Archive for General

Miraculous ending to near-fatal collision, Spanish pro killed and Riverside takes burgers over bikes

December 18, 2012 / / 5 comments

This is the kind of story I love.

Last January, I mentioned a San Diego-area collision that looked about as bad as they get, as a confused 75-year old driver rear-ended a cyclist, running him over and leaving him pinned beneath the car.

While paramedics were able to get him out alive, the news was not good, as I wrote at the time:

According to the paper, doctors say he will be a paraplegic if he survives.

Eleven months later, Grant Fisher not only survived, he walked — yes, walked — into his office to go back to work.

………

It wasn’t a good weekend for pro cyclists as Spanish Olympian and professional mountain biker Iñaki Lejarreta was killed in a collision with a car while training in Spain. And American pro rider Andy Jacques-Maynes suffers a fractured scapula and possible fractured collarbone when he becomes the victim of a hit-and-run.

On the other hand, Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins says getting knocked off his bike was a blessing in disguise.

………

Evidently, bike shops are dropping like flies, despite the boom in biking.

A forty year old Riverside bike shop — one of just two in the city — is evicted to make way for a McDonald’s; so much for fighting the obesity epidemic. And the Newhall Bicycle Company is shutting its doors at the end of this month after 8-1/2 years.

But the news isn’t all bad, as Oceanside’s Pacific Coast Cycles wins the Adventure Cycling Association’s award for bike shop of the year.

………

Maybe USC isn’t so bike-unfriendly after all, as they offer a free shower for bike commuters. Good piece from KCET on why L.A. suffers from city and soul destroying sprawl. The first phase of the Glendale Narrows Riverwalk opens. A Burbank councilman clearly doesn’t get it, saying you don’t want to put bike lanes in where they will conflict with traffic. The Pasadena Star-Tribune looks at Monrovia’s Stan’s Bike Shop and new owner Carlos Morales.

California had more traffic fatalities than any state other than Texas in 2011. Turns out that Newport Beach mall shooter was taken down by bike cops, who can usually beat motorized units to the scene if they’re nearby. A San Diego cyclist suffers a fractured spine and — thankfully — non-life-threatening head injuries after reportedly running a red light and getting hit by a car. A La Quinta cyclist is badly injured in a hit-and-run. One hundred Imperial Valley kids will be getting new bikes this Christmas; so will 250 Simi Valley children. New bike lanes aren’t really why traffic is backing up in San Jose. San Francisco plans to boost bike parking requirements. San Anselmo improves safety for cyclists and pedestrians at a key intersection.

What to do when you see another rider crash. The latest Bikeyface cartoon illustrates bike laws nationwide. Introducing a new combo bike light and horn; I had something like that decades ago on my brother’s hand-me-down Schwinn. Turns out an Idaho Congressman never attended USC — and he was never a pro cyclist, either. Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel dedicates a new protected bike lane, while a political writer says separating the city’s cyclists and drivers is an admirable goal, but he’s not sure it’s possible. A Massachusetts doctor makes house calls by bike; I know what you’re thinking — what’s a house call? Lance Armstrong’s co-writer says she’s not mad at him, despite the lies, while former world-beater Alexi Grewal says don’t just Lance too harshly because everybody doped in those days, he just did it better. South Carolina is getting the nation’s first bicycle city; no really, when can we move?

Turns out that cardboard bike helmet is actually stronger than standard bike helmets; thanks to George Wolfberg for the heads-up. No charges for a Canadian driver who right hooked a ninja cyclist. It doesn’t happen often, but yes, it does happen, as an 80-year old British man is killed in a collision with a bike rider; no word on how the collision occurred. More must be done to keep London cyclists safe. A UK rider says regardless of comments to the contrary, cyclists remain at great risk. The fatal dooring of a cyclist reveals a gap in British law. Bicycling tops government-funded sports in the UK. A Dubai driver faces charges after running down a South African triathlete; the victim is still just semi-conscious over two months later. A new Saudi movie says riding a bike can be an act of rebellion.

Finally, the nastiest car versus bike videos of the year. This dog rides better than some people I’ve seen — including me some days. And ex-framebuilder Dave Moulton wisely observes that giving the finger to a fellow traveler can cause a ripple effect, but so can a smile.

I think we all need to remember that one right now.

Category: General, Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , , , ,

BOLO Alert — Bike stolen in front of Downtown hotel

December 14, 2012 / / 4 comments
Here's the actual bike that was stolen.

