Morning Links: It’s bike video Friday, Fig4All finally gets a hearing, and meet the real star of Breaking Away

April 3, 2014 / / 2 comments

Major video action for a Friday.

First up is a truly bizarre video offering a 360 degree high speed overhead view of a bike ride, as well as a similar look at driving. Not surprising, the bike footage is far more fun.

Or maybe you’d prefer a pair of Aussie cyclists drafting a truck at 77 mph — although if they’re really going that fast, how fast are the cars passing them going?

And a little closer to home, a professional mountain biker gets some serious speed — and major air — in the Santa Monica mountains.

All of which serves as a reminder that the LA Bicycle Film Festival starts today and runs through Saturday. Just try not to munch your KIND bars loudly enough to disturb the other patrons.

……….

Local

LA Councilmember Gil Cedillo has finally scheduled a public meeting to discuss the long delayed, fully funded and shovel ready bike lanes on North Figueroa. Maybe now we’ll finally find out why he’s been dragging his feet on a project that was ready to go when he took office.

Move LA’s draft proposal for the proposed transportation sales tax ballot measure, which includes 4% for active transportation and 20% for highways. If you ask me, that should be the other way around.

Meet Breaking Away star Dennis Christopher, and perhaps more importantly, the Masi bike he rode in the movie at Sunday’s CicLAvia.

Wolfpack Hustle reports back on last weekend’s successful assault on the Red Hook Criterium.

Santa Monica Next remembers the heavy-handed, and mostly illegal, crackdown on Critical Mass in what was then a much more bike-unfriendly SaMo just a few short years ago.

If you want to ride like that guy in the Santa Monica Mountain video, here’s how you start. CORBA is hosting a free mountain bike basic skills clinic in Malibu Creek State Park this Saturday. Thanks to Stephen Messer for the heads-up.

 

State

Newport Beach police go ebike.

Visiting the Santa Barbara backcountry by bike.

Gritty girls take on the Aptos Mountain Bike Festival.

Just 90 days in jail and three years probation for a two-time Marin bike thief.

Repeat after me: If you’re already wanted on six outstanding warrants, put a damn light on your bike. And don’t fight with the Fresno cops who try to stop you.

 

National

America has been invaded by rebel handmade bike builders.

Elly Blue offers advice on how to start riding your bike.

If your city doesn’t have a protected bike lane yet, it’s being left behind. And no, we don’t, unless you count those easily driven over pylons in the 2nd Street tunnel.

When a cyclist crashes while raging at you, are you obligated to stop? Three out of four Oregon ethicists say yes.

Keep your eyes on Craigslist, as thieves strip a Seattle bike shop of 32 custom built bicycles worth $150,000. Chances are, they’ll try to unload them out of state.

A proposed Missouri transportation tax is set aside after lawmakers attempt to keep any of the money from being spent on bike paths, which is not the “proper role of government” according to one Republican legislator.

As usual, Boston’s Bikeyface nails it by showing how life would be if she really did own the road.

A fond welcome back to the blog world to our long-time Carolina correspondent Zeke, and congrats on the new dogs and new found ability to bounce.

It only took killing three people by backing over them in a church parking lot for a 79-year old Florida driver to lose her license for a whole year. I’m sure local residents can’t wait until she gets it back at 80.

 

International

London police have been found liable for injuries to a bike riding former reporter who was hit by a patrol car on an emergency call; the victim still needs 24-hour car four years after the collision.

The makers of that Swedish airbag bike helmet says safety standards for helmets are far too low. Especially since theirs exceeds them.

Ironman star Yvonne van Vlerken suffers a broken collarbone in a collision with a car while visiting her home in the Netherlands.

They just don’t get it. An Aussie driver makes a lane change on a curve sharp enough to hide the presence of a bike rider, yet it’s the cyclist’s fault for riding in the lane where she’s more visible.

Speaking of not getting it, an Australian paper insists someone is going to die when a new three-foot — or one meter — law goes into effect. Because it’s just impossible to wait until you can pass a bike safely, right? Meanwhile, a writer says the press Down Under has declared war on bicycling.

