AAA admits dangers of high speed limits, family remembers heroic mountain biker, and DIY road signs punk SF planners

My apologies to anyone who sent me items for today’s post.

I’m really struggling to get through this one tonight, after going on a diabetic rollercoaster yesterday. 

So thank you to everyone who sent something. I am very grateful, even if I don’t thank you by name. 

……..

They get it.

Shockingly enough.

AAA, which is not exactly known for siding with traffic safety advocates, conducted a recent study about the dangers of high speeds.

As you can see below, the key finding were that lowering speed limits improves safety, raising speed limits makes things worse, and neither one makes a big difference when it comes to travel times.

Which should put the final nail in the coffin of the deadly 85th Percentile Law, which puts speeding drivers in charge of setting speed limits, and which AAA has long claimed as one of their biggest accomplishments.

But it probably won’t.

Because as Friday the 13th tells us, things like this are hard to kill, no matter how evil they are.

Key Findings

The Foundation study found:

  • Raising posted speed limits was associated with increased crash frequencies and rates for two of the three Interstate Highways examined.
  • Lowering posted speed limits was associated with decreased crash frequencies and rates for one of the two principal arterials examined.
  • Changes in travel times were small in response to both raised and lowered speed limits.

Then there’s this.

AAA recommends that changes in posted speed limits should consider a range of factors, including but not limited to the type of road, surrounding land use, and historical crash data. AAA supports automated speed enforcement, but programs must be carefully implemented to maintain community support, prioritize equity and consistently drive improved safety.

Yes, AAA actually endorsed speed cams. Someone tell the state legislature.

Stat.

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Family members remember Kai Torres Bronson, the heroic 24-year old mountain biker who died after helping rescue stranded hikers in the extreme heat of Carrizo Gorge last weekend.

They make the case for others to learn from this tragedy, and avoid putting yourself in danger.

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The Department of DIY has struck in San Francisco, where someone has added their own accurate, if tongue-in-cheek traffic safety signs to the highly contentious and largely detested new centerline bike lane on Valencia Street, including signs reading “We regret this bike lane” and “¯\_(ツ)_/¯ good luck cyclists.”

Meanwhile, both critics and opponents agree the rollout of the bike lanes could have gone a lot better, while SF Gate asks if the solution for the dangerous street is making it worse.

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Great short documentary about the Athens Twilight Crit, variously described as the “Super Bowl of American cycling” and “a knife fight in the dark.”

And featuring an extended cameo by Orange County cyclist Eddy Huntsman.

 

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This is who we share the road with.

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The war on cars may be a myth, but the war on bikes just keeps on going.

Seriously? A motor vehicle website demonstrates a severe case of windshield bias, saying an ebike is the best way to accessorize — not replace — your car.

Residents of a bucolic Denver street got out the torches and pitchforks to attack a new neighborhood greenway — or last least, sharply worded comments. Meanwhile, bike riders just want to get home in one piece.

Someone has sabotaged a new Victoria, British Columbia bike lane, strewing screws and nails across the road surface.

A British triathlete will need surgery to fix a broken collarbone after a laughing car passenger pushed her off her bike and into a ditch.

Sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.

An Oxford, England man faces charges for killing an 81-year old woman while “furiously” riding his bike on a footpath.

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Local 

Why am I not surprised? Streetsblog reports that “Metro and LADOT quietly omitted and downgraded extensive bike and walk improvements approved and funded” for the new Little Tokyo station on the Regional Connector train line, while omitting other features at the Grand and Broadway Metro stations.

The LAPD hosted their 3rd Annual Ride to Remember memorial bike ride through the Northwestern San Fernando Valley on Sunday. And for the 3rd year in a row, neglected to tell us in advance so we could join them.

 

State

Streetsblog’s Melanie Currie write about Encinitas Assemblymember Tasha Boerner’s confusing actions in pulling the popular Stop As Yield bill, while introducing a bill that may or may not require licenses for ebike riders, now or in the future; they already require a similar license in Israel. Thanks to Oceanside bike lawyer and BikinginLA sponsor Richard Duquette for the heads-up.

In news that shouldn’t surprise anyone, a civil grand jury in San Mateo County has found a clear, systemic bias against bicyclists in both law enforcement and the legal system. Similar grand juries could likely reach the same results about any county in California, including Los Angeles.

 

National

NACTO says oversized vehicles designed to increase danger to people walking and riding bicycles shouldn’t receive five-star safety ratings, and wants you to tell that to the US Department of Transportation.

An Oregon coalition is working to repeal the mandatory bike lane use law, which forces riders to use the bike lane if there is one on the roadway, regardless of whether it might be substandard or dangerous, or whether the bicyclists are traveling at speed. California has the same dangerous law, which needs to be revoked. 

Heartbreaking news from Oregon, where a 76-year old man riding his bike to work was killed by a semi driver just 30 feet from his job. Thirty feet.

Applications open tomorrow for the next round of ebike rebates in Denver, which are expected to go fast. Meanwhile, we’re all still waiting for California’s ebike rebate plan to finally roll out.

The world’s biggest recreational multi-stage bike ride rolled out in Iowa on Sunday, as the state marks the 50th Anniversary of the legendary RAGBRAI; National Public Radio is once again fielding a team.

An Iowa widow calls for greater bike safety, 16-years after the unsolved hit-and-run that killed her bike-riding husband.

A Houston homeowner blasted a bike rider with a shotgun after they got into an argument, and the bicyclist refused to leave his property; whether the man’s actions were legal will depend largely on whether the victim was in the street or on the homeowner’s property when he was shot, thanks to Texas’ stand your ground law.

A 13-year old Chicago boy was lucky to survive when he was grazed by a bullet in a drive-by shooting while riding his bike; no word on whether he was the intended target.

Cleveland plans to build out the city’s urban bike network to prioritize equity and extend the health benefits of biking to the city’s underserved populations.

The Georgia coast could soon be getting a more than 200-mile bike path.

Tragic news from Florida, where a man died nearly two months after he was the victim of a hit-and-run while riding his bike; the 35-year old driver could be charged. Seriously? Could be? 

Meanwhile, a 33-year old Florida driver will spend the next 45 years behind bars for the high-speed, meth-fueled crash that killed a couple riding a tandem bike two years ago. Even I think that sentence is just a tad extreme.

 

International

Momentum Magazine says celebrate Barbie by embracing the movie’s “bold and playful fashion trend” for your bike. I’ll pass.

A Victoria, British Columbia bicyclist divides the city’s bike lanes into Outright Disasters, Questionable Judgments and Marginal Successes, with one Excellent Idea — with an asterisk

Montreal bike riders called attention to their plight by forming a people-protected bike lane.

Hackaday says last week’s bankruptcy of Dutch ebike maker VanMoof demonstrates the risks of cloud-connected transport, after the lack of an encryption key threatened to brick owners’ bikes.

An Italian associate professor of architecture and urbanism refused to pay a fine equivalent to $50 for riding over a pedestrian crossing in 2017, insisting he didn’t break any law and it was just the actions of an overzealous cop; the fine has now increased nearly 20-fold to over $932.

 

Competitive Cycling

To the surprise of no one after demolishing two-time Tour de France champ Tadej Pogačar last week, defending champ cyclist Jonas Vingegaard rolled into Paris the winner of this year’s Tour de France by a whopping seven and a half minute margin.

American Sepp Kuss “somersaulted” out of a top ten finish when another rider’s blown tire took him out in a crash on Saturday’s stage 20 of the Tour, finishing the stage on pure grit with a badly bloodied face and elbow, and leaving him in 12th place as the peloton rolled into Paris.

The Guardian looks at the Tour’s ongoing history of fans failing to get the hell out of the way.

The first stage of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes rolled on Sunday, now that the men have gotten out of the way. As usual, read it on Yahoo if Bicycling blocks you. 

