Is anyone shocked that Los Angeles didn’t make the latest list of America’s safest cities for people on bicycles?
I didn’t think so.
But congratulations to Davis, Chico and Santa Barbara, the three California cities that did.
Maybe in another decade or two we might finally have a shot.
We can dream, right?
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Curbed’s Alissa Walker profiles Mexico City pedestrian superhero Peatónito, who is finishing a master’s degree in urban and regional planning at UCLA.
And wants to have pedestrian defenders in every LA neighborhood when he leaves.
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San Diego continues to build laps around Los Angeles, as they work to build out a full network of curb protected bike lanes.
Unlike a certain megalopolis to the north.
https://twitter.com/Dbruinstein/status/1390494495687417856
But while Los Angeles continues to rest on its non-laurels as America’s worst bike city, Glendale is installing a new curb protected lane on Los Feliz.
Even if it is just for a block.
One block of curb-protected bike lane under construction on Los Feliz Blvd (from Gardena Ave to the railroad tracks underpass) in Glendale. Perhaps part of ‘The Griffith’ development? Looks like it will be nice, tho short and isolated pic.twitter.com/SsEyYxAFY3
— StreetsblogLA (@StreetsblogLA) May 7, 2021
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Gravel Bike California gets a visit from Road Bike Action’s Troy and David to discover Gold Creek, a hidden gem between Big and Little Tujunga Canyons.
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The LACBC is offering a discount for their virtual bike challenge taking place this month.
Here’s what they have to say.
Inviting you to join us in June at LACBC’s new virtual LA Rivers Challenge: Ride, Walk or Run LA’s Historic Waterways! A flexible and fun way to ride, walk or run our beautiful L.A. County waterways, at your own pace on days, routes and mileage of your choice. Suggested routes will be posted on the LARiversChallenge.com website.
Please use this special Friends & Family code “FRIEND5” to register at LARiversChallenge.com and receive a cool neck gaiter/mask, coaching/encouragement emails, routes and information about the historic L.A. County waterways. Bonus Fun: An optional personalized fundraising webpage can be set up where riders can share progress on their ride(s) online and also raise money to support LACBC’s year-round advocacy on behalf of active transportation in L.A. County. Rewards and prizes can be earned for meeting fundraising goals too!
Thank you.
The 2021 LA River Challenge – Good for You and Good for LA! For more information and to register for the L.A. Rivers Challenge, visit LARiversChallenge.com.
Challenge Video: https://vimeo.com/545718226
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/274494824189732
Twitter: Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (@LACBC)
Instagram: @lacbc
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Bicycling author Richard Fox is back with the latest update to his comprehensive guide to SoCal bike routes.
I’m happy to announce the release of the 3rd Edition of my guidebook “enCYCLEpedia Southern California – The Best Easy Scenic Bike Rides.” It contains 200+ scenic ride options at SoCal’s beaches, deserts, mountains, wine country, harbors, & historic city centers from San Diego to Cambria to Palm Springs, perfect for casual cyclists who enjoy beautiful scenery while avoiding car traffic and major hill climbs. The pandemic bike boom created many new casual cyclists who bought up 2017’s 2nd Edition a year earlier than anticipated. I revisited many of the rides with a Class I ebike, and added notes on how they impact rides, and where to rent or buy them near the rides. The book’s info was updated, more detail was added to many of the maps, and several new rides were added, including an option for a La La Land Griffith Park adventure on closed roads that was too hilly without an ebike for the casual cyclist before. Other new fabulous rides were added for all in Irvine and Lake Perris, and options in other areas with new infrastructure like Santa Barbara and San Diego. The Coachella Valley, where I spent much of the pandemic lockdown cycling and working on the book update, ended up with a ton of new info and routes, including incorporation of the new CV Link regional path, now in various stages of construction. enCYCLEpedia.net contains additional rides, downloadable maps, features and updates for book owners. The price of this edition is going up because of higher production costs in the USA vs Asia, but has started on Amazon at a lower price, available here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1638485380.
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The Oklahoma legislature has sent a bill legalizing the Idaho Stop to the governor for his signature.
And for a change, it’s the full version, allowing bike riders to treat red lights like stop signs, and treat stop signs as yields.
Wow. You should read this bill, passed by the Oklahoma legislature and sent to the governor to be signed. Makes the Idaho stop the law and has language outlawing drivers being allowed to use their horn when passing bike riders. https://t.co/xxI8lQ1hAw pic.twitter.com/LuFLqcX6V6
— Peter Flax (@Pflax1) May 7, 2021
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This.
If adults in power cared that cars and drivers are the leading killer of our children, we could put a stop to this. And yet, here we are, valuing car convenience over the lives of our bright, beautiful, beloved children. Our society is broken. Words fail. #TODeadlyStreets #BikeTO https://t.co/28RbbVN51x
— FFSS (@FFSafeStreets) May 7, 2021
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Somehow we missed this one last month, as Bike Snob’s Eben Weiss offers a tutorial on how to politely shred on your fixie.
Meanwhile, Road.cc sings fixies praises, too.
