safety campaign.
A San Diego TV station says a new road diet and parking-protected bike lanes on the city’s Claremont Drive draws a mixed reaction from drivers and bicyclists — while apparently talking to exactly two people. And for the woman worried about evacuating in a fire, in the event of an emergency, feel free to use the center turn lane and wide bike lane buffer, which probably mean there’s actually more room for cars to escape, not less.
Temecula has installed new solar lights and improved bicycle access to the city’s Murrieta Creek Trail.
This is the cost of traffic violence. A 35-year old woman became the fourth person to be killed in a Ventura County crash in just four days, after she allegedly rode her motorcycle onto the wrong side of the road on a blind curve on Southern California’s killer highway.
Hats off to 17-year old Santa Barbara bicyclist Ray McPhee, who completed a double Everest over the weekend, climbing 58,000 feet of elevation while riding 300 miles in just 48 hours.
A Berkeley paper says ebikes are everywhere in the city now, “because they’re fun, they’re green, (and) they’re cheaper than ever.”
Planetizen considers what the country’s five safest cities for bicyclists have in common, as Momentum argues the list proves safety has nothing to do with luck.
Momentum also makes the case for why cities should pay people to bike to work to improve public health, combat climate change, reduce traffic congestion and enhance mental well-being.
They get it. Government Technology says law enforcement is lagging behind as ebikes become e-motorcycles, and lawmakers and police departments scramble to address the problem.
It looks like Justin Timberlake and Benson Boone are both one of us, as they agreed to ride the bus in Portland — the bike bus, that is.
The organizers of Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride have set this Sunday as the date for their “emergency ride” in response to President Trump’s efforts to deploy the National Guard in the city. Which gives you plenty of time to get up there and join in, no suitcase necessary.
A CNN video profiles an Arizona mom who uses her ebike to transport her young daughter with cerebral palsy. Thanks to our old friend Mike for the video link.
A Tucson TV station examines why so many homeless people camp along a local bike path, after a bicyclist was stabbed to death confronting a homeless man who was hurling insults at a passing group ride.
Heartbreaking news from Las Vegas, where a 12-year old girl died after she was run down by the driver of a school bus while riding her bike home in a marked bike lane.
It’s Waymo-blamo in Atlanta, after police blamed the victim when a bike rider collided with a self-driving Waymo vehicle, alleging the bicyclist ran a stop sign and crashed into the Waymo, which had the right-of-way.
Cycling Weekly asks if bike paths are doomed, as Donald Trump declares war on bicycles, and cities in the UK just don’t use available funding to build them.
The organizer of British Columbia’s Okanagan Granfondo announced that the ride has been permanently cancelled after a crash that killed one woman, and injured two other people taking part in it.
A Canadian radio program discusses a world-traveling adventure cyclist, who returned home to ride from one end of Edmonton, Alberta to the other, and posted the video to YouTube. Although it’s kinda hard to see the video on the radio broadcast. Thanks again to Megan for the heads-up.
An op-ed writer says if anyone is truly outraged that the country spent €100,000 — the equivalent of $116,000 — to build secure bike parking at an Irish hospital, they should see what car parking costs, let alone the country’s “investment in congestion, pollution and the continuation of car-first planning.” Yes, credit Megan for that link, too.
Horrible news from Gurugram, India, where a 35-year old man was bludgeoned to death by three friends he was drinking with, over accusations of stealing a bicycle.
A Senegalese bicyclist is using social media to bring calm to the roads and end the transportation culture wars, arguing that “We’re not the enemy, and drivers aren’t either.” Which is true, except only the drivers are operating multi-ton weapons of mass destruction.
A Japanese man with hearing problems is worried about the country’s new ban on bicycling with earbuds, afraid that will mean an end to the noise-cancelling ones that allow him to hear when he rides.
Outside says America’s 34-year losing streak in mountain bike racing has finally ended, with American Christopher Blevins winning the World Cup overall title.
Only 17 of the 97 cyclists who started the European Championships elite men’s road race crossed the finish line, as the rest just said the hell with it somewhere along the way.
Mexico’s National Road and Time Trial Cycling Championship will be held in Baja California later this month.
Yet another young cyclist is throwing in the towel, as 23-year old Alexandre Vinokurov announced his retirement from the XDS-Astana cycling team, saying he’s “been riding in fear and pain” since a devastating crash in March when he was struck by a driver while training in Greece.
The Israel Premier Tech cycling team is dropping its national identity in the face of mounting pro-Palestinian protests. Although the protests will probably continue as long as the team remains based in Israel.
The Maryland Cycling Classic will expand to three days next year.
Don’t claim you’ve got bike skills until you can pull off a six-and-a-half hour wheelie. A list of the “best bike helmets for protecting your noggin,” as if you would somehow wear one on your ass otherwise.
And there are always a few bicyclists who act like babies, but only a few who actually wear diapers.