British cyclist Josh Quigley struggles to make the rare leap from suicide survivor to competing in the world championships.

Tragic news from Austria, where a 17-year old Italian cyclist was killed in the first stage of the Upper Austria Tour; the race was cancelled the following day.

 

Finally…

This is how it looks if someone steals your bike. Your next bike helmet could inflate on impact.

And won’t someone think of the poor, unfortunate cars?

 

………

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

Oh, and fuck Putin

33-year old Riverside man killed riding bike in Fontana collision last Sunday

Evidently, it takes a long time for news to escape San Bernardino County.

The Fontana Herald News is reporting that a man riding a bicycle was killed in Fontana last Sunday.

According to the paper, 33-year old Riverside resident Manjeet Singh was struck by a driver while riding at Jurupa and Mulberry aves around 6:16 pm on July 16th.

He was transported to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, where he died.

There’s no word on which street Singh was riding on, which direction the driver was going, or how the crash occurred.

Then again, the paper doesn’t even a mention of that there was a driver.

The paper reports the Fontana Police Department is still investigating. So hopefully, we’ll learn more.

But I wouldn’t count on it.

This is at least the 26th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fifth that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Manjeet Singh and all his loved ones.

Explore the Venice Corridor with LADOT and CicLAvia Sunday, and East Side Riders expands to Huntington Park

CicLAvia offers more details on Sunday’s event to celebrate and explore the new dedicated bus lanes and protected bike lane extensions on Venice Blvd.

And since I’m worn out after a too long, too hard and too busy week, I’ll let them tell you about it.

WHAT:

On Sunday, July 23, from 2-6 p.m., Venice Boulevard: Explore the Corridor presented by Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) and powered by CicLAvia, celebrates the recent transportation safety improvements along Venice Boulevard.

This free public event will feature a series of guided group bike rides and walks along the new protected bike lanes and safety features on Venice Boulevard, between National and Sepulveda, as well as routes through the surrounding neighborhoods. Venice Boulevard will remain open to cars, and we encourage participants to explore the area safely. Bicycles, roller skates, skateboards, scooters, strollers, walkers, and runners are all welcome.

WHERE:

There will be a Hub at Venice and Bagley (9390 Venice Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232) with music, street games and other activities for all ages and abilities.

WHEN:

Sunday, July 23, 2023; 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Illustration shows the new Venice Blvd bus/bike corridor. 

……….

The Watts-based East Side Riders Bike Club made a handful of announcements, starting with news of a second location in Huntington Park serving the Southeast LA communities.

Huntington Park Community News.

We recently secured a location in the city of Huntington Park to help is serve the Southeast (SELA) communities.

We’re looking forward to launching our summer Tuesday and Thursday community bike rides, teaching bicycle safety and education and lunching our SELA E-Bike loan program in HP.

Our Friday Night Rides (FNR) and Sunday Rides will now start and finish in Huntington Park.

Friday Night Rides

Every other Friday @ 6:00 pm

Sunday Rides

Weekly at 10:00 am

6013 State Street, Huntington Park CA 90255

The group also issued a Save the Date notice for the Watts Non-Profit Day.

Save The Date!!

Join East Side Riders and you the community as we host our first Nonprofit Day in Watts.

National Nonprofit Day is commemorated on August 17 each year to recognize nonprofit organizations’ ongoing efforts to serve the local community. If you’ve ever volunteered, you’re well aware of the significance of these charitable organizations.

This is a day to bring NPO’s in Watts together along with our elected officials so we can all get to know one another and share resources with the community.

Our Nonprofit Day will be held on

Sunday August 20th, 2023

11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Located on 103rd Street between Success and Compton in Watts.

For more information or to RSVP email Monica Sanchez, monica.sanchez@esrbc.org

 

Finally, the East Side Riders announced their free, all-ages after school activities program.

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Gravel Bike California looks forward to California’s Gravel Event Calendar as the fall / winter season picks up.

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Mountain bike brand Forbidden says quit your job, and ride a bike.

Works for me.

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The war on cars may be a myth, but the war on bikes just keeps on going.

The Conservative Party’s candidate for London mayor threatens to undo years of progress for active travel, in sharp contrast with other European mayors; she insists she’s not insists she’s not anti-bike, despite describing bike riders as lawless and dangerous, while calling for mandatory registration for bicyclists, and claiming bike lanes cause congestion. Makes you wonder whether she’d consider anything short of calling for the death and dismemberment of people on two wheels as being anti-bike.

Sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.

A Utah bike rider was captured on live TV lifting his bicycle over a barricade closing a bike trail, after a woman was killed when a tree fell on her during a storm (see story under National news).

There’s a special place in hell for the Pennsylvania man who stole a 15-year old boy’s bicycle, then used it to chase the boy’s teenaged sisters on their bikes, until an adult couple confronted the man.

Police in Singapore are looking for a Caucasian hit-and-run bicyclist who crashed into a woman and her toddler daughter, leaving them both banged up and shaken. Yet another reminder that you have the same obligation to remain after a crash as drivers do, even if too many of them don’t.

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Local 

LA’s experiment with placing cool paint on Pacoima streets is paying off, as the newest surface coatings are reducing ambient temperatures by three degrees throughout the ten-block test area.

 

State

Velo’s Urbanist Update argues that San Raphael state Assemblyman Damon Connolly is wrong when he cites the bike lanes on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge for causing pollution, because removing the bike lane would only move the bottleneck to the other end of the bridge. Besides, the real problem is the 80,000 drivers who insist on using it every day, not the people on bikes.

 

National

PeopleForBikes latest bikeability ratings of American cities continues to make waves, as EcoWatch looks at eight of the top-rated cities, including my Colorado hometown.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission warned people to immediately stop using SQM bicycle helmets because they don’t comply with positional stability and certification requirements, and can fail to protect riders in a crash.

Inmates at a Las Vegas correctional institution are fixing up abandoned bicycles collected from police around Nevada to donate to veterans, kids and the homeless.

For the second time this week, a bike rider had been killed by a falling tree branch, after a 68-year old Utah woman was killed when a tree fell on her as she rode on a bike trail during a thunderstorm.

Chicago Streetsblog calls PeopleForBikes’ low ranking for the city silly, but applauds the push for lower speed limits and a citywide protected bike network.

That’s more like it. A 32-year old Michigan man faces up to 15 years behind bars after he was convicted for the high-speed hit-and-run that killed a man riding a bicycle, while driving at over three times the legal alcohol limit — although prosecutors had asked for a second-degree murder conviction, with a possible life sentence.

Life is cheap in Pennsylvania, where a 39-year old woman got a whole 30 days behind bars for the hit-and-run collision that left a bike-riding man with a broken neck. But at least she’ll have to wear a monitoring anklet for another three months.

A grieving Georgia mother kicked off a traffic safety campaign after her ten-year old son was killed just trying to cross a street on his bike to get home.

 

International

Momentum Magazine offers a beginner’s guide to choosing the right ‘bent.

A writer for Condé Nast Traveler says her favorite Airbnb experience was riding an ebike on a 19-mile trail through Brazil’s Tijuca National Park, in the rainforests outside Rio de Janeiro.

Frightening video from Toronto, where dashcam captured a driver attempting to pass a bike rider on the right before running over him; fortunately, the victim pops back up after the crash. Be sure you really want to see it before you click on the clink, because you can’t unsee the image.

 

Competitive Cycling

Danish cyclist Kasper Asgreen foiled what was supposed to be a sprinter’s stage in yesterday’s stage 18 of the Tour de France, winning the stage with a lengthy four-man breakaway as multiple teams tried to chase them down at the finish.

American Sepp Kuss looks back at his role as a key lieutenant for Tour leader Jonas Vingegaard, saying the team knew what they had to do to break two-time winner Tadej Pogačar on the Col de la Loze.