Here’s the actual bike that was stolen.

Just getting word that a bike belonging to a friend of a friend was stolen last night from in front of the Sheraton Hotel at 7th and Hope Streets, across from Macy’s Plaza.

The bike is a black men’s Virtue roadster-style, with black tires, black seat, a rear rack and a bent back fender. It was reportedly parked next to a police cruiser when the brazen thief cut the cable lock and took of with the bike.

If you see the bike, don’t try to stop the thief yourself; call the police and let them deal with it. Then contact me so I can pass word on to the owner.

Bike theft is one of the few forms of crime on the upswing in Los Angeles, offering thieves the perfect storm of easy opportunity, high reward and low risk.

Protect yourself by using a heavy-duty U-lock any time you’re going to be away from your bike for more than a few minutes; as this case shows, most cable locks provide little protection. Record your bike’s serial number in a safe place, and keep current photos showing the way it looks now to aid in recovery.

And I strongly recommend signing up for free or low cost bicycle registration from Bike Shepherd or the National Bike Registry.

Then again, if Downtown L.A. had a bike center where riders could securely store their bikes, this theft — and countless others — might never have happened.

A-GGH7DCIAA2f_L.jpg-large

Model of the bike taken.

Category: General, Stolen Bikes and Bike Crime / Tags: , , , ,

Today’s post, in which I make a shameless plea for money

December 12, 2012 / / 8 comments

Not for me.

Even though I could use it as much as the next guy. Especially if the next guy has a bank account that makes Greece look flush.

But actually, I’m asking for you. And every cyclist you share the road with.

Because right here in Southern California, some of the finest bicycling advocacy groups in the country are out there every day, fighting for your rights and the safety of all riders.

And they need — and deserve — your support.

Personally, I’m partial to the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. And not just because I’m a board member.

In fact, when I agreed to join the LACBC three years ago, it was because I often found myself working side-by-side with them on various issues. And was impressed with the commitment and dedication they showed in fighting for better bicycling here in the City of Angels, and their willingness to listen to, and support, all members of the bicycling community.

Since becoming a board member, I can honestly say I have never had the pleasure of working with a better group of people, from my fellow board members to the staff and volunteers who run the organization on a daily basis.

Unlike some organizations, the LACBC doesn’t often trumpet its successes, or broadcast the issues they’re working on with various governmental officials. They tend to be far more interested in getting results than taking the credit.

But chances are, you regularly ride streets they’ve played a hand in improving, from Main Street in Venice, to 1st, Spring and 7th streets Downtown. Not to mention the role they’ve played as the incubator for CicLAvia, City of Lights and Bici Libre.

Staff members from the Coalition were also the only people other than myself who attended every single council and committee meeting in support of the groundbreaking bicyclist anti-harassment ordinance passed in L.A. last year, which has set the standard for similar laws in cities around the country.

And the LACBC is currently working to play a role in next year’s Mayoral and City Council elections, to ensure the voices of cyclists are heard in City Hall — both before and long after you cast your vote.

Unfortunately, that sort of advocacy doesn’t come for free.

Like any other enterprise, the LACBC has to pay for office space, supplies and computer systems, as well as travel and other expenses. Not to mention the salaries of those people out there fighting on your behalf on a daily basis.

And that’s where you come in.

If you’re not a member, take a few minutes right now to join, and add your voice and membership dues with a few thousand like-minded bike riders.

Or take a moment in this season of giving to give to an organization that needs and deserves your support. If only because they’re out there supporting you.

It doesn’t matter what you give.

A $10 donation means as much, and is just as challenging, to some as $1000 is to others. So give a dollar. Give a hundred dollars.

But give something.

Of course, the LACBC is not the only bicycle organization that deserves your support. Put your money where your heart is, and support the organization that means the most to you.

Like the newly revitalized C.I.C.L.E., which has been on fire lately leading rides and workshops for local cyclists. Bikeside LA appears to be inactive these days, yet they remain the area’s only registered nonprofit bicycling political organization. And while LA Streetsblog isn’t an advocacy organization, they do more than anyone else — myself included — to keep us informed about the news and events effecting transportation issues in the Southland.

For those of you south of the Orange Curtain, consider giving to the Orange County Bicycle Coalition, or the Newport Beach Memorial Ride fund.

