Tag Archive for Los Angeles

Don’t miss ARTCRANK LAX at Orange 20 Bikes on Saturday, December 8

November 28, 2012 / / 6 comments

ARTCRANK LAX logo, designed by Big Table Studio

A couple weeks ago, I received an email from Patrick Murphy of Minneapolis-based ARTCRANK, the international traveling showcase for bike art.

He was writing to let me know about the upcoming ARTCRANK LAX exhibition at Orange 20 Bikes, featuring the work of 31 local artists.

Unfortunately, my world had just been turned upside down. So rather than adding more to my plate, he graciously agreed to write a guest post to tell you all about it. 

It sounds like a great time, for a great cause. And one I’d highly recommend.

……..

International bike poster show coming to Orange 20 on Dec. 8

ARTCRANK, billed as “A poster party for bike people,” will make its long awaited Los Angeles debut with bikes, art and beer at the newly-minted Best Bike Shop in L.A. —Orange 20 Bikes on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012.

ARTCRANK LAX will feature hand-made, bike-inspired posters created by 31 local artists. Admission is free, and limited edition, signed and numbered copies of all posters will be available for $40 each.

A selection of craft beers by Widmer Brothers Brewing will be available in exclusive ARTCRANK pint glasses, with proceeds going to L.A. Streetsblog.

“Los Angeles has always been a beacon for creative people,” said ARTCRANK founder Charles Youel. “But even two years ago, nobody would’ve thought of it as a big bike town. So it’s exciting for ARTCRANK to hold our first show here at a time when more people than ever are taking to the streets on bikes, and the city is becoming more bike friendly. We can’t wait to see how that comes through in the posters that our L.A. artists are creating for the show.”

ARTCRANK LAX Details
 
When:
Saturday, December 8 – 6:00p.m. – 11:00p.m.
 
Where:
Orange 20 Bikes
4351 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
 
What + Why:
  • Original, limited edition prints from local artists – all sold for $40
  • Custom pint glasses and beer specials by Widmer Brothers Brewing
  • Proceeds from pint glass sales go to benefit L.A. Streetsblog
  • Neenah Paper will donate proceeds from the ARTCRANK LAX show poster to L.A. Streetsblog
  • Free valet bike parking courtesy of Clif Bar

 For more information, please visit: http://artcrank.com/losangeles

About ARTCRANK

ARTCRANK is a show of bicycle-inspired poster artwork that introduces people to talented local artists and sends them home with affordable, original works of art. Since its 2007 debut in Minneapolis, ARTCRANK has held shows in bike-friendly cities in the US and UK, including Portland, San Francisco, Austin, New York, Denver and London. In 2012, we held our second show at Interbike, a cycling industry showcase that attracts attendees from around the world. ARTCRANK uses creativity to change how people think about bicycles and grow the cycling community. Find out more about ARTCRANK at artcrank.com.

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I should mention that in that original email, Patrick took the time to express his concern for my wife before moving on to other matters — a sign of real class and compassion that made me like the guy right off the bat.

As for my wife, the news couldn’t be better. Despite a major heart attack, there doesn’t appear to have been any permanent damage to her heart.

Sometimes, life is good.

Category: Bike Events, Guest Columns / Tags: , ,

LAPD seeks yet another hit-and-run driver; West Hollywood is in the market for a bike plan consultant

November 25, 2012 / / One comment

Los Angeles police are looking for a driver who ran down a cyclist near USC and fled the scene, leaving him to bleed in the street.

The rider was hit by a small white car at the intersection of Vermont Ave and 36th Street around 1:30 Friday morning. The cyclist, described only as non-USC student in his 20s or 30s, suffered major non-life-threatening injuries.

Anyone with information is urged to call LAPD South Traffic Division at 323/421-2577.

It’s long past time to get heartless cowards like this off the streets and behind bars where they belong.

Thanks to Richard Risemberg for the heads-up.

………

The City of West Hollywood is looking for a firm to help update the city’s bike plan.

