BikinginLA

Why, pray tell, does it have to be an endless battle of regular bikes and pedestrians versus ebikes?

Take this story in The Guardian.

Please.

In a story headed :

Vicious cycles or transport revolution? The ebike battle raging in Queensland

The paper argues,

Aggrieved pedestrians and push-bike riders are pitted against those who see e-mobility as a ‘once in a generation’ chance to change the way we travel around cities

Somehow, we have to choose one side or the other, as if it’s not possible to have a “once in a generation” opportunity to change urban transportation, while acknowledging that the lack of effective regulation has allowed things to get out of hand.

Like this story from Virginia Beach, Virginia, where a 15-year old boy fled from multiple cops and a police helicopter on an illegal electric dirt bike with whopping 16,800-watt motor and a top speed over 59 mph, while on probation for doing exactly the same thing three previous times.

Or the recent case here in Orange County, where a 14-year old boy killed an 81-year old Vietnam vet while doing wheelies on an illegal e-motorbike, leading to charges against the boy’s mother, who had ignored previous warnings from police.

Never mind the beatdowns various people have suffered for berating, or just trying to ride an e-scooter through, teen e-moto gangs.

Let alone this story from Ebike Tips, where a writer gets hit by a hit-and-run rider on an illegally modified ebike while riding his own — legal — ebike, and questions how critical he can be when his own bike comes close to crossing the line.

On the other hand, at least he knows enough to stick around after a crash.

The result has been laws like New Jersey’s “crazy” crackdown on ebikes by requiring a license and registration for all ebikes, with no distinction between Class 1 ped-assist ebikes and illegal electric motorbikes.

Or Dublin cracking down on all bicycles on a pedestrianized shopping street when the real problem is illegal mopeds.

Even a town near bike-friendly Utrecht in the Netherlands is experimenting with a two-week 12.5 mph speed limit for bicycles on a bike path, leading to a revolt from some acoustic bike riders.

Lumping all ebikes together in the public mind inevitably leads to a crackdown on every type of ebike, when the problem is only caused by a subset of riders on ebikes that have been illegally modified to exceed permitted speeds, or on electric motorbikes and dirt bikes that aren’t legally allowed on the roads as it it, at least without a driver’s license and/or motorcycle license.

The obvious solution is to crack down on the electric mo-peds, motorbikes and dirt bikes — and riders — who are actually causing the problems, without killing the “once in a generation” opportunity we have to make a real change.

The responsibility lies with the various legislatures to create a clear distinction between the two, lightly regulating the one while restricting the other.

If they can do that, we have an opportunity to make a significant dent in driving rates, with consequential benefits to traffic, road wear and tear, pollution and public health.

If not, we’ll butcher the golden goose and fry its eggs for breakfast.

Photo of electric non-motorbike by Cely for Pixabay. 

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I got the following press release yesterday about Saturday’s first-ever Bike the Coast Ventura. And since I’m getting lazy in my old age, I’m simply reposting it for you here.

Bike the Coast Ventura Welcomes Nearly 600 Riders at Inaugural Event 

Riders of all ages and experience levels rode through the scenic coastal city, ending at the finish festival featuring local vendors and musicians

VENTURA, Calif. – The inaugural Bike the Coast Ventura hosted nearly 600 riders on June 13, welcoming participants of all ages and experience levels to ride through the scenic City of Ventura. The event partnered with local businesses and organizations to ensure that the Ventura community charm was truly highlighted throughout the event. The field of riders included Ventura locals, loyal participants of Bike the Coast San Diego, the event’s sister ride that takes place in the fall, and cyclists who traveled from Northern California, Las Vegas, and Arizona.

This year’s sponsors and partners included Visit Ventura, Downtown Ventura Association, Ventura Coast Brewing Company and Ventura Coast Cycling. The event also partnered with local charity organizations, including The Los Angeles Chapter of National MS and the Downtown Ventura Foundation. The 2026 event contributed over $6000 for their charity partners.

“When we chose Ventura as the host city for Bike the Coast, it wasn’t only because of the incredible views and scenic routes; it was also because of the incredible community,” said Mike Bone, president and CEO of Spectrum Sports Management, producer of Bike the Coast Ventura. “The Ventura locals really showed up for us throughout the planning stages and all the way up to race day. We look forward to future years of hosting this event and showcasing this amazing community.”

Participants took part in one of the three course options: the Metric Century 65-mile ride, the 40-mile ride or the rider’s favorite 20-mile family ride. Participants of the Metric Century 65-Mile ride were taken on a tour of the coastline with some hills in neighboring cities. The 40-mile and 20-mile riders were also treated with constant ocean views along their rules of the road routes. All participants wrapped up at the finish line in Promenade Park, which featured the Finish Festival that has coined the slogan, “Come for the Ride – Stay for the Party”. The free Finish Festival hosted the Ventura-based band The GAMBLE, and featured various local vendors offering food, drink and cycling-focused products and services.

