Maybe you should rethink that long ride right now.
For weeks now, we’ve followed the advice from healthcare officials, and recommended getting out and exercising, while maintaining social distancing.
But that advice is starting to change.
Now everyone is being encouraged to stick to their own neighborhoods, regardless of how you travel; LA Mayor Eric Garcetti says he may make that a requirement in the coming days.
And LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer is urging everyone — not just seniors or people with underlying health conditions — to just stay home this week as Covid-19 cases are predicted to spike.
If you go out anyway, wear a mask when you’re around others, for your protection as well as theirs.
And whatever you do, don’t ride in groups.
For your health, as well as everyone around you.
Because it only takes one pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic person to infect everyone else — then take that home to everyone you love.
Even mild coronavirus cases pack a punch. And it can take a rapid turn for the worse, as bike-riding British Prime Minister Boris Johnson learned the hard way on Monday.
So maybe just stay home this week. And take in the best air quality of any major city in the world.
There will be plenty of time to ride when this crap is finally over.
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A new nationwide map shows what bike shops are still open.
It shows dozens in LA and Orange Counties, including local favorites like DTLA Bikes, Golden Saddle, and Helen’s in Santa Monica.
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Sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.
Police in South Carolina are looking for a late night, bike-riding tagger.
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Local
Los Angeles officials are cracking down after discovering what nearly every bike rider and pedestrian has learned in recent weeks — empty streets encourage drivers to speed. Meanwhile, LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds says it’s time to reform California’s 85th Percentile Law so speeding drivers don’t force speed limits through the roof.
The upcoming Griffith Park edition of Finish the Ride has been pushed back to September.
The Santa Monica Mirror investigates the infamous Zoom video conference used to fire over 400 employees of SaMo-based Bird. Although to its credit, the company did provide laid-off employees with four weeks’ pay, three months of health insurance and 12 months to exercise stock options. Which does not make up for the callousness of the way they handled it.
Not only is Usher one of us, he’s got some skills. Like riding no-handed to a Los Feliz park with his girlfriend, and his Goldendoodle cradled in one arm.
State
Failing to practice extreme social distancing could cost you $1,000 in San Diego County, as several people learned the hard way over the weekend. Thanks to Robert Leone for the heads-up.
National
Bike Mag examines how bike companies determine whether they are essential, and if they should stay open during the pandemic lockdowns.
A writer for Ride Apart questions whether the new self-cleaning handlebar grips on Wheels e-scooters really work.
There’s a special place in hell for whoever stole an adult tricycle from a Phoenix man with cerebral palsy, who is legally blind and has a cognitive disability, as he worked at his new job at a grocery store; fortunately, kindhearted strangers pitched in to replace it, giving so much his sister had to ask people to stop donating.
Just a day after the Dirty Kanza gravel race was postponed until September, the annual Bike Across Kansas ride has been cancelled entirely.
Bike shops in North Texas report they’re as busy as they’ve ever been thanks to the coronavirus bike boom. And in Houston, too.
A Chicago bike commuter offers advice on how to ride city streets safely and confidently, even if you’re new at it.
We need this everywhere. Bicycling checks in with the New York program that matches unused bikes with essential workers who need them for transportation.
New York magazine doesn’t pull its punches, calling Mayor de Blasio’s minimalist, half-hearted and short-lived stab at street closures simply pathetic; the failed presidential candidate canceled the program because no one showed up in bad weather, and with little notice.
Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court rules a high-speed, reckless driver who killed a seven-year old boy riding his bike while fleeing from police over 20 years ago will have to finish his 28½ to 57-year prison term behind bars.
Tampa advocates are urging the mayor to “rebalance” a street where speeding motorcyclist and a bike rider in a crosswalk were both killed in a collision, after the coronavirus shutdown cut motor vehicle traffic by 40%; almost needless to say, the mayor said no.
A Florida paper seems to leave out a key detail, reporting that a bike rider was seriously injured when the front of his southbound bike was somehow struck by the side of the driver’s northbound SUV. And of course, the driver fled.
International
Next City says Covid-19 shows how micromobility can help build more resilient cities.
Bicycle insurance provider Yellow Jersey has been forced to change their policy limits, as Covid-19 has reduced travel and eliminated bike racing.
Bike Radar lists six ways the international bike industry is stepping up to battle the coronavirus.
Treehugger’s Lloyd Alter says Covid-19 may change the way people think about bicycles.
How to tell when it’s time to toss your tires.
A Winnipeg architect says the city should respond to the lessons learned from the coronavirus crisis by rethinking infrastructure and rapidly implementing a comprehensive active transportation network.
Irish police bust the thieves that broke a boy’s heart by stealing his bicycle Christmas morning — and remarkably, recover his bike after more than three months.
After getting trapped in Southern Spain by the coronavirus lockdown, a British man wandering the world on his bike is grateful to be taken in by local farmers in Andalusia.
A German press agency provides advice on how to clean your bike to reduce the risk of coronavirus. Or your car, if you still have one of those things.
Competitive Cycling
Sports Illustrated considers what effect surviving Covid-19 would have on an athlete’s body. Short answer, no one knows yet.
Cycling Tips talks with defending Dirty Kanza champ Colin Strickland, who now has several more months to hold the title.
Finally…
Who needs a truck to deliver new modems when you’ve got a pro cyclist? One more reason to ride a bike — no one is going to cough on your gas pump.
And never worry about battery life on your e-scooter again — just add a gas-powered generator to keep it going.
Which would kinda seem to defeat the whole purpose, but still.
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Be safe, and stay healthy. And wear a mask.