Let’s hope WeHo, self-proclaimed as The Creative City, will take a creative approach to carving out a significant chunk of street space to keep cyclists safe and encourage more people to ride. While the city has made some recent moves to accommodate bikes, it’s time to show cyclists the same welcome and tolerance they famously show everyone else.

You don’t have to do a lot of riding, walking or driving in West Hollywood to realize that the relatively compact, traffic-choked city could benefit greatly by providing more viable alternatives to driving. Aside from some steep climbs on the lower reaches of the Hollywood Hills, it is — or at least, should be — a near ideal location for promoting bicycling.

And maybe they could show the Biking Black Hole to their west how it’s done while they’re at it.

While it’s still early in the process, the best way to ensure your voice is heard in the new plan is to join the West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition, an LACBC affiliate chapter that does a great job of engaging civic leaders and fighting for the rights of bike riders.

Many thanks to Matt Baume for the tip. And hey, I’m more than willing to consult, if they’re willing to waive all those technical requirements and stuff.

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The first section of the Glendale Narrows Riverwalk bike and pedestrian path is scheduled to open on December 12th. Richard Risemberg notes the new BMW of Beverly Hills bike shop. Everybody has a favorite bike shop, right? A Napa motorist faces up to one year in jail for killing a cyclist last August.

Looks like America’s only Tour de France winner is officially out of the bike business. Alta Bicycle Share is looking for a Portland-based Marketing Director. The Blackhawk CO bike ban heads to the Colorado Supreme Court. A Montana man says a local road diet was imposed by unelected D.C. bureaucrats, and implies cyclists belong on sidewalks. An Albany NY cyclist becomes collateral damage when he’s killed by a fleeing driver in a police chase. Jackson, Mississippi considers joining other local cities in requiring helmets for cyclists. An Arkansas father and minister is killed while riding in Georgia. Nice to know a Florida deputy didn’t run over a cyclist on purpose.

A fight for the leadership, and nature, of the Belize Cycling Association. Good to know Canadian drivers can kill a cyclist without doing anything wrong. UK bike scribe Carlton Reid points out that hatred of cyclists has a long, rich history. The Evening Standard asks how we can make London safe for cyclists. Seven tips for effective bike lobbying. Cyclists touring Bath, England will soon enjoy Europe’s longest cycling tunnel at over a mile long. An Edinburgh cyclist blames bad roads for a serious fall. Danish cyclists complain a new law requiring bike lights is unenforceable. How a single picture started the Cycle Chic movement. An Aussie cyclist suffers a broken collarbone when someone slaps her on the ass from a passing car.

Finally, a UK hospital receives well-deserved criticism for removing bike parking for a smoking area, even if it will result in a net increase in bike spaces. And it may not necessarily be bike related, but I love these haunting photos of Scotland in winter from my favorite Scottish novelist and bike blogger.

Category: Bicycle Safety, Car vs Bike, Hit-and-Run, Injuries and Fatalities, Streets and Infrastructure / Tags: , , , , , ,

Your relatively short list of holiday links, and a brief Thanksgiving thank you

November 22, 2012 / / 3 comments

I have a lot to be thankful for this year.

Not the least of which is everyone who reads this blog, and the many kind hearts who reached out to show their support over the past week. Some of whom I know; many I’ve never met.

And each of whom have touched my heart in ways I’ll never forget.

So thank you, sincerely.

And please accept my wishes for a very warm, safe and happy Thanksgiving.

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A survey by the California Office of Traffic Safety shows nearly twice as many nighttime motorists drive on weekends with drugs in their system compared to alcohol. Worse, over one-in-five drivers — a combined 21.3% — have some form of intoxicant in their system.

Not that we should be concerned about that or anything.

Thanks to Megan Lynch for the heads-up.