A more than one-a-week rate of bicycling injuries calls out the need for bike lanes in Christchurch NZ.

A Shanghai driver gets two years for killing a cyclist while driving without a license. That would be an unusually stiff sentence for a driver in the US, with or without a license.

 

Finally…

Maybe you’re wearing your helmet on the wrong end. A new medical study shows bike riders are at risk for genital and kidney injuries, with men at greater risk than women, and boys at 10 times the risk of men — mostly from landing on the top tube.

And yes, I could have been the poster boy for that one.

 

Category: Morning Links / Tags: , , , ,

Morning Links: Not guilty pleas in OC meth hit-and-run, BFF KINDness, and fundraiser for OC’s Matt Liechty

April 2, 2014 / / One comment

We’ve got a lot of ground to cover today, so let’s not waste any time.

……..

Not surprisingly, 18-year old Sommer Gonzales pled not guilty to all counts in the death of cyclist Joe Robinson on Orange County’s Santiago Canyon almost exactly two months earlier.

As the chart below shows, she entered a plea of not guilty to four felony and two misdemeanor violations of the criminal code, and denied two felony violations of the state vehicle code.

I’m told she’s been remanded into custody pending trial. Her next court appearance is scheduled for April 21st.

Sommer-Gonzalez-Charges-2

Thanks to Jeffrey Fylling and an anonymous source for the tip.

……..

A relative of fallen cyclist Matt Liechty sends word that a fundraiser will be held in his honor this Saturday. The event will take place at Perry’s Pizza, 2108 W. Oceanfront Blvd in Newport Beach, with donations accepted from 11 am to midnight.

Liechty was the victim of yet another February Orange County hit-and-run, as the former OC Sheriff and Probation Department employee was run down in a Huntington Beach bike lane by an alleged drunk driver who fled the scene, leaving one of his wheels behind.

……..

SAMSUNGSnack bar maker KIND has come up with a clever promotion for this weekend’s Bicycle Film Festival.

Due to a delivery issue and a busy schedule, I’m a little behind in sharing this, but you still have one more day — today — to share a little kindness with a friend.

#kindawesome
Spread kindness in Los Angeles. Send a flower and KIND bars to a friend via bike messenger. www.KINDsnacks.com/kinddeliveries 
 
#bffworld 
Bring your friends to the Bicycle Film Festival coming to LA – April 4-5th! www.bicyclefilmfestival.com/city/los-angeles/
 
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BICYCLE FILM FESTIVAL:
Location: Aratani/Japan America Theatre (downtown)
Dates/Times: Friday, April 4th 7:30pm + 9:30pm; Saturday, April 5th 7pm + 9pm

The four unique screenings of narrative and cinematic films kick off with the premiere of HALF THE ROAD, BY Kathryn Bertine a highly anticipated feature about the highlights and challenges of women’s cycling, setting the tone for the following three programs of fun and poignant shorts illuminating the joys and perseverance riding inspires across cultures, ages and landscapes.

We also just added after parties for both nights, which will take place at Angel City Brewery just a few blocks away. (216 S. Alameda)

SAMSUNG

……..

A Santa Monica high school student has developed a handlebar mounted cell phone holder and speaker to give you access to all your aps, as well as music and hands-free calling. As of Wednesday, it was roughly $10,000 short of its Kickstarter goal with 10 days to go.

Personally, one of the many reasons I ride a bike is to get away from all the electronic demands on my attention, and experience the real world for awhile. And as far as I’m concerned, there are enough distracted motorists on the roads without adding distracted cyclists to the mix.

But you can learn more here.

……..

Local

KPCC says it’s never too late to learn how to ride a bike, thanks to CICLE’s adult Learn to Ride classes.

A guest writer for the Times Opinion page thanks LA drivers for safely sharing the road; your experience may vary.

Flying Pigeon asks for a little network elegance when it comes to LA bikeways, but despairs of the power council members have to stop it.

