BikinginLA

Just 200 days left until Los Angeles fails to meet its Vision Zero pledge to eliminate traffic deaths by 2025.

Stop what you’re doing and sign this petition demanding Mayor Bass hold a public meeting to listen to the dangers we all face on the city’s mean streets.

Then share it — and keep sharing it — with everyone you know, on every platform you can.

We finally made it up to 1,204 signatures! I’ll send this to the mayor’s office on Monday, so there’s still time to sign it!

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Please forgive the recent unexcused absences, caused by my site crashing one night, and me the other, as caring for my wife’s and my unrelated injuries is still taking a toll on me. 

The good news is, my ribs are almost healed, and I’m getting PT for my back. The bad news, my shoulder is screwed. I’ll find out just how bad, and what that means going forward, next week. 

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San Pedro residents — and CD15 Councilmember Tim McOsker — got out the torches and pitchforks for Caltrans, and the state transportation agency’s efforts to build a much-needed Complete Street on Western Ave.

The project, scheduled to get underway in 2026, is slated to included bus lanes and bike lanes, as well as other traffic safety and streetscape improvements.

After all, who cares about saving lives and increasing livability on Western Ave if it inconveniences some people even a little bit?

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A Redondo Beach man faces charges for assaulting a group pf teenage ebike riders, after claiming they assaulted him first.

However, prosecutors say video evidence contradicts his comments, while also showing his girlfriend took a mighty swing at them with her purse.

Never mind that the “ebikes” in the photo accompanying the story are actually electric motorbikes.

Sort of like in the picture below.

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The state Assembly has voted to proclaim this month California Mountain Biking Month.

The bipartisan and bicameral ACR 152 now moves on to the state Senate for final approval, then onto the governor’s desk for his signature. And while Newsom has been hard to predict when it comes to bike bills, there shouldn’t be any reason why he’d say no to this one.

In the meantime, you’ll find mountain biking events throughout the state at the California Mountain Biking Coalition website.

So get out there and shred a few trails for me.

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Congratulations to San Diego bike advocates for successfully pressuring the city to add funding to fix the “Fatal 15” worst intersections.

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Active SGV is hosting an easy 17-mile ride tomorrow to explore the Emerald Necklace & Whittier Narrows.

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Sad news from San Francisco, where a 70-year old man died earlier this week after getting doored on his bike last month.

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Think you’re fast? Brazil’s Evandro Portela set a new assisted cycling record of 124 mph for riding on a public road behind a pace car

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It’s now 176 days since the California ebike incentive program’s latest failure to launch, which was promised no later than fall 2023. And three full years since it was approved by the legislature and signed into law — and counting.

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

Twice in the past week, road raging drivers have endangered riders taking part in Portland’s annual Bike Summer, aka Pedalpalooza, by speeding through group rides.

No bias here. Washington and Oregon GOP legislators suggest charging tolls to bicyclists on a new Interstate Bridge Replacement project, or banning bikes from the new span entirely, arguing that the project is too focused on non-drivers. Because evidently, only cars should have a right to cross it, and everyone else should just stay on their own damn side.

No bias here, either. After a local British politician tried to explain why getting more people on bicycles is a win for everyone, he had to turn off the comments within minutes to halt the bikelash.

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

A British woman has been sentenced to a very lenient eight months behind bars for plowing into a 64-year old woman, causing catastrophic injuries, after “flying” around a blind corner on her brakeless bicycle while riding drunk and highly impaired, with a bag of dog food in one hand and a broken wrist on the other — and was somehow still on the street despite a whopping 137 prior offenses.

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Local 

In a hard-hitting piece, Streetsblog’s Joe Linton argues that cities have no problem blocking off streets for rich residents, so “they shouldn’t be shy about using diverters/closures for prioritizing the safety and convenience of people getting around on foot and on bike.”

After four years of talking about it, Los Angeles finally decides to do something about having someone other than armed cops enforce traffic laws — study it. Which is what the city seems to do best; acting on those studies, not so much.

Metro will host an actual in-person meeting on Thursday to discuss active transportation proposals surrounding the LAX/Aviation Station Area on the C Line, nee Green Line.

Burbank is upgrading a mile of bike lanes along Front Street, to connect to the new Downtown Burbank Metrolink Station.