Pogačar aims to finish the Tour on his terms, as his UAE Team Emirates looks towards two spots on the final podium, even if he’ll be denied a third yellow jersey.

Belgian Wout van Aert has what may be the best excuse for dropping out of the Tour, after leaving to be with his wife for the birth of their second child.

Canadian cyclists will be able to compete under their chosen gender in non-UCI sanctioned events for the rest of this year, after the governing body for bike racing banned trans athletes from competing in women’s races.

 

Finally…

Now you, too, can prevent close passes with your very own inflatable spiky bikepack. That feeling when authorities give you a shuttle bus instead of a bike lane.

And when a self-deprecating f-bomb wins you more fans for keeping it real.

………

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

Oh, and fuck Putin.

LBPD blames elderly tandem victim, learn about LA River path extension, and Metro chooses option 2 for bike/ped bridge

In case you missed it last night, Long Beach police were quick to blame the victim after a 76-year old Long Beach woman died when she was apparently knocked off a tandem bike by a hit-and-run driver.

Although they certainly didn’t see it that way.

Gaylin Reese was riding with her husband when police say they sideswiped a stopped car while riding in the bike lane on 2nd Street near Marina Drive.

A more likely explanation, however, is that an impatient driver tried to cut into the bike lane to go around stopped traffic, and hit the pair’s bicycle — something we’ve all seen drivers do before.

LBPD investigators also handed the driver’s lawyer a perfect excuse, assuming they ever find them, by saying the driver may not have even known about the impact.

Which seems pretty damned unlikely.

Photo by Kindel Media from Pexels.

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Metro invites you to come to the LA River Fest this Sunday to learn more about the planned eight-mile shared use path extension from Elysian Valley, through downtown Los Angeles to Vernon and Maywood.  

The free arts, film and community resource festival celebrating the LA River, hosted by the Friends of the L.A. River, aka FoLAR, takes place from 5 pm to 9 pm at LA State Historic Park in downtown Los Angeles.

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Speaking of Metro, Numble reports the county transportation agency has apparently chosen what’s behind Option Number Two.

The plan for the bridge over US-101 would connect bicyclists from Union Station to LA River Bike Path, using a switchback and long span connecting the bike path to the southwest walkway at Patsaouras Plaza.

Click through to go to Twitter to examine the slides, but you may need a Twitter account to actually see them. 

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Join Bike Long Beach for Bikes and Coffee this Saturday.

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The war on cars may be a myth, but the war on bikes just keeps on going.

No surprise here, as police in New York disproportionately ticketed Black and other nonwhite bicyclists last year, joining other cities across the US, including Los Angeles, in targeting bike-riding people of color.

Sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.

Police in San Antonio, Texas are looking for the brutal, bike-riding executioner who rode up and put six bullets in the head of a homeless man sleeping outside the backdoor of a Little Caesar’s Pizza shop.

An English man says he’s lucky to be alive after he was struck by an ebike rider while walking, and had to be resuscitated at the hospital.

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Local 

Streetsblog visits the new, bike-friendly roundabout popup on Maine Avenue in Baldwin Park.

Glendale leaders joined with California Assembly Transportation Chair and Congressional candidate Laura Friedman to rally support for a proposed sped cam pilot program in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Glendale, as well as three NorCal cities.

 

State

The X Games are coming to the Ventura County Fairgrounds this Friday through Sunday.

Two men were rushed to the hospital after a crash between an e-scooter rider and a bike rider on San Francisco’s Market Street.

A Stockton man in his 60s was killed by a heartless hit-and-run driver while riding his bike Tuesday night.

 

National

The journal of the American Bar Association talks with bike lawyer Bob Mionske about the long journey from two-time Olympic cyclist to a leading authority on bike law.

Ten college-age women are riding 1,700 miles down the Left Coast from Seattle to San Diego for the annual Pedal the Pacific ride to end human trafficking.

An op-ed from the president of a nonprofit, nonpartisan Utah public policy research organization says he’s gone from a fearless bike rider to merely confident since he was struck by a driver, and that better infrastructure could keep everyone safer.

A Minneapolis op-ed says a rolling stop law, aka Stop As Yield or Idaho Stop Law, can smooth relations between bicyclists and drivers, while helping everyone get where they’re going more quickly. Never mind that California bike riders will go at least another year without one, after the bill was pulled by its author on the verge of passing out of committee. 

A 20-year old Tennessee man faces an attempted murder charge after stabbing a bike rider with a box cutter, allegedly telling police that he was “just done with people.”

Friends and customers remember longtime Lansing, Michigan bike shop owner Denny Vandecar, who died of a ruptured brain aneurysm at age 82, after more than six decades in the bike industry.

Boston’s bike-friendly mayor announced a new bike training program for children ages four to 13 at sites around the city.

A 67-year old former Johnston PA hockey player and coach was rushed to the hospital following a collision while riding his bike; Steve Carlson was on the team that inspired the Paul Newman movie Slap Shot, and played one of the bespectacled Hanson brothers in the film.

Baltimore Magazine talks with the co-founder of Baltimore-based advocacy group Black People Ride Bikes.

Tragic news from North Carolina, where a 17-year-old boy was found dead hours after he was knocked off a bridge and into the river below by a pickup driver while riding his bike; police investigators absolved the driver of blame after he blamed the victim for not wearing reflective gear.

 

International

Momentum Magazine lists five benefits of living in a bicycle city, including reduced traffic congestion and healthier lifestyles.

This is who we share the road with. A 22-year old British man will spend the next 12 years behind bars for the violent, high-speed crash that killed a 38-year old woman who was 17 weeks pregnant; he filmed himself driving at speeds up to 123 mph before slamming into her disabled car at 93 mph. Three other children in the victim’s car somehow survived the crash.

UK ebike maker Mate Bikes is following VanMoof into bankruptcy, with an asset auction scheduled for next month.

An Indian bike program is credited with having a revolutionary effect on the lives of young girls there and in Zambia, where school attendance went up 45%.

Israeli e-scooter and ebike injuries have jumped a “staggering” 440% since 2018. But despite the panicky headline, that increase likely just reflects an increase in ridership.

 

Competitive Cycling

Defending champ Jonas Vingegaard virtually sealed a repeat victory in the Tour de France with a dominating performance on the stage-crowning Col de la Loze, resulting in a virtually unassailable 7:35 lead in the general classification; 23-year old Austrian Tour de France rookie Felix Gall won the stage.

Rouleur says Vingegaard displayed an implacable show of dominance, while psychologically crushing Pogačar.

Two-time Tour de France champ Pogačar said yesterday was one of his worst days on a bike as he lost over five minutes to Vingegaard, telling his teammates “I’m gone. I’m dead.”

Road.cc looks at the “weird, wonderful (and just plain wrong)” team kits, bikes and components at the Tour.

Velo writes that Peter Sagan is flaming out at the race he helped reconfigure through years of dominance.

You may have to cross a picket line to attend the UCI World Cycling Championships in Glasgow, Scotland next month, after two unions have voted to strike during the event.

 

Finally…

Now you, too, can build your very own airless bike tires, without a 3D printer. At least we don’t have to worry about having to flee by bike when a herd of elephants interrupts a wedding party (although in this case, the bikes were probably motor scooters).

And who says bicycling shoes have to look like, well, bicycling shoes?

………

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

Oh, and fuck Putin.

76-year old Long Beach woman killed in hit-and-run while riding tandem bike; police quick to blame the victim

A 76-year old woman riding a tandem bike with her husband was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Long Beach Sunday afternoon.

And police investigators apparently couldn’t hesitate to display their windshield bias.

According to a press release from the Long Beach Police Department, 76-year-old Long Beach resident Gaylin Reese and her husband were riding their tandem in the bike lane on eastbound on 2nd Street near Marina Drive when they allegedly sideswiped a car around 12:24 pm Sunday.

