The driver who allegedly ran down ten people participating in a seniors bike race in Show Low, Arizona last month faces 20 felony counts for intentionally using his truck as a weapon.
Thirty-six-year old Shawn Michael Chock will be arraigned today with running down victims and fleeing the scene afterwards, as well as fleeing from police.
Chock was shot by Show Low police following a standoff behind a hardware store. He has apparently been free after he was released from the hospital ten days ago.
Thankfully, none of the victims has died, although one of the charges for assault with a deadly weapon is a more serious felony, suggesting that one of the riders may have suffered longterm or life-changing injuries.
Meanwhile, hundreds of bike riders turned out in Tempe to show support for the victims.
Thanks to Richard Duquette and Phillip Young for the heads-up.
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This is pretty much the only good smile I had yesterday, knowing we’re well on our way to LA’s first public/private partnership to improve a dangerous corridor for bike riders and pedestrians.
And maybe convince LADOT to actually do it.
.@SunsetForAll & @lacbc are only $850 from reaching 50% of our goal! Donate to get protected bike lanes on Sunset Blvd? pic.twitter.com/oahijtHUxU
— LA Bike Dad (@LA_Bike_Dad) July 12, 2021
You can donate here.
And yes, I put my own money where my mouth, or rather, keyboard is.
And where my heart is, too.
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A number of people complained about this tweet, for damn good reason.
He was a little kid, who deserved a hell of a lot better. And he didn’t “collide with a car,” he was struck by its driver.
A juvenile died at a local hospital Friday evening following a collision with an automobile in San Jose. https://t.co/ORqC5E6WaS
— CBS News Bay Area (@KPIXtv) July 10, 2021
That doesn’t necessarily mean it was the driver’s fault; a witness says the boy darted out into the street against the light.
It does mean we need to see the humanity in the victim, and the person who took his life life.
And do everything in our power to ensure it never happens again.
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Bikes just keep booming, as New York bike shops report what bikes they have are flying off the shelves.
Meanwhile, a New York BMX shop may shut because they can’t get enough bikes to meet demand.
And bike shop owners along the Illinois – Iowa border are having to be creative in order to meet customer’s need and actually have something to sell.
But somehow, the CEO of the Buzzbike bicycle subscription service says private bike ownership is dying.
Yeah, good luck making that case.
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Well, how else would you expect a billionaire astronaut to arrive for his first space launch?
Every bit of PR for this Virgin space launch was figured out, from the symbolism of @richardbranson biking to the launch area to carefully positioned company logos. https://t.co/7hdHmfCnwd
— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) July 11, 2021
Then again, let’s not forget that a monkey and a dog made similar flights 60 years ago.
Although they probably didn’t have to pay for it themselves.
Thanks to Megan Lynch for the heads-up.
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The war on cars may be a myth, but the war on bikes just keeps on going.
The streets of Wichita, Kansas are more dangerous today, after a woman was released after three months in jail when she made bail for allegedly running over 56-year old stranger riding a bicycle, then get out of her car and shooting him to death.
In yet another sign of how seriously the courts don’t take traffic crimes, a driver who fled the scene after seriously injuring a bike-riding woman in Delaware was charged with seven counts, including hit-and-run, and driving while stoned and without a license or insurance — with bail set at the low, low price of just $3,500. Presumably so he can get out and do it again.
But sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.
Mountain View police are looking for a racist attacker who slapped an Asian jogger in the back of the head and threatened to punch him while shouting a racially charged comment, before hitting the man with his bicycle.
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Local
Apparently not grasping the concept of dockless scooters, a WeHo resident complains about the newly returned e-scooters “abandoned” on the streets.
The Santa Monica Daily Press offers a primer on the city’s four e-scooter and e-bikeshare providers.
After riding his bike to the DMV, a Santa Monica man waits in line for hours before getting turned away. And becomes convinced the guy ahead of him is a bike thief.
State
Orange County is testing bike-only trails to cut down on collisions and conflicts between mountain bikers and the non-wheeled public.
A San Diego columnist considers whether removing parking spaces and minimum parking requirements will revitalize the city, as advocates aver.
