Tag Archive for Los Angeles

Morning Links: Unlocked bike recovered in SaMo, PCH bike lane in the ‘Bu, major Riverside hit-and-run

 
Local

Someone found an apparently lost and unlocked bike at 3rd and Bay St in Santa Monica around 7:30 am Sunday. If you think it might be yours, respond on Craigslist with a description, or tweet @2Laure.

Call it Coastal-geddon. A traffic lane will be closed on northbound PCH in west Malibu to install a bike lane. Yes, a bike lane on PCH.

Props to Malibu/Lost Hills sheriff’s deputies, who hosted a 62-mile bike Honor Ride as part of Ride2Recovery.

 

State

A cyclist was left with significant injuries following a Riverside hit-and-run early Sunday morning. Police are looking for a silver or beige SUV, similar to a Ford Flex, with major damage to the windshield and front end. The victim, 27-year old D’Andre Sutherland, remains on life support.

Eastvale considers a new bike plan to deal with a dangerous non-network of unconnected bike lanes.

The Warm Showers network offers touring cyclists a free place to stay with other riders.

Most of the 130-plus recovered bikes remain unclaimed despite a Marin County viewing over the weekend.

 

National

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are collaborating on a new movie about a bike messenger in WWII. And no, neither of them play the 14-year old messenger.

Momentum magazine asks if everyday bicycling can make you happier. Well, duh.

A bike-hating writer for the Washington Post grudgingly goes for a ride with a group of cyclists. And comes away with a modicum of grudging respect.

 

International

A plan for an elevated bike freeway rears its ugly head once again, this time in Melbourne. A similar plan was recently criticized into oblivion in London; one of the advantages of bicycling is the way it connects us to the city around us, rather than limiting access and removing riders from it.

A Melbourne mountain bike rider slashes the tires of over 100 cars.

An anonymous Aussie donor replaces two boy’s bikes after they were stolen while shopping briefly at Kmart.

Malaysian advocates work to turn Kuala Lumpur into Asia’s latest cycling city.

 

Finally…

Caught on video: A UK rider tries to follow a car through a traffic barricade, and fails. And a Brit student leaves a note for a “douchebag bike thief” claiming the theft was caught on video and tracked by GPS, and demanding the bike’s return. Even if it’s just a bluff, it’s a damn good one.

 

Weekend Links: Welcome a new sponsor to BikinginLA; good advice for drivers and cyclists from Long Beach

I hope you’ll join me in welcoming new sponsor AnyKicks, a Kickstarter project from an LA cyclist that promises to let you use any shoes with clipless pedals.

It’s a smart idea; I could use a set myself since I always ride clipless, but often find myself having to carry another pair of shoes for meetings or walking after I arrive at my destination. They still have a long way to go to meet the $30,000 goal, though, with only 25 days left to do it.

So take a moment to click on the link above or the ad over there on the right.

And let’s push this one over the top.

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And let that be a reminder.

If you have a product or service to promote, BikinginLA offers an affordable and highly targeted way to reach bike riders of all kinds here in Southern California and around the world. Ads are available in various sizes and on your choice of pages, whether long or short term. Email the address on the link above for more information.

And of course, donations to support this site are always welcome and greatly appreciated.

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Great pair of articles from Brian Addison of Longbeachize tell both bicyclists and drivers to just stop, already — stop riding on the sidewalk, riding salmon and being an ass, and stop honking, yelling at cyclists and saying “I didn’t see you.”

Seriously, good advice on both sides of the great roadway divide. And something we should all take to heart.

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Metrolink offers a new animated safety video reminding cyclists to stop for trains — and wait until the gate rises in case there’s another train coming.

Important advice, but for some reason, this one misses the mark for me.

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Local

KPCC’s Air Talk looks at the Milt Olin case and the electronic distractions facing law enforcement officers.

The LACBC’s Jen Klausner talks distracted driving and cyclist education with LA Magazine.

Streetsblog reviews the New Streets of LA panel discussion at the Levi’s Commuter pop-up in DTLA.

Rick Risemberg says better infrastructure will get more people to ride, not discounts tied to an LACBC membership. Though I’d hardly call a $35 annual membership pricey.

KCET profiles LA cyclist Daniela Sarmina.