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The LAPD will employ choppers and horses and bikes, oh my, to maintain order on Black Friday; I remember when it used to be called the day after Thanksgiving. The LAFD considers options to speed up emergency response times. Santa Monica will sponsor a Family Bike Fest on December 8th. L.A. cyclists ride to promote forthcoming bike lanes on Lankershim Blvd. Bike SGV will help you burn off those Thanksgiving calories with a bike train this Sunday. C.I.C.L.E. will sponsor a tweed ride on January 19th. Temple City’s Rosemead Blvd is about to get a pedestrian and bike-friendly makeover. Alhambra begins revising their widely reviled draft bike plan. A cyclist gets the runaround from the Long Beach Police, but gets her stolen bike back anyway; evidently, the LBPD was too busy warning cyclists not to ride on the sidewalk. Long Beach Gang Enforcement detectives are investigating the shooting of a 29-year old cyclist.

A Corona del Mar writer says using sharrows to move cyclists into the traffic lane will only increase the danger to riders; hate to break it to him, but we already have the right to ride there. The proposed High Desert Corridor could include a high speed rail connector and a bike path. A Sacramento cyclist is shot and killed while delivering strawberries to his brother.

Oddly, traffic fatalities are higher in red states than blue states. The Interbike trade show will open its doors to consumers next year. They’re already making lists of the best Christmas gifts for cyclists. A Boston bike co-op is forced to shut down after a burglary. Bikeyface says all weather is fair bike weather if you have a good raincoat. A Philly writer calls for greater traffic enforcement, saying drivers and cyclists are both about as bad. A Georgia man agrees to let a stranger ride his bike, and is somehow surprised when he rides off with it.

A Canadian driver gets a whopping $1000 fine for falling asleep behind the wheel and killing a cyclist; I guess the idea of pulling over and taking a nap before you kill someone is unheard of up there. A report calls for cutting London cycling fatalities; evidently, there’s no safety in numbers in the city. The widow of a UK cycling victim calls on riders to always wear their helmets. A Welsh cyclist is considered a heroine after rescuing a drowning woman. Turns out the Netherlands isn’t a living hell for cyclists after all. Parisian drivers fight back against plans to create a more livable city by removing a major highway on the Left Bank; that hardly supports the breathless hyperbole of the headline, though.

Finally, now your bike can trot like a horse; does that mean you’ll have to clean up after it, too?

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Remember that Thanksgiving drivers will overstuffed and sleepy, sober or not. And Black Friday shoppers are likely to be more concerned about getting to the next sale and finding a parking space than watching out for bikes on the road.

So enjoy the great weather they’re promising us and get out for a good ride. But ride defensively and be careful out there.

Category: General / Tags: , , ,

Are slow Los Angeles Fire Department response times putting your life in danger?

November 21, 2012 / / 5 comments

Now here’s a scary thought.

Whether or not you survive a cycling collision could depend on which side of the city limit line you land on.

That became clear when I considered the implications of my wife’s recent heart attack, in light of a recent report of on LAFD response times by the L.A. Times.

According to her co-workers, paramedics from the Beverly Hills Fire Department arrived within just two minutes of their 911 call. And got her to the hospital fast enough to avoid any serious permanent damage.

Had she fallen just blocks away in Century City, it could have taken the Los Angeles Fire Department precious minutes more to arrive; anywhere from six to 10 minutes, according to the chart prepared by the Times.

In fact, the Times reports that national standards require rescuers to respond within 6 minutes in medical emergencies — a standard the LAFD missed in the Westside’s hillside communities a whopping 85% of the time.

Almost makes me glad I can’t afford to live in them.

Now consider what that could mean when you ride your bike. Or just cross the street, for that matter.

You might actually be safer in the Biking Black Hole of Beverly Hills, without a single inch of biking infrastructure, than you are in bronze level bike-friendly Los Angeles.

Not because you’re less likely to get hit by a car. But because you may not get the help you need in time if you are.

(To be fair, Beverly Hills recently approved their first two bikeway pilot routes. Welcome to the 1970s, guys.)

I don’t blame the firefighters and paramedics. Having seen these men and women in action, I’d trust them with my life any day of the week.

In fact, I have.