Police report there was heavy traffic at the time, and all the cars were stopped when they somehow a) left the bike lane, and b) hit the side of the car with enough force to knock both riders off their bike.

Sure, that seems likely.

Both victims were taken to the hospital, where Reese died on or before Tuesday; her husband, who hasn’t been named, was treated for minor injuries.

Investigators are also quick to absolve the driver of any responsibility for the collision, observing that they may not have even been aware of the crash. Which is certainly what their lawyer will claim now, even if the driver is found.

Police also note that both victims were wearing helmets, which clearly didn’t do any good in this case. There’s no word on whether Reese even suffered a head injury, or if she died from other causes.

What seems far more likely than the official police version is that Reese and her husband were riding in the bike lane when the driver became impatient, and tried to pull into the bike lane to get around stalled traffic.

Something we’ve all seen countless times before.

They then hit the Reese’s bike with enough force to knock them both off, resulting in significant injuries to Mrs. Reese.

And unless the suspect vehicle was a large truck, it strains credibility to think the driver would have been unaware of the impact.

Yes, it’s possible that the collision occurred exactly as the LBPD investigators describe it.

It just seems pretty damn unlikely.

Anyone with information is urged to call LBPD Collision Investigation Detail Detective Joseph Johnson at 562/570-7355, or call anonymously at 1-800/222-TIPS (8477).

This is at least the 25th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, the ninth that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County, and the year’s second fatal hit-and-run involving someone on a bicycle in Long Beach.

It’s also at least the ninth fatal hit-and-run involving a SoCal bike rider this year.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Gaylin Reese and all her family and loved ones. 

Hero fallen mountain biker ID’d, killing of CA Stop As Yield bill explained, and blocking bike lanes for road safety

The hero mountain biker who apparently sacrificed his own life to help save stranded hikers from the intense heat east of San Diego has been identified.

Twenty-four-year old Kai Torres Bronson was with three other riders when they encountered four hikers who had run out of food and water, and were suffering the effects of temperatures up to 110 degrees in the Carrizo Gorge east of San Diego.

He then succumbed himself as he rode to the trailhead with a companion following their rescue, after the group had separated to guide the Cal fire rescue crew.

A crowdfunding campaign to pay for his funeral expenses has raised over $14,000 of the $35,000 goal.

Services for Torres Bronson will be held from 4 pm to 8 pm on July 29th at the Community Mortuary in Chula Vista.

Photo by Markus Spiske from Pexels.

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Seems like we’ve been talking a lot about 77th District Assemblymember Tasha Boerner from Encinitas lately.

Then again, it’s only been every day this week, and part of last week.

Most of the conversation has been about her apparently well-intentioned, if misguided bill to create a working group with a goal of establishing an ebike licensing program.

Which I might support if it’s amended to exempt ped-assist ebikes, and only apply to high speed throttle-controlled bicycles, which could be included under motorcycle licensing rather than create another expensive and unsustainable state program.

The law would also require anyone riding any type of ebike to carry some form of photo ID, and ban anyone under 12 from riding one, period.

But today’s topic is the other subject we’ve been mentioning, about her previously unexplained decision to pull AB 73, the Safety Stop or Stop As Yield bill, as she somehow snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

At least now we have an explanation.

But as the late, great Dale Carnegie once wrote, there are two reasons for anything a person does. A reason that sounds good, and the real reason.

I’m not sure we’ve heard that last one yet.

Maybe another state legislator can do what she did with the ebike licensing bill, and cannibalize another bill that’s already been introduced and replace it with a Stop As Yield law.

Because it’s been repeatedly shown to improve safety in cities and states across the US in recent years.

And quite frankly, we’ve waited long enough.

Meanwhile, Momentum Magazine says Stop As Yield is now law in Minnesota, and asks why it isn’t everywhere else.

Good question.

………

No bias here. God forbid they should inconvenience drivers a tiny bit when there’s a nice bike lane to put the sign in.

………

If Zachary Rynew, aka the force behind Gravel Bike California, recommends it, that’s good enough for me.

………

The war on cars may be a myth, but the war on bikes just keeps on going.

An angry Vail, Colorado bike rider addresses an open letter to the bike-riding man who forced him off a local trail.

No bias here. A Michigan country music DJ says Kalamazoo residents are livid over plans for an advisory bike lane, citing comments from just 92 of the city’s nearly 80,000 residents. Never mind that the city is trying to improve safety after five bike riders were killed, and four injured, by an extremely stoned driver in 2016.

Sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.

A British woman was repeatedly punched in the head by male bike rider while riding her bike on a local tow path; no reason was given for the violent assault.

………

Local 

Authorities have named the suspect who brutally attacked a 67-year old woman as she was working in her East Los Angeles garden; 21-year-old Sergio Andrew Garcia allegedly punched the victim repeatedly in the face before pulling down her pants and underwear. He fled on foot before riding off on a fixie he’d apparently left nearby.

 

State

Stacker ranks all the counties in California for the worst commutes; shockingly, Los Angeles County was only number 12 on the list, while bucolic Calaveras County came in number one for leaving drivers feeling like number two.

An Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy gave a 12-year old boy a customized bike helmet after the boy crashed his ebike, noting that he’d seen the kid following the rules when he rides.

A Montecito op-ed explains why Strong Towns Santa Barbara supports the “Flat and Flexible” plan for Santa Barbara’s State Street, which they say is the option that is “most focused on the comfort and safety of pedestrians and cyclists.”

Even the trees are out to get us. A 65-year old Gilroy woman was killed when she was struck by a large tree branch while riding her bike.

Police in San Jose released video of a hit-and-run driver who killed bike riding woman last month; Hoodline gets it right by calling the driver a heartless hit-and-run menace.

Streetsblog’s Roger Ruddick calls out the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition for supporting the Valencia Street centerline protected bike lane, arguing the organization’s “credibility is on the line along with the lives and limbs of people walking and biking.”

A Sacramento TV station talks with the Executive Director of the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates about how the city and local groups are “catering” to bicyclists. Although something tells she might dispute that the city caters to anyone on two wheels.

 

National

A Florida car dealer polled over 3,000 people to find the most feared roads in America; New Mexico’s US Route 285 came in first, while California’s Death Valley Road was number two, in more ways than one.

Bend, Oregon teamed with a local state representative to host a discussion of ebike safety, prompted by the death of a 15-year old boy killed in a collision while riding one last month.

A Durango, Colorado bike shop worker offers tips on bike commuting on roads clogged with highway construction and summer tourists.

The Detroit man who allegedly pushed a young kid off his bike to steal it has been charged with unarmed robbery; he was being held on $50,000 bond after turning himself in.

A Michigan man is making the first known attempt to trace the state’s borders on a bicycle, with a 22-day, 2,400-mile ride to benefit a nonprofit helping formerly incarcerated people readjust to life outside prison walls.

A 32-year old hit-and-run driver is being tried for second-degree murder for killing a Wyoming, Michigan bike rider while driving under the influence at speeds up to 90 mph.

A 61-year old Florida man urges everyone who operates a motor vehicle to carry insurance, after he suffered life-altering injuries when he was struck by an uninsured motorcyclist while riding his bicycle; the Insurance Information Institute estimates that as many as 25% of the state’s drivers are uninsured.

This is who we share the road with. A three-year old driving a golf cart on private property in Florida struck and killed a seven-year old kid standing in the yard. Unbelievably, three-year olds driving golf carts is perfectly legal in the state; a bill banning anyone under 18 from driving one without a license or learner’s permit won’t go into effect until October.

 

International

Seriously? The US edition of Britain’s Sun tabloid considers what to do if a bike rider crashes into your car. Because evidently, that’s the real problem, not the other way around. And hint to The Sun — in this country, it’s 911, not 999.

A travel website ranks the “ten toughest mountain biking destinations that will make your stomach drop.”