A little further south, the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition could use your help. As could BikeSD, the new organization co-founded by Sam Ollinger, one of the brightest and most dedicated bike advocates California has to offer.

On the state level, I’m a huge fan of the California Bicycle Coalition, which as done a great job of representing the interests of bicyclists in the state capitol. And while I’ve had my disagreements with the California Association of Bicycling Organizations, aka CABO, you might find they’re the ideal group to support your views in Sacramento and cities around the state.

Then there are the groups working on the national level, like the League of American Bicyclists, People for Bikes, the Alliance for Biking and Walking and the Adventure Cycling Association.

It’s up to you to decide where your money will do the most good. But let it.

Now.

Please.

And don’t forget, donations to most, if not all, of these groups are tax deductible. Which is something that will come in handy on April 15th if you make a contribution before the end of the year.

I’m always reluctant to list people or groups for fear I’ll inadvertently leave someone out. So if you’re aware of a bicycle advocacy group worthy of our support, please let me know in the comments below.

………

In a step virtually no one other than they seem to understand, the League of American Bicyclists has selected the PR and Communications Director for the national AAA as the keynote speaker for next year’s National Bike Summit.

While the Bike League has partnered with AAA on a number of programs in recent years, local chapters have actively opposed bike safety measures, particularly in Washington DC and here in California.

Maybe she has something to say about how we can work together to improve safety for everyone. But maybe AAA should stop opposing bike safety on the local level first.

Thanks to George Wolfberg for the heads-up.

………

The LACBC wants your support for bike lanes on Westwood Blvd between Santa Monica and National Blvds. In case, like me, you missed the opening Saturday night, you can still catch the ARTCRANK LAX exhibition through next Monday. Neon Tommy looks at DTLA’s upcoming Bike Nation USA bike share program. The first phase of the Glendale Narrows Riverwalk opens at 10:30 am today at Paula and Garden Streets in Glendale. LADOT and CD4 Councilmember Tom LaBonge will rededicate the Alex Baum Bicycle Bridge from 10 am to noon on Thursday. Burbank’s Bike Angels will give away 150 refurbished bikes to local families this month. Cycling Unbound says you can tell the NHTSA is a joke because it has TSA in its name. A driver in tiny Durham CA didn’t mean to kill that cyclist, and he’s really, really sorry he did, then ran away like a coward.

Protected bikeways nearly double nationwide in 2012, and are expected to double again next year. How about a hidden minibar in your handlebars? Chicago business needs protected bike lanes. Boston is working for more, and safer, bike commuting. Bikeyface advises drivers on avoiding doorings and kangaroos. A Massachusetts paper asks why hit-and-run drivers flee. Lovely Bicycle offers advice on how to ride real slow. The Washington Post says it’s time we stopped living with streets that are killing us. Hit-and-run drivers are suspected of beheading several bollards protecting a separated bike lane; on the other hand, those might have been cyclists if the divider hadn’t been there. Jacksonville FL has killed 28 pedestrians and nine bicyclists this year alone; that compares with five bicycling fatalities in Los Angeles this year, with over four-and-a-half times the population.

Just like with cyclists, the only official solution to Toronto pedestrian deaths appears to be brighter clothing. Greater horsepower brings greater responsibility. Over half of all UK cyclists don’t feel safe on the road. A 15-year old Brit phenom returns to racing over a year after breaking his back in a racing fall. The unofficial highway code for cyclists. London cyclists drive to work to show how much they don’t contribute to traffic; something tells me most motorists didn’t even notice. Russia’s Katusha pro team is ticked off about not getting a ticket to ride in next year’s UCI WorldTour. New Zealand’s PureBlack racing team is about to go belly up, again. A local rider says Christchurch should be a cycling city. Australian authorities are looking for a teenage cyclist who was severely beaten by a bus driver in a road rage attack.

Finally, bike are great for transportation and recreation — and evidently, stalking potential serial killer victims

Category: Advocacy & Politics, General / Tags: , , , , , ,

Your Monday morning after the second night of Chanukah Festival of Links

December 10, 2012 / / Comments Off on Your Monday morning after the second night of Chanukah Festival of Links

Funny how the less time I spend in malls, the more I love this time of year.

So whether you’re gearing up for Christmas, or preparing to light the third candle on your menorah — or just enjoying a nonspecific holiday season — take some time to get away from the hustle and bustle, and spend a little quality time out on your bike.

You can both thank me later.