I blame city leaders who absurdly thought they could cut back on the department’s budget and staffing levels and conduct rolling unit closures at one-fifth of the city’s fire stations without affecting performance. And department leaders who provided the misleading stats to justify it.

Los Angeles placed a losing bet on being able to maintain effective response times.

And what they’re gambling with is your life.

I’ve long been opposed to the city’s cutbacks at the Los Angeles Police Department. Especially the loss of civilian employees, which means more uniformed officers behind desks and fewer on the streets tracking down hit-and-run drivers and keeping us all safe.

But cutbacks at the LAPD mean the person who hit you might get away with it. Cutbacks at the LAFD mean you might not be around to care.

It’s time to put pressure on our city leaders to restore full funding to the fire department.

Your life, and mine, could depend on it.

In the meantime, if you get hit by a car anywhere near the L.A. city limits, I’d suggest falling on the other side of it.

………

Here’s your chance to say goodbye to one of the founders of the modern L.A. bike movement, as Streetsblog raises funds with an Engagement Celebration and Farewell Party for LACBC co-founder and former C.I.C.L.E. head Joe Linton. Santa Monica plans to install new striping and signage on the overly-popular beachfront bike path through the city. CLR Effect captures the reason we live and ride here in Southern California, and notices odd critters in hats on the side of the side; we can assume he was sober since he’s got the photograph, right?

Orange County will see a silent auction to benefit bike safety next Thursday. The popular San Clemente Coastal Trail gets a new surface. The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition is on board with the city’s new bike share plan. A Santa Barbara cyclist is severely injured after allegedly running a red light. A local paper says Porterville is on the right track in building more bike lanes. Rohnert Park police identify the hit-and-run motorcyclist who seriously injured a bike rider last month. The CHP is still looking for the hit-and-run driver who killed a Shasta County cyclist two years ago, with a $10,000 reward.

U.S. cyclists — and non-riders — are making fewer trips to their local bike shop. A Colorado driver pleads not guilty to harassment charges in a case caught on a viral bike cam video. Comparing the costs of building sidewalks versus roadways. Parts of Dallas bike lanes are turning green. Chicago cyclists get a new protected bike lane. Bike Portland looks at the art of New York bicycling. Instead of blocking bikeways, one New York precinct is actually improving them. Chattanooga’s bike share program burns its first million calories. A Memphis councilman says he’s got nothing against bike lanes, but those signs are butt ugly. A DC cyclist is convicted of groping women while he rode.

A Toronto writer makes his case for a mandatory helmet law. A 12-year old UK cyclist is making a name for himself against older riders in international competition. Town Mouse encounters a courteous, if rule breaking, truck driver. Graeme Obree tests his handmade, possibly record-breaking recumbent. A Kilkenny cyclist is killed after clipping the bike in front of her and falling into the path of an oncoming car. Ireland’s most versatile cyclist signs with a US team. The EU defines what qualifies as an e-bike. A cyclist is injured and a pedestrian killed by the motorcade for the first lady of Ghana. You’ve got to be crazy to deliberately run over and kill a cyclist — and get away with it as a result. Rescued by a professional trombone player while riding a red e-bike on the streets of China.

Finally, a judge inexplicably reduces bail to just $1000 for a Long Island driver who swerved across the road to kill a cyclist while high on methadone — and with his kids in the car. And a South Carolina letter writer says an immoral new bike path violates two of the Ten Commandments, while putting the county on the road to communism.

Category: Advocacy & Politics, Bicycle Safety, Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , ,

A little light bike reading to start your week

November 19, 2012 / / 3 comments

Looks like I’ve taken my last ride until my wife goes back to work, since someone will need to stay home and keep an eye on her.

And the Corgi don’t count.

So get out there and ride for me this week, and maybe next. And don’t even get me started on the one after that.

In the meantime, pour yourself a cuppa joe and limber up that link-clicking finger.

