According to the Hesperia Star, a young bike rider was killed yesterday when he rode out in front of a car at an intersection.
Ten-year old Hesperia resident Arnold Covarrubias was riding east on the north sidewalk along on Main Street at Third Avenue at 8:45 pm when he attempted to cross Main without warning, and was hit by a Kia SUV. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:35 pm.
Investigators say Covarrubias may have been distracted by a stray dog when he rode out into the intersection against the light and was hit by the SUV, which was headed west on Main with the green light.
A satellite view shows a major intersection with two to three lanes of traffic in every direction.
The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with police; speed or alcohol use did not appear to be factors in the collision. As always, however, the key is whether there were other witnesses besides the driver, who has an inherent interest is seeing his actions in the best possible light.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Deputy Simon DeMuri from the Hesperia Station at 760/947-1500.
This is the 60th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the eighth in San Bernardino County. Remarkably, that’s exactly the same rate as this time last year in both the county, and the greater SoCal region.
It’s also the fifth bicycling death in Hesperia, population 92,000, in the last three years.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Arnold Covarrubias and his family.
After unofficially opening on Abbot Kinney a few weeks back, the new Timbuk2 store is celebrating its arrival in LA this Saturday and Sunday.
The popular bike bag maker was founded 25 years ago by a San Francisco bike messenger who was frustrated that he couldn’t find a decent messenger bag to meet his needs. His designs proved so popular, he soon found himself with a new career making custom bags for cyclists throughout the Bay Area.
Today, they’re one of the leading makers of custom and off-shelf messenger bags, bike packs, camera pouches, seat packs, backpacks, laptop bags and panniers. Even a new line of suitcases made to their own exacting standards.
All still made in San Francisco’s Mission District. And each complete with a lifetime warrantee.
Appropriately located almost directly across from the Linus bike store, at 1410 Abbot Kinney Blvd, the store is just the company’s sixth brick and mortar location, in a chain that stretches from Singapore to Toronto.
Despite the Venice store’s relatively small size, they hope to become a hangout for bike riders, just like the other locations.
As soon as you walk in — past the usually full bike rack on the sidewalk out front — you’ll see a small nook on your left, with seating, bike maps and other assorted materials, as well as a charging station and free WiFi. You’re welcome to hangout there as long as you want, whether or not you ever buy anything.
You’ll also find a free bike repair station with tools and floor pump for minor work, and friendly employees with basic wrenching skills who can probably show you how to do it.
And soon, they plan to offer their own bike share program, with a pair of bikes to loan on a first come, first serve basis. And yours free for a full day, if you can get there before someone else grabs them.
Step in a little further, and you’ll find a full selection of their offerings, including a smartly designed women’s line that goes far beyond “shrink it and pink it.” Like a pannier that converts to an attractive shoulder bag once you get to your destination.
Along with ultra-lightweight backpacks for both sexes, specifically designed for comfort on a bike. Water-resistant messenger bags with built-in laptop protection and straps that adjust for either shoulder. And rolling TSA-complaint backpacks to ease your transition from bike to airport.
Then there’s an entire back wall devoted to customizing your bag your way, with a near endless variety of swatches and patterns to create a true one-of-a-kind piece. And best of all, custom orders are delivered — not shipped, but actually in your hands — within three to five days.
It’s well worth checking out any day. But especially this weekend.
To commemorate the store’s opening, a Grand Opening Weekend Celebration will take place on Saturday, August 16 from 11AM – 7PM and Sunday, August 17 from 11AM – 7PM. In true Timbuk2 fashion, Timbuk2 Venice Beach will not only celebrate their opening, but also embrace their new community by partnering with nearby businesses to offer complimentary libations and bites. Timbuk2 will also offer $5 Miir stainless steel “tall boy” cups to raise funds for a Los Angeles bike advocacy non-profit.
Other Grand Opening Weekend Celebration highlights include:
Local craft beer + tasty bites from local food trucks.
Complimentary photobooth.
Live music.
Surprise giveaways and discounts.
Limited-edition Made in San Francisco shopping tote as a gift with every bag purchase.
Exclusive access to the Timbuk2 Republic of California Classic Messenger bag, available for purchase in-store only. Only 50 were made and they are available in two sizes.
But I can already tell you it’s the smartest designed bike bag I’ve had the pleasure of using, and tough enough to survive just about anything you or I can throw at it.
If they didn’t think of everything, they came damn close.
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On Saturday, you’re invited to the Grand Opening Aika Trading, a new urban cycling shop in Santa Monica.
The store, located at the intersection of Lincoln and Pearl, promises the best European brands and designs, including Dutch bikes, Bromptons and other unique brands and manufacturers.
The event runs all day Saturday, from 10 am to 7 pm.