………

I had a very pleasant conversation last week with Denise Guerra, a student journalist with USC’s highly respected Annenberg School of Journalism.

She’s working on a story about bicycling collisions and hit-and-runs, and would like to speak with anyone who’s been through either — or preferably, both. So if you’ve been hit by a car, shoot her an email at deniseimrad@gmail.com.

Especially if the heartless S.O.B. who did it drove off and left you lying in the street.

Maybe Dottie can drop her a line, as one of America’s most popular bike bloggers is the victim of a hit-and-run driver, yet not surprisingly, still manages to look on the bright side.

………

Portland’s bicycling mom appears on Ricki Lake, and Ricki Lake appears in Flying Pigeon’s bakfiets. The Long Beach Post names local cyclists their person of the year. World bike travelers Russ and Laura offer their suggestions for holiday gifts; can we still call them Long Beach’s biking expats after they’ve been gone so long and taken up semi-permanent residence in Portland?

Orange County residents are fighting the missing link in the Santiago Creek bike trail because they fear it will increase crime; no, really, that’s what they say. Costa Mesa takes steps to slow traffic on a dangerous street, including adding bike lanes, much to the chagrin of some drivers. A lack of bike racks makes Thousand Oaks less than bike friendly. A convicted bike doper asks the courts to end her probation so she can practice law. A Santa Cruz-area cyclist is killed, despite wearing what the Mercury News calls protective gear; unfortunately, the paper doesn’t specify whether that meant a helmet, chain mail or full body bubble wrap. A big rig truck driver is under arrest for the hit-and-run death of a Fresno County cyclist. A Vacaville couple are looking for the woman cyclist who helped save the bike riding husband’s life. In Davis, the new old road means the old old road could soon be a new old road for bikes and pedestrians. Tragically, an East Bay cyclist is killed after hitting gravel when he pulled onto the shoulder of a roadway to let traffic pass.

A list of the country’s most bike-friendly baseball stadiums shows maybe Dodger Stadium isn’t that bad for bikes after all. Perhaps you’d like a bike horn that sounds like a car; I suspect I’d just instinctively flip myself off anytime I used it. A committed vehicular cyclist says he’s not interested in ruining the streets just so you can have a damn bike lane; yes, that’s what he really said. A Michigan man is sentenced to prison for assaulting a group of teenage cyclists while under the influence. Michigan installs a highway bike lane with a seven-foot buffer lane. A New York cyclist thinks it was an unmarked police vehicle that dragged him across an intersection before fleeing the scene. Jersey City is about to get nearly 55 miles of new bikeways. A Florida driver says it’s up to you to avoid obstacles blocking the bike lane, without getting the hell in his way — and it wasn’t his fault he hit that kid, either.

A UK cyclist who dedicated his life to working for safer streets is killed while riding on the streets he fought to improve. British TV viewers volunteer to kill a helmet cam wearing bike rider in the wake of a BBC look at the conflict between drivers and cyclists, while a professional driver says maybe he was wrong to Jerry Brown a bicyclist. Even world champions get run off the road by angry, aggressive drivers. A Brit motorist is charged with deliberately running into a 15-year old bike rider six months after threatening to do just that. We have a new contender for the world’s shortest and most useless bike lane.

Finally, as much as I dislike drunk drivers, shooting them to death seems like a rather extreme response. And if you won’t stop for Santa Claus, you belong on the naughty list.

For all who observe it, please accept my best and warmest wishes for a very happy Chanukah.

Category: General / Tags: , ,

A heaping mound of hot bike links for your Monday edification

December 3, 2012 / / 3 comments

Lots of news piled up in my inbox over the weekend, resulting in a massive link backup that took the entire morning to clear up.

So lean back, put your feet up and click away.

It’s Monday, it’s December, it’s raining. And no one really wants to work anyway.

………

I received an email recently from Brian Work, an Ojai cyclist and beginning screenwriter working on new a bicycling comedy. According to Brian, he’s got some interest from a major producer, and is looking for sponsors as well as a more experienced writer to partner with on the script.

If you’re interested on either count, email him at info@banzaiinojai.com.

………

Just in time for holiday shopping, Forbes offers a gift guide for bike riders. Or how about a balance bike made from reclaimed beetle-killed Colorado pine trees for the pre-pedaling set?

