Once again, a handful of Angelenos decide the future of the city, as less than 9% of registered voters bothered to cast a ballot on Tuesday.
Nine percent.
With a dismal turnout like that, bike riders could rule this city. Except most of us stayed home, too.
However, it looks like it will be bike friendly Carlolyn Ramsay vs David Ryu in a runoff to replace Tom LaBonge in CD4. Third place Tomas O’Grady, who finished just 61 votes behind Ryu, could still sneak in after outstanding ballots are counted.
And incumbent Jose Huizar rolls to an easy victory over Gloria “Where will we all park?” Molina.
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A new video from Scotland’s Pedal on Parliament illustrates how investing in safe spaces for bicycling can bring big changes for everyone.
Although the doctor who said Katie’s stick-thin father needs to lose weight should go back to medical school.
Thanks to my favorite Scottish blogger and bike advocate for the heads-up.
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LA bike advocate, bikewear maker and bike blogger Richard Risemberg has released the e-book version of his first novel, The Dust Will Answer, described as an urban noir mystery. It’s available at Amazon and Smashwords; use the code PZ82G on Smashwords through March 28th to get a $1 discount.
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Local
Metro is expected to award a contract for LA’s long delayed bike share program in June, with the first bikes hitting the street a year later. Although for some reason, there won’t be any stations in Chinatown, the Fashion District or City West; no station on Skid Row makes a little more sense.
Just 2.8% of UCLA employees bike to the campus, a figure that could rise dramatically if they just had a safe way to get there.
Santa Monica’s California Incline connecting the city with PCH will close for one year for reconstruction beginning in April; the new ramp will include bike and pedestrian lanes for those willing to tackle the steep slope.
Helen’s Cycles host their monthly group ride for intermediate and advanced riders this Saturday.
The traditional Marathon Crash Ride looks like a go for Sunday, March 15th, though final approvals are still pending.
State
Streetsblog looks at bills affecting Livable Streets in the state legislature — including one stealth bill about bikeways.
The Oxnard Fire Department raises $34,000 to distribute new bike helmets to kids. That would be a far better approach than mandating them for adults, too.
Clearly, there’s more to this story than they’re telling us. Police investigate the case as an assault with a deadly weapon after a Porterville boy is struck by a hit-and-run driver while riding his bike.
Palo Alto approves the first two segments of the city’s new bike and pedestrian plan. Don’t hold your breath, though; it will take 30 years to build out the 24 planned projects.
Cupertino moves to improve bike safety near schools by restricting trucks and requiring early morning trash pickup.
A compromise plan is finally reached to place protected bike lanes on San Francisco’s Polk Street, though not to everyone’s satisfaction.
National
No surprise here, as fear of being hit by a vehicle is the biggest obstacle keeping Americans off their bikes.
A bill in the Oregon legislature would require cyclists to wear a reflective coat or vest after dark.
A DC writer explains why some bicyclists ride outside of the city’s bike lanes, such as the risk of being turned into a toad. He said it, not me.
International
CNN looks at London’s bike superhighway proposals — practical and otherwise — calling bicycles an old technology with a very bright future.
A UK TV station says every moment spent on a bike is a judgment call. And the consequences can be catastrophic when someone gets it wrong.
Finally…
Let’s hope it’s just a bad translation, as a Dutch cyclist on a stolen bike drove off after hitting a baby and her money; no really, that’s what it says. Levi’s finally gets around to making bikewear for women.
And it has nothing to do with bicycling, but this Kickstarter project for a film about African American cowboys in Compton looks too cool for words.