Long Beach Watchdog says the early support for a bike lane along PCH in the city is leaning towards the $47 million raised bike lane option. Which would be the first one I’m aware of in the Los Angeles area. 

E-scooters could return to Long Beach bike paths for the first time in being banned six years ago. Which is likely the trajectory we’ll see with the current ebike bans. 

 

State

Carlsbad State Assemblymember Tasha Boerner’s bill to regulate unlicensed ebike riders over the age of 12 is moving forward in the state legislature.

Cycling Weekly visits Strava’s ‘gothic leisure center’ headquarters in San Francisco.

The Bay Area’s Mt. Diablo is getting 22 new bicycle turnouts allowing bike riders to avoid drivers on blind curves, adding to the 17 already built, with another 28 still to come.

A Sacramento driver faces DUI and drug possession charges for allegedly killing a 36-year old bike rider while driving stoned.

Sad news from Stanislaus County, where an 11-year old boy was killed when he reportedly turned directly in front of an oncoming car.

 

National

Outside rates the best skid lids for road, gravel and mountain biking.

Politico says if you’re in the market for a new bike, you’d better act fast before Biden’s new China tariffs kick in.

A Portland photographer captures the city’s vibrant bike scene. Meanwhile, Portland bike riders will have to keep their pants on for another year, after organizers canceled this year’s ride.

Just hours after announcing an expanded schedule for Seattle’s carfree Bicycle Weekend program, it was pared back on orders from the Mayor’s office.

The New York City comptroller may team with other stakeholders to file suit to fight the governor’s attempt to block the congestion pricing plan that was supposed to go into effect at the end of the month.

This is the cost of traffic violence. Longtime DC-area bicycle and LGBTQ+ activist Scott Binde was killed when he was struck by a driver while riding his bike near Frederick MD; he was 64. Note to Alexandria Times — There’s a good chance there may have been a driver in that Toyota 4Runner that ran him down. 

 

International

Momentum celebrates the beauty and utility of upright bikes.

Electrek highlights the best finds from the recent Micromobility Europe 2024, including a hydrogen-powered ebike.

Bike Index co-founder Bryan Hance has tracked many of the West Coast’s high-end stolen bikes to a bicycle theft pipeline leading directly to one man in Jalisco, Mexico.

Vancouver custom bikemaker Paul Brodie displays some of his unique new designs in a show that’s part bike show and part art gallery.

London’s war on cars is heating up, as the city’s mayor vows to ticket one million speeding drivers by the end of the year, interfering with their God-given right to go “zoom zoom” to their hearts content, speed laws be damned.

No surprise here, as the wife of a US spy who fled the UK under diplomatic cover after the wrong-way, hit-and-run death of a 19-year old London motorcyclist failed to show up for a four-day inquest into his death; she has refused to return to the country, despite receiving an eight-month suspended sentence in exchange for pleading guilty over video.

A British police inquest can’t figure out whether a driver’s failure to look, or the victim’s lack of a helmet and hi-viz are to blame for an “unavoidable” collision that killed a popular bike club member. Although it sounds like they think that unavoidable crash could have been avoided.

A Singapore ebike delivery rider was spotted riding without the required helmet and license number, and with a sticker reading “Fuck LTA,” an abbreviation for the island city/state’s Land Transit Authority — which could allow other road users to file a police report for harassment for “potentially offensive content.”

 

Competitive Cycling

Britain’s Royal Parks Service cancelled a pair of time trials scheduled for London’s Richmond Park next month over fears competitors would break the park’s 20 mph speed limit; this comes after an elderly woman was killed by a speeding bicyclist while crossing a park street.

Jennifer Valente and Chloé Dygert will anchor the US track cycling team at next month’s Paris Olympic Games.

The women’s Tour de France, aka Le Tour de France Femmes, will expand from eight to nine stages next year, with a grand depart in Brittany.

Um, okay. UCI, cycling’s governing body, will try giving out yellow cards to offending riders to improve safety; no action will be taken against recipients now, but riders could face a seven-day suspension after the first of the year. Because that works so well in soccer, evidently.

 

Finally…

When you’re freelancing as a hit man, always ride an ebike. That feeling when you get an Olympic medal, after just 124 years.

And this, sadly, is who we share the road with.

