Evidently, 2014 is getting off to a challenging start.
Following a year in which Los Angeles had the lowest number of homicides in nearly 50 years, the city suffered its first homicide of the new year early Sunday morning.
And it was a bike rider who got killed.
According to the LA Times, 46-year old Don Johnson was riding his bike southward on the 10000 block of South Main Street in South LA around 12:20 am when an unknown assailant walked up and shot him multiple times; KABC-7 says a witness heard six shots.
Johnson was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
KTLA-5 reports he was shot as he rode in front of a church, most likely the Holy Pathway Missionary Church; he was apparently riding in the bike lane visible on the street leading up to the church.
A report on KNBC-4 — which does not appear to be available online — suggested that authorities suspect it was a gang-related shooting, though there was no indication Johnson was a gang member.
He may have just been the wrong person, in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
And paid for it with his life.
Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators at 213/465-4341 or 877/527-3247, or submit anonymous tips at 800/222-8477.
My prayers for Don Johnson and his loved ones.
………
A bike rider is in critical condition in a Pasadena hospital, the apparent result of a solo crash. And sadly, authorities have no idea who he is.
The Pasadena Star-News reports the victim, identified only as a white male in his 20’s, was found lying in the roadway on Glenullen Drive at Malcom Drive just before 3 pm Saturday. Police initially suspected hit-and-run, but concluded the victim probably lost control riding downhill and crashed into a tree.
He was not carrying identification, and was unable to speak due to major head injuries.
And no, he was not wearing a helmet. However, there is no way of telling if one would have made a difference in this case, though it probably wouldn’t have hurt.
This should also be a reminder to everyone to carry — or wear — ID every time you ride.
Best wishes for the victim for a full and fast recovery.
………
An unidentified San Diego cyclist may see justice after all.
According to San Diego’s NBC-7, 50-year old Douglas Lane faces a felony count of reckless driving with injury for his part in an October road rage incident that left a bike rider seriously injured as collateral damage.
The ironically named Lane was reportedly jockeying for lane position with another driver on State Route 67 just north of Poway Road where two northbound lanes merged into one. Lane lost control of his truck when the vehicles sideswiped one another, and swerved into the bike lane where he hit a 38-year old woman participating in the Pedal the Cause bike ride.
Neither the victim, who was hospitalized with major non-life-threatening injuries, nor the other driver has been publicly identified.
Both vehicles continued without stopping; earlier reports indicated Lane had no idea he’d hit anyone.
He was arrested Saturday, though the warrant was issued in mid-November, and booked on $50,000 bond.
……….
Thankfully, not all the news is bad.
In fact, when it comes to the economic benefits of bicycling, it looks pretty damn good.
……….
Don’t forget to voice your opinion — either online or in person this Wednesday — on the necessity of putting bike lanes on Santa Monica Blvd in the Biking Grey Hole of Beverly Hills when the iconic boulevard undergoes reconstruction in 2015.
……….
Nice profile of Long Beach bike advocate Melissa Balmer and the new statewide Pedal Love Project, described in the story as a love letter to California bike culture.
………
The San Diego Bicycle Coalition moved to new offices on Friday. By bike, of course.
………
Hats off to Burbank, which hasn’t had a bicycling fatality in the last two years, and just one pedestrian death last year, down from two in 2011.
………
Finally, royal in-law Pippa Middleton clips in for the first time, and likes it. Meanwhile, another rider admits to turning into a royal jerk whenever she slips onto the saddle.
And we wonder why some people hate us.