Meanwhile, bicycling appears to be reaching lower case critical mass as H&M discovers men’s bikewear — sorry ladies, but your money just isn’t good enough for them, evidently — and Target once again offers a designer bike. And staid Cole Haan introduces a line of high fashion hi-viz women’s footwear.

Although personally, this is what I call hi-viz biking attire. And I double dog dare any driver to claim he doesn’t see it.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for more altruistic places for your disposable funds, here’s a somewhat dated list of bicycling charities.

And I hope to have a few suggestions on what else you can do with those excess piles of cash begging to do a little good a little later this week.

………

Ex — not former — Tour de France winner Alberto Contador says he’s worn out; you’d think he would have gotten lots of rest while he was all too briefly briefly banned for doping. And speaking of Contador, the man who supposedly delivered the supposedly tainted meat that allegedly got him banned is elected president of the Spanish cycling federation. Couldn’t be a payoff for taking the alleged fall, could it?

Meanwhile, a three-member panel will investigate ties between cycling’s governing body and recent doping scandals.

And not only does America’s only official Tour de France winner Greg LeMond join other pro bike leaders in calling for real racing reforms, but he’s planning to run for president of the UCI.

Funny how the fallout from l’affaire Lance has changed LeMond’s public perception from a whiner pointing the finger at everyone but himself to the one true voice speaking for much needed reform of pro cycling.

………

A couple of good reads from Rick Bernardi on Bob Mionske’s Bicycle Law blog.

First up is a look at red light running cyclists and the scofflaw drivers who hate them. Which is followed by an examination of whether biking under the influence should be treated the same as driving under the influence.

The two stories may not seem to have a lot in common. But both offer a similar theme focusing on the question of relative harm.

As in, a bicyclist who blows through a red light poses far less danger to others than a driver who does the same. And a drunk on a bike is a danger primarily to him or herself, while a drunk behind the wheel is a danger to everyone in the vicinity, on or off the road.

The law should reflect that.

And in some states — including California —it does.

………

A new Glendale Hyperion bridge could provide better access to the L.A. River bike path; how about designing in separated bikeways the full length of the bridge itself while they’re at it. The joy of fenders. Flying Pigeon hosts their monthly Spoke(n) Art Ride this weekend. As a apparent holiday gift to motorists, Santa Monica police are targeting bad bicyclist behavior this month. Boyonabike! celebrates the new ownership of Stan’s Bike Shop in Monrovia. Maybe it’s just me,  but it seems like bikes hardly ever crash into churches when it rains — or knock them down if they do. By the pricking of my thumbs, something muddy this way comes, courtesy of Will Campbell and his Malibu Creek State Park encrusted mountain bike. And speaking of muddy, how ‘cross is changing women’s cycling. Center Line Rule says goodbye to 40-year framebuilder Brian Bayliss.

After a Santa Ana man is mugged for his bicycle, he gives vainly gives chase on a borrowed bike. The Orange County Register looks at OC’s new women’s bike shop. A San Diego toddler is injured when a suspected drunk driver Jerry Browns his mom’s bike; a day earlier, another suspected drunk hit a cyclist but was arrested when she came back to watch the damage she caused. Bakersfield wants the public’s input on how to improve the city’s bikeways. Cyclelicious reviews Elly Blue’s Everyday Bicycling. A San Francisco newsman takes on bike lane blocking drivers.

A graphic guide to bicycling hand signals, although they leave out what seems to be the most popular one. How to move a Christmas tree by bike; I assume the directions would work just as well for a Chanukah bush. Use of specialized bicycle traffic signals spreads across the U.S. A Loveland CO city councilmember is seriously injured in a left cross collision; fortunately, it looks like he’ll be okay. A Montana man reminisces about buying a bike on the day Pearl Harbor was attacked. Wisconsin residents want free parking, not bike lanes. Chicago cyclists are about to get their first two-way protected bikeway, but is that enough to protect them from victim-blaming hit-and run cops? New bike helmet signals your stress level; do you really want passing motorists to know just how stressed out you are? Bikeshare appears to be booming in Beantown, but people ride in winter, too. A bike’s eye view of New York. Austin TX cyclists demand safer streets. LSU police crack down on campus cyclists, but not, apparently, in coordination with Santa Monica PD. Miami’s Critical Mass riding LeBron James is named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year; you’d think the story might mention their Sportswoman of the Year, as well, but you might be wrong.