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We need more of this: An East L.A. festival includes a bike safety class for kids. Two new miles of bike path along the L.A. River in the Valley are just the beginning. Alhambra proposes a new bike plan with 41 miles of bikeways, yet only 3.5 miles of actual bike lanes; almost makes Beverly Hills look good. The upcoming Pedalers Fork bike bistro is now an official Moots dealer. Michael of CLR Effect rides the San Gabriel Valley with the LACBC and the authors of Where to Bike Los Angeles. A new L.A. prototype jacket design currently seeking funding dramatically ups the hi-viz arms race.

New beer and bike riding group Brewcyclers will host a Christmas lights ride to the Bruery in Placentia on December 16th; if you haven’t sampled the Bruery’s brews, this is one after dark ride I’d definitely recommend. Authorities in the Chico area are looking for the driver of a Silverado Extended cab pickup who left a cyclist to die on the side of the road. A 12-year old boy is killed by a trailer towed by a pickup truck while riding his bike in the Sacramento area; naturally, the driver is not suspected of any wrongdoing. A Stockton cyclist is pistol whipped and shot in the ass while riding.

Cannondale and Sho-Air team up to sponsor their new mountain bike team; and no, I didn’t know what a Sho-Air is, either. A Tucson cyclist bounces back from a July hit-and-run that left him seriously injured. A 19-year old Idaho man faces 14 years in prison for stealing 13 bikes from a California-based women’s team just before this year’s Exergy Bike Tour. Will better signage and striping make a killer Colorado highway safer? A Missouri writer says neither positive nor negative messages get cyclists off the sidewalk; no, that usually takes safer streets.

Sunday was the World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims; isn’t it time we stopped creating more victims to remember? A drunk ninja cyclist in Vancouver is critically injured after colliding with a vehicle while riding downhill after dark. Calgary will remove new bike lanes local residents asked for because people think they’re ugly. The BBC will use helmet and dash-cam video to look at the supposed war between cyclists and motorists next month; a UK writer aptly describes it as two pitbulls fighting over a single bone. Bristol, England elects a bike-friendly mayor. A Cambridge man invents a tandem recumbent to allow his dementia-suffering mother to ride again. In Canterbury, medieval roads weren’t built for cars. British pro Mark Cavendish gets engaged the same day he becomes the latest UK rider to be injured in a collision. An Edinburgh paper says it’s time to break our addiction to the car. Someone finally admits it, as an Aussie driver says he had to be crazy to deliberately run over and kill a bicyclist. Bike lanes don’t do a lot of good if everyone thinks they’re parking lanes.

Finally, a rider is told he’s giving cyclists a bad name for taking the lane — by a spandex wearing roadie who got out of his SUV at an intersection to harangue his fellow rider. So which one really makes us look bad?

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My deepest sympathy, prayers and best wishes for Witch on a Bicycle on the death of his father on Sunday. Also known as Opus the Poet, the Witch is one of the good guys in the bike blogging world, dedicating his life to protecting cyclists from the same sort of near-fatal collision he suffered.

Category: General / Tags: , ,

Catching up on bike news while I’ve been otherwise distracted

November 17, 2012 / / 5 comments

Oddly, the world of bicycling did not grind to a halt while I’ve been occupied with more pressing matters.

So pull up a chair, pour yourself a cuppa joe — or something stronger — and settle in for a long list of rainy day bike links.

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Clearly, I’m not the only one who took offense at the gentle caress on the wrist given the killer of cyclist Alan Deane by a Pasadena judge.

The LACBC says the court system failed Deane and his family, while Streetsblog’s Damien Newton says it failed all of us.

And Boyonabike! says maybe our laws should value human life over shaving a minute off someone’s drive home.

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

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Here’s the ultimate guide to whether you can legally ride on the sidewalk in California, compiled by former LADOT Bike Blogger and current Alta Planner and Calbike board member Chris Kidd. Link courtesy of Cyclelicious.

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Yes, cyclists can legally pass on the right, at least here in California — although some police officers don’t seem to comprhend that yet. I do it on a regular basis myself, though every now and then it doesn’t work out the way I planned.

Meanwhile, an Aussie rider offers advice on undertaking on the left, as it is sometimes called; just flip sides for tips on riding here.

