No bias here.
An Indianapolis shock jock has apparently appointed himself as master of the roads, with the power to determine who should be on them — and who shouldn’t.
And according to him, they’re only for people with big effing engines.
Which means bike riders should stay the hell off.
It’s time for bicyclists to learn their place on the roads of Indianapolis.
Yes, we’re all very happy that you’re under the impression you’re saving the environment and “keeping healthy” while breathing exhaust fumes and increasing your odds of getting crushed by a Goodyear radial. Bravo! Also, we hate you.
Yes, bicyclists can gain access to roads. Yes, they can use them for travel if they so choose. So can a squirrel, and we all know how that story ends.
WIBC host Tony Katz was responding to the following tweet from new Transportation Secretary Mayor Pete.
Roads aren't just for vehicles—they are for people. pic.twitter.com/LuG0q2obIK
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) February 8, 2021
In other words, Buttigieg gets it, while Katz clearly doesn’t.
And probably never will.
“Roads are for cars, trucks, busses, and the movement of people,” Katz continued. “Not [bicyclists] thinking they can make a left turn without signaling because ‘Look! I’m in spandex and I’m just like the people who compete in the Tour de France but without the hills and extraordinary athletic ability. But I’ve got the hat!’”
Of course, the entire point of putting people like that on the radio is to piss listeners off, because angry people listen longer and tune in more often, and drive the ratings up.
The problem is many of those people are listening while they drive. And they may just decide to take that anger out on the next person thet see riding on two wheels.
Fools like Katz just load and cock the gun. They let someone else pull the trigger.
And they don’t belong on the radio.
Or anywhere else.
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No surprise here.
A new study from a team of California academics shows that adding more parking really does encourage more driving.
Maybe we should try adding more bike parking and see if it holds true for us, too.
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Busted for cruising Thunder Road while wasted.
Bruce Springsteen arrested for DWI in New Jersey https://t.co/uwfqurFJ0z pic.twitter.com/OGVweao1qO
— New York Post (@nypost) February 10, 2021
Funny how the news didn’t come out until after his Jeep Super Bowl ad aired, though.
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Sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.
Mounties in British Columbia are looking for a trio of men, including one on a bike, who sprayed bear spray into a building lobby. It must have worked, though, since there were no bears in the lobby afterwards.
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Local
Streetsblog’s Joe Linton offers a number of good actionable transportation suggestions for new CD14 Councilmember Kevin de León, including quick-build protected and painted bike lanes, and longer term projects like adding back the protected bike lanes that were removed from plans for the new 6th Street Viaduct.
Metro is reopening the community engagement process for the proposed Rail to River Trail, after the route selected for the rail part of the project doesn’t leave room for a multi-use pathway.
State
A retired cop argues against adding bike lanes to Highway 67 in Ramona, insisting that bike lanes are only used by the privileged few. Never mind that even the most expensive bike costs just a fraction of a new car. Or that many people who rely on bikes cling to the lowest economic rungs. So maybe it’s the people in cars who are really privileged.
Sad news from Fresno, where a 45-year old man riding a bicycle was killed by a speeding driver; the 20-year old driver was also killed after hitting another car and slamming into a pole. The deaths came just two days after another bike rider was killed in the city.
National
About damn time. A new bill in the US House, co-sponsored by Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer and Rep. Jimmy Panetta of California, would authorize a 30% rebate on the purchase of an ebike, with a maximum rebate of $1,500.
They get it. CityLab says transitioning to electric cars won’t be enough to avert climate disaster; instead, we’ll need to dramatically cut motor vehicle use. Which is where those ebike rebates come in.
Outside’s Joe Lindsey explains what the lawsuit against Trek’s WaveCel bike helmet tech is all about.
Seattle is moving forward with building out an actual bike network, with a number of new protected bike lanes and neighborhood greenways. Unlike a certain megalopolis to the south.
A pilot program in Colorado is fighting climate change while helping essential workers get to their jobs, using a $560,000 grant to give out an additional 100 ebikes.
Speaking of Colorado, one hundred bucks will buy you a chance to win a hand-built Alchemy Atlas road bike, with the funds going to benefit the Bicycle Colorado advocacy group, while seven bucks will enter you to win an Electra Townie cruiser bike.
How to keep riding through a Minneapolis winter, without the inconvenience of actually, you know, going outside.
International
Drivers in Merida, Mexico will face fines of up to the equivalent of $34.73 for parking in the city’s new bike lanes. Which hopefully will have a bigger impact on drivers down there than it would here.
Luxembourg is extending a program to provide residents with the equivalent of up to $722 towards the purchase of bicycle or ebike.
Competitive Cycling
Former Giro d’Italia and Vuelta winner Nairo Quintana won’t be riding in this year’s Giro, after his Arkéa–Samsic failed to get an invitation.
Cycling in the South Bay talks with former pro Roy Knickman about what it’s like to be one.
Finally…
Probably not the best idea to abandon a car on a bike path when it’s full of stolen stuff and you’re already on parole. First rule of reporting — always blame the people on bikes.
And nothing like drafting a train at 60 mph.
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Be safe, and stay healthy. And wear a damn mask, already.
the ‘automobile’ isn’t as modern as sometimes implied.. its traffic comes with significant side effects, for one, and how come so few really care still?