There’s a special place in hell for the Niagara, Ontario hit-and-run driver who left an 82-year old bike rider fighting for his life in a drainage ditch. Seriously, anyone who can ride a bike at that age deserves better. Then again, so do the rest of us. 

High-flying Dutch ebike maker VanMoof is officially belly-up, after the Amsterdam District Court declared the company bankrupt; administrators will explore whether the brand can be saved in another form.

Turkish bike riders told police they got the wrong man, after police arrested someone for fleeing on foot following the crash that killed a man taking part in a group ride; his fellow bicyclists accused the hit-and-run driver of murder after finding drug paraphernalia in his car.

 

Competitive Cycling

Barring any major disasters, defending Tour de France champ Jonas Vingegaard should be able to cruise into Paris wearing the yellow jersey, after putting nearly two minutes between himself and his nearest competitors during yesterday’s time trial.

Rouleur questions whether there’s any way back for two-time tour champ Tadej Pogačar and his UAE Team Emirates, after losing over a minute and a half in yesterday’s time trial.

Cycling Weekly calls out 18 things you didn’t know about Nielsen Powless, who is fighting to hold onto his polka dot jersey and become the first American to be crowned the Tour’s King of the Mountain.

 

Finally…

Now you, too, can tow your every own electric catamaran with your very now electric bicycle. That feeling when transportation officials engage in a little turd polishing.

And when Twitter users second guess the courts, the law and bike safety.

………

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

Oh, and fuck Putin.

Proposed ebike bill won’t require a license to ride ebikes — for now, and recent deaths offer extreme heat warning

Let’s start with a quick update on AB 530, the new ebike bill sponsored by Encinitas Assemblymember Tasha Boerner.

Yesterday I received clarification that the bill doesn’t currently call for ebike licenses, but rather requires that anyone over 16 carry some form of photo ID whenever they ride an ebike.

Which means that anyone without a valid driver’s license will need to have a state ID, or a student or work ID with a photo. Or maybe start carrying a passport when you ride an ebike, even if you’re not planning to cross any international borders.

However, it does call for establishing a working group with a goal of creating a license for ebike riders.

So no ebike licenses for now. But no guarantees down the road, either.

And despite my misreading of the bill, it doesn’t require a bike helmet for Class 3 ebikes capable of speeds up to 28 mph, since that’s already state law.

Image by Maxfoot from Pixabay.

………

Yesterday, we learned that a 24-year old mountain biker died after apparently succumbing to extreme heat in the desert east of San Diego, shortly after helping rescue hikers who had become stranded without food or water.

That comes just a day after we mentioned that an Arizona man in his 70s had died of heat-related causes after his bike suffered a flat, and he attempted to walk to a nearby fire station to wait for his wife.

Both serve as tragic reminders of the dangers of the current extreme heat wave gripping the Southwest, which is only predicted to get worse over the coming weekend.

So if you can, try to avoid riding in the heat of the day. Schedule your rides for early in the morning before the heat of the day, or in the evening after the relentless pounding of the sun lets up.

If you do have to ride during the day, try to choose a route closer to the coast, where the air is cooler, or seek out shaded areas as much as possible.

If you have to ride in the city, remember that concrete buildings and dark road surfaces radiate heat far in excess of the already high ambient temperatures.

Wherever you ride, take more water than you think you’ll need, and take frequent breaks in shaded areas.

And remember that a simple mechanical can ruin even the most cautious plans, and keep you out in the sun far longer than intended.

………

Sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.

A bike rider in Queens, New York managed to evade pursuing cops in a patrol car, as players and spectators at a local baseball game all stopped to watch.

………

Local 

The NoHo Arts District asks if LA’s Mobility Plan 2035 will increase bike and pedestrian safety in Los Angeles, after the plan was approved by the city council eight years ago. Short answer — not unless it’s actually implemented, which seems pretty damn unlikely at this point.

Westside Today examines Culver City’s newly enhanced Higuera Street Bridge, which they say prioritizes bicyclists and pedestrians. If they really want to prioritize people walking and riding bikes, get rid of the damn cars.

 

State

Sheriff’s deputies in Hesperia will conduct a bike and pedestrian safety operation on Wednesday. So ride to the letter of the law until you cross the city limit line, so you’re not the one who gets ticketed.

Once again, a bike rider is a hero, as a passing bicyclist warned Fresno residents that their home was on fire, and helped one person evacuate the burning home.

A temporary bike path opening this week will restore a bicycling route between Novato and Petaluma closed by a landslide due to storm damage.

A Bay Area television station argues that the bike lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge remains severely underutilized as it nears the end of a four year pilot program; officials bizarrely claim the bike lane is causing pollution, instead of all those people in the big, smelly machines. Once again mistaking the solution for the problem. 

San Francisco public radio station KQED California talks with bike and transportation leaders about how the state can become safer for bicyclists.

 

National

Bicycling looks at the health benefits of riding a bicycle for older people. As usual, read it on Yahoo if the magazine blocks you. 

The family of fallen masters champ Gwen Inglis won’t oppose a request from Lakewood, Colorado officials to remove her ghost bike, after a single complaint from someone who said it made them feel uncomfortable. Because God knows, we wouldn’t want to do that. 

A St. Paul, Minnesota columnist calls the city’s new bike plan “relentlessly ambitious,” while revealing the tension between more expensive protected bike lanes and cheaper quick-build projects.

A St. Paul teenager completed an around the world bike tour, riding through 20 countries in 22 months.

Arkansas officials unveiled plans for a $278 million, 200-mile bikeway connecting four counties in the central part of the state.

More fallout from PeopleForBikes latest ranking of urban bikeability, as Chicago ranked among the nation’s most dangerous cities for people on two wheels, coming in at a pitiful 161st out of 163 big cities.

Heartbreaking news from Indiana, where a Roman Catholic priest who was killed while riding his bicycle last year was credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor.

Sad news from New York State, where a man participating in the eight-day Erie Canal Bike Tour was found dead in his tent Sunday morning.

Friends and fellow bicyclists remember 27-year-old Dzhoy Zuckerman, after the purple-clad fixture of the DC bicycling community was murdered just blocks from his home.

 

International

Inside EVs asks if ebike digital drives could mark the end of sprockets and chains.

Spain’s upcoming national elections put bike lanes and low-emission zones in the crosshairs of rightist-run cities, with the most likely outcome a coalition government that could reverse the county’s progress on climate goals.

 

Competitive Cycling

Velo examines how Tour de France leader Jonas Vingegaard shelved the race-ruining anxiety that made him the “worst guy in the peloton to become the “silent assassin” known as the Iceman in just five years.

Five Americans remain in the Tour de France peloton as the race enters its last week, with Sepp Kuss nearing a top ten finish as Vingegaard’s right handlebar man, and Neilson Powless in position to become the first US rider to win the King of the Mountains jersey.

Cyclists participating in the Tour asked fans to behave better, after a selfie-taking spectator hit Sepp Kuss’ handlebars on Sunday, causing a massive pileup.

Road.cc examines what makes a time trial bike so fast. Nothing, if I’m riding it. 

Former pro cyclists weigh in on whether the Netflix Tour de France documentary Unchained can grow bicycling in the US.

Transgender women’s cycling champ Austin Killips accused UCI of caving to a cabal of right-wingers, after the international governing body for cycling banned transgender women who transitioned after puberty from participating in women’s races.

 

Finally…

Why rough it when you can go bike glamping by pulling your own camper behind your bike? That feeling when the annual mountain bike race gets cancelled because of snow — in July.

And you might be able to buy a Tesla ebike one day.

But then you’d have to ride it.

………

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

Oh, and fuck Putin.

Update: Mountain biker dies in desert heat, shortly after helping rescue stranded hikers in Carrizo Gorge in east San Diego County

Heartbreaking news from San Diego County, where a 24-year old mountain biker died in extreme heat, shortly after helping to rescue a group of stranded hikers.