An Alberta driver was three times the legal limit for alcohol when he ran down and killed a cyclist last summer. A Winnipeg driver says he panicked after killing a cyclist, and he’s really, really sorry he ran away so he could dump a case of beer before getting caught; and yet, they still manage to blame the victim. London plans to spend nearly £1 billion — roughly $1.6 billion — on bikeways over the next 10 years. The Independent says cyclists need a code of conduct and a new mindset and license plates, while The Mail calls us arrogant, abusive and oh-so smug; the last time I encountered something like that last link, I had to scrape it off my shoes. A Very British Dude offers a far more readable and rational response. Brit bicyclists prepare to be ambushed by the BBC; brief excerpts are offered here — including “If I can touch your cab, you’re too close.” Amen, brother. Tired of bikes being stolen from their clientele, a UK pub rents bike locks to its customers. What good is a bike lane if taxis — and police vans — are allowed to park in it; then again, there’s more than one way to block a bike lane. A planned bike lane in a Scot roundabout is panned as a cyclist blender. India prepares for its first pro tour.  An Aussie cyclist is punched by a passing motorcyclist. And you thought parked cars were a problem; a Borneo cyclist is nearly decapitated by a steel cable anchoring telephone pole in the middle of a bike lane.

Finally, a Bay Area woman attempts to stop a bike thief with bear spray and a wooden Japanese training sword. Courtesy of Marvin Davis, a reminder that we ride because bicycling is beautiful, warts and all.

And in honor of the recent weather, it looks like those old dry L.A. rivers aren’t so dry anymore.

Category: General / Tags: , ,

Your relatively short list of holiday links, and a brief Thanksgiving thank you

November 22, 2012 / / 3 comments

I have a lot to be thankful for this year.

Not the least of which is everyone who reads this blog, and the many kind hearts who reached out to show their support over the past week. Some of whom I know; many I’ve never met.

And each of whom have touched my heart in ways I’ll never forget.

So thank you, sincerely.

And please accept my wishes for a very warm, safe and happy Thanksgiving.

………

A survey by the California Office of Traffic Safety shows nearly twice as many nighttime motorists drive on weekends with drugs in their system compared to alcohol. Worse, over one-in-five drivers — a combined 21.3% — have some form of intoxicant in their system.

Not that we should be concerned about that or anything.

Thanks to Megan Lynch for the heads-up.

………

The LAPD will employ choppers and horses and bikes, oh my, to maintain order on Black Friday; I remember when it used to be called the day after Thanksgiving. The LAFD considers options to speed up emergency response times. Santa Monica will sponsor a Family Bike Fest on December 8th. L.A. cyclists ride to promote forthcoming bike lanes on Lankershim Blvd. Bike SGV will help you burn off those Thanksgiving calories with a bike train this Sunday. C.I.C.L.E. will sponsor a tweed ride on January 19th. Temple City’s Rosemead Blvd is about to get a pedestrian and bike-friendly makeover. Alhambra begins revising their widely reviled draft bike plan. A cyclist gets the runaround from the Long Beach Police, but gets her stolen bike back anyway; evidently, the LBPD was too busy warning cyclists not to ride on the sidewalk. Long Beach Gang Enforcement detectives are investigating the shooting of a 29-year old cyclist.

A Corona del Mar writer says using sharrows to move cyclists into the traffic lane will only increase the danger to riders; hate to break it to him, but we already have the right to ride there. The proposed High Desert Corridor could include a high speed rail connector and a bike path. A Sacramento cyclist is shot and killed while delivering strawberries to his brother.

Oddly, traffic fatalities are higher in red states than blue states. The Interbike trade show will open its doors to consumers next year. They’re already making lists of the best Christmas gifts for cyclists. A Boston bike co-op is forced to shut down after a burglary. Bikeyface says all weather is fair bike weather if you have a good raincoat. A Philly writer calls for greater traffic enforcement, saying drivers and cyclists are both about as bad. A Georgia man agrees to let a stranger ride his bike, and is somehow surprised when he rides off with it.

A Canadian driver gets a whopping $1000 fine for falling asleep behind the wheel and killing a cyclist; I guess the idea of pulling over and taking a nap before you kill someone is unheard of up there. A report calls for cutting London cycling fatalities; evidently, there’s no safety in numbers in the city. The widow of a UK cycling victim calls on riders to always wear their helmets. A Welsh cyclist is considered a heroine after rescuing a drowning woman. Turns out the Netherlands isn’t a living hell for cyclists after all. Parisian drivers fight back against plans to create a more livable city by removing a major highway on the Left Bank; that hardly supports the breathless hyperbole of the headline, though.