Cycling in the South Bay says cyclists make the worst advocates, which is why Malibu is planning to meet you more than half way Sunday morning.

 

State

A new bill would remove a legal loophole allowing drivers to buy their way out of hit-and-run charges.

The OC Register says it’s time to end bike registration laws. That’s me nodding in agreement; too often registration is just used to harass bike riders.

A Palm Springs security guard photographs a bike thief in action.

Marin County puts a large cache of recovered stolen bikes on display in hopes the owners can reclaim them.

 

National

Bicycling offers six practical tips to teach anyone to ride.

A 70-year old cyclist hopes to beat her own record in the Leadville 100 mountain bike race.

An Illinois cyclist says he was deliberately run off the road by an angry driver; as usual, the motorist in question tells a completely different story.

Cleveland plans to convert abandoned streetcar routes into cycle tracks.

A writer for the Boston Globe looks at the joys of group rides.

No bias here. New Orleans police decide not to file charges against a truck driver who fatally right hooked a cyclist despite failing to speak with a single witness.

 

International

No matter how pissed off you are, don’t punch out another cyclist riding with his daughter. Just don’t.

A road raging UK driver gets 18 months for viciously strangling a cyclist after demanding £50 for non-existent damage when the rider inadvertently touched his wing mirror. Not to mention he never should have been passing close enough for that to happen.

Families of two fallen cyclists call for stiffer penalties for dangerous drivers; shockingly, the drunk/drugged driver who killed them had just gotten back on the road despite 67 previous convictions.

 

Finally…

A Lycra-clad Gordon Ramsey strips to the waist after a power ride through the Palisades. Karma strikes back, as a Dublin bike thief has his own bike stolen the morning of his trial; another hot Dublin bike was somehow sniffed out by the owner’s dog.

And in a case of really not getting the joke, the Manhattan DA issues a subpoena to discover the secret identity of the person behind the Bike Lobby Twitter account, evidently failing — as did AP and the New York Post — to realize it’s a parody account.

Sounds like maybe Manhattan needs a new DA.

 

Morning Links: Possible Olin cover-up, USC students launch Nutlock, and the other cyclist from my hometown

The LA Times updates the lack of action in the Milt Olin case, killed by an LA County Sheriff’s Deputy while riding on Mulholland Highway last December.

The story offers one bit of new information, reporting that an initial examination of the driver’s cell phone showed no activity at the time of the crash, while phone records later showed he had texted six times in the minutes leading up to it.

Which suggests that the texts may have been erased from the phone in an attempt to cover it up — or that someone may have ignored evidence on the phone pointing to his guilt.

Meanwhile, Salon is the first national news source to pick up the story, noting that texting while driving is illegal in California. But they fail to note the exemption for on-duty emergency workers, which could explain why the DA’s office can’t seem to find anything to charge him with.

This one was forwarded from multiple sources, so thanks to everyone who sent it for the heads-up; thanks to Hwy 39 for the Salon link.

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USC students unveil an innovative new wheel lock to help prevent wheel theft and eliminate the need to lock them in addition to the frame. Security is enhanced by plans to create multiple key designs to prevent thieves from simply buying a set to unlock the wheels.

After just two days, their Kickstarter campaign has already raised over $10,000 towards the $15,000 goal. A pledge of just $25 dollars will get you a pair of Nutlocks of your very own.

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The other famous cyclist from my hometown, Teejay van Garderen, will defend his USA Pro Challenge title later this month. Former next big thing pro cyclist Joe Dombrowski has vascular surgery to try and get his leg strength back.

And Peter Sagan may not be headed to Tinkoff-Saxo after all. Update: Yes, he is.

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Local

The LACBC invites you to attend Hot August Bikes at Hollywood’s Amoeba Records on Sunday, the 17th.

London Bridge may not be falling down, but the Riverside Figueroa Bridge is. Or being dismantled, anyway.

No irony here, as Beverly Hills promotes heart health while fighting bike lanes and discouraging bike riding in the city.

Santa Monica gets $4.4 million to improves streets and implement their Bike Action Plan.

Proposed Glendale Green Streets could include bike lanes. And a smart OpEd in the Glendale News-Press patiently explains why motorists are a bigger danger than cyclists.