According to multiple sources, the victim was with a group of mountain bikers who encountered the hikers in the Carrizo Gorge area of the Jacumba Mountains, in the desert east of San Diego, around 2:45 pm on Saturday.

Two of the bikers rode down to the trailhead to guide rescue workers, while the victim and another rider remained with the hikers, who had run out of food and water in temperatures up to 110° Fahrenheit.

After Cal Fire crews arrived to rescue the hikers, the two remaining mountain bikers rode back down the trail to meet their companions.

However, this is where the stories diverge slightly.

According to one report, the two mountain bikers became separated, and when only one reached the trailhead, Cal fire personnel went back up the trail about a quarter mile, where they found the victim unresponsive.

According to another, the victim complained about feeling tired, and stayed behind while his friend rode to get water for him. Then as they rode back together, he collapsed several times before becoming unresponsive.

Cal Fire personnel carried him to an air-conditioned pickup truck, then transferred him to an air ambulance where paramedics attempted to revive hime, before he was pronounced dead at 5:45 pm.

The victim has not been publicly identified, and no cause of death has been given.

However, the tragedy would be compounded if one of his final acts was giving water to the stranded hikers, then not having enough to get himself to safety.

This is at least the 24th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the third that I’m aware of in San Diego County.

Update: The victim has been identified as 24-year old Kai Torres Bronson. The story says a crowdfunding campaign Torres Bronson has raised over $12,000, but bizarrely doesn’t include a link to it. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Kai Torres Bronson and all his loved ones.

Update: Boerner introduces bill to require ebike licenses, ban young riders; and bike rider severely injured in Moreno Vally crash

The news isn’t great on the bill to create an ebike licensing program.

Sponsored by 77th District Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, AB 530, which cannibalized an earlier bill, would —

1) Prohibit anyone under 12 from riding any class of ebike.

2) Require a photo ID for anyone over 16 who doesn’t have a valid driver’s license.

3) Existing state law requires that anyone riding a Class 3 ebike, defined as a ped-assist bike capable of speeds up to 28 mph, to wear a bike helmet that meets standards from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Correction: I originally wrote that the bill would require an ebike license for anyone who doesn’t have a driver’s license.

However, that understanding came from the press release posted below, which says the bill would “Require an online written test and a state-issued photo identification for those without a valid driver’s license.”

I’m told that the bill actually requires that anyone over 16 without a driver’s license would be required to carry photo ID to ride an ebike, though I’m not sure what that would be, since not everyone has one. 

The bill would also establish a working group with a goal of creating a license for ebike riders. 

Although as we’ve repeatedly been told, there’s no way to create a bicycle license that would pencil out financially, so I’m not sure that would work out. Not to mention all the other reasons bike licensing isn’t viable

I don’t actually have a problem with the first requirement. Ebikes are powerful machines that young children may not be able to handle. Although I’d exclude handicapped children who may not be able to ride a standard bicycle.

I do have a problem with requiring a license for any adult to ride any kind of bicycle, electric or otherwise. There are countless reasons why someone might not have a driver’s license, which have nothing to do with their ability to ride a bicycle.

Someone who has been riding a bicycle for 20, 30 or 40 years is perfectly capable of riding an ebike without having to pass a test to get a license. And it creates a very slippery slope to the demands of some drivers that all bike riders should be licensed.

Once we require licenses for one group of bicyclists, it’s a very small step to require them for all.

Never mind that it’s exactly the wrong thing to do when California is literally on fire, overly congested traffic is grinding to halt, and our air and climate are fouled by motor vehicles.

We should be encouraging alternatives to driving, rather than throwing up still more barriers.

What would make far more sense is to create a separate class for throttle-controlled ebikes, which require no physical exertion to operate, and can easily reach speeds beyond what inexperienced riders are capable of safely controlling.

Like this one. Or this.

I’m sure Tasha Boerner’s heart is in the right place — although I’d like to know why the hell she pulled AB 73, which would have allowed bike riders to treat stop signs as yields when safe to do so, when it appeared to be on track to pass the legislature.

Especially since I’ve heard Gavin Newsom may have looked more favorably on it this time, after vetoing two earlier versions of the bill.

But this bill, AB 530, should be dead on arrival without major revisions.

Photo by Maxfoot from Pixabay.

………

Sad news from Moreno Valley, where a man riding a bicycle was severely injured in a head-on collision Friday night.

The victim was riding east on Box Springs Road at Pine Cone Lane around 9 pm when he allegedly crossed onto the wrong side of the road, and was struck by the driver of a 2006 Honda Civic.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Deputy Andrew Galbreath of the Moreno Valley sheriff’s station at 951/486-6700.

………

CicLAvia is teaming with LADOT to explore the newly extended protected bike lanes and safety improvements on Venice Blvd this Sunday, though the street will remain open to motor vehicles.

………

Streets For All is back with their monthly virtual happy hour on Wednesday, with Caltrans District 7 Director Gloria Roberts as special guest.

Which means this is your perfect chance to ask questions about safety improvements and Complete Streets requirements on state roadways.

………

A Shakespeare put it, “’tis true ’tis pity, and pity ’tis, ’tis true.”

………

The war on cars may be a myth, but the war on bikes just keeps on rolling.

Talk about not getting it. A London writer and bike rider says we don’t need any bike cam vigilantes, arguing that a road raging driver who went ballistic after being challenged for texting behind the wheel wasn’t endangering anyone because he was stuck in stationary traffic. Never mind that texting drivers often lurch forward without looking after someone honks at them for not moving when the light changes. 

A road-raging Porsche driver ran over a bike after a group of bike riders participating in a London ride-out blocked the driver’s path.

A couple in the UK were ordered to remove their DIY cargo bike parking space after the local council concluded that the planter they used for protection might hurt the poor cars.

But sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.

Police in Northern Ireland have spoken to a bike rider regarding his conduct, after the “intolerant and ignorant” man shouted obscenities as he rode past a Protestant parade. More proof that The Troubles aren’t entirely in the past.

………

Local 

Streetsblog’s Joe Linton visits my neighborhood to offer his thoughts on the new peak-hour bus lanes on La Brea Blvd, which he suggests could be even quicker and cheaper to build; he also notes that CD10 Councilmemember Heather Hutt is working to maintain the street’s auto-centric focus by indefinitely blocking the project south of Olympic Blvd. It’s worth noting that Hutt, who cites a lack of public consensus for blocking the project was appointed by the council to fill a vacancy, and has yet to face the voters.

 

State

Solana Beach officials discussed the city’s response to mounting ebike injuries, after neighboring Carlsbad and Encinitas declared a local state of emergency earlier this year.

The Ventura County Transportation Commission wants your input on planning the future of mobility for the county.

San Francisco Streetsblog takes a self-guided, unofficial tour of the new Gilman Street pedestrian and bicycle bridge over I-80, even though it’s not scheduled to open until October.

A Chico driver may have saved the life of a bike rider, stopping her car to intervene when she saw around eight pit bulls attacking a man riding his bike on a bike path, before the dogs turned on her; the dogs were captured at a nearby homeless encampment after both victims managed to get away

 

National

A travel website wants you to explore Mexico City by bicycle.

Streetsblog reposts a Substack article offering advice on how to talk to strangers to accomplish your bike and transit goals, saying even if you’re an introvert, you have to win others over to your cause.

Oregon officials are planning to build a 172-mile bicycle network in the scenic southwest portion of the state, though just what form it will take is still to be determined.

A new Oregon law reduces the penalties for biking under the influence, as lawmakers recognize the reduced damage an intoxicated bike rider can cause, compared to people in the big, dangerous machines.