LAist reminds us that CicLAvia isn’t the only bike event this weekend, and that there’s more to life than bicycling. Meanwhile, LA Magazine offers advice on what to eat and see on Wilshire this Sunday.

 

State

Oceanside is about to open the next segment of a planned 44-mile bike trail from Oceanside to San Diego.

Less-than-bike-friendly CSU Sacramento considers on-campus bike lanes and enforcement of bike-free zones to improve campus safety.

A San Jose writer asks if racing culture has sucked all the fun out of riding a bike. That’s the great thing about bike riding, though; you can race or ride for recreation, exercise or transportation. Or all of the above, whatever works for you. And whether or not you pay any attention to other kinds of riders is entirely up to you.

An 18-year old Pleasanton man faces 2nd degree murder and felony reckless driving charges after losing control of his speeding car last June, and slamming into a couple bicycling in the opposite direction, killing the wife. He had previously invited his Twitter followers to join him on a “death ride;” meanwhile, his father faces a possible third strike for weapons and controlled substances that were found when conducted a search related to his son’s case.

 

National

In a truly bizarre case, a Missouri woman has pled guilty to hit-and-run in the death of a bike rider last year. She was reportedly fleeing from her ex-boyfriend at the time, who was chasing her in a stolen car while flashing a gun; he faces a second-degree murder charge for causing the death.

 

International

An English magistrate questions whether a law banning cyclists from riding drunk was intended to apply to bike riders; Parliament may have to make the final determination.

A UK man plans to ride the courses of the five European Spring Classics on a homemade Penny Farthing.

And in the last of today’s string of killer teenage drivers, an 18-year old British woman is accused of going crazy following a dispute at a party, then tracking down and killing her victim with her car as he rode his bike.

Evidently, the same three foot law that’s in use throughout the US becomes hopelessly impractical when converted to Australia’s metric system.

 

Finally…

It’s okay to carry a shovel on your bike, but don’t use it to threaten police and laundromat customers.

And if you’re riding drunk in Pennsylvania, put a damn light on your bike and don’t yell at passing patrol cars; bike lawyer Bob Mionske notes that his 15 day sentence is more than most drivers face for killing someone.

 

Category: Hit-and-Run, Injuries and Fatalities, Legal Cases, Morning Links / Tags: , , , , , , ,

Morning Links: CicLAvia is coming, Calbike legislative agenda and the best of yesterday’s foolishness

April 1, 2014 / / 4 comments
Local

Last weekend’s successful tour of LA bike co-ops points out the need for one in Boyle Heights.

It’s coming. Signage is going up warning motorists about this Sunday’s Wilshire CicLAvia. Speaking of which, the Militant Angeleno has updated his fascinating guide to the Wilshire route, while LA Magazine looks at the churches, temples and Islamic Centers you’ll pass on the way. And Santa Monica Spoke plans a feeder ride.

Great video of a father and sleepy son sharing an 11 minute tandem ride to a Westchester nursery school. Thanks to Serge Issakov for the heads-up.

Racing for the Wolfpack Hustle team, LA’s own Jo Kelso won last weekend’s Red Hook Criterium in NYC.

A memorial will be held April 12th for fallen cyclist and former Pasadena city council member Sid Tyler.

Mark your calendar for Glendale’s Jewel City Fun and Fitness Ride on May 18th.

 

State

Calbike offers a detailed update on their legislative agenda.

A Redding bike rider was critically injured when a truck driver apparently drifted onto the wrong side of the road and hit him head-on.

 

National

Used bikes are a $2.4 billion business in the US. I’m all in favor of buying quality second-hand items; we even adopted a used dog.

An 82-year old Omaha woman faces a misdemeanor vehicular homicide charge after crossing the center line to hit and kill a cyclist riding on the opposite shoulder. She surrendered her license last week; sadly, too late to save the life of an innocent bike rider.

