Metro Bike may be saying “oh no” soon.
China’s Ofo dockless bikeshare hints that it may be coming to Los Angeles, as well as the Bay Area.
Which means we could soon be seeing abandoned yellow bicycles all over the city, like other cities where they’ve set up shop.
The question is whether they’ll start out in parts of town currently not served by the city’s bikeshare providers, or if they’ll attempt to go head-to-head with Metro Bike, WeHo Pedals and Santa Monica Breeze, among others.
Of course, where the bikes will end up is anyone’s guess.
Thanks to Erik Griswold for the heads-up.
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Speaking of Griswold, he forwards this reminder to put down your phone and watch the road ahead of you.
And no, that’s not a bicycle. But the point remains.
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London’s Telegraph offers a podcast from stage four of the Vuelta, while Bleacher Report gives a brief recap of the day’s race. Just curious whether the lipstick kiss mark on the winner’s cheek came from one of the podium girls, or the new podium boys.
Cycling News provides quotes from riders at the finish line, most of which you could have written yourself. And takes a look at cycling’s best, worst and strangest victory salutes.
Alberto Contador is struggling with a stomach virus on what is likely to be his last grand tour.
A pro cyclist says he’s ashamed airline Aer Lingus has the Irish flag on it’s planes, after it loses his $9,400 bike, ignores him for a month, then offers the equivalent of $1,600 to make up for it.
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Local
In anticipation of Rapha Rides coming to Los Angeles in October, Bicycling writes about what makes the city a top cycling destination. But all they can come up with is a chef near Mt. Baldy, Nelson Vails’ victory in the ’84 Olympics, and a section about architecture and design that doesn’t even mention the City of Angels.
I. Martin Bicycles is hosting their Shut Up Legs ride this Saturday, with a trip to a bakery overlooking Westwood.
The LACBC is holding a Twilight Twirl ride in conjunction with Just Ride LA next Thursday.
An October ride in Santa Clarita will benefit The Painted Turtle camp for children with serious medical conditions.
State
Now that San Diego is building a dense, walkable and bikeable urban village near downtown, they naturally want to run a freeway connector right through the middle of it.
The 10th annual Bike the Bay will take riders over the iconic San Diego – Coronado Bay Bridge this Sunday.
Now that’s more like it. A Watsonville woman was sentenced to eleven years in prison for the DUI hit-and-run death of man riding his bike home last December.
Sad news from Modesto, where a police officer was killed in an off-duty collision while riding his bicycle.
Four San Francisco brothers were busted for stealing high-end mountain bikes in the Truckee – Lake Tahoe area, valued at over $125,000.
Police have arrested the 19-year old alleged hit-and-run driver who ran down a 15-year old Natomas boy as he rode his bike on Thursday; the victim’s grandmother feels sorry for the driver’s family, as well as her own.
Sacramento residents are worried about a proposed rest stop on a bike trail that would overlook an elementary school playground, fearing it would attract homeless people.
National
Trek wins a court case overturning a 10% import duty on bicycle cassettes.
Marketplace examines the new $15 Oregon bike tax. Even though the tax will go exclusively to bike infrastructure projects, it’s still largely symbolic; it’s unlikely to raise enough to make a significant difference, and mostly exists to address the mistaken complaint that bike riders don’t pay their fair share for the roads.
A pair of bicyclists on a cross-country journey across the US ride through the Colorado Rockies, and up through Wyoming to the Grand Tetons. That was my backyard growing up. And the Peak to Peak Highway leading into Estes Park was one of my favorite rides before I moved away.
A Montana bike rider was the victim of a strong arm robbery; he was reportedly beaten so badly police couldn’t interview him later.
A Good Samaritan buys a new bicycle for a 9-year old Oklahoma girl after hers was stolen from her yard.
A planned Wisconsin bike path could threaten an endangered local turtle species; it’s feared the ornate box turtles could be killed or injured by people using the pathway.
A Chicago panel discusses what’s needed to take cycling in the city to the next level.
Caught on video: New York police are looking for the hit-and-run driver who literally ran over a 16-year old girl. It’s a distant and grainy security cam view, but ask yourself if you really want to see that before you click on the link.
A former player for the New York Giants say bicycling helped ease the transition after his retirement, and provides the intense physical workout he was missing from football.
A Philadelphia Op-Ed says city council members shouldn’t have the power to block bike lanes, and should leave street planning to the experts. To which Los Angeles sighed a collective “Tell me about it.”
No bias here. The Washington Post says a bicyclist tried to abduct a woman walking on a roadway. Except what they really meant was it was a 13-year old boy who happened to be riding one.
Tampa FL considers a Vision Zero plan for one of the deadliest counties in the US.
International
Add these to your biking bucket list: The top ten Canadian national parks to ride in.
A man from the UK is riding the length of Ireland to raise funds for the mountain rescue team that saved him and a companion from hazardous conditions.
It takes a real jerk to push a 12-year old bike-riding girl off the sidewalk and into the street in front of oncoming traffic, whether or not she should have been riding there in the first place.
Even in the bike-friendly Netherlands, people aren’t getting enough exercise.
An Aussie writer says the bike ride doesn’t hurt, but the sudden stop after hitting a pothole does.
Singapore police arrest a hit-and-run ebike rider following a collision that killed a 78-year old man.
Finally…
Now you don’t have to choose whether to walk or ride a bike. Go ahead and skip the exorcism, but don’t transport your violent mentally ill patients by bicycle.
And no matter how mad you get, don’t slam your bike onto the hood of a parked car.
The car doesn’t deserve it.
And your bike sure as hell doesn’t.
