Yes, this post is dated April 1st, despite my best efforts to get it online earlier.
But no, you won’t find any April fools here.
Except possibly a writer/rider who keeps hoping the motoring public will somehow get it, and transform our roadways into the safe and welcoming streets they can and should be. That cyclists will assert their right to ride the streets in a safe and courteous manner.
And that both will form, if not a genuine friendship, as least a grudging détente that will allow us all to arrive at our various destinations in peace. And in one piece.
It could happen.
Right?
………
Orange County prosecutors are prepared to throw the book at a young driver facing 15 years and nine months in state prison. As well as one year and six months in county jail.
And frankly, she couldn’t deserve it more.
Allegedly, of course.
That’s what 18-year old Tustin resident Sommer Gonzalez could potentially serve once she’s arraigned on Tuesday in the hit-and-run death of 21-year old cyclist Joe Robinson this past February.
Robinson, who worked at Jax Bicycle Center in Irvine, was riding in the bike lane on southbound Santiago Canyon in Orange when he was plowed down from behind by Gonzalez’ car. Gonzalez fled the scene, but was arrested an hour later based on the description of her car given by an off-duty fire battalion chief, who also found Robinson’s body.
According to Rancho Santa Margarita Patch, she will face a long list of charges.
- One felony count each of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated
- Driving under the influence of drugs causing bodily injury
- Hit and run with death
- Possession of a controlled substance
- One misdemeanor count of use and under the influence of a controlled substance
- One misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia
- Sentencing enhancement allegations for inflicting great bodily injury
- Sentencing enhancement for fleeing the scene of a crime
The real tragedy here is that two lives were destroyed that morning. A well-loved young man needlessly lost his life.
And a young woman willfully threw hers away.
Thanks to Jeffrey Fylling and John McBrearty for the heads-up.
………
Great short film with a wicked twist if you have a little less than 10 minutes to kill. Thanks to John Murphy aka murphstahoe for the link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGsi15LgGSg&feature=youtu.be
………
LocalStreetsblog’s Joe Linton asks why Metro is looking at raising fares while giving away free parking. Damn good question if you ask me.
HuffPo talks with CicLAvia co-founder Aaron Paley.
The LA Weekly casts a questioning eye on the state’s proposed vulnerable user law; don’t bother reading the comments unless you’ve got a strong stomach.
Three perspectives on turning the Riverside bridge into an elevated park.
A walker is injured after looking over her shoulder but still turning into the path of a cyclist, leading a community leader says more must be done to prevent future collisions on the Elysian Valley section of the LA River bike path.
A cop in Watts pulls over a cyclist for a traffic violation, and ends up shooting a pit bull after its owner — not the bike rider — sics him on the officer. Thanks to Rick Risemberg for the heads-up.
State
Jeff Miller of the Alliance for Biking and Walking will speak about Building a Bike Friendly City in Santa Ana next Monday. Thanks to Frank Peters for the tip.
Brewcyclers will be riding to a new brewery in Anaheim at the end of this month.
Turns out San Diego’s new police chief is one of us.
National
A pair of BMX-borne bastards knock an 85-year old Las Vegas woman down and steal her belongings; there’s a special place in hell for people like that.
A Missouri woman faces up to seven years after pleading guilty to the high-speed hit-and-run death of a cyclist.
A New York artist offers an illustrated guide to the city’s stereotypical bicyclists.
Bike traffic just keeps growing on DC’s protected bike lanes.
International
A Brit band plans a full album of bike-inspired songs.
Once again, a British bike rider is seriously injured after someone strings a rope across the pathway he was riding on.
London buses will get new bike and pedestrian sensors to help avoid collisions.
A promo for a UK bicycling festival is pulled after people call it sexist. And yes, it is. Or was.
Ten things that put British residents off riding; I suspect those same reasons would hold true just about anywhere.
An Irish teenager says he was so drunk and stoned he had no idea what he was doing when he assaulted a cyclist, beat her viciously and stole her groceries. Maybe someone can save room for him in Hades next to those BMX bandits.
Finally…
An Aussie reporter offers five tips to avoid helmet hair — including just not riding.
And a photo from JoJointhe310 shows that there are exceptions to every rule.
So does the no parking sign mean no parking for bikes? Or no time limit?
I had the same question.
I read it as no limit for bike parking. But why should this be any less confusing than any other LA parking sign?
The book has been thrown at Sommer Gonzalez? C’mon man, you know better than that! She’s only been arraigned. The OC DA is like every other DA office. They’ll plead this out to a suspended sentence and probation. If she gets any time at all, it will be on the drug charges, not for the homicide of Joe Robinson. Now, if she had killed another motorist, then the DA would hold out for something close to the maximum.