The free event celebrating bike culture takes place in the store’s outdoor parking lot behind the Sunset Blvd store on Ivar from noon to 5 pm. Sponsored by Converse, Bern, Sole Bicycles, the LA Weekly and public radio station KCRW, the event benefits the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, and features a complimentary bike valet hosted by the LACBC.
You’ll find DJ’s — after all, there’s no shortage of great vinyl inside — bike workshops, prizes and raffles, as well as a limited edition T-shirt from Golden Saddle Cyclery. Not to mention free food and drinks from Hubert’s Lemonade, Roots Hummus, Ice Cream Ian, Hollywood Farmer’s Market, Pure Luck Vegan and Bicycle Coffee.
Lots of news today, so grab some coffee, limber up your clicking finger and settle in for a good read.
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Popular LA cyclist Jo Celso is hospitalized in San Diego after suffering serious injuries while riding at the San Diego Velodrome Tuesday night. Donations to defray medical expenses can be made through PayPal.
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The driver in the San Diego crash that sent eight cyclists to the hospital was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and drugs, possibly including meth; she has a history of petty crime dating back to 2006.
More on our fellow cyclist Robin Williams, his big heart and his love of bikes.
First up, noted bike rider Conan O’Brien relates how Williams tried to cheer him up following O’Brien’s dismissal from the Tonight Show by giving him an outrageously silly bicycle.
Then there’s the story told by Bay Area comic Johnny Steele, who said Williams bought him a custom-made bike and became his regular riding partner after Steele told him he didn’t ride because he couldn’t afford it. And all because Williams liked his joke about 65-year old men on $6,500 bicycles.
Meanwhile, a bike shop owning friend of the comedian says Williams told him cycling saved his life after kicking cocaine.
I think we can all relate to that one. I’ve said the same thing myself more than once.
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Local
The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is hosting a fundraising Firefly Ball the day before Halloween, honoring Andy Leeka of Good Samaritan Hospital, Long Beach’s Suja Lowenthal, and legendary BAC founder and bike advocate Alex Baum; tickets start at $250.
Once again, a foreign tourist riding across the US is killed by a drunk driver, this time an Australian woman who was killed in Indiana just 500 miles from her destination.
Kids, don’t do this at home. A Kansas driver pulls into a parking lot to confront a bike rider, who promptly pulls out a gun and shoots him in the face; the rider was taken into custody nearby.
He was taken to Riverside Community Hospital, where he remained on life support for the next two days.
None of the stories describe how the collision happened; however, KTLA-5 reports he was riding in the number two lane. Since Beechwood is just a single lane in each direction, that means he had to have been riding on Magnolia, which suggests that he may have been the victim of a rear-end collision.
A ghost bike was installed in Sutherland’s honor on Wednesday. As Mark Friis, Executive Director of the Inland Empire Biking Alliance observed, there have been too damn many of them required in the Inland area this year.
Police are looking for a silver or beige SUV, similar to a Ford Flex, with major damage to the windshield and front end.
Anyone with information is urge to call Detective Felix Soria at 951/826-8720 or email FSoria@riversideca.gov.
This is the 59th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 11th in Riverside County, which compares with 12 for all of last year. Sutherland is also the 11th bicycling bike rider to lose his life in a hit-and-run since the first of the year.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for D’Andre Sutherland and all his family.
It was Beck who worked with cyclists to establish the department’s bike liaison program and bicycle task force when he was first appointed five years ago, resulting in a training module to teach patrol officers the rights and responsibilities of cyclists.
And helping to make the LAPD one of the most progressively bike-friendly police departments in the US.
A wrong way driver crashed head-on into a group of cyclists on San Diego’s Fiesta Island, sending six riders to the hospital with undetermined injuries; two others declined to be transported. Reports are as many as 16 riders hit the pavement trying to avoid the car.
Not surprisingly, the driver has been arrested on suspicion of DUI.
It seems like the whole world is mourning the unexpected death of Robin Williams. But the loss may be hitting a lot of cyclists a little harder than most.
Red Kite Prayer notes he was a customer of Santa Monica’s Bike Effect and City Cycle in San Francisco; I saw tweets Monday saying he was favorite customer of I. Martin, and had stopped by the Bicycle Kitchen at least once to buy T-shirts.
The mere fact that someone like Robin Williams had even heard of the Kitchen — let alone stopped by to support it — speaks volumes about who he was and how important bikes were to him.
He was even stopped by police in New York for riding on the sidewalk. And let go with a warning as soon as officers realized who he was.
As for myself, I had one wordless, non-bike interaction with Williams when I worked in a jewelry store in Denver’s most exclusive hotel back in the 80s. The one where everyone who was anyone stayed when they passed through what was still an oil and cow town.