 

State

Measuring traffic flow by automotive throughput — aka Level of Service — is now officially a thing of the past in California.

BikeSD makes a public call for the resignation of the chair of the city’s Uptown Planners group.

A 73-year old San Diego cyclist suffers major head trauma in a head-on collision with another rider.

Mobile bike repair service comes to San Diego.

BART hopes new signs will keep bike riders from breaking the rules.

 

National

The problem with Share the Road campaigns.

If you want to get cyclists off the sidewalk, build bike lanes.

Wearing headphones when you ride may not be smart, but it’s safer than driving with the windows rolled up.

East Texas cyclists start a safety campaign reminding drivers that bike riders are people, too.

A reminder that a new bike path isn’t any good if it’s not maintained, like this one in New Jersey.

A former American Gladiator allegedly flattens a pedestrian while riding in New York’s Central Park.

To protect and serve (pizza). Baltimore bike cops go above and beyond by delivering pizza to a seriously injured cyclist after she’s released from the hospital; link via Bicycling magazine.

The Baltimore airport opens a 12.5 mile bike path, complete with bike share to entertain waiting passengers and employees.

Kill a bike rider in Florida, and lose your license for a whopping six months.

 

International

A Vancouver motorist drives down a protected bike lane, then right crosses a cyclist after leaving it.

Evidently, a unanimous vote of Toronto’s city council doesn’t mean any more than it does here, as they voted for a separated bike lane that never gets built. Sort of like bike lanes on Lankershim, Westwood and North Figueroa.

A London grocery truck gets outfitted with 360-degree cameras in an effort to protect bike riders.

Caught on video: A London bike rider captures a first-person view of a cut-off collision; fortunately, he survived the brutal impact.

Lovely Bicycle meditates on a ghost bike for a 16-year old Irish rider.

A new Chinese bike helmet promises to be a combination turn signal and mood ring for your head.

 

Finally…

After a six-year old Portland girl posts a sign shaming the thieves that stole her dad’s bikes, the publicity helps get them back. After repeatedly giving a Texas man with Asperger’s Syndrome a ride to work, local police pitch in to buy him a bicycle; now that’s class.

And Austrian police tell a naked bike rider to put her damn clothes on, already.

 

Morning Links: KABC talks with Laura Weintraub; great video and photos from Brentwood Grand Prix

After dealing with breaking news for the last couple days, we’ve got a lot to catch up on. So let’s get right to it.

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KABC-7 talks with former bike-hater Laura Weintraub in the wake of yesterday’s new video calling for greater understanding and a détente between cyclists and drivers.

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A panel discussion at the new Levi’s pop-up store in DTLA this Thursday will consider making LA a more livable city.

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LA’s own former national crit champ Rasaan Bahati narrates his on-bike video of the last laps of Sunday’s Brentwood Grand Prix, while Echelon Design offers some incredible photos of the race.

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Sounds like fun. FAME FEST promises a street-long bike fest and scavenger hunt along famed Melrose Avenue this Sunday.

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England’s Montague Bikes is offering you a chance to win a 7-speed folding road bike.

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Local

Despite earlier bike and sidewalk-free design recommendations, current projections favor bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides of the redesigned Glendale-Hyperion Bridge.

A new road diet and bike lanes finally goes in on Figueroa St. But on south, not Gil Cedillo’s needlessly controversial north, Fig.

The Times’ Steve Lopez asks why an 86-year old cyclist can’t get the dangerous alley behind her home fixed.

CicLAvia begins outreach for October’s ride through Boyle Heights.

A HuffPo writer points out the perils of biking in New York and LA.

Santa Monica Spoke invites you to the Grand Opening of a new Dutch and folding bike shop.

Damien Newton asks if SaMo is ready for Vision Zero; ready or not, every city and state must resolve to eliminate traffic deaths.

Walk Bike Glendale responds to an anti-bike OpEd in the local paper.

 

State

A reminder that women face risks on the road that most male riders don’t, as a San Diego woman is assaulted while riding home from a bar.

A north San Diego area cyclist chases down the hit-and-run driver who ran down his wife.

A Sacramento man is arrested after attempting to stone a bike rider.

Cyclists enjoy a bike tour of historic sites in Napa.

Ten great NorCal bike rides.