A tragic warning about riding in extreme heat, after an Arizona man in his 70s died from apparent heat-related causes after suffering a flat, and attempting to walk his bike to a nearby fire station to wait for his wife.

This is who we share the road with. An Idaho woman is in a medically induced coma after she was run down by a 14-year old driver on the 4th of July while riding her bike; she was in treatment for a meth addiction and 120 days sober when she was injured. A crowdfunding campaign to defray her medical expenses has raised just over ten percent of the $50,000 goal.

A Nebraska bike rider became the latest person to be run down by a cop while riding a bicycle, after he was right hooked while riding on the sidewalk.

There’s a special place in hell for the adult thief who pushed a Detroit boy off his bike as the kid was riding it, then pedaled off on it; the thief turned himself into the police, while a state legislator gave the boy a new bike.

An Indiana man will spend the next 35 years behind bars after he was convicted of attempted murder for shooting a man on a bicycle in the back, while shouting that the victim had stolen his car.

A Kentucky state park worker is being praised for jumping into the water to save a ten-year old boy who accidentally rode his bike off a 15-foot cliff, then dove back in to retrieve the boy’s bicycle.

They get it, too. The leaders of a Boston-area city want the city’s police to stop ticketing bicyclists who ride through red lights without putting anyone else at risk.

Tragic news from DC, where a fixture in the local bicycling scene was fatally gunned down early Saturday; 27-year old Dzhoy Zuckerman was killed just blocks from his home by an unknown attacker. No word on whether he was riding his bike at the time, or any motive for the shooting. A crowdfunding campaign to support his partner has raised over $3,800 of the $10,000 goal in the first few hours.

 

International

Bike Biz asks if rising bicycle prices have become a barrier to sales.

A small new Canadian study suggest one factor causing crashes is that drivers just aren’t looking for people on bicycles.

A man riding his bike across Canada to raise awareness for mental health lost all of his gear when someone stole his bike outside a Winnipeg coffee shop; he says he was warned about Winnipeg.

A new Scottish study concludes that drivers are more likely to be at fault in crashes with bicyclists.

They must be doing something right, as British bicycling deaths drop 24% to their lowest level in 30 years. Exactly the opposite of what’s happening in this country, for reasons that should be self evident.

Forty people from four continents, including survivors of the 2017 New York bike path attack climbed the Grand Colombier before the Tour de France stage to honor the victims of terrorism.

Now you can carry your kids with what is in effect a three-wheeled ped-assist pedicab, thanks to a collaboration between Germany’s Cube and BMW.

A Singapore writer says it’s not easy being a casual bike rider in the island city-state. But apparently, it’s not any easier being a serious bicyclist, as 26 Singaporean roadies were fined for exceeding the limits on group rides, which specify no more than five bicyclists can ride together at any given time.

 

Competitive Cycling

This year’s Tour de France is threatening to descend into chaos, marring what is turning into an epic battle between Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar.

Exhibit one is the race motos that halted an attack by Pogačar on the Col de Joux Plane on Saturday’s stage 14, which may have kept him from claiming the yellow jersey.

Velo questions whether the race motos could prove decisive, as Pogačar lost out on a time bonus that could have cut Vingegaard’s lead to just four seconds, while the riders and passengers of both motos were suspended for one whole stage for their transgressions.

Exhibit two is a mass crash shortly after the start of Saturday’s stage that forced three riders to abandon, while holding up the race for half an hour to attend to the injured cyclist; two other riders were forced to abandon when they both crashed on a fast descent shortly after the restart.

Exhibit three is another mass crash on Sunday’s stage, when a spectator taking a selfie came in contact with American rider Sepp Kuss, triggering a massive chain reaction crash.

Vingegaard responded to questions about increases in speeds, as he and Pogačar have broken several climbing records in recent years, crediting it on improving bicycle tech, while acknowledging that he can understand why people would wonder if he’s on something.

American riders Neilson Powless and Lawson Craddock lit up Sunday’s “monster climbing stage” in stage 15, as Powless defended the King of the Mountain jersey he’s worn for two weeks, while Craddock just missed the podium with a career-best fourth.

UCI has reversed its policy for transgender cyclists, ruling that transgender women who transition after puberty will be barred from competing in women’s cycling events in all categories and disciplines. As usual, read it on Yahoo if Bicycling blocks you. 

Huh? A bizarre story from South Korea, where a transgender cyclist says she won a woman’s race to prove a point to “selfish” trans athletes that biological men are physically superior to biological women.

Citing a recent court decision, a Colorado landowner is now requiring liability waivers from all the competitors, support staff and spectators for the Leadville 100 mountain bike race, after allowing the race to traverse his land for the previous four years he’s owned it. Thanks to Megan Lynch for the link.

 

Finally…

Now you, too, can carry a concealed weapon on your bicycle (just give a fake birthday to get past the NRA’s intrusive age check). That feeling when your bike brand shares a name with a late rock star.

And when popping wheelies and bunny hopping makes you “the NBA of the streets.

………

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

Oh, and fuck Putin.

LA adopts mini-superblock pilot; Baldwin Park roundabout popup tomorrow; and Shoup, Butler honored as top urbanists

Happy Bastille Day!

Celebrate by riding a French bike today. Or at least riding to a French bistro. 

Photo by Alex Azabache from Pexels.

………

Somehow, we missed this one earlier in the week.

According to Smart Cities Dive, the Los Angeles City Council has approved a pilot program for “park blocks,” which will reroute traffic around a single block to create carfree spaces for pedestrians.

The program is based on Barcelona, Spain’s superblocks, which channel cars around 1,300-foot spaces for living, shopping and dining.

The first such project will be installed in disgraced Councilmember Kevin de León’s 14th Council District, after he proposed creation of the program last year.

According to the website,

Park blocks can be tailored to communities’ needs, with features such as bike lanes and wider sidewalks, de León said. They can also provide “substantial shade, outdoor recreation, greening and storm water capture in communities desperate for parks,” according to a report by the Los Angeles City Council Transportation Committee…

Equity will be a focus of the program in Council District 14, which has a large Latino population and high proportion of low-income households, de León said. “The park blocks program emphasizes a participatory approach,” he said. “It allows residents to have a say in the design and implementation of the program in their neighborhoods.”

Let’s hope it spreads across the city.

And that isn’t allowed to die of benign neglect like too many other urbanist programs the city has adopted.

………

Baldwin Park will host a roundabout popup demonstration from 9 am to 1 pm tomorrow at the intersection of Maine Ave and Olive Street, complete with coffee and pastries for everyone in attendance.

According to a press release from the city,

The “Reimagine Olive/Maine” demonstration roundabout this week will be the newest addition to the street network in the city of Baldwin Park. The City’s Public Works Department started one week of construction on the temporary, street safety project on July 5 at the intersection of Maine Avenue and Olive Street.

The Baldwin Park City Council will hold a demonstration event at that intersection on Saturday, July 15 starting at 9 a.m. to present the street improvements to the community and the media. The demonstration will include remarks by Mayor Emmanuel J. Estrada and Councilmember Alejandra Avila, as well as numerous vehicles passing through the modern roundabout…

Roundabouts are known for their ability to enhance traffic flow compared to traffic signals. Their circular design eliminates the need for traffic signals, allowing vehicles to efficiently merge into circulating traffic and continuously flow without the interruption caused by signal phasing. This results in reduced travel times, improved fuel efficiency, decreased traffic congestion and reduced dangerous behaviors by drivers, such as running red lights or stop signs.

Roundabouts have been shown to reduce injury crashes by 75 percent and fatality crashes by 90 percent at intersections where stop signs or signals were previously used for traffic control, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Roundabouts also reduce the severity of crashes that do occur because they are designed to reduce the speed of vehicles. Roundabouts are especially effective during peak traffic hours when congestion is a concern.