Santa Clara County, home to San Jose and Silicon Valley, is moving forward with plans for the region’s first bicycle superhighway. Which is exactly one more than Los Angeles is working on.
Bad news from the Bay Area town of Brisbane, where a bike rider was critically injured in a hit-and-run Saturday evening. Police are looking for the driver of a silver 1998 Honda Accord or similar vehicle, with likely front end damage, and possible damage to the windshield.
A Sebastopol man faces three felony counts of DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter for the May crash that killed a 53-year old man riding his bike, and cost a bike-riding 12-year old boy his leg; the driver’s lawyer describes him as a “nice young man who made a terrible mistake.” Although I suspect the families of the victims might disagree.
National
The grizzly bear who dragged Chico, California bikepacker Leah Davis Lokan out of her tent and killed her in has been Ovando, Montana has been tracked down and killed. Although the real blame should probably be placed on humans encroaching on wildlife habitat, rather than the other way around. And no, it does not make me feel any better to know my brother will be bikepacking through the same area in a few weeks.
If you need a little inspiration today, consider Connecticut’s Korene Varano, who became a triathlete after 30 years of batting debilitating bone cancer — and four years after having her leg amputated.
The sponsor behind Buffalo NY’s summertime Slow Roll bike rides say a candidate for mayor is welcome to ride, but keep politics out of it.
Three-hundred-fifty people are pedaling their way on an eight day, 400-mile ride along the Erie Canalway Trail raise funds for parks and trails in New York. Good luck finding an offroad trail half that long in ostensibly bike-friendly California.
Kindhearted Orlando, Florida cops bought a new bike, lock and helmet for a young boy after his was stolen a couple months ago.
International
A Montreal woman and her roommate are walking now after construction workers removed the post their bikes were locked to in the middle of the night, and no one will tell them how to get them back.
Life is cheap in Ireland, where a 76-year old van driver walked without a single day behind bars for carelessly killing a bike rider.
Despite the rising popularity of ebikes, most Belgian bike riders are still sticking with their non-electrified versions.
Hundreds of Berlin bike riders took to the streets for a topless bike ride in protest after police told a sunbathing mom to put her top on, with the protesters insisting “no nipple is free until all nipples are free.”
A man and woman are halfway through a tandem ride along India’s 3,600-mile Golden Quadrilateral highway connecting the country’s four metropolitan cities of Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai.
Life is cheap in India, where a 55-year old man was stabbed to death for parking his bicycle outside his neighbor’s home, partially blocking the narrow street.
Competitive Cycling
It’s been a minute since an American actually won a stage at the Tour de France. Okay, a lot of minutes.
Congratulations to British sprinter Mark Cavendish on equalling the legendary Eddy Merckx’s equally legendary record for most stage wins in the Tour de France — especially since Cavendish wasn’t even on his team’s Tour roster until another rider dropped out at the last minute.
In a Tour marked by falls, loose gravel took several riders down yet again on Friday’s 13th stage.
If you have to ask how much a Tour de France bike costs, you probably can’t afford it.
VeloNews explains how to discuss the Tour with normal people, aka non-bike racing aficionados.
Road Bike Action relates how Canadian Alex Stieda became the first North American to wear the yellow jersey in 1986.
LA-based L39ion of Los Angeles (pronounced Legion) continues its winning ways, finishing 1-2-3 in the top men’s race at the Boise, Idaho stop on the USA Crits Tour, while the team took first and second on the women’s side.
And this is what women cyclists have to deal with. Even in the pro peloton.
Being mocked and bullied in the groupetto today was one of the worst experiences I’ve had in a bike race. On day nine of the @GiroItaliaDonne and there’s absolutely no place for that when people are on the edge and on their limit. #GiroDonne
— Heidi Franz (@franzyprawnzy) July 10, 2021
Finally…
Apparently, the local TV station forgot what the Ride to Remember is supposed to. That feeling when some jerk stole the bike Buddy Holly’s wife gave you.
And that feeling when your food delivery order is really, really late.
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Be safe, and stay healthy. And get vaccinated, already.