 

National

Funding for bicycling and pedestrian projects will continue at current levels under the new Federal transportation budget. That’s the good news and the bad.

Are drivers and cyclists really natural enemies?

Caught on video: A extremely close call with a motorcyclist offers a reminder to always look behind you — and signal — before turning across a traffic lane. And a bike rider reminds us never to tailgate after crashing into a backhoe.

A Massachusetts man loses 200 pounds through cyclocross racing.

A Florida rider fights for his right to take the lane, but unlike California, local state law may not support him.

 

International

Popular young rider Peter Sagan jumps ship, while Tour de France champ Vincenzo Nibali sets his sights on the world championships.

Caught on video: This is why you need a bike cam, as a UK driver faces multiple charges for fleeing the scene after hitting a cam-equipped cyclist head-on.

London buses will test two new systems to alert drivers to cyclists in their path.

A globe-trotting American cyclist may be buried in Russia after no one comes forward to claim his body.

Don’t spit on other road users, no matter how mad you might get. Just don’t.

 

Finally…

An upstate New York man learns the hard way why it’s unwise to confront an ax-murderer wannabe over a $100 stolen bike. A New Jersey writer apologizes for berating the kid who stole his bike.

And if you’re a convicted felon illegally carrying a rifle and shotgun on your handlebars, don’t crash into a damn power pole, already.

 

Update: 40-something cyclist killed in DTLA; second rider to die on Alameda Street in the last six months

More bad news, this time from Downtown Los Angeles.

According to a press release from the LAPD, the victim, identified only as a man in his early 40s, was hit and killed by a flatbed tractor trailer on Alameda just south of 20th Street at 1:10 pm Monday.

The police report says the cyclist was riding with traffic on southbound Alameda Street when he was sideswiped by the driver; he fell into the roadway, where he was run over by the truck’s rear wheels.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The driver remained at the scene and was cooperating with investigators; he was not suspected of being under the influence. Several vehicles initially stopped at the scene, but the drivers did not remain to talk to police.

According to Carlos Morales of the Eastside Bike Club, witnesses said the victim, who was riding a cruiser bike, was hugging the curb when the driver attempted to squeeze past in the same lane.

And clearly, failed.

Anyone with information is urged to call LAPD Central Traffic Division Detectives at 213/833-3713 or Detective Felix Padilla at 213/486-0753. You can also call the Central Traffic Division Watch Commander at 213/486-8344.

This is the 57th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 23rd in Los Angeles County. It’s also the eighth bike death in the City of Los Angeles since the first of the year, and the second cycling fatality on Alameda Street since February of this year.

Update: The Long Beach Post has identified the victim as 42-year old Long Beach resident Jarone Bartee; thanks to Danny Gamboa for the link. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Jarone Bartee and his family. 

Thanks to Carlos Morales of the Eastside Bike Club for the heads-up.

Weekend Links: A handful of bike events, coffee and bikes go together, and if you can’t bike jack a friend…?

First up, a quick update on this week’s bike events:

Long Beach bicyclists can enjoy live music and a screening of Moonrise Kingdom at this year’s Bicycle Drive-In on Saturday.

Update: Somehow, I left off the LACBC’s monthly Sunday Funday ride, which rolls through Lakewood with a family ride this Sunday. 

Somehow, I missed Brooke Shields at last year’s Brentwood Grand Prix; maybe she’ll take part in the family friendly Expo Line ride connected with this year’s race on Sunday.

Culver City Walk & Rollers hosts a Family Bike Ride on Sunday.

The Eastside Bike Club hosts a family friendly ride for National Night Out on Tuesday.

The Levi’s Commuter bike pop-up shop opens in Downtown LA on Tuesday.

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Turns out coffee and cycling really do go together. A little caffeine can boost your performance — without cheating. However, too much can be a bad thing.

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Local

USC students consider how improving the city for bicycling could make LA more livable.

Santa Monica’s City Manager, who oversaw the city’s rise to become a local leader in bike friendliness, will retire in January.

Decent bike lanes could solve a lot of problems in Glendale.

 

State

After a judge dismissed a cyclist’s ticket for not licensing his bike on constitutional grounds, bike licenses could be on their way out in Santa Ana.

