The LA Times updates the lack of action in the Milt Olin case, killed by an LA County Sheriff’s Deputy while riding on Mulholland Highway last December.
The story offers one bit of new information, reporting that an initial examination of the driver’s cell phone showed no activity at the time of the crash, while phone records later showed he had texted six times in the minutes leading up to it.
Which suggests that the texts may have been erased from the phone in an attempt to cover it up — or that someone may have ignored evidence on the phone pointing to his guilt.
Meanwhile, Salon is the first national news source to pick up the story, noting that texting while driving is illegal in California. But they fail to note the exemption for on-duty emergency workers, which could explain why the DA’s office can’t seem to find anything to charge him with.
This one was forwarded from multiple sources, so thanks to everyone who sent it for the heads-up; thanks to Hwy 39 for the Salon link.
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USC students unveil an innovative new wheel lock to help prevent wheel theft and eliminate the need to lock them in addition to the frame. Security is enhanced by plans to create multiple key designs to prevent thieves from simply buying a set to unlock the wheels.
After just two days, their Kickstarter campaign has already raised over $10,000 towards the $15,000 goal. A pledge of just $25 dollars will get you a pair of Nutlocks of your very own.
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The other famous cyclist from my hometown, Teejay van Garderen, will defend his USA Pro Challenge title later this month. Former next big thing pro cyclist Joe Dombrowski has vascular surgery to try and get his leg strength back.
And Peter Sagan may not be headed to Tinkoff-Saxo after all. Update: Yes, he is.
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LocalThe LACBC invites you to attend Hot August Bikes at Hollywood’s Amoeba Records on Sunday, the 17th.
London Bridge may not be falling down, but the Riverside Figueroa Bridge is. Or being dismantled, anyway.
No irony here, as Beverly Hills promotes heart health while fighting bike lanes and discouraging bike riding in the city.
Santa Monica gets $4.4 million to improves streets and implement their Bike Action Plan.
Proposed Glendale Green Streets could include bike lanes. And a smart OpEd in the Glendale News-Press patiently explains why motorists are a bigger danger than cyclists.
State
Measuring traffic flow by automotive throughput — aka Level of Service — is now officially a thing of the past in California.
BikeSD makes a public call for the resignation of the chair of the city’s Uptown Planners group.
A 73-year old San Diego cyclist suffers major head trauma in a head-on collision with another rider.
Mobile bike repair service comes to San Diego.
BART hopes new signs will keep bike riders from breaking the rules.
National
The problem with Share the Road campaigns.
If you want to get cyclists off the sidewalk, build bike lanes.
Wearing headphones when you ride may not be smart, but it’s safer than driving with the windows rolled up.
East Texas cyclists start a safety campaign reminding drivers that bike riders are people, too.
A reminder that a new bike path isn’t any good if it’s not maintained, like this one in New Jersey.
A former American Gladiator allegedly flattens a pedestrian while riding in New York’s Central Park.
To protect and serve (pizza). Baltimore bike cops go above and beyond by delivering pizza to a seriously injured cyclist after she’s released from the hospital; link via Bicycling magazine.
The Baltimore airport opens a 12.5 mile bike path, complete with bike share to entertain waiting passengers and employees.
Kill a bike rider in Florida, and lose your license for a whopping six months.
International
A Vancouver motorist drives down a protected bike lane, then right crosses a cyclist after leaving it.
Evidently, a unanimous vote of Toronto’s city council doesn’t mean any more than it does here, as they voted for a separated bike lane that never gets built. Sort of like bike lanes on Lankershim, Westwood and North Figueroa.
A London grocery truck gets outfitted with 360-degree cameras in an effort to protect bike riders.
Caught on video: A London bike rider captures a first-person view of a cut-off collision; fortunately, he survived the brutal impact.
Lovely Bicycle meditates on a ghost bike for a 16-year old Irish rider.
A new Chinese bike helmet promises to be a combination turn signal and mood ring for your head.
Finally…
After a six-year old Portland girl posts a sign shaming the thieves that stole her dad’s bikes, the publicity helps get them back. After repeatedly giving a Texas man with Asperger’s Syndrome a ride to work, local police pitch in to buy him a bicycle; now that’s class.
And Austrian police tell a naked bike rider to put her damn clothes on, already.
The Olin story is on Salon.com not Slate.com. I get those two mixed up all the time.
Thanks for that. I don’t know how I made that mistake when the page was right in front of me.
(d) This section does not apply to an emergency services professional using a wireless telephone while operating an authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in Section 165, in the course and scope of his or her duties.
Legally it looks like charges depend on “in the course and scope of his or her duties”.
Was he texting for business or pleasure?
In any case, it is the sheriff’s fault, whether or not charges can be filed. Hopefully the officer can at least take responsibility for his actions and apologize to the family of his unintentional victim.
Probably the sheriff department will continue to drag this through the courts as long as they can and embarrass themselves once again.
[…] Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Possible Olin cover-up, USC students launch Nutlock, and the other cyclist from my ho… […]
I wouldn’t call nutlock innovative or new. Similar systems have been available for some time. Nutlock is different in that the nut is larger and doesn’t sit inside a deep cup-washer like the Pitlock nut. I could see some potential advantages to the larger abstract nut but I wonder if I couldn’t be opened using lock ring pliers. I guess the hemispherical overall shape of the nut is intended to make that more difficult and most thieves don’t also carry a file to file wrench flats.
The pitlock abstract nut sits inside a cup washer which means that anyone attempting to unscrew it using pliers would turn the washer instead of the nut. The problem with the pitlock set up is that you use a socket (negative image of the abstract nut) to turn the nut which means you also need a wrench. The Nutlock wrench would seem to be more practical and lighter than carrying a Pitlock socket and adjustable wrench, but I wonder if it is sufficiently long for all users.