Once again, CABO — the California Association of Bicycling Organizations, not to be confused with the California Bicycle Coalition — has come out in opposition to a measure that would benefit the overwhelming majority of bike riders in the state.
AB 1193 would legalize protected bike lanes, which are currently considered experimental under California law, creating a fourth class of bikeways in the state to go along with Class 1 off-road bike paths, Class 2 bike lanes, and Class 3 bike routes.
The bill, sponsored by the CBC, would require Caltrans to work with local jurisdictions to establish minimum safety requirements for protected, or separated, bike lanes, rather than rely on Caltrans’ antiquated rules that have severely limited innovation and safety.
I have no doubt CABO is sincere in their opposition, which appears to be based on maintaining the overly conservative Caltrans standards they helped create.
But their opposition stands in the way of encouraging more people to get on their bikes, and improving safety for all road users. And gives needless support to those in the legislature who oppose bicycling and bike infrastructure in general.
Instead of opposing a very good and necessary bill, they should find a way to support it. Or at the very least, stay neutral.
Or they will continue to find themselves out of step with most riders, and further marginalized in a state where the CBC has become the voice of mainstream bicycling.
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A Pasadena bike rider is assualted and robbed by passing motorists, possibly at gunpoint.
Nice. LA’s Milestone Rides prepares to ride from Vancouver to San Francisco.
State
San Diego City Beat goes drinking with BikeSD advocate Sam Ollinger.
The inaugural Big Bear Cycling Festival rolls at the end of next month.
A pipe bomb is found next to a Pacific Grove bike trail. The question is, did someone just hide it here, or were they targeting bike riders?
National
Good read, as Vice Sports says you can kill anyone with your car, as long as you don’t really mean it.
Great ideas never die. Okay, sometimes. But the self-inflating bike tire is back after a six year absence.
Utah will put rolling billboards on six semi-trucks to promote the state’s three-foot passing law. But will the drivers practice what they preach?
Two New Mexico bike riders find a missing 9-year old girl.
Biased much? A Denver TV station says cyclists are at fault in several bike vs car collisions, but fails to back it up in any way.
If you want to get away with murder, use a car. A Philadelphia judge acquits a driver of vehicular manslaughter for running down his bike-riding romantic rival.
A North Carolina bike lawyer explains why it’s often safer to ride abreast.
International
Paris’ Velib bike share system has added kids bikes to their rental fleet.
German bike rider poses for photos atop wrecked cars.
The Deutschland high court wisely rules that not wearing a helmet is not contributory negligence in the event of a collision; I’m told some American juries are starting to find otherwise.
Finally…
Sidi unveils a new camo mountain bike shoe. You know, for all those cyclists who want to be even less visible when they ride. Then again, whenever I see someone wearing camo, I want to walk up to them and say “I can totally see you.”
And a Brit lawyer insists his client really is remorseful, despite saying “Shit happens, life goes on” after being convicted of killing a five-year old bike rider while driving at over twice the speed limit.
Big heart, that guy.