A Laguna Beach bike rider suggests its our own fault if a bike rider gets hit by a car — even though most of the recent OC cycling victims didn’t do a damn thing wrong. And despite his ill-informed proclamation, there are people who can afford cars that choose to bike commute, anyway.

The Desert Sun says it’s time to get a Palm Springs-area bike share rolling.

If you’re going to ride into the back of a parked car, try to make sure it’s not a CHP patrol car.

A 65-year old Bay Area bike rider explains that cycling gear is designed for comfort and protection, not fashion.

The suspect in a San Francisco hit-and-run that injured five people on Monday — including a bike rider who remains in critical condition — now faces 10 felony counts and $350,000 bail.

 

National

Next City offers a brief history of baseless pro-car, anti-bike movements.

A Portland cyclist sues Zipcar after he’s struck by a mattress that flew off the bed of one of their rental trucks.

Still no charges in the death of an Anchorage AK bike rider after 210 days; we can beat that, as it’s been nearly eight months since Milt Olin was killed by a sheriff’s deputy with no word on charges.

A writer for Red Kite Prayer questions the value of painted bike lanes, while a Des Moines letter writer says caving into driver pressure to remove them would be a mistake.

The investigation into that allegedly road raging Missouri mayor has been turned over to outside investigators. Thanks to Michael Eisenberg for the heads-up.

A bike riding doctor for the famed Cleveland Clinic offers tips on becoming a cyclist.

The Times looks at Richmond Virginia in advance of next year’s UCI Road World Championships.

 

International

A writer for London’s Telegraph says what’s stopping women riders is a lack of confidence.

An LA Times writer rides a rental bike through France’s Loire Valley.

Norwegian police charge an 82-year old man with having a bomb on his bike; turns out it was the battery pack on his homemade e-bike.

An Indian cyclist with an artificial leg accepts a challenge to ride across the world’s highest drivable road.

 

Finally…

In a case of real street justice, three Michigan judges help reclaim the bike stolen from one of them while he signed a search warrant a few days earlier. Missoula MT residents are up in arms over a planned local equivalent to the World Naked Bike Ride, with one father comparing it to allowing pornography in the schools.

And it’s bad enough to be bike jacked by a stranger, let alone someone you know; thanks to Bike SGV for the link.

 

Morning Links: Judge rules police can’t search your bike without permission, and Timbuk2 opens on Abbot Kinney

In an important affirmation of cyclists’ rights, an Orange County judge rules police don’t have a right to turn your bike over without permission or probable cause.

Homeless rights advocate Igmar Rodas was charged with violating Santa Ana’s bike licensing requirement after he was stopped for riding on the sidewalk, which is banned in the city. Police then turned his bike over to look for a license sticker; when they didn’t find it, they ticketed Rodas for sidewalk riding and not having a valid bike license.

However, the judge ruled that the act of overturning the bike constituted an illegal search, which is banned by the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution.

The case serves as a reminder that police may legally ask for identification when they stop you for a moving violation while you’re on your bike.

But unless they have probable cause to suspect you’re breaking the law — such as seeing you attempt to hide a weapon or drugs, for instance — they can’t search you, your bike or your possessions without your permission, any more than they can search your car if you get stopped for speeding.

Nor can they take any action against you for refusing permission for a search, which is your right under the law.

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Timbuk2 signHad a great visit with the friendly and knowledgeable folks at the new Timbuk2 store on Abbot Kinney in Venice Thursday afternoon.

I’ll have a more detailed report later.

But if you’re in the area, stop in and say hi and check out the full line of Timbuk2 messenger bags, backpacks and suit cases — even a smartly designed women’s pannier that converts to a shoulder bag.

Not to mention what promises to be LA’s first bike share program, with free loaner bikes available on a first-come, first-serve basis starting this September. Yes, free.

And mark your calendar for their official Grand Opening ceremony August 16th and 17th.

They’re going to be a great addition to the LA bike scene.

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Local

Streetsblog and LA Walks want your help to win funding for a Vision Zero plan for the City of Angels. They’ve got my vote.

Levi’s Commuter pop-up store opens in DTLA next week.

Culver City Walk & Rollers hosts a Family Ride this Sunday.

A proposed pipeline could result in the final link in San Gabriel Valley’s Emerald Necklace bikeway system.

