The LA Times finally picks up the story of Councilmember Gil Cedillo’s single-handed decision to kill the already approved, funded and shovel-ready road diet on North Figueroa.
They get most of it right in what reads like an attempt to be overly even-handed. Although they incorrectly frame the debate as being over bike lanes, when the lanes themselves are just one tool in a plan to reduce the roadway’s overcapacity in an attempt to slow traffic and improve safety.
They also fail to challenge Cedillo’s unsupported claim that the road diet would increase emergency response times, even though that is not the position of either the LAPD or LA Fire Department. Or his bizarre claim that the city’s bike plan that was unanimously approved by the city council — before Cedillo sat on it — was developed by just 1,000 people, despite numerous public meetings and presentations, as well as months of online comment.
And since when are bike riders who simply want a safe route through Northeast LA considered “activists” — a loaded word most likely to be used in a disparaging manner by those opposing the project?
But it’s a lot better than the Boulevard Sentinel’s labeling them “extremists,” I suppose.
Meanwhile, LA Biz offers their own look at the controversy, while the Times provides an interactive map demonstrating just how dangerous the area is for cyclists and pedestrians.
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Popular custom bike bag manufacturer Timbuk2 opens their first SoCal store next week, across from Linus Bike on increasingly bike friendly Abbot Kinney.
The store has a soft opening next Saturday, July 26th, at 1410 Abbot Kinney, with an official Grand Opening celebration scheduled for the weekend of August 16th and 17th.
Designed by award-winning design and architecture firm Gensler, the new store will include features such as
- Custom design workshop with over 60 fabrics options.
- Floor to ceiling street-facing glass wall, bicycle and product design art installation and custom-crafted display tables and fixtures.
- A designated hub for community events and group bike rides.
- San Francisco-inspired indoor parklet for relaxing and refueling.
- Access to bike tools, bike pumps, bike maps and extra tubes for community cyclists.
Sounds like they’ll fit right in on the trendy street. And be a great addition to the LA bike scene.
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Nibali continues to hold the yellow jersey as the Tour de France heads into the Alps, with a lead of more than two minutes over his nearest competitor.
Meanwhile, Brit rider Jonathan Tiernan-Locke is banned for two years and fired from Team Sky for doping. Nice to know the sport has cleaned itself up and no one would ever dream of cheating anymore, right?
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LocalAdvocates — not “activists,” thank you — gather to learn about CicLAvia coming to Leimert Park.
Neon Tommy looks at three local groups supporting LA’s “fearless” cyclists.
Bike riders and pedestrian advocates make a statement in calling for fair funding for active transportation from Metro.
State
One hundred cyclists storm the Laguna Beach City Council to demand safer streets.
Caltrans surprisingly invites cyclists to consult on a realignment project for Highway 1 in Cambria.
Catch up on everything Calbike is working on in their latest report.
National
Bixi’s bankruptcy means no expansion for Alta-operated bike share programs this year.
Caught on video: A Texas rider captures the hit-and-run truck driver who Jerry Browned him and left him lying on the side of the road.
Trek president John Burke calls on Wisconsin’s governor to take down a campaign ad that allegedly defames the company; the governor is running for re-election against Burke’s sister.
Pro cyclist Ted King introduces pure maple syrup energy gels, promising natural vitamins and minerals with a lower glycemic index than other gels.
An Atlanta man faces charges including attempted murder for intentionally running down a bike rider; his girlfriend is charged with evidence tampering.
International
Canadian letter carrier goes postal on a woman who stopped to complain about his parking in a bike lane.
In a bizarre accident, a British cyclist barely survives getting impaled with her brake lever.
Three-quarters of Scot cyclists report a near miss on the roads.
Italy honors legendary cyclist Gino Bartali, aka Gino the Pius, for his role in saving hundreds of Jews from the Nazis in WWII. Isn’t it time the Vatican honored the devout Catholic?
German cyclists lost over 300,000 bikes to thieves last year; naturally, police blame the victims.
To encourage more cycling, Qatar’s bicycle master plan requires dedicated bike infrastructure, including separated bikeways, on all major roads when possible.
Finally…
If you’re carrying hash oil and marijuana on your bike, and already wanted on multiple active warrants, put a damn light on it, already. And amazingly, a very lucky 17-year old Russian bike rider walks away after being run over by a large truck in a terrifying video.
All if these articles are interesting but none of them has dates. We don’t know if the news is from lady year, lady minth, of lady week. Please add dates to editorials, stories, articles. Thank you.
And yet, if you look at the top of this page, it is clearly dated July 17, 2014.
My policy is that all of the stories I link to are current as of the date of my post; if anything is older, I make a point of noting that. And most of the stories I link to also have a publication date on their page.