No surprise here.
The LACBC reports the LA City Council passed amendments removing Westwood Blvd and Central Avenue from the city Mobility Plan adopted earlier this year, as expected.
Photo from LACBC
Rumors have circulated for some time that the removal was assured, as a result of a backroom deal of the sort we’re assured doesn’t happen here.
The only surprise is that two councilmembers voted against it, as opposed to the council’s near-constant unanimous agreements, which would seem to be virtually impossible without some sort of deal making going on behind closed doors.
So now Westwood and South LA cyclists can take comfort in knowing that the dangerous streets they ride are assured of remaining that way, at least as long as their current councilmembers are in office.
And here in Los Angeles, Vision Zero is just two meaningless words.
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You’ve got to be kidding.
The San Diego Reader continues to post responses to their recent misguided Op-Ed calling for sacrificing planned bike lanes to continue the automotive hegemony on their streets.
Including this truly bizarre missive from Robert Burns of Ocean Beach, who should give one of the world’s great poets his name back.
I used to bike everywhere, and was known as “the bicycling barrister.” But, I eventually realized in my bicycling and in my representation of bicycling-accident victims, that it is unreasonably dangerous to bicycle with or without motor vehicles and that the workplace could not afford or appreciate generating profuse sweating.
In a colder climate like Great Britain or San Francisco, bicycling has a greater chance of factoring into the workplace, but definitely not in Southern California. This is a frivolity seemingly perpetuated by brainwashed true-believers.
So evidently, bike lanes are a bad idea because you might sweat.
Got it.
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Good news from Riverside, as the 16-year old girl hit by a Dial-A-Ride bus remains in critical condition, but is expected to survive.
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Today’s common theme is biking with your family.
LA Bike Dad discovers the joys of the LACMA Jazz Night, where adults can enjoy the music while kids look at the cement mixers.
And Streetsblog’s Joe Linton takes a family bike tour along the central coast, and offers advice on how to do the same yourself.
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A challenging read from Surly’s Skip Bernet, who says he’s done riding his bike on the streets, where drivers have to be reminded that people on bikes are human, too. Thanks to Michael from Racers Who Ride for the heads-up.
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When Laugh Out Loud says don’t touch my car, it’s clearly a joke. Even though the commenters seem a tad touchy themselves.
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Local
Dodgers bench coach Bob Geren is one of us, riding 15 miles from his home in Pasadena to Dodger stadium before every home game.
The Ovarian Psychos will be honored with the Alex Baum Excellence in Advocacy Award at the LACBC’s Firefly Ball on October 27th. And speaking of the LACBC, Next City talks with the coalition’s Executive Director Tamika Butler.
A ride through Westlake Village reminds a writer to slow down and admire the Lantanas.
Southern California Bicyclist guides you on a 41 mile pier-to-pier ride from Santa Monica to Seal Beach.
Bike SGV invites you to ride to the LA County Fair tomorrow, with free tickets included.
State
The Advocacy Director of Bike East Bay says Berkeley’s draft bike plan may be good, but it’s not good enough.
Two San Francisco cyclists were the victims of brazen bike jackings, one a strong arm robbery and the other after being shown a gun.
People in Oakland’s Lake Merritt have been leaving tributes to a street salesman who disappeared without a trace in July and was feared dead; it turns out he was in a hospital after being beaten by two men who jumped him while he was riding his bike and stole his belongings.
A 67-year old bike rider was badly beaten when he asked a group of people to turn down their radio after he stopped to rest at Folsom’s Lake Natoma.
National
A real estate website looks at the next big-city meccas for cycling. None of which are Los Angeles, for reasons which should be painfully obvious given yesterday’s council vote.
An e-bike entrepreneur says once you get used to one, you won’t want to go back to a regular bicycle again.
A Portland bicyclist reports being attacked by a driver who got out of his car to punch him, yelling “I won’t have you impose your will on me with that fucking bike, I’m sick of you people.” Although how you can impose your will on someone in a car with your bike is a skill many of us would like to know.
An Idaho mountain biker learns he’s tougher than he thinks after competing in the 2,704 mile Tour Divide.
Denver plans to fill in the gaps on the city’s High Line Canal trail to create a bikeway 71 miles long through four counties.
A Cleveland bike lane is truncated to preserve parking for the downtown Hilton after being painted for the GOP convention.
A Florida letter writer insists Boston is, was and always shall be a city dominated by motor vehicles, and says he won’t “even touch on the pervasive arrogance and rule-bending of so many bicycle riders.” Which is, of course, is doing exactly that.
A New York cyclist says there are simply too many cars driven by stressed out, impatient drivers, putting cyclists in peril every time they push off from the curb.
A writer in the New York Times argues for keeping bikes out of wilderness areas, insisting that if they get in, it’s only a matter of time before ATV enthusiasts will push to let their motorized vehicles in. Even though there seems to be quite a difference between a human-powered bicycle and a gas-powered motor vehicle.
Evidently, bikes are a security risk when it comes to NYC presidential forums, but cars aren’t.
A Philadelphia writer says the best way to ensure you’re hated on every street in the city is to ride a bicycle, which seems to be personal affront to many drivers.
More anti-bike terrorism, as a Virginia university student was shot at close range with a BB gun by the passenger in a passing car as she was riding her bike home. Lets hope the police treat it like the crime it is, instead of writing it off as just a prank.
International
Caught on video: A Brit bike rider crashes into a road closure sign blocking a pathway with no warning.
Caught on video too: A Brit driver threatens to knock a bike rider off his effing bike after nearly doing exactly that.
The Telegraph travels Britain’s most beautiful bike route.
An Aussie-American TV producer quit her job to bike around Ireland, and wants a date to an Irish wedding.
It’s official. The world’s largest rideable bicycle is this 1.08 ton German behemoth.
Finally…
When you’re already awaiting sentencing on a previous burglary conviction, probably not the best idea to bust a bike lock with a hammer in public. If you’re going to crash your car while fleeing from the police after slapping a bike rider on the ass, at least try to dress more presentably.
And who needs backup musicians when you can perform Sia’s #1 hit on a bicycle?
No, literally on the bike.