Carson receives a $1.26 million grant for a new bike/pedestrian path.

 

State

A planning and development website offers a technical look at what comes next when California moves away from using Level of Service to measure traffic flow.

A pair of letter writers call for action to improve safety for Laguna Beach bike riders.

A cyclist is moderately injured in an Anaheim collision.

The Big Bear Cycling Festival runs through this Sunday.

A collision survivor says Sacramento is pretty coldhearted when it comes to justice for homeless cyclists hit by cars.

 

National

The Bike League offers advice on how to create a safe and inclusive learning environment from LA bike advocate and Licensed Cycling Instructor Maria Sipin.

A writer for the Daily Beast offers an open apology to Greg LeMond for pushing the Armstrong lie.

New $1,295 aerial drone promises to follow your rides with an airborne GoPro camera.

A Texas town proposes turning a smuggling path into a bike trail.

Shockingly, a Florida driver is fined just $200 for killing a cyclist — despite 29 traffic violations.

 

International

A Brit cyclist says he was almost run down by a texting truck driver; unfortunately, the video of the incident has been removed.

UK driver posts video of bad bike behavior online after a rider damages his car while weaving through traffic.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon rides a bike to promote urban cycling.

 

Finally…

For reasons known only to him, stunt cyclist Danny MacAskill jumps Playmates at the Playboy Mansion. And a St. Louis writer says, wisely, if a cyclist does something you don’t like, don’t honk or yell; just stay calm, because the streets belong to all of us.

 

Morning Links: LA Streets officially suck, road raging Missouri mayor, and Canadian cyclist shot during race

Camelbak Podium IceI’m planning a review of the new Camelbak Podium Ice water bottle soon.

But here’s a short advance preview.

If you’re anywhere near a bike shop this weekend, stop in a buy one.

Best. Water. Bottle. Ever.

Seriously.

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Local

City Controller Ron Galperin explains why so many of LA’s streets suck.

Downtown’s California Plaza offers a free screening of the great bike-centric Triplets of Bellville this Friday, complete with live score and complementary bike valet.

Orange 20 offers a primer on LA’s least effective form of bicycling infrastructure.

A Glendale couple will ride 163 miles through Massachusetts to raise funds for a cancer research center.

Walk Bike Glendale hosts an Art Box Walk this Saturday.

 

State

As if bike-hating drivers aren’t bad enough. A Riverside rider is attacked by a German Shepherd that hates bikes, and bites the people on them.

Calbike offers their monthly update on bike advocacy on the state level.

Meanwhile, a new bill backed by Calbike seeks to modernize California’s outdated bike lane laws.

 

National

The Bike League introduces the new manager of their Women Bike program.

Bicycling talks with USC and Pepperdine grad Elysa Walk about her role with bike manufacturer Giant in making bicycling more accessible for everyone.

A cyclist says a road raging Missouri mayor yelled at him to get off the road before intentionally running into him; needless to say, the mayor tells a much different story. Thanks to Danny Gamboa for the heads-up.

No bias here, as the NYPD concludes no investigation is necessary before determining a bus vs bike collision was just an accident, but somehow, the rider’s fault.

Baltimore claims to be the birthplace of US bicycling.

Nice report from the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia demonstrating once again bikes really are good for business. Would someone please tell Gil Cedillo, Paul Koretz and Tom LaBonge?

 

International

Tragic end to a heroic act, as an 11-year old Canadian bike rider pushes a friend out of the way before he’s killed by a drunk driver.

A British Columbia cyclist uses his own pants as a tourniquet after he’s shot while competing in an overnight race.

The dark side of Britain’s post Olympic biking boom.

A former UK government minister says bikeways must be redesigned with separate lanes for fast cyclists and slower riders who want to “pootle.” Personally, I don’t even know how to pootle, and not sure I’d want to in public.

Aussie police look for a toothless man who’s been sabotaging Queensland bike trails. Maybe he blames a bike rider for knocking his teeth out.

 

Finally…

Cyclists are up in arms after a British rental car company tells tourists to watch out for the country’s out of control cyclists. And after a Scottish rider has his bike stolen, he gets it back in much better condition.

 

Morning Links: Two months later, still no word from DA on Olin Case; Amoeba plans Hot August Bikes celebration

Sometimes, no news is no news.

