Oddly, the world of bicycling did not grind to a halt while I’ve been occupied with more pressing matters.
So pull up a chair, pour yourself a cuppa joe — or something stronger — and settle in for a long list of rainy day bike links.
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Clearly, I’m not the only one who took offense at the gentle caress on the wrist given the killer of cyclist Alan Deane by a Pasadena judge.
The LACBC says the court system failed Deane and his family, while Streetsblog’s Damien Newton says it failed all of us.
And Boyonabike! says maybe our laws should value human life over shaving a minute off someone’s drive home.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
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Here’s the ultimate guide to whether you can legally ride on the sidewalk in California, compiled by former LADOT Bike Blogger and current Alta Planner and Calbike board member Chris Kidd. Link courtesy of Cyclelicious.
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Yes, cyclists can legally pass on the right, at least here in California — although some police officers don’t seem to comprhend that yet. I do it on a regular basis myself, though every now and then it doesn’t work out the way I planned.
Meanwhile, an Aussie rider offers advice on undertaking on the left, as it is sometimes called; just flip sides for tips on riding here.
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Turns out you may not have to wait for flat-proof bike tires after all; you can try out the new tires from FlatFree Bicycle Wheelsets in Orange right now. Thanks to William Boehmke, Jr. for the heads-up.
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Clear your calendar for the 12th Annual Cranksgiving Alleycat Los Angeles Thanksgiving eve. ARTCRANK brings its unique mixture of bikes, art and beer to Orange 20 Bikes on Saturday, December 8th. Here’s a great idea — the LAPD recommends establishing permanent bike valet programs in Downtown L.A. to fight rising bike theft rates; let’s start with one at City Hall. Streetsblog reports a settlement has been reached with the NIMBYist Cheviot Hills homeowners trying to block the Expo Line bike path. Taking over Los Angeles on two wheels and one fixed gear. The city adds two miles of bike path in the Valley along the L.A. River. Show the world how you ride pretty. The Biking Black Hole of Beverly Hills timidly unanimously approves its first two pilot bikeway projects. The Santa Monica Bike Center celebrates its first anniversary this weekend. You just can’t please some people, as a Glendale pedestrian is up in arms over being warned a bike bell. The Orange County Bicycle Coalition asks for your nomination for OC’s Danger Road.
San Juan Capistrano denies a cyclist’s $70 claim for flat tires caused by broken glass on a bike path. San Diego bucks the Bike Nation trend in selecting Miami’s DecoBike for its planned bike share program. Two cyclists and a pedestrian injured in separate Riverside collisions. One hundred Murrieta kids boys get free bike helmets through Schwinn’s Helmets on Heads program; Witch on a Bicycle astutely asks why just boys — and why helmets instead of safety training? A San Francisco cyclist is injured when a DUI driver being chased by police hits a parked car, which slams into the rider; the 23-year old driver had three previous DUI convictions in the last 10 years — yes, that suggests she was convicted of DUI at 13, which I certainly hope is a mistake.
Innovative new gear for bike cops; I want the helmet with built-in sun glasses. Or maybe you’re just tired of yelling at the rest of the pace line. Using handlebars instead of antlers in bike taxidermy; I wonder if careless drivers will now mount their trophies. It’s time to get rid of the 85th Percentile Rule, which may be the single most destructive traffic law on the books, to people and communities; though not everyone agrees. People for Bikes notes three companies that support cycling. A 21-year old Perris CA cyclist is killed while riding in Las Vegas. Hurricane Sandy may have been the perfect storm for bike advocacy. Bikeyface designs a roadway for virtually every cycling situation. Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer calls for bike-partisanship in Congress. A Fort Lauderdale man won’t face charges for beating the crap out of the guy who stole his bike.
A Jamaican cyclist asks for help to attend college in the U.S. A Canadian Iditarod cyclist comes back for more after nearly dying in last year’s race. The head of the UK’s equivalent of AAA calls for an end to the two-tribe mentality on our streets, comparing the hatred some motorists have for cyclists to racial discrimination; their survey shows drivers don’t hate us as much as we’d think. Terrified British police are on the lookout for a “dangerous” cyclist who rides one-handed — and with a child on his shoulders. After being the butt of jokes for months, it turns out a Kiwi rider who fell off his bike and drowned in a river wasn’t drunk after all. Philippine cyclists get a new off-road bikeway.
Finally, don’t forget to get your tickets for the LACBC’ 2nd Tour de Taste on December 2nd. And in light of what happened to my wife this week, make sure you know the warning signs of heart attack and stroke; link courtesy of LAFD Conversation.
Thanks for the wide ranging update. Not sure who else to ask, but has anyone commented on the Arclight’s two-month-old (but new to me last night) policy of making cyclists park their bikes on the FOURTH FLOOR of the parking structure?
Sounds like a nazi/gestapo tactic at first glance, unless they are going to provide a more secure location away from foot traffic where there are electric or human eyes watching.
No, I couldn’t discern any reason for the change. The space where bikes used to park, next to scooters and motorcycles is now simply empty.
No disrespect, but while I really don’t like the new Arclight policy, it doesn’t feel right to use the “nazi” language for anything less than killing several million people. Most people who’ve lost family to the Holocaust think that kind of comparison trivializes what happened.
This is the first I’ve heard of it. The question is whether they’re providing a more secure location, or putting bikes at greater risk of theft by just trying to get them out of sight.
The former nike parking was right next to the exit lanes for he cars. The new area is between the elevator and the entrance to a gym (I think). I can’t see that the change was motivated by security.