More responses to the Governors Highway Safety Association’s report on bicycle safety, which we discussed here yesterday.
Bike Portland digs deep into the stats to show the report just doesn’t add up. Streetsblog says despite what the report says, the bike boom has been fantastic for bike safety.
The Alliance for Biking and Walking says those scary numbers the report cited for California add up to just 6.3 deaths per 10,000 bike commuters in the state, and that the real scary data is how little states spend on bike and pedestrian safety.
The Bike League says the tone deaf press release doesn’t even mention speeding or driving behavior, and yes, bicycle safety is a national issue. And People for Bikes suggests that the safety in numbers effect means biking has been getting dramatically safer as Americans ride more.
On the other hand, KPCC’s Airtalk keeps it superficial in discussing the matter.
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The State of California is updating its Strategic Highway Safety Plan, described as a “holistic, statewide plan” that coordinates the efforts of a wide range of organizations to reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries on the state’s roadways.
There are currently over 400 stakeholders participating in the process, from state and federal agencies to police departments, regional transportation agencies, tribal governments and private individuals.
As part of the update process, a Southern California summit will be held to collect public input on how to improve safety on the state’s roadways.
November 12, 2014 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. California State University, Los Angeles Golden Eagle Student UnionAdvance registration is required no later than November 5th at
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1821831/California-SHSP-Development-Summits
Thanks to Alan for the heads-up.
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LocalMetro gets the ball rolling on South LA’s much needed Rail to River bikeway.
A writer for City Watch bizarrely asks if LA’s walkable streets and bike lanes are only for the creative class, before arguing that the streets will be incomplete if they don’t include street food vendors.
Writing for Streetsblog, former city council candidate Odysseus Bostick asks if Los Angeles can fix roads and sidewalks, invest in rail and bike share, and complete other needed infrastructure projects without raising taxes. Good question.
State
After five long years, Newport Beach unanimously approved the new Bicycle Master Plan. Maybe this will finally provide some much needed safety improvements down there.
San Diego plans to change the way residents get to work in the next 21 years.
A San Jose State University art exhibit documents a student’s bike tour down Highway 1.
National
Auto-centric magazine Road & Track surprisingly admits America is losing the war on distracted driving.
A cyclist rides a single speed from LA to Charleston SC in 27 days to raise awareness of human trafficking.
You can have Kevin Costner’s bike from American Flyers for a cool $40 grand. No offense, but for that price you can have damn near any bike you want.
Great idea, as the University of Louisville gives over 1,000 students $400 vouchers redeemable at local bike shops when they agree not to buy a campus parking permit for at least two years. Are you listening, parking-challenged UCLA?
A DC website asks if city residents will be willing to make the unpopular decisions necessary for Vision Zero to succeed. LA needs to ask itself the same question, now that it’s finally official policy here.
International
Cycling Weekly offers advice on how to ride in the rain, which is about as much winter as we ever get around here.
British employers should do more to ensure bike safety, as a significant proportion of road deaths and injuries are caused by work vehicles.
London’s Express offers ten, uh, make that six tips for safe winter riding.
Cycling Central argues that women riders don’t need their own Tour de France, but should have a pro tour of their own somewhere else. Probably because that would make it easier for TV and the press to ignore.
Bicycling is even booming in the land of Putin, as Russian cyclists bring bike culture to Moscow.
Life is cheap in Singapore, as a driver gets a whopping two weeks in jail for the death of a cyclist. But at least he won’t be driving — legally, anyway — for the next three years.
Finally…
No bikes involved, as Michigan man in a zombie costume tries to scare passing motorists, with predictable results; police are still looking for the driver. Speaking of which, you’ll need this bike for the coming zombie apocalypse.
And Cycling in the South Bay’s Seth Davidson reports on the 2nd Annual South Bay Cycling Awards in his own inimitable style, tongue planted deeply in cheek.