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

Oh, and fuck Putin

Just 205 days left until Los Angeles fails to meet its Vision Zero pledge to eliminate traffic deaths by 2025.

Stop what you’re doing and sign this petition demanding Mayor Bass hold a public meeting to listen to the dangers we all face on the city’s mean streets.

Then share it — and keep sharing it — with everyone you know, on every platform you can.

We’re up to 1,195 signatures, so don’t stop now! Let’s get it up to 1,200 before I send it to the mayor’s office!

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Seriously, guys, get a clue.

According to KTLA-5, a group of teenagers on ebikes tormented nighttime revelers at the Hermosa Pier Saturday night, setting off illegal fireworks in and around families and adults out enjoying the evening, resulting in a number of minor injuries.

They also caused damage to businesses along Pier Avenue, forcing patrons on the patio of Sharkeez bar to evacuate, as well as hitting a woman in the face with a firework.

I don’t care how immature they may be or how much the city considers cracking down on teen ebikers, there’s just no excuse for that kind of behavior.

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The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted to set new rules governing ebikes in the county, with four new categories of ebikes based on maximum speeds and the amount of power they’re able to generate.

They also require helmets for anyone over 16 riding a class 3 ebike, while banning anyone under 16 from riding them, and prohibiting multiple people riding on a single bike.

The new rules also prohibit riding more than two abreast on county roads, and set a maximum 28 mph speed limit for bicycles.

But only the state has the power to set traffic regulations, so where the new county regulations conflict with state law — such as limiting the number of people who can ride abreast, or setting bicycle speed limits that differ from that for motor vehicle — they are probably illegal and unenforceable.

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A Vancouver, British Columbia newspaper goes all in on calling out reckless bicycle and ebike riders in a series of articles.

• A columnist writes that responses to an earlier column she wrote about the poor behavior of bicyclists on a local multi-use path showed that virtually every reader was frustrated by the “Wild West” that’s developed on the trail.
• A lifelong bike commuter says the writer’s call to do something before someone gets hurt comes too late, after her horrific crash with another bicyclist shows the need for a traffic circle on the pathway.
• Another woman writes that an inattentive rider on a racing bike crashed into her, her friend and her young daughter, apologetically landing directly on top of the little girl.
• A man writes that some bike riders treat other trail users as badly as drivers treat them. That’s something I’ve long noticed here in Los Angeles, too, confirming my belief that there are always assholes among us, regardless of how we or they travel. And those of us who pose the greater risk to others have the greater responsibility to look out for their safety.
• And an off-and-on bicyclist says yes, speed is intoxicating, but it shouldn’t trump courtesy — and it’s time for a little accountability.

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Bike Talk has a very busy show this week.

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Active Towns talks with Streets For All founder Michael Schneider.

https://twitter.com/ActiveTowns/status/1799519512267563062

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It’s now 171 days since the California ebike incentive program’s latest failure to launch, which was promised no later than fall 2023. And three full years since it was approved by the legislature and signed into law — and counting.

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

No bias here. A Boston city councilor is taking fire for conducting a public hearing, and only selecting commenters who agreed with his opposition to bus and bike lanes. Sort of like former CD1 Councilmember Gil Cedillo did during the sham public meetings on the North Figueroa road diet.

No bias here, either. The London Telegraph worries that new half-ton articulated electric cargo bikes could pose a danger to pedestrians. Because evidently, the multi-ton cargo trucks they’re set to replace don’t. 

Residents of an English town are complaining about signs closing a bike lane and telling bike riders to dismount, arguing that no one ever tells drivers to get out of their cars and push.

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

A bike rider in Denton, Texas faces charges after breaking a driver’s windshield wipers, busting her side mirror and spitting on her window, causing $1,000 in damage, after allegedly crashing into her car while making a wide turn. And never mind the meth he was caught with.

The mayor of New York announced a crackdown on ebikes after a reckless hit-and-run rider just kept going after breaking the leg of a prominent rabbi. But he couldn’t seem to be bothered when the state’s governor cancelled the city’s congestion pricing plan in a blatantly political ploy. 

Speeding bicyclists are accused of forcing the closure of London’s Billionaires’ Row, the city’s most expensive residential street. Although something tells me they would have found another excuse if blaming bike riders wasn’t such a popular theme these days.