Finally, now your bike can trot like a horse; does that mean you’ll have to clean up after it, too?

……..

Remember that Thanksgiving drivers will overstuffed and sleepy, sober or not. And Black Friday shoppers are likely to be more concerned about getting to the next sale and finding a parking space than watching out for bikes on the road.

So enjoy the great weather they’re promising us and get out for a good ride. But ride defensively and be careful out there.

Category: General / Tags: , , ,

A little light bike reading to start your week

November 19, 2012 / / 3 comments

Looks like I’ve taken my last ride until my wife goes back to work, since someone will need to stay home and keep an eye on her.

And the Corgi don’t count.

So get out there and ride for me this week, and maybe next. And don’t even get me started on the one after that.

In the meantime, pour yourself a cuppa joe and limber up that link-clicking finger.

………

We need more of this: An East L.A. festival includes a bike safety class for kids. Two new miles of bike path along the L.A. River in the Valley are just the beginning. Alhambra proposes a new bike plan with 41 miles of bikeways, yet only 3.5 miles of actual bike lanes; almost makes Beverly Hills look good. The upcoming Pedalers Fork bike bistro is now an official Moots dealer. Michael of CLR Effect rides the San Gabriel Valley with the LACBC and the authors of Where to Bike Los Angeles. A new L.A. prototype jacket design currently seeking funding dramatically ups the hi-viz arms race.

New beer and bike riding group Brewcyclers will host a Christmas lights ride to the Bruery in Placentia on December 16th; if you haven’t sampled the Bruery’s brews, this is one after dark ride I’d definitely recommend. Authorities in the Chico area are looking for the driver of a Silverado Extended cab pickup who left a cyclist to die on the side of the road. A 12-year old boy is killed by a trailer towed by a pickup truck while riding his bike in the Sacramento area; naturally, the driver is not suspected of any wrongdoing. A Stockton cyclist is pistol whipped and shot in the ass while riding.

Cannondale and Sho-Air team up to sponsor their new mountain bike team; and no, I didn’t know what a Sho-Air is, either. A Tucson cyclist bounces back from a July hit-and-run that left him seriously injured. A 19-year old Idaho man faces 14 years in prison for stealing 13 bikes from a California-based women’s team just before this year’s Exergy Bike Tour. Will better signage and striping make a killer Colorado highway safer? A Missouri writer says neither positive nor negative messages get cyclists off the sidewalk; no, that usually takes safer streets.

Sunday was the World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims; isn’t it time we stopped creating more victims to remember? A drunk ninja cyclist in Vancouver is critically injured after colliding with a vehicle while riding downhill after dark. Calgary will remove new bike lanes local residents asked for because people think they’re ugly. The BBC will use helmet and dash-cam video to look at the supposed war between cyclists and motorists next month; a UK writer aptly describes it as two pitbulls fighting over a single bone. Bristol, England elects a bike-friendly mayor. A Cambridge man invents a tandem recumbent to allow his dementia-suffering mother to ride again. In Canterbury, medieval roads weren’t built for cars. British pro Mark Cavendish gets engaged the same day he becomes the latest UK rider to be injured in a collision. An Edinburgh paper says it’s time to break our addiction to the car. Someone finally admits it, as an Aussie driver says he had to be crazy to deliberately run over and kill a bicyclist. Bike lanes don’t do a lot of good if everyone thinks they’re parking lanes.

Finally, a rider is told he’s giving cyclists a bad name for taking the lane — by a spandex wearing roadie who got out of his SUV at an intersection to harangue his fellow rider. So which one really makes us look bad?

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My deepest sympathy, prayers and best wishes for Witch on a Bicycle on the death of his father on Sunday. Also known as Opus the Poet, the Witch is one of the good guys in the bike blogging world, dedicating his life to protecting cyclists from the same sort of near-fatal collision he suffered.

Category: General / Tags: , ,

Catching up on bike news while I’ve been otherwise distracted

November 17, 2012 / / 5 comments

Oddly, the world of bicycling did not grind to a halt while I’ve been occupied with more pressing matters.

So pull up a chair, pour yourself a cuppa joe — or something stronger — and settle in for a long list of rainy day bike links.

