Just 205 days left until Los Angeles fails to meet its Vision Zero pledge to eliminate traffic deaths by 2025.
Stop what you’re doing and sign this petition demanding Mayor Bass hold a public meeting to listen to the dangers we all face on the city’s mean streets.
Then share it — and keep sharing it — with everyone you know, on every platform you can.
We’re up to 1,195 signatures, so don’t stop now! Let’s get it up to 1,200 before I send it to the mayor’s office!
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Seriously, guys, get a clue.
According to KTLA-5, a group of teenagers on ebikes tormented nighttime revelers at the Hermosa Pier Saturday night, setting off illegal fireworks in and around families and adults out enjoying the evening, resulting in a number of minor injuries.
They also caused damage to businesses along Pier Avenue, forcing patrons on the patio of Sharkeez bar to evacuate, as well as hitting a woman in the face with a firework.
I don’t care how immature they may be or how much the city considers cracking down on teen ebikers, there’s just no excuse for that kind of behavior.
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The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted to set new rules governing ebikes in the county, with four new categories of ebikes based on maximum speeds and the amount of power they’re able to generate.
They also require helmets for anyone over 16 riding a class 3 ebike, while banning anyone under 16 from riding them, and prohibiting multiple people riding on a single bike.
The new rules also prohibit riding more than two abreast on county roads, and set a maximum 28 mph speed limit for bicycles.
But only the state has the power to set traffic regulations, so where the new county regulations conflict with state law — such as limiting the number of people who can ride abreast, or setting bicycle speed limits that differ from that for motor vehicle — they are probably illegal and unenforceable.
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A Vancouver, British Columbia newspaper goes all in on calling out reckless bicycle and ebike riders in a series of articles.
- A columnist writes that responses to an earlier column she wrote about the poor behavior of bicyclists on a local multi-use path showed that virtually every reader was frustrated by the “Wild West” that’s developed on the trail.
- A lifelong bike commuter says the writer’s call to do something before someone gets hurt comes too late, after her horrific crash with another bicyclist shows the need for a traffic circle on the pathway.
- Another woman writes that an inattentive rider on a racing bike crashed into her, her friend and her young daughter, apologetically landing directly on top of the little girl.
- A man writes that some bike riders treat other trail users as badly as drivers treat them. That’s something I’ve long noticed here in Los Angeles, too, confirming my belief that there are always assholes among us, regardless of how we or they travel. And those of us who pose the greater risk to others have the greater responsibility to look out for their safety.
- And an off-and-on bicyclist says yes, speed is intoxicating, but it shouldn’t trump courtesy — and it’s time for a little accountability.
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Bike Talk has a very busy show this week.
We discuss Willoughby on https://t.co/hzmb8w7vFP. My kids went to that preschool. Thank you! Will you come back on the show? @biketalkpfk @bikinginla @heybikela @streetsforall https://t.co/5tmunNEtjP
— Taylor Nichols (@Taylor_Nichols7) June 7, 2024
Bike lanes are only as good as the weakest link. That’s why this is important. Thx 4 coming on the show. @BikeLanesLA @bikinginla @biketalkpfk https://t.co/Ov9C9ddGFB
— Taylor Nichols (@Taylor_Nichols7) June 7, 2024
It was great talking to Nick and @Taylor_Nichols7 on @biketalkpfk about THE ART OF CYCLING, the limits of rational thinking, and doping in elite sport:
Bike Talk – The Art of Cycling by BikeTalk via #soundcloud https://t.co/2JHZITtk0C
— James Hibbard (@Jameshhibbard) June 7, 2024
That’s an open street if ever I’ve seen one. Good point! @biketalkpfk @CicLAvia @bikinginla @heybikela @BikeMetro https://t.co/PwIoFwgte1
— Taylor Nichols (@Taylor_Nichols7) June 9, 2024
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Active Towns talks with Streets For All founder Michael Schneider.
https://twitter.com/ActiveTowns/status/1799519512267563062
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It’s now 171 days since the California ebike incentive program’s latest failure to launch, which was promised no later than fall 2023. And three full years since it was approved by the legislature and signed into law — and counting.
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The war on cars may be a myth, but the war on bikes just keeps on going.
No bias here. A Boston city councilor is taking fire for conducting a public hearing, and only selecting commenters who agreed with his opposition to bus and bike lanes. Sort of like former CD1 Councilmember Gil Cedillo did during the sham public meetings on the North Figueroa road diet.
No bias here, either. The London Telegraph worries that new half-ton articulated electric cargo bikes could pose a danger to pedestrians. Because evidently, the multi-ton cargo trucks they’re set to replace don’t.
Residents of an English town are complaining about signs closing a bike lane and telling bike riders to dismount, arguing that no one ever tells drivers to get out of their cars and push.
But sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.
A bike rider in Denton, Texas faces charges after breaking a driver’s windshield wipers, busting her side mirror and spitting on her window, causing $1,000 in damage, after allegedly crashing into her car while making a wide turn. And never mind the meth he was caught with.
