It’s Day 13 of the 6th Annual BikinginLA Holiday Fund Drive!
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Long Beach resident Richard Lavalle was charged with second-degree murder in the DUI death of 12-year old bike rider Noel Bascon in Costa Mesa Sunday evening.
The boy, who suffered from autism, was riding with his father in a crosswalk when Lavalle allegedly ran a stop sign while driving stoned.
Lavalle is being held without bail, and faces up to 30-years behind bars if he’s convicted.
He could also be charged with a third strike after robbery convictions in 2009 and 2018, which could result in a possible life sentence.
The murder charge results from a Watson Advisement following a 2013 conviction for driving under the influence in San Diego County, stating Lavalle could be charged with murder if he killed someone while driving under the influence in the future. Otherwise, he would have faced a manslaughter charge.
His passenger, Lee Anna Murphy, has yet to be charged despite being found in possession of illegal drugs and paraphernalia.
A crowdfunding account to help pay Bascon’s funeral expenses has raised over $17,000 in just one day, topping the original $10,000 goal.
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Thirty LA-area organizations are calling for expanded eligibly of Metro funding currently dedicated for highways.
https://twitter.com/ActiveSGV/status/1336399149403541510
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No, Santa Monica’s new two-way protected bike lane isn’t for cars.
Even if their owners assume they own all the road.
https://twitter.com/abikeist/status/1336529892746297344
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Here’s your chance to weigh in on transportation issues in South LA.
South LA residents, speak up about transportation, bike lanes, and creating safer streets in your community! Take our 5-minute survey today: https://t.co/x2J01ob9c2 Via @LADOTlivable #BuildCommunity #StressFreeConnections pic.twitter.com/v5pialxLtU
— LANI-L.A. Neighborhood Initiative (@LANIorg) December 8, 2020
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Local
Just say “bikes mean business” to get a discount on a deep dish pizza at Masa of Echo Park this Thursday; the last time the deal was offered, it drew over 200 bicyclists.
A new masterplan for LA’s Exposition Park calls for improved access for bike riders and pedestrians, possibly including protected bike lanes.
Tis the season. Hats off to the Pasadena Rotary for donating 146 bikes to local kids. Thanks to Tim Rutt for the heads-up.
State
A coalition of California advocacy groups are calling for the next chair of the state senate’s influential Transportation Committee to be a climate champion who understands the importance of investing in transit and active transportation.
It was a bad weekend in Fresno, where a 73-year old woman was killed riding her bike after allegedly veering onto the wrong side of the road.
Also from Fresno, a man riding a bicycle was stabbed several times and had his phone stolen by several people who got out of a passing car to attack him; fortunately, he’s expected to survive.
And police aren’t sure why a 42-year old Fresno man was shot multiple times and killed while riding his bicycle.
National
They get it. CNBC reports the coronavirus pandemic has spurred a bike boom but most American cities are far from ready for it.
Gear Patrol looks at the latest bikes and accessories as proof of the unstoppable cycle of innovation.
A writer for Fast Company says joining the ebike revolution made this year a lot more tolerable.
Legendary bikemaker Gary Fisher, who literally helped invent mountain biking, is out with a new autobiography.
Road Bike Action Magazine offers tips on how to buy your next roadie.
After his stolen bike was recovered, a bighearted Washington boy gave it to a young fire victim because he’d already gotten a new one.
A Texas bike shop suffered a $10,000 loss when thieves smashed the storefront with a U-Haul and made off with five bikes.
Chicago considers the local community by ensuring a new bike bridge conforms with ancient Jewish law.
An Ohio town filed charges against a driver who killed a 7-year old boy riding his bike in a crosswalk last month, one day after a Cleveland newspaper reported they were illegally withholding details of the crash.
The pandemic forced an annual Massachusetts fundraising ride to go virtual this year, and still managed to raise $50 million for cancer treatment and research.
Horrible story from Flushing NY, where a teenager was talking with a man outside a restaurant when a second man came up from behind and slashed him in the face, before the first man ran off with his bicycle and cellphone.
‘Tis the season, too. Two hundred New Jersey kids got new Huffy bikes courtesy of former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski.
International
Heartbreaking story from Toronto, where family members mourn a 23-year old woman who was killed riding her bike home to her college apartment.
An Ontario, Canada woman is headed back to jail to serve the remainder of her sentence for killing a bike rider while driving drunk, after the admitted alcoholic violated her parole with yet another DUI conviction.
An American expat living in England was killed when the brakes failed on his ebike during a steep descent while riding with his wife.
Britain’s Cyclist magazine looks at their favorite lightweight bikes of 2020.
They get it. The authors of an op-ed in the prestigious BMJ — the former British Medical Journal — say free parking for healthcare workers just forces them to drive, instead of using healthier, and more sustainable and affordable means.
You’ve got to be kidding. Life really is cheap in the UK, where a drunk driver walked with a suspended sentence, despite dragging a bike rider who heroically tried to stop his car, while driving at three times the legal limit.
After a Milan bookshop owner was forced to close, he took to his cargo bike to peddle his tomes.
Competitive Cycling
Bicycling’s Joe Lindsey takes a difficult in-depth look at pro cycling’s diversity problems in a nearly all-white sport. As usual, read it on Yahoo if Bicycling’s site blocks you out.
Former NBA All Star Reggie Miller joined the board of USA Cycling; the passionate bicyclist was one of four new members named to the board of the organization governing bike racing in the US.
Southern California’s Coryn Rivera is looking forward to next year’s Tokyo Olympics and the World Championships in Flanders, as well as joining a newly formed women’s WorldTour team, after a year marred by injury and illness.
Cyclist profiles surprise Giro winner Tao Geoghegan Hart and his climb to pro cycling’s top ranks.
Finally…
That feeling when Andy Griffith holds a lifelong a grudge against you for knocking him off his bike. Traveling the world on a Penny Farthing.
And be glad you avoided the great British bicycle stock bubble of the 1890s.
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Be safe, and stay healthy. And wear a mask, already.