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Turns out you may not have to wait for flat-proof bike tires after all; you can try out the new tires from FlatFree Bicycle Wheelsets in Orange right now. Thanks to William Boehmke, Jr. for the heads-up.

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Clear your calendar for the 12th Annual Cranksgiving Alleycat Los Angeles Thanksgiving eve. ARTCRANK brings its unique mixture of bikes, art and beer to Orange 20 Bikes on Saturday, December 8th. Here’s a great idea — the LAPD recommends establishing permanent bike valet programs in Downtown L.A. to fight rising bike theft rates; let’s start with one at City Hall. Streetsblog reports a settlement has been reached with the NIMBYist Cheviot Hills homeowners trying to block the Expo Line bike path. Taking over Los Angeles on two wheels and one fixed gear. The city adds two miles of bike path in the Valley along the L.A. River. Show the world how you ride pretty. The Biking Black Hole of Beverly Hills timidly unanimously approves its first two pilot bikeway projects. The Santa Monica Bike Center celebrates its first anniversary this weekend. You just can’t please some people, as a Glendale pedestrian is up in arms over being warned a bike bell. The Orange County Bicycle Coalition asks for your nomination for OC’s Danger Road.

San Juan Capistrano denies a cyclist’s $70 claim for flat tires caused by broken glass on a bike path. San Diego bucks the Bike Nation trend in selecting Miami’s DecoBike for its planned bike share program. Two cyclists and a pedestrian injured in separate Riverside collisions. One hundred Murrieta kids boys get free bike helmets through Schwinn’s Helmets on Heads program; Witch on a Bicycle astutely asks why just boys — and why helmets instead of safety training? A San Francisco cyclist is injured when a DUI driver being chased by police hits a parked car, which slams into the rider; the 23-year old driver had three previous DUI convictions in the last 10 years — yes, that suggests she was convicted of DUI at 13, which I certainly hope is a mistake.

Innovative new gear for bike cops; I want the helmet with built-in sun glasses. Or maybe you’re just tired of yelling at the rest of the pace line. Using handlebars instead of antlers in bike taxidermy; I wonder if careless drivers will now mount their trophies. It’s time to get rid of the 85th Percentile Rule, which may be the single most destructive traffic law on the books, to people and communities; though not everyone agrees. People for Bikes notes three companies that support cycling. A 21-year old Perris CA cyclist is killed while riding in Las Vegas. Hurricane Sandy may have been the perfect storm for bike advocacy. Bikeyface designs a roadway for virtually every cycling situation. Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer calls for bike-partisanship in Congress. A Fort Lauderdale man won’t face charges for beating the crap out of the guy who stole his bike.

A Jamaican cyclist asks for help to attend college in the U.S. A Canadian Iditarod cyclist comes back for more after nearly dying in last year’s race. The head of the UK’s equivalent of AAA calls for an end to the two-tribe mentality on our streets, comparing the hatred some motorists have for cyclists to racial discrimination; their survey shows drivers don’t hate us as much as we’d think. Terrified British police are on the lookout for a “dangerous” cyclist who rides one-handed — and with a child on his shoulders. After being the butt of jokes for months, it turns out a Kiwi rider who fell off his bike and drowned in a river wasn’t drunk after all.  Philippine cyclists get a new off-road bikeway.

Finally, don’t forget to get your tickets for the LACBC’ 2nd Tour de Taste on December 2nd. And in light of what happened to my wife this week, make sure you know the warning signs of heart attack and stroke; link courtesy of LAFD Conversation.

Category: General / Tags: , , ,

Good heart news, stupid driver tricks and a first-hand biking screw-up caught on video

November 16, 2012 / / 4 comments

Please forgive the lack of a full post this morning; after a full day in the hospital with my wife yesterday, I came home and collapsed on the couch instead of writing anything.

The good news is, she’s doing amazingly, phenomenally, unbelievably well. Despite suffering what her physicians described as a major heart attack, she appears to have suffered little or no lasting damage to her heart, thanks to an emergency response team that had her in surgery within minutes of her collapse.