Residents of Glasgow, Scotland called for delivery riders to be forced to wear numbered jackets in an effort to hold them accountable, accusing them of bad behavior and removing the speed limitation devices on their ebikes.

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Local 

The South Pasadena city council voted narrowly to keep the bike lanes on Grand Ave in place, after a heavy turnout of bicyclists calling for their retention.

Metro’s Adopt-A-Bike program shares unclaimed bicycles that have been abandoned or recovered on the transit system.

As we’ve noted before, Caltrans is looking for your feedback on proposed bike lanes on PCH in Long Beach.

 

State

Sad news from Fresno, where a 40-year old man was killed Friday night when a truck driver rear-ended his bicycle. But at least the driver stuck around afterwards.

 

National

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that American teens are continuing to ride ebikes, even after they’re old enough to drive. Read it on MSN to get around the paper’s draconian paywall.

A writer for Electrek tested a hydrogen-powered ebike, and barely even noticed.

Bike Shop Girl looks at the effect of Biden’s new 25% tariff on Chinese-made ebikes, kids’ bikes and other key bike-specific parts. And it ain’t pretty.

A Portland, Oregon monthly says bike commuting is rebounding in the city after a rare dip last year, as people return to the office after working from home.

Anchorage, Alaska is experimenting with a pilot protected bike lane project, in an attempt to improve the city’s transportation system and the downtown area.

Congratulations to a Colorado boy who biked to school every single day of middle school.

Boston social media accounts are attempting to shame drivers who park in bike lanes. Then again, if they had any shame, they probably wouldn’t park in bike lanes to begin with.

New Orleans celebrated the World Naked Bike Ride on Saturday, with dozens of people turning out in various states of undress. And wipe down the damn seat afterwards if you’re using bikeshare.

Heartbreaking story from Florida, where a mother found her own son lying dead on the side of the road, just a block from their home, when he didn’t return after riding his bike home from work; the driver just kept going after veering into the bike lane where he was riding.

 

International

Bicyclists in Winnipeg, Manitoba expressed their outrage after a 61-year old man was killed in a hot-and-run while riding a bicycle, with dozens participating in a sit-in at the site of the crash. That compares with Los Angeles, where a few people sometimes express mild annoyance in the comment section following a fatal hit-and-run. If there even is a comment section. 

In a cheeky move, the London edition of the World Naked Bike Ride went directly in front of Buckingham Palace. No word on whether King Chuck came out to take it in. 

Where to ride your bike in Belfast on your next trip to Northern Ireland.

The Channel Island of Guernsey saw a 74% increase in bicycle traffic during the island’s Alternative Transportation Week. Now they just have to make it Alternative Transportation Year. And Decade. And Century.

Michal Sadílek of the Czech Republic’s national soccer team is one of us. But probably wishes he wasn’t right now, since he’ll miss the European Championship after injuring his leg while riding his bicycle. Meanwhile, former 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Mike Conway knows just how he feels, since the broken ribs and collarbone he suffered in a bicycling crash will keep him out of this year’s race.

A 25-year old soccer player from Indian has quit her team, and is instead setting out to attempt a new world’s record for the fast ride around the world.

A Chinese woman riding her bike through Thailand has reportedly been kidnapped, with her captors demanding 25 million baht for her safe return — a tad less than $679,000.

A Philippine paper remembers the country’s bicycling priest of peace.

 

Competitive Cycling

Twenty-one-year old Israeli pro cyclist Guy Timor was killed by an unlicensed drunk driver trying to flee from police, while on his final training ride before leaving for the Czech Republic for a Grand Prix competition.

Bike Radar asks if gravel racing is saving the US cycling scene, as road racing continue to shrivel.

There’s a special place in hell for whoever stole all 14 Ribble Endurance SLR bikes being used by the UK’s Lifeplus-Wahoo bike team in the Tour of Britain, worth more than $63,000 in total.

 

Finally…

Seriously, don’t call the equivalent of 911 just because a pedal fell off your bike. That feeling when your bike seat pumps along with your butt cheeks. Nothing like casually wrapping an invasive Burmese python around your handlebars to save an alligator’s ass.

And, um, just…well, okay.

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

Oh, and fuck Putin