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Be safe, and stay healthy. And get vaccinated, already.
Oh, and fuck Putin.
This is getting very old.
Because for the eighth time in the last 30 days, someone has been killed riding a bicycle in Southern California.
This time in Lemon Grove.
According to a press release from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the victim was struck by the driver of a Chevy Silverado pickup on the 8500 block of Troy Street a little before 9:30 Sunday night.
The victim, who has not been publicly identified, was lying in the eastbound lanes of Troy, just east of the intersection with Camino De Las Palmas, when deputies arrived.
They were treated at the scene before being taken to a local hospital, where the victim died just before 10:30 pm.
There’s no word at this time how the crash occurred. However, the driver remained at the scene, and deputies don’t suspect them of DUI or reckless driving.
Which would seem to suggest they blame the victim, even though they say the crash is still under investigation.
Or maybe it was just another “oopsie.”
There is a bike lane in both directions on Troy Street, with the three-way intersection controlled only by a stop sign on Camino De Las Palmas. The position of the victim just east of Camino De Las Palmas implies the crash may have occurred either at or shortly after the intersection.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Lemon Grove Substation of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department at 619/337-2000.
This is at least the 46th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the tenth that I’m aware of in San Diego County.
Update: The victim has been identified as 35-year old San Diego resident Marco Quintero. He died shortly after being taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Marco Quintero and his loved ones.
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I received a lot of news links over the weekend that I didn’t have time to get to for today’s post.
So if you sent me something, don’t worry. I’ll try to catch up on everything tomorrow.
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Longtime bike advocate, League Cycling Instructor, Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition member and NPR listener Colin Bogart gave the public radio network a piece of his mind.
Something I’ve had to stop doing because I don’t have many pieces left these days.
Bogart addressed a Life Kit article we touched on recently offering tips for bike and pedestrian safety, zeroing in on the problems with it much more effectively than I did.
Here’s just a portion of what he wrote.
I’m sure your intent was good, but there is so much we don’t do in our country to protect vulnerable road users that a piece like yours becomes victim blaming. The advice isn’t inherently bad (well, some of it is), but in the context of how poorly we as a country prevent crashes, it becomes ridiculous if you don’t address drivers directly.
You mentioned in your piece, “DON’T put yourself in danger just because you have the right of way. While drivers are responsible for driving safely, road safety is everyone’s responsibility.” I could pick apart every single recommendation you gave, but this is the worst part of your piece. No bicyclist can ride on the road, no pedestrian can cross a street, without the expectation that one’s right of way will be respected. To then say that road safety is everyone’s responsibility ignores the imbalance between vulnerable road users and motor vehicle drivers. My responsibility as a bicyclist is NOT the same as someone driving a two ton vehicle capable of high speed. It simply isn’t the same. The responsibility of the driver is far greater. And that’s why we are required to have a driver’s license and insurance to operate a motor vehicle and we’re not required to be licensed to ride a bike or walk. But it doesn’t end with a license or an insurance payment. It extends to behavior on the road and drivers should be held to a much higher standard than they currently are. We’ve lost sight of the inherent differences between drivers and vulnerable road users by stating that we’re all equally responsible. That statement also doesn’t take into account children, the elderly, or people with disabilities. There should be more onus placed on licensed drivers, simply because the act of driving a motor vehicle creates the greater risk in the first place.
And yes, it’s worth clicking on the link to read the whole thing.
Preferably after reading the Life Kit piece, which seems pretty benign at first glance, until you give it a little more thought.
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Congratulations to San Bernardino on being named the nation’s fifth most dangerous city for bike riders and pedestrians, behind only Baton Rouge, Tucson, Las Vegas and Jacksonville, Florida.
On the other hand, Irvine and Santa Clarita deserve props for making the list of the top ten safest cities, led by New York and Boston.
Which will probably shock the hell out of New York bike riders.
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We keep learning more about the alleged intentional crash that killed two 17-year old girls riding an ebike in Cranford, New Jersey, just 18 miles from New York City.
He was allegedly driving 70 mph when he steered his car at the victims and slammed into them, nearly three times the posted 15 mph speed limit.
Authorities have not named the suspect because he’s still a minor. But that didn’t stop CNN and other outlets, naming a 17-year old boy who received 15 separate traffic tickets the afternoon of the crash, with details that line up with the accusations.
The New York Times says things took a surreal turn the night of the crash — as if the whole damn thing wasn’t surreal enough — when the alleged suspect broadcast live on YouTube.
“What’s going on everybody?” he said breezily. “We’re back with another stream and this one is going to be a little different from the previous ones.”
A few minutes later, he started to explain: “In a neighboring town, unfortunately, two girls were killed in a hit-and-run crash,” he said. “There has been a lot of misinformation going on over the internet. But I will say this: I wish my sincerest condolences to those girls, lost in that tragic accident.” He then said that he was “not authorized to talk about the whole thing,” and moved on.
