Park could be named for longtime advocate George Wolfberg, Biden is one of us, and more Valley Village vandalism

January 21, 2021 / / One comment

Sorry for the late notice.

It’s been almost a year since bike and community advocate George Wolfberg died at age 82, after a life of working to make this a better and more livable city for all of us.

One of those battles was the creation of Potrero Canyon Park in Pacific Palisades, due to open later this year. Now there’s a proposal before the LA Recreation and Parks Commission to name it after him.

Personally, I think George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon has a great ring to it.

The proposal is scheduled to be discussed at today’s meeting of the commission, item 21-014, starting at 9:30 am.

I’m not sure it I can make it. But if you see this in time, it’s worth commenting to honor one of the unsung giants of LA bicycle community.

To join the meeting, dial 669-900-6833, then enter 830 2912 1777, followed by the # key.

Thanks to Steven Hallett for forwarding today’s photo. And yes, that’s a pedal-operated sewing machine in the middle. 

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New President Joe Biden is one of us.

He’s also the first traffic violence widower to sit in the Oval Office, so maybe we finally have someone in the White House who really gets it.

Although clearly some in the media don’t, as Biden’s Peloton somehow transforms from a fixable security risk to a “scandal” that betrays his blue collar roots.

Seriously.

On the other hand, Donald Trump lived up to his Promises Made, Promises Kept slogan by keeping his vow to never take part in a bike race.

Just like I’ve kept my word to never fly off a tall building while riding an elephant.

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Just two days ago, we mentioned that someone had stolen the Slow Streets signs in Valley Village.

But as soon as local residents put them back up, they were gone again.

But at least CiclaValley still has a sense of humor about it.

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Here’s your chance to work in bike advocacy. As long as you’re okay with moving to the UK.

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A Calgary teenager set a new world’s manual record by coasting over 2,100 feet on his back wheel without pedaling.

And no, I didn’t know the difference between a manual and a wheelie, either.

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The war on cars may be a myth, but the war on bikes keeps going on.  

Apparently, English officials aren’t moving fast enough to rip out a popup bike lane, because a bike rider narrowly avoided serious injury when someone covered it with thumb tacks.

But sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.  

Lompoc police are looking for the gunman who shot and killed a man before making his escape on a bicycle. But at least he was wearing a mask, right?

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Local

A commercial property website includes the new bike-friendly replacement for the 6th Street Viaduct as one of seven projects that will transform Los Angeles. Of course, there’s no mention of the city’s mobility plan, Vision Zero or Green New Deal that were supposed to transform our streets, but haven’t.

 

State

California will once again consider adopting the Idaho Stop Law, which has been repeatedly blocked by an unholy alliance of AAA and the CHP; however, it could fare better now that Burbank Assembly Member Laura Friedman helms the Transportation Committee.

How to enjoy Palm Springs on two wheels.

Santa Barbara has started work on enhancing bike and pedestrian access along the city’s Stearns Wharf.

San Francisco advocates are despondent after officials severely watered down ambitious plans for a reimagined Market Street.

 

National

Bikes are good for business. A new report concludes recreational bicycling alone added $1.5 billion to the Oregon economy in 2019. California would undoubtedly be many times that.

Good idea. Washington State will consider waiving state sales taxes on ebikes, and up to $200 worth of accessories.

A New Jersey cycling club is using bicycling to improve the health and power of Black fathers and their families. Here’s the Yahoo version if Bicycling blocks you out. 

Bike advocates are applauding Biden’s choice of former New York Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg as Deputy Transportation Secretary.

A Black Baltimore bicyclist takes a hard look at what life on two wheels is like for people of color in today’s America.

Another good idea. A professor at Virginia Commonwealth University has created a naloxone ebike to distribute free doses of the opioid overdose-reversing drug Narcan to people before the need arises.

 

International

Your next Bianchi could have a battery.

Cycling Tips considers the pros and cons in comparing electronic shifting versus traditional mechanical shifting.

Not surprisingly, an absurd call to lump ebikes into the same category as motorcycles has run into opposition in Bermuda.

London proposes a road diet complete with curb-protected bike lane, promising a transformational effect on the neighborhood.

UK bicycle companies are banding together to form a marketing board to promote bike riding in the country.

You know a British tabloid is desperate for titillating material when the best they can do is a bike-riding woman exposing the top of her thong on Google’s street view.

Ouch. Britain’s high court has ruled that London’s Streetspace plan to create more space on the roads for bicycling and walking is illegal; the judge said it “took advantage of the pandemic” to “push through radical changes.”

Add this one to your bike bucket list. A new 20-mile bike path will encircle Italy’s Lago di Bracciano, connecting three towns on the lakeshore north of Rome.

A Singapore bike rider learns the hard way why metal storm grates should always run across, rather than along, the roadway.

 

Competitive Cycling

L39ION of Los Angeles founder and multi-national crit champ Justin Williams is now part of the Red Bull camp.

Cycling experts look into their crystal balls to predict this year’s pro racing season.

 

Finally…

Why buy a bike helmet when you can grow one with a fungus? If you’re carrying synthetic cannabis on your bike and riding with an outstanding warrant, put a damn light on it and don’t ride salmon.

And no wonder experts think Biden’s Peloton could be a security risk.

Thanks to David Wolfberg for the video.

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Thanks to someone who prefers to remains anonymous for a generous donation to help support this site and keep SoCal’s best bike news coming your way every day. Even though our annual fund drive is over, donations are always welcome. 

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Be safe, and stay healthy. And wear a damn mask, already. 

Category: Morning Links / Tags: , , , , , ,

One comment

  1. David Wolfberg says:
    January 21, 2021 at 2:32 pm

    Thank you Ted for the highlight. It appears to be a go for the park naming. The Parks Commission was wonderful and importantly now includes one of the city’s greatest bike and community advocates, Tarafai Bayne. Many people and agencies have contributed mightily to the development of the park, notably David Card of the Pacific Palisades Community Council and the Bureau of Engineering. Commissioner Nicole Chase expressed a desire for the parks named after engaged citizens like my father George to have detailed reliefs that tell us more about that community member. All of L.A.’s parks are accessible via bicycle though some require more effort than others. My father envisioned connecting the park to the historic Marvin Braude bike path via a bridge over PCH. That is a big spend and they are working to locate funding for it. In the meantime I’ve suggested waypoint signs and/or safety warnings as we definitely don’t want to see anyone trying to cross PCH to get to the park. There are two tunnels south of the park and a crossing signal at Temescal for safe crossing. They are aiming for a park opening in 2021.

    Regarding the hilarious and disturbing Peloton instructor, that is Caitlin Reilly who also recently lost her father, actor John Reilly of General Hospital. Caitlin has several characters developed in lockdown who are poignantly funny reminders of the time in which we’re living. She is an incisive observer and many of these clips are unmistakably “L.A.” https://www.tiktok.com/@itscaitlinhello?

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