BikinginLA

Sad news from the IE, as a Long Beach bike courier fell to his death while hiking on Mt. Baldy.

According to the Long Beach Post, Daniel Nguyen, a former CSU Long Beach cycling team member, fell 1,500 feet off the steep mountainside while trying to rescue a fellow hiker.

A gofundme account has been set up to help his family pay funeral costs; it’s raised over $12,000 in less than 24 hours.

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My apologies for the late notice on this one.

The Orange County Wheelmen are hosting a two-day League of American Bicyclists Smart Cycling class tonight and Saturday; dinner and coffee are included in the Thursday session.

And next week the Orange County Bicycle Coalition is offering its Cycling Savvy course from the American Bicycling Education Association on Friday the 12th and Saturday the 13th.

They describe the course this way:

Cycling Savvy classes are incredible, intensely empowering classes, that are geared toward all bicyclists, not just “roadies”. Everyone can learn how to be a bicycle driver, and we really show folks how to do it.

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Cycling Tips says creating an electromagnetic bike wheel is theoretically possible, but unlikely in practice. But I have faith; if pro cycling can find a way to cheat, it will.

Meanwhile, a writer says go ahead and let cyclists use motors when they race, but only at certain times and places. Or better yet, just put pedals on motorcycles and get it over with.

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Local

It really shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that LA County is the most dangerous place in America for pedestrians.

CiclaValley challenges you to recognize a pair of iconic climbs from above.

At least the Santa Monica section of the beach bike path is clear of sand, despite 15 miles of county-controlled pathway being closed; SaMo sweeps their limited section of the path five to seven days a week, depending on the season, while the county sweeps just twice a week.

The LACBC discusses setting priorities for Southeast LA County in a proposed future transportation ballot measure.

 

State

The San Diego State newspaper says everyone is at fault for problems with a new bike lane, which invites collisions with distracted pedestrians and didn’t solve problems with bikes on campus.

Los Altos Hills cites Strava data showing cyclists speeding along off-road trails as it moves to ban bikes from a popular preserve.

This is what happens when you try to shoehorn in a bikeway after a bridge is built, instead of incorporating it into the original design for San Francisco’s Bay Bridge. Although that circular ramp could be a blast to ride down; riding up, not so much. Thanks to Mike Wilkinson for the links.

Evidently Milbrae didn’t get the Complete Streets memo.

Community members in Eureka raised three grand to replace a bike stolen from a legally blind military vet.

 

National

A tri website says nothing good can come from confronting others in traffic, after a motorcycle rider records a road raging truck driver pulling a gun on him after flipping him off. I’ve had some interactions that ended well after I explained why I was riding the way I was. And others that didn’t.

Santa Fe considers a bikeshare program despite concerns over equity; the lack of a credit card or smartphone could keep low income people from using the system.

Outside says Crested Butte CO’s Fat Bike World Championships look like the most fun you can have on two wheels.

A documentary about LA’s Ovarian Psychos Bicycle Brigade will premier at the South By Southwest Film Festival in Austin TX, date TBD.

A Cincinnati proposal would link four major bike trails to create a 42-mile loop connecting over half of the city’s neighborhoods.

Pittsburgh cyclists wonder why streets and sidewalks were cleared of snow, but bike lanes weren’t. Which is one problem we’re not likely to have in LA anytime soon.

A jury awarded an unarmed Florida man $23.1 million after he was shot four times and paralyzed by a Palm Beach sheriff’s deputy, who stopped him for the crime of riding his bike into traffic. Or maybe just biking while black. Thanks to Michael Eisenberg for the heads-up.

 

International

Good advice on how to stop thieves and protect your bike.

The BBC says cyclists will soon outnumber cars in central London.

A 77-year old UK man escapes jail for killing a cyclist because a judge decided he was too old to send to jail.

A British paper says increasing numbers of women are having labia surgery to make it more comfortable to ride a bike.

Caught on video: A kindhearted Brit rider consoles the driver who nearly hit him seconds earlier.

The Danish Crown Princess goes Viking biking with her kids in a cargo bike on their way to school, as her husband and dog tag along for good measure.

Sarah Jessica Parker is one of us, as she rents a bike and rides through Rome to hear the Pope speak.

Where have we heard this before? An Indian traffic expert says cycling lanes won’t work because the streets are too narrow, traffic volume is too high, and drivers too undisciplined.

Bicycling fatalities in Australia have dropped to their lowest level since 2009 while the number of riders has increased. With 32 cycling deaths last year, the country had just three more fatalities than LA County, despite having over twice the population.

 

Finally…

Now that’s one very cool 3D printed steel frame bike. Evidently, even owning two bikes isn’t enough to overcome a windshield perspective and stop complaining about “bike nuts” stealing precious territory from drivers.

And seriously, don’t be a jackass and make a right turn on your bike without slowing when there’s someone in the crosswalk.

Although it’s odd that someone who describes herself as a road cyclist would say it’s time for “them” to stop whining.