More than two months after the Sheriff’s Department turned their investigation of their own officer who fatally ran down cyclist Milt Olin over to the District Attorney’s office, the DA has announced absolutely nothing.

According to the Daily News, there is still no word, official or otherwise, on whether the officer will face charges. Or even when or if a decision will be made.

Even though the DA’s own website promises a decision on filing within 60 days on any case, barring unusual circumstances.

I guess a texting on-duty cop running down a rider in a bike lane, then being investigated by his own department, rather than an independent agency such as the Highway Patrol — which normally investigates traffic fatalities in the county’s jurisdiction — could qualify as somewhat unusual.

Although the near-total news blackout on the results of the six-month investigation, followed by a total lack of comment from the DA’s office after more than two months, might make someone wonder just what the hell is or isn’t going on.

This case has stunk from day one.

And eight months later, the stench isn’t getting any better.

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Sounds like fun. Amoeba Records, along with a long list of co-sponsors, will celebrate Hollywood bike culture with Hot August Bikes in their parking lot behind store on Sunday, August 17th. The event, which runs from noon to 5 pm, will benefit the LACBC.

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Forgive the late notice.

The Bikeway’s Subcommittee of the LA Bicycle Advisory Committee — the city’s only official voice for bicyclists — will meet from 1 – 3 pm today at LADOT Headquarters, 100 Main Street.

BACBikewaysAgendaJuly302014

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Local

Been awhile since we’ve heard from bike lawyer Daniel F. Jimenez, better known here by his nom de bike Dj Wheels. He writes that cyclists are turning to tech products to improve safety.

Planning is underway for next month’s third annual Clitoral Mass ride; as the name suggests, men need not apply. Meanwhile, Culver City will get its own CicLAvia next July.

The Westside’s favorite bike race, the annual Brentwood Grand Prix, rolls this Sunday; always a great time offering exciting men’s and women’s racing.

Metro honors CICLE’s new executive director, Vanessa Gray.

Seriously? A Glendale museum director insists that cyclists — except for his law-abiding friends, of course — are crazed lawbreakers who speed downhill at 40 mph in spandex and without brakes, unlike all those rational, law-abiding motorists out there. Proving you can be really smart, and still say some really stupid things.

And a Palos Verdes letter writer (second letter) complains about bicyclists getting their own private space, plus being allowed to use every lane on the public roadways, unlike all those law-abiding motorists who would never dream of driving in a bike lane. Thanks to Margaret for the heads-up.

 

State

A San Francisco cyclist suffers life-threatening injuries when he’s hit by the driver of a stolen minivan fleeing from police; six other people were less seriously injured.

After a young New York woman is killed while riding in Chico, her parents vow to live out her bucket list.

A Stockton man sics his dog on a bike rider for the unconscionable crime of using a hose without permission.

 

National

The Bike League looks at how better laws can promote bicycling, and invites you to order their new Smart Cycling Quick Guide.

Despite what the NY Times says, Bicycling insists there’s no proof carbon fiber is making bikes more dangerous. And the magazine’s Test Director can barely control his anger at the Times piece.

I’ve been ignoring multiple stories lately about a competition to design the urban bike of the future; Bike Snob explains in his own inimitable way why that was the right choice.

A Chicago study shows only buffered bike lanes keep riders outside the door zone.

An upstate New York woman was high on crack when she hit a cyclist not once, but twice before fleeing the scene — and despite her 23rd license suspension. You’d thing after the first dozen or so, someone would permanently revoke her license and forbid her from owning a car.

A proposed change in DC law would end contributory negligence in car vs bike collisions.

When Ft. Lauderdale police lead Critical Mass riders uphill at a dangerously slow pace — 3 mph, for chrissake — a ride leader asks them to speed up so people won’t fall. And is nearly forced into a collision by a cop, then arrested for his trouble.

 

International

A local Yorkshire official who called cyclists lawless menaces who speed through the village at a remarkable 50 mph is convicted of drunk driving at nearly twice the legal limit. But we’re the dangerous ones, right?

Now that’s class. When the Malawi bike team competing in the Commonwealth Games brought a pair of bikes to a Glasgow bike shop for repairs, the staff decided they deserved better. And loaned them two high-end bikes for the competition.