In an all too similar case, an 83-year old Holocaust survivor is charged in the hit-and-run collision that took a New York cyclist’s life. Every driver eventually reaches the point where they no longer belong behind the wheel; the key is recognizing it — and doing something about it — before it’s too late.

Florida police will target law-breaking group bike rides and the drivers who threaten them.

 

International

A British driver gets a well-deserved eight years for a drunken, high-speed hit-and-run.

Good advice not to aim your extra-bright lights where they could blind others on the roadway.

My Pennsylvania Dutch grandmother may have taught me to swear in German, but reading it, not so much. But I’m told this cost-benefit study of mandatory helmet laws show they don’t pencil out; in fact, benefits equaled just over 70% of costs.

 

Finally…

I’m not much on April Fools pranks online. But here are two of the better ones, as separated freeway bike lanes turn out to be the real reason for the billion dollar 405 widening, and LA’s own Pure Fix invents the first spoke-free bike wheel (unfortunately, Pure Fix has removed the page; thanks to Opus the Poet for the heads-up.)

 

Category: Morning Links / Tags: , , ,

Your fool-free Morning Links, including a well-done bike film, and a book deservedly thrown by OC prosecutors

March 31, 2014 / / 4 comments

 

Yes, this post is dated April 1st, despite my best efforts to get it online earlier.

But no, you won’t find any April fools here.

Except possibly a writer/rider who keeps hoping the motoring public will somehow get it, and transform our roadways into the safe and welcoming streets they can and should be. That cyclists will assert their right to ride the streets in a safe and courteous manner.

And that both will form, if not a genuine friendship, as least a grudging détente that will allow us all to arrive at our various destinations in peace. And in one piece.

It could happen.

Right?

………

Orange County prosecutors are prepared to throw the book at a young driver facing 15 years and nine months in state prison. As well as one year and six months in county jail.

And frankly, she couldn’t deserve it more.

Allegedly, of course.

That’s what 18-year old Tustin resident Sommer Gonzalez could potentially serve once she’s arraigned on Tuesday in the hit-and-run death of 21-year old cyclist Joe Robinson this past February.

Robinson, who worked at Jax Bicycle Center in Irvine, was riding in the bike lane on southbound Santiago Canyon in Orange when he was plowed down from behind by Gonzalez’ car. Gonzalez fled the scene, but was arrested an hour later based on the description of her car given by an off-duty fire battalion chief, who also found Robinson’s body.

According to Rancho Santa Margarita Patch, she will face a long list of charges.

  • One felony count each of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated
  • Driving under the influence of drugs causing bodily injury
  • Hit and run with death
  • Possession of a controlled substance
  • One misdemeanor count of use and under the influence of a controlled substance
  • One misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia
  • Sentencing enhancement allegations for inflicting great bodily injury
  • Sentencing enhancement for fleeing the scene of a crime

The real tragedy here is that two lives were destroyed that morning. A well-loved young man needlessly lost his life.

And a young woman willfully threw hers away.

Thanks to Jeffrey Fylling and John McBrearty for the heads-up.

………

Great short film with a wicked twist if you have a little less than 10 minutes to kill. Thanks to John Murphy aka murphstahoe for the link.

………

Local

Streetsblog’s Joe Linton asks why Metro is looking at raising fares while giving away free parking. Damn good question if you ask me.

HuffPo talks with CicLAvia co-founder Aaron Paley.

The LA Weekly casts a questioning eye on the state’s proposed vulnerable user law; don’t bother reading the comments unless you’ve got a strong stomach.

Three perspectives on turning the Riverside bridge into an elevated park.

A walker is injured after looking over her shoulder but still turning into the path of a cyclist, leading a community leader says more must be done to prevent future collisions on the Elysian Valley section of the LA River bike path.

A cop in Watts pulls over a cyclist for a traffic violation, and ends up shooting a pit bull after its owner — not the bike rider — sics him on the officer. Thanks to Rick Risemberg for the heads-up.

 

State

Jeff Miller of the Alliance for Biking and Walking will speak about Building a Bike Friendly City in Santa Ana next Monday. Thanks to Frank Peters for the tip.