And where I met celebrities ranging from politicians and religious leaders, to the day’s leading movie stars and models, rock stars and blues immortals.
I was polishing rings in the back room, which faced a secluded hallway often used by hotel guests to escape the press and hoi polloi.
I looked up to see Robin Williams coming down the hall in the company of a woman. And was startled to see his stricken, almost fearful expression when he realized I recognized him, as if begging just to be left alone.
So I nodded, and he looked back at me with a half-smile and a look of relief, clearly grateful to retain a brief moment of privacy before disappearing out the door.
And I learned a lesson that has served me well in my life here in the figurative, if not literal, Hollywood. That being famous shouldn’t mean a loss of privacy, and that even the rich and famous have a right to be left alone.
An online petition calls on the DA to prosecute the sheriff’s deputy who killed Milt Olin on Mulholland Highway. Personally, I’m less concerned with prosecuting the driver than holding the department responsible if it can be shown that their policies, official or otherwise, put us all at risk.
Wolfpack Hustle calls on everyone who cares about safety to write city officials to demand buffered bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides of the soon-to-be rebuilt Hyperion Bridge.
State
Bid on a one-of-a-kind 8-speed Linus + SeaVees bike, and all the proceeds will go to benefit the California Bicycle Coalition.
A 14-year old Fresno-area bike rider riding with his father is killed in a collision with an 82-year old driver; needless to say, the driver insists the victim inexplicably swerved in front of him.
The leader of the state’s most successful bicycle advocacy group, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, will leave at the end of the year.
Here’s an idea. Keep a bike on both ends of your commute, and you never have to take one with you on the train.
National
Thirty-six bike share programs throughout the US, resulting in a combined 23 million rides — and despite the panicked predictions, not a single fatality.
According to witnesses, the warning gates had been down for more than 40 seconds, with the lights and bells activated, when the victim rode around the gates and onto the track. He was struck by oncoming the train, which had been sounding its horn as it approached the intersection.
The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
No explanation was given for why he attempted to cross the tracks despite multiple visual and audible warnings.
This is the 58th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fourth in San Diego County. He is also the third bike rider to be killed by a train in the seven-county SoCal region since the first of the year.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones.
Thanks to Rick Risemberg for the heads-up.
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I don’t normally report on bicycling fatalities that occur outside the SoCal region.
However, I’ve gotten multiple reports of a cyclist killed on Foxen Canyon Road in the Santa Maria area over the weekend.
According to the Santa Maria Times, the victim was a 33-year old Chula Vista resident, who was hit by a 16-year old driver in a truck pulling a horse trailer.
Now word is coming in that victim was Matthew O’Neil, a popular randonneur well known in SoCal riding circles. I’m told that a group of riders participating in the ultra-distance event came upon the scene shortly after the collision, and recognized the victim by his unique Bacchetta recumbent bike.
Meanwhile, rumors are swirling that the driver is the son of a woman involved in another fatal wreck on the same road in 2012.
Hopefully, we’ll have more information later.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Matthew O’Neil and all his family and friends.
Someone found an apparently lost and unlocked bike at 3rd and Bay St in Santa Monica around 7:30 am Sunday. If you think it might be yours, respond on Craigslist with a description, or tweet @2Laure.
Call it Coastal-geddon. A traffic lane will be closed on northbound PCH in west Malibu to install a bike lane. Yes, a bike lane on PCH.
A plan for an elevated bike freeway rears its ugly head once again, this time in Melbourne. A similar plan was recently criticized into oblivion in London; one of the advantages of bicycling is the way it connects us to the city around us, rather than limiting access and removing riders from it.
I hope you’ll join me in welcoming new sponsor AnyKicks, a Kickstarter project from an LA cyclist that promises to let you use any shoes with clipless pedals.
It’s a smart idea; I could use a set myself since I always ride clipless, but often find myself having to carry another pair of shoes for meetings or walking after I arrive at my destination. They still have a long way to go to meet the $30,000 goal, though, with only 25 days left to do it.
So take a moment to click on the link above or the ad over there on the right.
And let’s push this one over the top.
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And let that be a reminder.
If you have a product or service to promote, BikinginLA offers an affordable and highly targeted way to reach bike riders of all kinds here in Southern California and around the world. Ads are available in various sizes and on your choice of pages, whether long or short term. Email the address on the link above for more information.
And of course, donations to support this site are always welcome and greatly appreciated.
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Great pair of articles from Brian Addison of Longbeachize tell both bicyclists and drivers to just stop, already — stop riding on the sidewalk, riding salmon and being an ass, and stop honking, yelling at cyclists and saying “I didn’t see you.”
Seriously, good advice on both sides of the great roadway divide. And something we should all take to heart.