No shit.
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Gravel Bike California goes riding with current gravel world champ and Paris-Roubaix winner Mathieu Van Der Poel.
Lucky bastards.
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Life is cheap in Ukraine, where a 44-year old motorist was sentenced to a lousy 30 days behind bars for beating a Kyiv bicyclist unconscious, after the rider complained about his parking in a bike lane. Then again, they do have other things to worry about over there.
A Singapore man riding an ebike killed an 88-year old woman by crashing into her as she walked in the street.
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Pasadena students are encouraged to walk, bike or roll to school on this Wednesday for National Walk and Roll to School Day.
A 70-year old man suffered serious injuries when he allegedly turned left in front of a pickup driver while riding his bike in San Diego’s Midway neighborhood.
A San Diego bike rider reportedly suffered a compound leg fracture when he was struck by a light rail trolley east of the Santa Fe Depot.
A 36-year old woman was busted for allegedly driving under the influence of both alcohol and drugs for causing major injuries when she crashed into a 13-year old boy in Victorville.
Nearly 600 Palo Alto bicyclists rode to a local elementary school yesterday to promote safe rides to school and a more bicycle-friendly city.
A new 12-month randomized trial showed that fast bicycling can slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
NPR talks with retired US Ambassador to Ukraine George Kent about his cross-country bike ride to raise awareness and funds for the country’s war effort.
Police in Odessa, Texas arrested a man for beating a bike rider with a crowbar to steal his mountain bike.
Pittsburgh bike riders rode through the city to raise funds for local playgrounds in honor of an FBI agent killed in the line of duty in 1994.
A Hornell, New York man known locally as The Bikeman was honored as the city’s citizen of the year for donating 400 refurbished bikes so kids in need can ride; he’s donated 1,540 rebuilt bicycles over the past four years.
The New York Times says the pedestrians, equestrians and ebike riders are competing for space in Central Park, blaming the ebikers for making the park’s roadways “increasingly chaotic” as they move through at high speeds. Yet they somehow illustrate the story by showing people riding their bikeshare ebikes rather sedately.
The witches are riding once again in Florida’s Delray Beach at the end of this month.
Results of a survey published in the journal Human Reproduction show that riding a bike with a padded saddle could reduce your chances of becoming a father, showing up to a 25% lower chance of getting a partner pregnant; riding a hard road saddle didn’t appear to have any effect. Which could cause a rush on padded bike seats among single straight men.
Cycling Weekly says sometimes you’re better off not knowing about damage to your bike, suggesting willful ignorance for a stress-free ride, at least until something falls off or it stops working.
Cycling Weekly also recommends the best front and rear bike lights.
Momentum recommends “20 of the best under-the-radar cycling routes on the planet.” Because bicycling routes off the planet are just too hard to get to.
Bicycling and motorists groups each blamed the other for jumping a temporary red light in Oxfordshire, England, and who caused the greatest danger doing it. I know which one would get my vote.
London’s famed “Boris Bikes” bikeshare celebrated 15 years on the city’s streets with a photo contest, drawing photos showing the bikes at a wedding in Chelsea, a Coronation street party, St Paul’s Cathedral and a Regent’s Park sunset, among others.
A Welsh man ran a half marathon to raise the equivalent of nearly $27,000 for the air ambulance service that saved his life after he rode his mountain bike off a 70-foot cliff.
CNN talks with an English father and son who became TikTok stars after setting out to bike around the world, catching up to them on an off day in China.
Colnago teamed with Ferrari to build a $33,500 carbon-kevlar composite monocoque bike in the late ’80s. Or two, actually.
It’s happened again. A 22-year old British man was arrested for the alleged drunken crash that killed a 38-year old woman riding her ebike, then driving another eight blocks with her body embedded in his windshield before she finally fell out.
European cycling teams tried once again, and failed, to beat Tadej Pogačar, as he soloed to victory in the European road championships with a 46-mile breakaway; Jonas Vingegaard was accused of not taking the race seriously enough by waiting too long to respond to Pogačar’s attack.
The bull has once again showed his horns, as 21-year old Mexican cyclist Issac Del Toro outsprinted Britain’s Tom Pidcock to win Italy’s 108th Giro dell’Emilia classic.
Noway’s Alexander Kristoff fell one short of 100 career wins before retiring, after injuries forced him to withdraw from Malaysia’s Tour de Langkawi when he crashed on the seventh stage.
Nothing like bunny hopping all the way up the Eiffel Tower, one step at a time. Your next bicycle could measure just 3.34 inches — and yes, it’s fully functional.
And it’s probably not the best idea to get caught up in the middle of a grizzly bear chasing a herd of bighorn sheep.
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Be safe, and stay healthy. And get vaccinated, already.
Oh, and fuck Putin.