Brewcyclers will be riding to a new brewery in Anaheim at the end of this month.

Turns out San Diego’s new police chief is one of us.

 

National

A pair of BMX-borne bastards knock an  85-year old Las Vegas woman down and steal her belongings; there’s a special place in hell for people like that.

A Missouri woman faces up to seven years after pleading guilty to the high-speed hit-and-run death of a cyclist.

A New York artist offers an illustrated guide to the city’s stereotypical bicyclists.

Bike traffic just keeps growing on DC’s protected bike lanes.

 

International

A Brit band plans a full album of bike-inspired songs.

Once again, a British bike rider is seriously injured after someone strings a rope across the pathway he was riding on.

London buses will get new bike and pedestrian sensors to help avoid collisions.

A promo for a UK bicycling festival is pulled after people call it sexist. And yes, it is. Or was.

Ten things that put British residents off riding; I suspect those same reasons would hold true just about anywhere.

An Irish teenager says he was so drunk and stoned he had no idea what he was doing when he assaulted a cyclist, beat her viciously and stole her groceries. Maybe someone can save room for him in Hades next to those BMX bandits.

 

Finally…

An Aussie reporter offers five tips to avoid helmet hair — including just not riding.

And a photo from JoJointhe310 shows that there are exceptions to every rule.

Bike Parking Sign

 

Category: Hit-and-Run, Legal Cases, Morning Links / Tags: , , ,

Bypassing busy traffic on 7th Street, notes from the LAPD bike task force, and Beverly Hills bike lanes redux

March 30, 2014 / / 4 comments

When is a bike lane not a bike lane?

When it’s a traffic lane allowing impatient drivers to bypass backed-up traffic for a whole block, shaving maybe a few seconds off the evening commute.

……….

A few notes from last week’s meeting with the LAPD’s bike liaisons.

First off, Sgt. Lazlo Sandor has taken over as bike liaison for the West Traffic Division; you’ll find his email address on the Resources page.

As part of Chief Beck’s proclamation that this will be the year of traffic enforcement, the LAPD has transferred a number of officers to work the city’s four traffic divisions. The good news is, the city is now focused on cracking down on dangerous drivers — like the one in the video above, for instance. The bad news is, bike violations are considered traffic offenses as well, so be forewarned.

One of the biggest problems in fixing traffic problems has long been that no one has been tracking bicycling and pedestrians collisions, injuries and fatalities. Which meant no one had a clue just what and where those problems might be, let alone how to solve them. Fortunately, the LAPD is now keeping track of all of the above as part of their Compstat program, requiring traffic officers to appear four times a year to discuss problems in their areas. And the department is tracking the most dangerous intersections for all road users to determine what has to be done to improve safety for everyone.

Last week’s story that Houston police officers were conducting traffic stings to improve safety for the city’s cyclists made news around the world. Which may have come as a surprise to LA officers, who have been doing the same thing for some time without public notice. In fact, LA’s West Traffic Division has conducted nine such stings since the first of the year — eight to enforce bike lane issues and one for stop sign enforcement. A total of 53 people were cited, including both cyclists and drivers; LAPD policy does not allow for selective enforcement, so they’re required to write up any violations they see during a sting, regardless of who commits it.

Finally, they stressed the importance of getting permits in advance for events that will require police participation. When the recent Wolfpack Hustle Marathon Crash Race was cancelled at the last minute, the department cancelled the officers who had been scheduled to work the event. Then when it was rescheduled at the last minute as a ride, they had to scramble to get enough officers to work the event on such short notice, and ended up paying out over $10,000 in overtime. While they understood the situation with the Marathon Crash, they ask for a minimum of 28 days advance notice to avoid any issues if you’re planning some sort of event.

On the other hand, if you break the law, they’re happy to show up with little or no notice.

……….

The subject of bike lanes on Santa Monica Blvd through Beverly Hills is back on the council agenda this Tuesday. Except they’re not, but maybe they are. It’s a complicated subject explained well by Better Bike.

