Heartbreaking news from the other side of the world, where eight Malaysian teenagers participating in a late night bike ride were killed and eight injured, two critically, when a 22-year old driver plowed into them, claiming she just couldn’t stop in time.
However, one of the survivors said they were stopped at the side of the road at the time of the crash, and that the driver had been speeding and using her mobile phone. Despite that, she was out on bail within hours of the crash, while police threated action against the victim’s parents.
The Malaysian National Cycling Federation said it was up to parents to ensure their kids ride safely, while other voices condemned the parents for allowing their children to be out on the streets at 3 am.
The prime minister expressed his condolences, while a member of parliament urged past and present leaders not to politicize the tragedy. The state education department promised to look into the group of riders like the one involved in the crash, but a government minister said they’d known about the problem for ten years, but hadn’t come up with a solution to the late night rides.
The state government will give the equivalent of $225 to the families of the eight injured riders.
Meanwhile, an editorial calls on the government not to stifle the creativity of students who modify their bikes to express their individuality, and accommodate them by closing certain roads late at night to give them a safe place to ride.
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The war on cars may be mythical, but the war on bike riders goes on.
San Jose police are investigating a pair of blow gun attacks, including one man who was struck as he was riding his bike.
Someone stretched plastic wrap across an Omaha NE trail in an apparent attempt to injure bike riders.
A British rider was pushed off his bike by a car passenger and beaten with a bat.
A British man was fined the equivalent of just $261 for punching a bike rider in the face after the rider pulled out in front of his girlfriend’s car.
A group Britain’s top riders say they were attacked by a driver they recognized as the co-owner of a Taiwanese wheelmaker, who allegedly brake checked one rider and deliberately swerved into the group of riders two times, striking one man.
Two South African cyclists believe they were deliberately targeted by a driver who crashed into them, then may have hit a third rider just a few minutes later.
A 74-year old Australian man was shot six times while riding on bike trail; he survived the shooting in serious, but stable condition.
But no, really, let’s talk about how bike lanes take away a few parking spaces.
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Retired Luxemburg pro Andy Schleck ties the knot, walking out with his new wife under a canopy of handheld bike wheels; Schleck backed into the 2010 Tour de France title when Alberto Contador was stripped of his win for doping.
Speaking of doping, legal or otherwise, former Team Sky pro Michael Barry discusses what he calls the team’s unethical use of the painkiller Tramadol.
Britain’s Cyclist Magazine looks at the 12 toughest men in cycling history, including America’s first Giro winner, Andy Hampsten. Except they left off Greg LeMond, who twice won the Tour de France with a body full of buckshot.
Pro cyclists are complaining that competitors are drafting behind race motorcycles.
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Local
A photo blogger reports on last week’s CD1 debate, which did not appear to go well for anti-bike incumbent Gil Cedillo.
CiclaValley reports there’s an open house this Wednesday for the Lankershim Great Street. This is your chance to correct the mistakes made when former Councilmember Tom LaBonge killed the bike lanes planned for the street, in an apparent attempt to keep it dangerous for everyone.
The Bikerowave bike co-op is hosting a movie night this Friday, showing Adaptation.
There’s just one week left to nominate someone for the LACBC’s Diversity Program for this year’s Climate Ride.
Speaking of the LACBC, they’re hosting a feeder ride to the San Gabriel Valley’s 626 Golden Streets open streets event on March 5th.
The Irwindale Lions Club is hosting a 75-mile Rooting for Kids Along Route 66 fundraising ride on March 11th.
Santa Clarita wants to know if you want a bikeshare system in the city. Thanks to Erik Griswold for the heads-up.
State
North San Diego County cities are working to make PCH safer and more welcoming for people on bikes, despite the inevitable auto-centric bikelash.
In an effort to cut traffic, Moreno Valley is buying ebikes for city employees to use for short errands instead of driving.
Exploring Ventura’s waterfront by bike.
A Fresno letter writer tells bike riders to stay in the city and keep off foothill roads with no bike lanes. Apparently local motorists are incapable of slowing down and driving safely on winding roads.
The battle over bike access in Marin County goes on, as the executive director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition says mountain biking is here to stay, and saying no to every potential legal trail just won’t work any more.
A Sacramento bike rider is expected to survive after riding in front of a light rail train. Yet another reminder to always wait until the lights stop flashing before attempting to cross the tracks.
National
A writer for City Lab says the best thing about commuting by bike is the chance to go full caveman by screaming at offending drivers and righteously riding away. Um, no. Let’s hope this was intended as satire.
A heartless jerk faces a felony hit-and-run count for hitting a teenage bike rider in Las Vegas, then driving for two and a half miles with the bicycle still stuck under his truck before tossing it into a trash bin.
A Denver website looks back at the successful efforts of a local bike club to bring the national championships to town. In 1894.
A Texas writer discusses what it takes to ride 200 miles without stopping as he prepares for a RAAM qualifier.
A Minnesota man upcycles old bicycles by turning parts in jewelry and art.
The bicycle belonging to the late bike-riding fashion photographer Bill Cunningham has been donated to a New York historical society, along with his books and other items.
This is why people keep dying on our streets. A North Carolina man killed a woman riding her bike, despite having his license permanently revoked ten years earlier. Clearly, taking away a license — even permanently — isn’t enough; we’ve got to find a way to keep the most dangerous drivers out of their cars and off the streets before they kill someone.
International
London’s new bike czar insists the city is safe for cyclists, allowing his own children to ride on the streets.
A new study from the UK shows that the earlier you teach your kids to ride a bike, the more likely they are to keep riding.
A unlicensed British driver gets five years for killing a 71-year old bicyclist while high on crack and fleeing from police.
Caught on video: UK readers blame a cyclist for slamming into a trailer when the driver cut him off, because he wasn’t riding in the bike lane that was blocked by parked cars. And never mind that the driver didn’t bother to stop.
Brit riders compete in the annual Penny Farthing championships.
A moving story from Liberia, where a 12-year old boy wants a bicycle. But first he had to get a new leg to replace the one he lost when he was shot as a baby.
South African police offer good advice for riders everywhere — keep an eye on your bike if you stop for something to eat or drink after your ride.
A former Kiwi criminal is helping young gang members turn their lives around by taking up mountain bike racing.
A Japanese teenager faces charges for taking a stolen bicycle on a 560-mile joy ride.
Better news from Malaysia, where one city is setting up a free bikeshare program; bikes can be checked out for 24 hours using a card issued by city hall.
Finally…
If you don’t want to get hit by a driver while riding your bike, don’t steal his truck. Sometimes it takes Mother Nature to build a protected bike lane.
And who says you can’t carry heavy things on a bike? Like an 82 pound stolen safe, for instance.
