Santa Barbara became the latest SoCal county to close its beaches for the holiday weekend yesterday.
That means a nearly unbroken string of city and county beach closures stretching from north of Camp Pendleton through Santa Maria. The closures include the beachfront bike paths in LA County, but it’s not clear if it includes bike path closures in other counties, so check before you go.
State run beaches will remain open, including paths for biking and walking, but parking lots will be closed through Monday to discourage overcrowding.
All of which means San Clemente is likely to get overrun with beachgoers this weekend.
Let’s just hope they’re right about coronavirus not spreading easily outdoors.
The only beach in Orange County staying open this weekend is San Clemente. Locals are worried this will mean large crowds descending upon their quiet beach town. https://t.co/oqvTmDmo2W
— KCAL News (@kcalnews) July 3, 2020
But wherever you ride, do it safely and defensively.
I don’t want to have to write about you, or anyone one else, this weekend.
Photo by David Drexler.
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Metro’s COVID-19 Recovery Task Force is out with plans for how the LA area can move forward as the city recovers from the coronavirus, without the seemingly inevitable gridlock as people go back to their auto-centric daily routines.
Streetsblog’s Joe Linton takes an in-depth look at Metro’s plans, including an increase in dedicated bus lanes, and possibly taking bikeshare in house to better meet the needs of underserved communities.
Then there’s this.
Metro’s task force recommends a “quick roll-out of more bike infrastructure.” The lack of safe, convenient places to bike has long been a limiting factor inhibiting bicycling in Southern California. What is tricky for Metro is that bikeways are largely out of Metro’s jurisdiction. Metro has roles to play, but municipalities – primarily cities – are ultimately responsible for the bike-unfriendly state of local streets. The task force says Metro should “partner with cities on strategies for rapid deployment of bike improvements.”
So let’s hope Metro can give LA a much-needed push in the right direction.
Linton also goes on to quote a certain bike website writer’s reaction to the plans.
But you’ll have to read his story to see what I had to say.
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Moving piece from the LA Times, which spends a day with an immigrant paletero, or pushcart ice cream vendor, who begins and ends every day riding his bike to and from work.
Mauro Rios Parra is one of the countless Angelenos, immigrant and otherwise, who depend on their bikes for transportation and to earn a living. And who are too often ignored by city planners and elected officials.
According to the story, Rios Parra hasn’t seen his family in Oaxaca for 16 years. But his modest pushcart has helped put one child through med school, and two others through law school.
Which he probably couldn’t have done if he had a car instead of a bike.
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Bicycles allow bike cops to respond quickly and quietly to rapidly changing situations. Unfortunately, that appears to include attacking seemingly peaceful Seattle protesters.
https://twitter.com/sre_li/status/1278856204018565120
Thanks to Megan Lynch for the heads-up.
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Let’s see Peter Sagan pull this one off with the pro peloton if they ever get back to racing in real life.
https://twitter.com/engineeringvids/status/1278755531352662016
Thanks to Ted Faber for the tip.
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WTF? Why would any family need an SUV that does one eighty? They should send this cat straight back to the hell it came from.
This is the Dodge Durango Hellcat, a family SUV with 6 seats, 710 horsepower and speeds of up to 180 mph. https://t.co/DTnONbc4Y8 pic.twitter.com/zBblRnH180
— CNN (@CNN) July 3, 2020
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Local
Somehow we missed this Streetsblog piece on family-friendly bike rides accessible by Metro transit.
Police are still looking for the second bike and skateboard-riding groper who sexually assaulted a number of women in the Venice and Culver City areas; another suspect was arrested recently.
State
The CHP is looking for a hit-and-run driver who sideswiped a bike-riding Santa Rosa woman with a trailer; the CHP politely gave the driver a built-in alibi, saying they may not even know they hit anyone.
National
Forbes offers advice on how to buy a new mountain bike.
Bicycling tries out the updated 2020 edition of the 1965 Schwinn Collegiate. And likes it.
How to use your water bottle to brush debris from your tires without risking stitches.
A Portland group has created a guide to corking intersections with your bike to protect social justice protests.
Back in my hometown, a university cop is pledging to ride her bike 400 miles this month to benefit Black Lives Matter, and mark the 400-plus years African Americans have been fighting for social justice.
After recovering from testicular cancer, a Texas man who grew up with the nickname Porky got serious about bicycling, which helped him drop 167 pounds while riding up to 200 miles in a day.
A Massachusetts minister suggests taking a spiritual spin on your bike. But don’t be a bicycle Bozo.
The New York Times looks at the city’s bicycle Black Lives Matter protests that have brought thousands of bike riders to the streets to demand social justice.
An off-duty New York cop faces charges for hit-and-run and assault after crashing into a man on a bike, then pushing a bystander before fleeing the scene.
A New York writer says the city’s new e-scooter pilot program is great, but all he really wants is a safe place to park his bike.
International
Pink Bike turns into Bicycle Vogue, with a focus on summer mountain bike fashions for men, while Refinery 29 seems more concerned with keeping you stylish on your commuter bike.
The Department of DIY struck in London once again, as climate activist group Extinction Rebellion painted their own popup bike lane through Kensington.
A Scottish program is providing the equivalent of $1.25 million to help local councils, community groups and universities buy ebikes and e-cargo bikes; a previous $2.37 million bought 875 ebikes and 41 e-cargo bikes to replace car trips. Thanks to John McBrearty for the heads-up.
The BBC examines how helmets, including bike helmets, can keep your fragile brain safe.
A new study shows France is rediscovering the bicycle, with sales up 117% in the first month since the country’s pandemic lockdown was lifted.
Competitive Cycling
The actual Tour de France won’t take place until late next month, but a virtual version will kick off this weekend. Maybe they’ll have virtual jostling in the peloton, with virtual falls and virtual road rash. And virtual failed dope tests, too.
Speaking of virtual racing, an Indian army colonel finished fourth in this year’s virtual RAAM, becoming the fourth Indian rider to finish the grueling race, more or less.
A New Zealand navy veteran plans to compete in cycling events in next year’s Invictus Games using a 3D-printed metal pedal spacer and cleat, after injuries from a helicopter crash left one leg shorter than the other.
Finally…
If your friend tries to sell your bike without your permission, maybe you need to rethink your friends. Apparently, take one, leave one applies to bike thieves, too.
And nothing like going out for a bike ride and getting stuck in traffic.
Funny how they seem more willing to share the road than LA drivers, and less likely to use their horns.
Thanks to Keith Johnson for the link.
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Be safe, and stay healthy. And wear a mask, already.