British rider Emma Pooley announces she’ll retire after the Commonwealth Games.

After pedestrians call an Irish bike rider an idiot for riding on a footpath, he proves them right by attacking them with a key and screwdriver.

 

Finally…

A Houston burglar uses a doggy door to steal a bike, then leaves it behind when he can’t ride it. And Long Beach police respond when a six-year old tries to use a toy gun to jack another boy’s bike.

Seriously, you can’t make this shit up.

 

Morning Links: LA sheriff’s agree PCH cyclists belong in the lane; women could race in 2015 Pro Challenge

Don’t tell Seth Davidson.

But he’s rapidly turning into one of Southern California leading bike advocates.

After meeting with the police chief of Santa Paula on Friday, along with the LACBC’s Eric Bruins, in the aftermath of the recent anti-bike You Tube fiasco, the author of Cycling in the South Bay followed up with Sunday’s Sheriff’s Department ride-along on PCH.

Along with members of Big Orange Cycling, Davidson organized a demonstration of why large groups of cyclists belong in the traffic lane, riding abreast, rather than hugging the curb or weaving in and out of the lane while riding single-file.

In a result that should surprise no one, with the possible exception of most motorists and many law enforcement personnel, the deputies agreed that riding abreast in the lane was far safer than the other alternatives, and posed fewer problems for the drivers around them.

Which means that riders on PCH can expect fewer unfair and unfounded tickets for violating the requirement in CVC 21202 to ride as far to the right as practicable, which doesn’t apply on non-sharable lanes.

And the deputies agreed that the right lane of PCH is too narrow for a bike to safely share with a motor vehicle. Especially once the new three-foot passing law goes into effect in September.

As he points out, this is less a victory than a step in the right direction.

But it’s a damn big step.

And we all owe Seth, and the other riders involved, a round of thanks for fighting for our rights and helping them take it.

Thanks to Al Williams for the heads-up.

……..

Now that Kazakhstan-based Astana rider Vincenzo Nibali has won it, the Central Asian country wants to host the Tour de France. After a fan lost his helmet cam while filming stage three of the Tour, Europcar rider Kevin Reza films himself finishing the stage, then returns it to the owner. A team founded by Jock Boyer, the first American TdF rider, hopes to be the first all-African team to compete in the race. Jens Voigt looks back on the last of his 17 Tours.

And following the successful Le Course women’s race at the Tour de France, the USA Pro Challenge may consider letting women race next year.

……..

Local

A Freedom of Information request confirms an LAPD officer had no basis to claim bike lanes would delay emergency response times on North Figueroa, despite what he said during a sham hearing put on Councilmember Gil Cedillo.

CicLAvia is working on a route through several cities in southeast LA County for spring of 2016.

A new urban cycling bike shop is opening in Santa Monica, with a pre-grand opening happy hour on Wednesday.

Two Long Beach riding groups will meet Wednesday to discuss how to get more women riding in the city.

 

State

The Palm Springs area could get its own bike share program.

Mountain View is looking for a new Mobility Coordinator. I’ll take the job if I can do it from here.

 

National

A six-year old Portland girl makes her own sign criticizing the thief who stole her father’s bike.

My already bike-friendly Colorado hometown is getting buffered bike lanes.

Red Kite Prayer remembers mountain bike framebuilder Tom Teesdale, who died of a heart attack during Iowa’s RAGBRAI.

A question I’ve often asked myself — should you speak up when you see someone riding in a risky manner?

New York’s Citi Bike is cheaper than other transportation options, and faster than most.

 

International

Moving story of yet another bicycling visitor to this county whose life was cut short by an American driver; this time a young Toronto man run down outside Memphis.

The son of a fallen cyclist asks London’s mayor to stop promoting bicycling in an unsafe city.

A new Indian concept bike could fit in a backpack, and be reassembled in just 10 minutes.

Could a single bad decision ruin Tokyo cycling forever?

 

Finally…

A Boston-area cop begs to differ when a rider claims he can’t be arrested for refusing to give his name after running a red light. And a nice story, as LA Sheriff’s transit deputies and support staff buy a new bike for disabled Reseda man after his is stolen from the Chatsworth Orange Line Station. Nice work, guys.