Meanwhile, a Beverly Hills homeowner’s association offers their reasons why bike lanes are a bad idea, few if any of which actually hold water.

For instance, someone should tell them that California law requires that drivers merge into bike lanes before making right turns, rather than turning across the lane as they suggest (#2). And surprisingly, blind spots exist on motor vehicles, which can hide the presence of bikes from careless drivers like themselves, whether or not bike lanes exist.

……….

Finally, this just in as a friend of mine reports an assault while riding home on PCH in Orange County.

I was riding on the super dark stretch of PCH between the oilfield and 10,000 miles of ocean. An empty car was stopped, no blinkers, on the shoulder. With cars coming up behind me at 60mph, the only option is to stop and wait for them to pass, or hike over the shrubs on the slope to the right of the (red) curb.

I take a picture of the car, and an angry guy kicks the driver’s side door open, emerges, and comes at me barking, “What the fuck are you doing?”

I dismount in case I have to run for it and start backing away while he repeatedly demands the camera, which he ain’t gonna get.

Long story short, he ends up throwing me, my bike & my bag (containing the Coolpix he was so interested in, plus my MacBook Air & iPad) into the ice plant.

I’m not injured, but my glasses are still out there because I gave up looking for them when the damn sprinklers came on. Also, I called Hunny PD back, and arranged them to just meet me at work for the report. The officer arrived before me AND TOLD MY COWORKER I HAD BEEN HIT BY A CAR. Boy, was she relieved when I grumped up my boss’s porch stairs with bike on shoulder & no visible injuries.

Lesson: Assume even parked cars are full of ex-convicts who will be violently angry with you for nothing.

I’m scared to check my MacBook.

Category: Bicycle Safety, Bike Cam Video, Bikes & the Law, Car vs Bike, Law Enforcement, Streets and Infrastructure, Violence & Crime / Tags: , , , , , , , ,

A little light Morning Linkage for your Cesar Chavez Day

March 30, 2014 / / Comments Off on A little light Morning Linkage for your Cesar Chavez Day
 
Local

A year after he was critically injured in a horrific hit-and-run, Damian Kevitt joins last Friday’s Critical Mass to honor other hit-and-run victims.

Meet Rick Risemberg — Mr. Bicycle Fixation himself — when he leads an art tour at Sunday’s CicLAvia. I’d offer to lead a beer tour, but my legs don’t pedal so good after the second one.

Cyclists from SoCal and beyond complete a successful San Dimas Stage Race.

 

State

Calbike invites you to sign a petition supporting AB 2398 to increase penalties for crashing into vulnerable road users.

A 15-year old bike rider is critically injured in an Ontario collision.

The Redlands Bicycle Classic returns for a 30th edition with an extra, added Highlands stage.

A wounded warrior bikes across the country on prosthetic legs after losing his in Afghanistan.

An Oceanside letter writer says screw planning and complete streets, I want my traffic lanes; maybe he has relatives in Ontario, Canada.

San Diego celebrates its second CicloSDias.

Pregnant women pedal all the way to the delivery room; thanks to Ryan Gratzer for the heads-up.

 

National

Bicycling is more than okay in Downtown OKC.

A Chicago cyclist receives $5.7 million settlement after he’s paralyzed by a falling tree limb the city determined didn’t need to be trimmed.

It may be time to give New York’s Citi Bike program some tough love, says the Daily News.

 

International

Presenting an animated history of the bicycle in just 70 seconds.

Without a commitment to long-term funding, the UK may be wasting the opportunity presented by the Tour de France’s Yorkshire start.

LA riders dodge cars and potholes; Brit riders massive rolls of paper rolling down the street.

At least all we have to worry about is angry drivers. An Aussie cyclist is hospitalized after crashing into a kangaroo; no word on whether the other, more bouncy party was injured.

 

Finally…

Don’t slug the pedestrian who complains about your bike riding. Just don’t.

 

Category: Morning Links / Tags: , ,
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