For more information on Bike the Coast Ventura, visit www.bikethecoastventura.com. Follow the event on Instagram and Facebook.

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Goodbye to the late, great LA artist and lifelong bicyclist David Hockney, from his native England.

This Banksy-style mural of artist David Hockney, a native son of Yorkshire, UK, was painted on the wall of the Cross Roads Inn in West Yorkshire in anticipation of the region's hosting of the 2014 Tour de France Grand Départ🎨Stewy#RIPDavidHockney

— Cool Bike Art (@coolbikeart1.bsky.social) 2026-06-12T12:43:33.395Z

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Local 

For the third day in a row, I got nothing. 

 

State

Off-Road.cc offers an ode to mountain biking pioneer Charlie Cunningham, who died earlier this month at age 77.

San Francisco’s Bicycle Advisory Committee held its last meeting this past week, shutting down after 35 years because the city decided it was redundant because the MTA now has a Sustainable Streets Division, “with teams focused on active transportation, employs full-time bike planners and engineers, and integrates biking into multimodal planning.” Which all sounds good, but doesn’t take the place of informed advice from a citizens committee representing the voice of the public. 

 

National

A website called Straight Arrow News looks at the America Bikes Act, saying it’s gaining traction but critics are trying to pump the brakes — but only the only critic they cite is a Missouri bicycle retailer who says ebike voucher programs have created complications for retailers, domestic bike manufacturing isn’t economically viable, and replicating European bicycle networks nationwide would be difficult. Oh, well if it’s going to be hard, let’s just give up now. 

Velo offers the dietary and training fixes you need to avoid having your skeleton “turn into chalk,” as UCI calls bicycling ‘perfect storm’ for bone loss. I lifted weights and watched my calcium intake for decades, but was shocked to end up with osteoporosis in my hips, anyway. 

Good news for bike couriers and pedal-cab drivers, as the IRS includes both in the new exemption on taxing tips.

A Seattle op-ed calls on the city to move faster on implementing a bike network, two years after voters approved a historic $133.5 million investment in bike infrastructure and programs.

The Chicago Sun-Times explains how their photographer captured an outstanding photo of a memorial ride for a fallen bicyclist, perfectly reflected in a pool of water.

Um, okay. After man in Shelter Island NY was nearly run off the the road by a driver while riding his bike, he was relieved to discover than not only was there already a three-foot passing law, but there were already signs in place informing drivers of the fact. Which apparently did nothing to prevent that driver from buzzing him at close range. 

New York Mayor Mamdani made history by becoming the first sitting mayor to join the other 32,000 riders taking part in the 5 Boro Bike Tour for the entire route. Which raises the obvious question of whether the other mayors didn’t take part, or just didn’t have seats on their bikes, forcing them to stand the whole way.

A Japanese business student studying in the US is riding his bicycle 1,200 miles from Pittsburgh to Dallas to watch his home team play in the World Cup.

A New Orleans website offers highly edited photos of the city’s World Naked Bike Ride. Or as the rest of the denizens of that city called it, Saturday.

 

International

The latest Lumos helmet combines built-in lights with an intercom system allowing up to 15 riders to communicate, offering obvious safety benefits for group rides.

Toronto held not one, but two separate editions of the World Naked Bike Ride, encouraging “freedom and body resistance for queer, trans, and feminist folks in the city.” Apparently, the usual idea of calling attention to bicycle safety and fossil fuels isn’t a factor there. 

One thousand London bicyclists took to their bikes in the buff, or some variation thereof, for more traditional reasons, as protest against car culture and other linked themes, while also demonstrating against global oil dependency and celebrating their bodily freedom; the event was moved from Saturday to Sunday to avoid disrupting the annual Trouping of the Colour.

Oops. Former Aussie pro cyclist Rohan Dennis was stopped for driving, with his kids in the car, despite a five-year driving ban imposed as part of his extremely lenient sentencing for the death of his wife, former Olympian Melissa Hoskins.

 

Competitive Cycling

Mexican cycling star Isaac del Toro won France’s eight-day Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on the final day by winning his second successive stage in a mountaintop finish; meanwhile, pre-race favorite Paul Seixas saw his Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes hopes dealt a major blow when he had to fight his way back from a bloody crash on the penultimate day.

A Paris Olympian is back on the track again, after trapped spinal fluid nearly ended her cycling days a year ago, preventing her from even completing simple tasks like tying her shoes.

Cycling News analyzes how the women’s WorldTour cyclists navigated a chaotic final lap of the Copenhagen Sprint, as Dutch star Lorena Wiebes held off countrywoman Charlotte Kool for the win.

 

Finally…

Even the damn coyotes are out to get us now. The Jekyls and Hydes of competitive cycling.

And nothing in the rules says you have to be upright when you cross the finish line.

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Be safe, and stay healthy. And get vaccinated, already.

Oh, and fuck Putin.