Roundabouts also generate health benefits through the reduced pollution and traffic noise resulting from slower speeds and eliminating the wait for a traffic light to change. Without traffic lights, residents will save on the around-the-clock cost of powering traffic signals and the periodic cost of maintaining them. Residents also don’t have to worry about traffic signals at this intersection failing during a disaster, ensuring smooth traffic flow around a landscaped roundabout even during an emergency…

To learn more about the roundabout demonstration project, read the City’s staff report. Residents who would like to provide input on the project may do so using this online survey.

………

Congratulations to UCLA parking meister and distinguished research professor Donald Shoup, and bike equity advocate and UCLA urban planning doctoral student Tamika Butler, who were both named to Planetizen’s latest list of the top 100 most influential urbanists from the past and present.

The pair were honored at #6 and #57, respectively.

New York’s legendary anti-Robert Moses activist Jane Jacobs tops the list, followed by architect and urban designer Jan Gehl, landscape architect, journalist, social critic and public administrator Frederick Law Olmsted, architect, an urban planner and co-founder of the Congress for the New Urbanism Andrés Duany, and modern architecture and planning pioneer Le Corbusier.

Which puts them in pretty damn good company.

Especially considering Shoup checks in one notch above current Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, who is rapidly transforming the sprawling French capital into a 15-minute city, while Butler comes in above legendary figures like Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., Thomas Jefferson and Henry Cisneros.

………

The war on cars may be a myth, but the war on bikes just keeps on rolling.

A security guard for a South Carolina family campground faces charges for using brass knuckles to assault a bike rider, repeatedly striking the victim in the face in an effort to steal their bicycle.

No bias here. A British letter writer says bicyclists should be forced to pay for their own bike paths, since “anyone with eyes to see” can tell they prefer to ride on the sidewalk. If people would rather ride on the sidewalk than in the street, it’s a pretty good indication that the streets are too damn dangerous.

But sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.

Police in Orlando, Florida are on the lookout for a bike-riding rustler who guided a horse out of its trailer, then rode off on his bike towing the horse behind him.

………

Local 

Around 40 at-risk kids received new bicycles last Saturday, thanks to the Golden State Foods Foundation and Brotherhood Crusade’s Build a Bike Program; the kids were allowed to take home the bikes they built themselves in the parking lot of the Black-owned Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper.

Long Beach will establish an Electric Bike Lending Library by the end of this year, which will allow residents to check out a bike for up to three months.

 

State

Bike rider and artist Kathleen King-Page is looking for sites around the world for her colorful “bike scribbles” sculptures, which feature stylized bicyclists intended to capture the “joy and grace of motion” of riding a bike; she currently has the metal sculptures installed in five US states, including her native California.

That’s more like it. A hit-and-run driver got seven years behind bars for killing a 21-year old bike-riding Corona man; 25-year old Neomi Renee Velado was convicted on felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and hit-and-run causing injury or death. Her conviction followed four previous at-fault collisions, three of which occurred when she was distracted by her phone.

A San Mateo County grand jury put local cities under a microscope, concluding that they’ve made improvements on bicycle safety over the past two decades, but there’s more work to do.

Streetblog says another life was lost to traffic violence in San Francisco when a hit-and-run driver killed a pedestrian while the city’s police were busy trying to round up skateboarders taking part in an annual hill bomb.

San Francisco officials backed off plans to remove parking spaces for a bus-only lane on Geary Street, caving to business owner’s fears that the loss of a whole 70 parking spaces would somehow put them out of business. Because apparently, people who use transit never buy anything. 

 

National

That feeling when getting injured by a distracted pedestrian in a bike lane is the kind of meet-cute that can get you laid — on Sex and the City sequel And Just Like That…, anyway.

Forget the whole men are from Mars, and women from Venus thing. A new survey uncovers the real proof the sexes are different, as men want a Tesla ebike, while women want one made by Tiffany. But would it still come in a little blue box?

He gets it. A writer for Velo says Complete Streets aren’t complete if all they do is check a box to “satisfy those irritating environmentalists.”

A 20-year old New Mexico man faces murder charges after allegedly shooting a 62-year old minister and grandfather multiple times as he rode his mountain bike on a trail, shocking residents of the local community.

The family of fallen Colorado masters champ Gwen Inglis wants the right to maintain her ghost bike, after the city of Englewood ordered it removed because someone complained that it was dilapidated and disturbing to walk past. Which is kinda the point; ghost bikes are supposed to make you uncomfortable, and remind everyone to drive safely.

A member-supported Denver website takes a deep dive into why Denver’s Vision Zero program is failing, as traffic deaths reached their highest level of this century last year, just seven years before the the program’s 2030 deadline.

A 74-year old Long Island woman lost control after swerving to avoid people in a crosswalk, then hit the gas instead of the brakes, running into a 70-year old man on a bike before ending up in a nature preserve pond. Once again raising the question of how old is too old to drive, and what the hell states are going to do about it. 

Connecticut’s $12 million ebike voucher program has received overwhelming demand, though not on the scale of Taylor Swift tickets, according to the program commissioner. That doesn’t bode well for California’s program, which will have $4.5 million less available for vouchers to serve a population nearly 11 times larger. 

 

International

Momentum provides a guide to buying your first foldie.

Bike Radar offers advice on how to treat road rash, which most longtime bike riders experience sooner or later. I once had road rash from my ankle to my chin after skidding across an eight-lane intersection when I lost control hitting a puddle while making a right turn at speed with a steep lean. Ouch. Or as the French say, aïe! 

The rich get richer, as London opens another ten low-traffic bikeways across the city.

A British city will resurface a dangerous bike lane after the uneven surface caused a man to fall off his bike, leaving him unconscious with a host of injuries. Sort of like the dangerously cracked surface of the newly expanded Venice Blvd protected bike lanes, which could easily cause an equally dangerous fall, if it hasn’t already.

You’ve got to be kidding. An Irish driver walked without a single day behind bars for running down a man who was on a leisurely Sunday bike ride, without even braking; she admitted to police that she just wasn’t looking when she smashed into the victim, who suffered spinal injuries and a broken ankle, can no longer walk or stand without pain, and is too afraid to ride a bike anymore. But at least she was really, really sorry. Right?

Belgian ebike maker Cowboy has ridden to the rescue of rival VanMoof ebike owners by releasing a free app to keep their bikes from being bricked if the company goes belly up. But if well-funded companies like VanMoof and Rad Power can’t make it, it doesn’t bode well for the rest of the ebike industry.

Your next German-made bike helmet could inflate in just 20 seconds.

 

Competitive Cycling

Tragic news from Belgium, where 25-year old Australian cyclist Connor Lambert was killed when he was struck by a truck driver while training on Wednesday; he was in Europe to mentor a junior cycling team called X-Speed.

Spanish cyclist Ion Izagirre rode to victory through the vineyards of Beaujolais with a 19-mile solo breakaway on Thursday’s 12th stage of the Tour de France, while 2022 winner Jonas Vingegaard stayed in yellow with a 17-second lead over two-time champ Tadej Pogacar; Colorado’s Sepp Kuss is the top American at 6:45 back.

Dutch sprinter Fabio Jakobsen withdrew from the Tour de France after injuries he suffered in a crash on the 4th stage made it impossible for him to continue on to Paris.

Mark Cavendish isn’t talking about a possible return next year to try to break the legendary Eddy Merckx record for Tour de France stage wins, after surgery to fix a complicated collarbone fracture that forced him to withdraw from the Tour.

Velo talks with four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome about the snub from his Israel Premier Tech team that left him off the Tour roster, while the team’s owner says Froome “has absolutely not been value for money.” Schmuck.

 

Finally…

Merging beach cruisers and surfwear seems like such a natural fit, you have to wonder what took so long. Your next bike could have modular tubes, allowing you to reconfigure the shape of the frame.

And your next ebike might not even have a drivetrain.

………

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

Oh, and fuck Putin.