In his State of the City address, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a boost in Vision Zero funding, from a paltry $3 million up to $17 million.
Although that’s still a far cry from the $155 million New York spends on Vision Zero each year.
And as CD11 Councilmember Mike Bonin made clear, it’s not nearly enough.
………
This one sounds like fun.
Adam Ginsberg reminds us that there’s still time to register for this Sunday’s City of Angels Charity/Fun Ride benefitting the UCLA Blood & Platelet Center.
After all, how often do you get a tour of LA with a police escort, and the intersections corked by cops?
………
Newport Beach police don’t have to look very far in their quest to crack down on violations that threaten the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians, after one of their own officers collided with a bike rider Thursday afternoon.
The victim was reported to be conscious and breathing when he was taken to a local hospital.
And unlike the LA County Sheriff’s Department, which insisted on investigating its own deputy in the crash that killed Milt Olin, the NBPD has wisely handed the investigation over to the CHP.
………
In case you’ve forgotten, CD1 Councilmember Gil Cedillo was for bike lanes before he was against them.
Then again, that’s when he was running for council the first time and thought he needed our votes.
………
Apparently, aggressive riding is okay, but punching another rider isn’t, as Ukrainian cyclist Andriy Grivko gets a 45 day ban for slugging Marcel Kittel during a race.
The probe into British Cycling continues, as an outside investigator delves into their medical records.
………
Local
The long-delayed Los Angeles State Historic Park will open this Saturday on the east edge of Chinatown in DTLA.
The Metro Bike bikeshare has hit 134,000 rides through March since its launch July 7th, but is still far below their target goal of two rides a day per bike.
Caught on video: CiclaValley captures what happens when Waze intersects with trash day on a narrow roadway.
West Covina police will patrol the city’s parks on bikes to address concerns over the homeless population.
A suspected bike thief apparently got away from sheriff’s deputies in Newhall by taking to the rooftops in his effort to escape, although they did recover three bicycles during the search. I just wish there was an armed response like that every time someone steals a bike.
Rotterdam comes to Santa Monica to talk bikes May 3rd.
State
The San Diego Padres’ annual fundraising ride will cross the Coronado Bay Bridge for the first time this fall.
Palm Springs bicyclists rode to city hall in support of the proposed 50-mile CV Link bike path, in the face of opposition from the city’s mayor.
A Monterey woman describes how she won a Brompton bike race wearing a plaid skirt, while Monterey bike shop owners explain how they’re adapting to a rapidly changing marketplace.
A Stanford postdoctoral fellow considers the problem of distracted drivers, and how they can keep women from riding their bikes.
National
You may never have to carry a spare tube or patch kit again — if you can get used to the strange looks you’ll get.
The Today Show considers how to find the right bikes and accessories for any rider.
A government website looks at how technology can help eliminate traffic deaths.
A new Portland video asks people how many traffic deaths and injuries would be acceptable for their own families, then asks if that should be the goal for everyone.
A bighearted 11-year old Wyoming girl won a new bicycle at an Easter egg hunt over the weekend. But instead of riding it home, she turned around and gave it to another girl who needed one.
Three Michigan police agencies deny charges in a federal report that they could have done more to prevent the Kalamazoo massacre, despite failing to respond to three calls warning about the stoned driver as he careened down the road for 22 minutes before the fatal crash.
The rich get richer. New York continues to get safer for bicyclists, as Brooklyn’s busiest business corridor is about to get a bike and pedestrian-friendly makeover. And plans are underway to install 24 blocks of protected bike lanes along iconic 7th Avenue.
International
A British man shares the lessons he learned bicycling around the world for seven years, including that strangers will open their doors for you, and Iran is a much better place than people make it sound.
If you still aren’t convinced, London’s Telegraph offers eight stats that show why you should bike to work — like being less likely to need Viagra in your 50s. The Telegraph also gives a glowing review of the $35,000 Bugatti urban bike without actually bothering to ride it.
London cyclists complain that a study showing bike commuting cuts your risk of cancer by 41% doesn’t take into account the dirty air they have to breathe.
Caught on video too: A British bike advocate’s camera is stolen as he’s recording cars parking in a bike lane, then smashed to bits by the thief after a brief chase.
Belfast’s successful bikeshare system is being put at risk as more than one-third of the bikes have been stolen or put out of action by vandals.
An Aussie cyclist urges other riders not to react to aggressive or threatening drivers. Which may be good advice, but it’s a lot easier said than done when you’ve just had the crap scared out of you.
As China’s dockless bike bikeshare systems expand into new cities, bike abuse and vandalism follow.
Finally…
If you’re going to use your cruiser bike as a getaway vehicle after a double-barreled bank robbery, at least hide the damn thing afterwards. Before you headbutt someone who won’t loan you his bicycle, make sure he actually owns one.
And an Aussie writer says don’t do things that could kill you. Which pretty much eliminates everything other than staying in bed all day.
Except that can kill you, too.