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Sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.
Police busted a bike riding thief who robbed two women at gunpoint in New York’s Central Park.
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Local
Bikeshare is officially back on LA’s Westside, with 54 docking stations ready to go, and another 13 in the works.
The LA County Sheriff’s Department is looking for a 32-year old Paramount man who was last seen April 14th; the 5’7″, 230 pound Hispanic man frequently rides his bike through the area, though it’s unclear if he was on his bike when he disappeared.
State
Good news, as California’s proposal for a modified Idaho Stop Law allowing bike riders to treat stop signs as yields continues to move through the state legislature.
A 13-year old boy suffered moderate injuries when he was struck by a driver while riding his bike in Seal Beach.
A bike-riding man suffered serious, but non-life-threatening injuries when he was hit by two drivers in San Diego’s Old Town neighborhood in the midst of Wednesday’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations; he was left crossed by a driver trying to make a three-point turn, then hit by another when he was knocked off his bicycle.
A new survey shows Poway residents want more options to ride their bikes, among other concerns.
A crowdfunding campaign is raising funds for a Bakersfield bike rider seriously injured by a hit-and-run driver this past Saturday; another rider escaped the crash without serious injuries. The campaign has raised just $1,700 out of a goal of $5,000 in three days.
Nice gesture from the Chowchilla bicycling community, which turned out in force to accompany the body of a 45-year old man killed in a hit-and-run; the driver faces a murder charge after telling police he wanted to kill someone. Sadly, the disabled man, who rode a bike as his only form of transportation, had the misfortune of crossing the alleged killer’s path.
National
Lincoln, Nebraska’s Bike Kitchen may be closed during the pandemic, but that didn’t stop them from refurbishing over 200 bicycles and donating them to kids in need.
A crowdfunding campaign for a 13-year old boy killed while riding his bike by a Moline, Illinois cop responding to an emergency call has raised more than $14,000 in just 24 hours, easily topping the original $10,000 goal.
Kansas City moved to legalize jaywalking and cancel bicycle inspections, along with other local laws too often used to target people of color.
Next City suggests Fayetteville, Arkansas could be America’s next great bike city.
Now that’s more like it. A Michigan man could spend up to 80 years behind bars for the reckless, hit-and-run deaths of two women riding their bikes; he’ll have to serve a minimum of 18 years before he’s eligible for parole, and pay $250,000 restitution. None of which will bring either of the victims back, though.
New York’s Worksman Cycles traces its history back over 100 years, to the first three-wheeled bikes developed for the Good Humor Ice Cream Company.
A New York bike shop owner received $32,000 in fines for selling ped-assist ebikes, even though they were perfectly legal under city rules; fortunately, he didn’t end up paying a penny of it.
A DC clinic is helping people who’ve lost a limb regain the confidence to ride a bicycle.
International
A new bendable tail light raising funds on Kickstarter promises to mark off a safe passing distance; right now you can preorder one for just $35. No word on whether it will extend to a full three-foot passing distance, though.
Bikes really did boom in the UK last year, as 5 million people were “inspired” to buy a bicycle during the pandemic.
Thanks to the efforts of a Dutch fan, LEGO may finally introduce a bike lane set, complete with bikes, bike racks and people to use them.
The Namibian bicycling community is mourning the death of a Canadian man who made a difference in the lives of countless people by talking his family and friends to helping him ship bicycles to the country, before eventually founding a nonprofit to ship and sell them to create jobs, and fund more bikes.
The former model who starred in David Bowie’s China Girl video is now a Kiwi restaurant manager who’s fighting a new protected bike lane, arguing that it will block her deliveries and no one will use it, anyway. Never mind that the first photo in the story shows a delivery driver unloading his truck next to the bike lane directly behind her.
Once again, a bike rider is a hero. Grateful Aussie parents are looking for the man who jumped off his bike and leapt into a chilly lake without hesitation to rescue a three-year old boy, who accidentally rode his scooter into a Canberra lake; he then slipped away quietly after saving the boy’s life. No truth to the rumor that he left a silver bullet behind. Thanks to Megan Lynch for the heads-up.
Competitive Cycling
Rouleur previews the Giro, which kicks off tomorrow in Turin.
Dutch cyclist Dylan Groenewegen says he’ll be under a microscope in the Giro, as he makes his comeback from a suspension for causing the crash that severely injured Fabio Jakobsen at last year’s Tour de Pologne.
Never mind the stolen election and deteriorating conditions in Belarus, the European track cycling championships are staying put in Minsk, despite offers from other cities and countries to host them.
Mark your calendar for the Balance Bike World Championships this August. It’s being held in the UK, so your little competitor may need a passport.
Finally…
Before you can bomb down the bike trails, you’ve got to get your bike up there. No, a bike lane isn’t a good nap spot.
And next time you want to participate in a Zoom meeting while driving, maybe lose the shoulder belt first.
https://twitter.com/BrodyLogan/status/1390271590093447169
Thanks to Todd Munson for the heads-up.
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Be safe, and stay healthy. And wear a mask.
And get vaccinated, already.