The mayor of New York announced a crackdown on ebikes after a reckless hit-and-run rider just kept going after breaking the leg of a prominent rabbi. But he couldn’t seem to be bothered when the state’s governor cancelled the city’s congestion pricing plan in a blatantly political ploy.
Speeding bicyclists are accused of forcing the closure of London’s Billionaires’ Row, the city’s most expensive residential street. Although something tells me they would have found another excuse if blaming bike riders wasn’t such a popular theme these days.
Residents of Glasgow, Scotland called for delivery riders to be forced to wear numbered jackets in an effort to hold them accountable, accusing them of bad behavior and removing the speed limitation devices on their ebikes.
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Local
The South Pasadena city council voted narrowly to keep the bike lanes on Grand Ave in place, after a heavy turnout of bicyclists calling for their retention.
Metro’s Adopt-A-Bike program shares unclaimed bicycles that have been abandoned or recovered on the transit system.
As we’ve noted before, Caltrans is looking for your feedback on proposed bike lanes on PCH in Long Beach.
State
Sad news from Fresno, where a 40-year old man was killed Friday night when a truck driver rear-ended his bicycle. But at least the driver stuck around afterwards.
National
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that American teens are continuing to ride ebikes, even after they’re old enough to drive. Read it on MSN to get around the paper’s draconian paywall.
A writer for Electrek tested a hydrogen-powered ebike, and barely even noticed.
Bike Shop Girl looks at the effect of Biden’s new 25% tariff on Chinese-made ebikes, kids’ bikes and other key bike-specific parts. And it ain’t pretty.
A Portland, Oregon monthly says bike commuting is rebounding in the city after a rare dip last year, as people return to the office after working from home.
Anchorage, Alaska is experimenting with a pilot protected bike lane project, in an attempt to improve the city’s transportation system and the downtown area.
Congratulations to a Colorado boy who biked to school every single day of middle school.
Boston social media accounts are attempting to shame drivers who park in bike lanes. Then again, if they had any shame, they probably wouldn’t park in bike lanes to begin with.
New Orleans celebrated the World Naked Bike Ride on Saturday, with dozens of people turning out in various states of undress. And wipe down the damn seat afterwards if you’re using bikeshare.
Heartbreaking story from Florida, where a mother found her own son lying dead on the side of the road, just a block from their home, when he didn’t return after riding his bike home from work; the driver just kept going after veering into the bike lane where he was riding.
International
Bicyclists in Winnipeg, Manitoba expressed their outrage after a 61-year old man was killed in a hot-and-run while riding a bicycle, with dozens participating in a sit-in at the site of the crash. That compares with Los Angeles, where a few people sometimes express mild annoyance in the comment section following a fatal hit-and-run. If there even is a comment section.
In a cheeky move, the London edition of the World Naked Bike Ride went directly in front of Buckingham Palace. No word on whether King Chuck came out to take it in.
Where to ride your bike in Belfast on your next trip to Northern Ireland.
The Channel Island of Guernsey saw a 74% increase in bicycle traffic during the island’s Alternative Transportation Week. Now they just have to make it Alternative Transportation Year. And Decade. And Century.
Michal Sadílek of the Czech Republic’s national soccer team is one of us. But probably wishes he wasn’t right now, since he’ll miss the European Championship after injuring his leg while riding his bicycle. Meanwhile, former 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Mike Conway knows just how he feels, since the broken ribs and collarbone he suffered in a bicycling crash will keep him out of this year’s race.
A 25-year old soccer player from Indian has quit her team, and is instead setting out to attempt a new world’s record for the fast ride around the world.
A Chinese woman riding her bike through Thailand has reportedly been kidnapped, with her captors demanding 25 million baht for her safe return — a tad less than $679,000.
A Philippine paper remembers the country’s bicycling priest of peace.
Competitive Cycling
Twenty-one-year old Israeli pro cyclist Guy Timor was killed by an unlicensed drunk driver trying to flee from police, while on his final training ride before leaving for the Czech Republic for a Grand Prix competition.
Bike Radar asks if gravel racing is saving the US cycling scene, as road racing continue to shrivel.
There’s a special place in hell for whoever stole all 14 Ribble Endurance SLR bikes being used by the UK’s Lifeplus-Wahoo bike team in the Tour of Britain, worth more than $63,000 in total.
Finally…
Seriously, don’t call the equivalent of 911 just because a pedal fell off your bike. That feeling when your bike seat pumps along with your butt cheeks. Nothing like casually wrapping an invasive Burmese python around your handlebars to save an alligator’s ass.
And, um, just…well, okay.
If you need me I'll be contemplating this for the next three hours pic.twitter.com/Xgwb2oJ8XV
— Cool Bike Art (@CoolBikeArt1) June 9, 2024
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Be safe, and stay healthy. And get vaccinated, already.
Oh, and fuck Putin
Need laws to authorize tow trucks to tow vehicles parked in bike lanes. Vehicle assumed inopertable in a traffic lane.