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Clearly, I’m not the only one who took offense at the gentle caress on the wrist given the killer of cyclist Alan Deane by a Pasadena judge.

The LACBC says the court system failed Deane and his family, while Streetsblog’s Damien Newton says it failed all of us.

And Boyonabike! says maybe our laws should value human life over shaving a minute off someone’s drive home.

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

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Here’s the ultimate guide to whether you can legally ride on the sidewalk in California, compiled by former LADOT Bike Blogger and current Alta Planner and Calbike board member Chris Kidd. Link courtesy of Cyclelicious.

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Yes, cyclists can legally pass on the right, at least here in California — although some police officers don’t seem to comprhend that yet. I do it on a regular basis myself, though every now and then it doesn’t work out the way I planned.

Meanwhile, an Aussie rider offers advice on undertaking on the left, as it is sometimes called; just flip sides for tips on riding here.

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Turns out you may not have to wait for flat-proof bike tires after all; you can try out the new tires from FlatFree Bicycle Wheelsets in Orange right now. Thanks to William Boehmke, Jr. for the heads-up.

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Clear your calendar for the 12th Annual Cranksgiving Alleycat Los Angeles Thanksgiving eve. ARTCRANK brings its unique mixture of bikes, art and beer to Orange 20 Bikes on Saturday, December 8th. Here’s a great idea — the LAPD recommends establishing permanent bike valet programs in Downtown L.A. to fight rising bike theft rates; let’s start with one at City Hall. Streetsblog reports a settlement has been reached with the NIMBYist Cheviot Hills homeowners trying to block the Expo Line bike path. Taking over Los Angeles on two wheels and one fixed gear. The city adds two miles of bike path in the Valley along the L.A. River. Show the world how you ride pretty. The Biking Black Hole of Beverly Hills timidly unanimously approves its first two pilot bikeway projects. The Santa Monica Bike Center celebrates its first anniversary this weekend. You just can’t please some people, as a Glendale pedestrian is up in arms over being warned a bike bell. The Orange County Bicycle Coalition asks for your nomination for OC’s Danger Road.

San Juan Capistrano denies a cyclist’s $70 claim for flat tires caused by broken glass on a bike path. San Diego bucks the Bike Nation trend in selecting Miami’s DecoBike for its planned bike share program. Two cyclists and a pedestrian injured in separate Riverside collisions. One hundred Murrieta kids boys get free bike helmets through Schwinn’s Helmets on Heads program; Witch on a Bicycle astutely asks why just boys — and why helmets instead of safety training? A San Francisco cyclist is injured when a DUI driver being chased by police hits a parked car, which slams into the rider; the 23-year old driver had three previous DUI convictions in the last 10 years — yes, that suggests she was convicted of DUI at 13, which I certainly hope is a mistake.

Innovative new gear for bike cops; I want the helmet with built-in sun glasses. Or maybe you’re just tired of yelling at the rest of the pace line. Using handlebars instead of antlers in bike taxidermy; I wonder if careless drivers will now mount their trophies. It’s time to get rid of the 85th Percentile Rule, which may be the single most destructive traffic law on the books, to people and communities; though not everyone agrees. People for Bikes notes three companies that support cycling. A 21-year old Perris CA cyclist is killed while riding in Las Vegas. Hurricane Sandy may have been the perfect storm for bike advocacy. Bikeyface designs a roadway for virtually every cycling situation. Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer calls for bike-partisanship in Congress. A Fort Lauderdale man won’t face charges for beating the crap out of the guy who stole his bike.

A Jamaican cyclist asks for help to attend college in the U.S. A Canadian Iditarod cyclist comes back for more after nearly dying in last year’s race. The head of the UK’s equivalent of AAA calls for an end to the two-tribe mentality on our streets, comparing the hatred some motorists have for cyclists to racial discrimination; their survey shows drivers don’t hate us as much as we’d think. Terrified British police are on the lookout for a “dangerous” cyclist who rides one-handed — and with a child on his shoulders. After being the butt of jokes for months, it turns out a Kiwi rider who fell off his bike and drowned in a river wasn’t drunk after all.  Philippine cyclists get a new off-road bikeway.

Finally, don’t forget to get your tickets for the LACBC’ 2nd Tour de Taste on December 2nd. And in light of what happened to my wife this week, make sure you know the warning signs of heart attack and stroke; link courtesy of LAFD Conversation.

Category: General / Tags: , , ,
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