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Metrolink offers a new animated safety video reminding cyclists to stop for trains — and wait until the gate rises in case there’s another train coming.
Important advice, but for some reason, this one misses the mark for me.
Cycling in the South Bay says cyclists make the worst advocates, which is why Malibu is planning to meet you more than half way Sunday morning.
State
A new bill would remove a legal loophole allowing drivers to buy their way out of hit-and-run charges.
The OC Register says it’s time to end bike registration laws. That’s me nodding in agreement; too often registration is just used to harass bike riders.
A 70-year old cyclist hopes to beat her own record in the Leadville 100 mountain bike race.
An Illinois cyclist says he was deliberately run off the road by an angry driver; as usual, the motorist in question tells a completely different story.
No bias here. New Orleans police decide not to file charges against a truck driver who fatally right hooked a cyclist despite failing to speak with a single witness.
A road raging UK driver gets 18 months for viciously strangling a cyclist after demanding £50 for non-existent damage when the rider inadvertently touched his wing mirror. Not to mention he never should have been passing close enough for that to happen.
Families of two fallen cyclists call for stiffer penalties for dangerous drivers; shockingly, the drunk/drugged driver who killed them had just gotten back on the road despite 67 previous convictions.
The story offers one bit of new information, reporting that an initial examination of the driver’s cell phone showed no activity at the time of the crash, while phone records later showed he had texted six times in the minutes leading up to it.
Which suggests that the texts may have been erased from the phone in an attempt to cover it up — or that someone may have ignored evidence on the phone pointing to his guilt.
This one was forwarded from multiple sources, so thanks to everyone who sent it for the heads-up; thanks to Hwy 39 for the Salon link.
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USC students unveil an innovative new wheel lock to help prevent wheel theft and eliminate the need to lock them in addition to the frame. Security is enhanced by plans to create multiple key designs to prevent thieves from simply buying a set to unlock the wheels.
After just two days, their Kickstarter campaign has already raised over $10,000 towards the $15,000 goal. A pledge of just $25 dollars will get you a pair of Nutlocks of your very own.
Evidently, a unanimous vote of Toronto’s city council doesn’t mean any more than it does here, as they voted for a separated bike lane that never gets built. Sort of like bike lanes on Lankershim, Westwood and North Figueroa.
After a six-year old Portland girl posts a sign shaming the thieves that stole her dad’s bikes, the publicity helps get them back. After repeatedly giving a Texas man with Asperger’s Syndrome a ride to work, local police pitch in to buy him a bicycle; now that’s class.
Despite her best efforts, the killer of a Gardena bike rider was unable to avoid justice after all.
Although her semi-successfult attempt to flee the scene may have spared her from a more severe penalty.
Twenty-three-year old Vanessa Marie Yanez was reportedly driving home when she collided with 60-year old postal worker Jesse Dotson as he was riding into work on Gardena’s El Segundo Blvd in June of last year. Yanez fled the scene, leaving Dotson bleeding in the street; he died in a local hospital a few days later.
The daughter of a veteran LAPD sergeant, Yanez reported the car stolen to the Huntington Park police the next day. However, an alert HPPD officer put two-and-two together after seeing news reports of the collision, and contacted Gardena police to report Yanez as a suspect.
Her car was found, complete with shattered windshield, still at the home she shared with her father, less than a mile from the scene of the collision. KNBC-4 later reported she told police she had been drinking before the wreck; if true, fleeing the scene would have given her time to sober up before her arrest.
She was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, perjury, filing a false police report and felony hit-and-run.
Gardena police initially said her father, Sgt. Arturo Yanez, could face charges if it was shown that he had knowledge of his daughter’s actions or was involved in the attempted cover-up. No such charges were ever filed, though, even though it’s hard to understand how such an experienced officer would be unaware of what was happening under his own roof.
There were also reports that he could face an internal investigation with the LAPD; however, such investigations are considered personnel matters, and the results are unlikely to ever be made public.
Today, the LA District Attorney’s office announced (pdf) that Vanessa Yanez had changed her plea to no contest on three counts — a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident, felony perjury, and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. She is expected to be sentenced to two years in state prison on September 25th.
The sentence seems light under the circumstances, suggesting she accepted a plea deal in exchange for a lighter sentence, as usually happens in traffic cases.
However, light sentences do little to stem the epidemic of hit-and-runs. And her sentence would have undoubtedly been much stiffer if it could have been shown that she was under the influence when she hit Dotson.
Which is just one more reason why the penalty for hit-and-run should be stiffened to match the penalties for drunk driving and remove the incentive for intoxicated drivers to flee the scene.
Correction: This story initially said Yanez had pled guilty; it has been amended to reflect her actual plea of no contest.