She looks and sounds great, to the point that you wouldn’t even know why she’s in the hospital. If all goes well, she should be out of the ICU today, and could even be back home before the weekend is over.

We owe big thanks to the Beverly Hills Fire Department, the ER staff at Cedars Sinai, and her coworkers; without the exceptional efforts of each, this story could have had a much different outcome. While I have often criticized Beverly Hills, their fire department is first rate.

And a very big thank you to everyone for your prayers and kind words. I am truly humbled that so many people, those I know and countless others I’ve never met, took time to express your caring thoughts.

Bless you all.

I hope to get back to regular bike programming later today; check back late tonight or in the morning and hopefully I’ll have a link round-up for you, and maybe an events update.

……..

Meanwhile, let’s take a look at a couple of helmet cam videos from a recent ride. Both show dangerous driving tricks that put my safety at risk.

As well as one that demonstrates bad judgement on my own part.

Yes, I make mistakes too. And nearly paid for it this time.

Category: General / Tags: , , ,

Your Monday morning link roundup — all the breaking bike news that’s fit to print

November 12, 2012 / / 2 comments

Let’s start with news from my home state —

Former President Herbert Hoover’s grandson runs down a Colorado cyclist in an apparent road rage assault.

Some previous stories have misidentified the driver as J. Edgar Hoover’s grandson; however, the never married and reputedly gay founder of the FBI didn’t have any children, which to the best of my knowledge pretty much precludes the possibility of a grandchild.

Fortunately, this sort of assault should become a thing of the past as the entire state prepares to mellow out.

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Speaking of dope, here’s a twist, as a former Lance teammate says he would have been a better rider if only he’d doped more. Pro cycling teams discuss forming the equivalent of soccer’s Champion’s League. Coming soon on the pro tour, a three day Tour de India.

And a certain cyclist steps down from the cancer charity he founded.

Yes, that one.

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A new Kickstarter project promises a bike cam that records both forward and back simultaneously. Of course, the question is the quality of the video, but the concept is solid.

Thanks to Bobby Close for the heads-up.

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The L.A. Times looks at fancy fixies and some that just look the part. The always worth reading CLR Effect casts a lens on a typical bike Sunday in Claremont and examines the safety of cycling glasses; I’m amazed at the number of riders I see without eye protection, since a single insect or pebble tossed up by a passing car could cost you an eye. Shimano is expanding their American headquarters in Irvine. The goalkeeper for the San Diego State women’s soccer team bounces back from a serious cycling collision with a speeding motorcycle. Amtrak adds bike capacity on some popular California routes. Sacramento cyclist is the latest victim of murderous hit-and-run drivers. Cyclelicious offers photos from the Pedal Savvy bike fashion show and the 2012 San Francisco Bike Expo. A San Francisco writer says bikes are good for the city.

What President Obama’s re-election may mean for U.S. bike riders. Anchorage bike commuters win support for more bike lanes. Have to respect someone who’s concerned about the woman who just ran over his bike-riding wife. Denver cyclists raise funds to benefit a local bike advocate seriously injured in a solo fall. An Arkansas driver Jerry Browns a cyclist, but somehow the rider is blamed for the collision. An Austin writer says it’s time to strip Lance Armstrong’s name from a local bikeway. It’s bad enough when a driver flees the scene of a fatal cycling hit-and-run; even more disgusting when he’s an EMT whose job it is to save victims like his. Evidently, there are worse things than hit-and-run, as a New Orleans cyclist is hit by a car, then robbed at gunpoint by its occupants.

A Cayman Islands driver calls for a crackdown on those mad cyclists. A 68-year old Canadian woman is angry about being ticketed for riding in a crosswalk after getting right hooked. The UK’s cycling death toll reaches 105, just two less than the total for all of 2011; make that 106. British pro cyclist Mark Cavendish calls for the country to adopt a version of Europe’s strict liability laws, while British adventurist James Cracknell — nearly killed in a US riding wreck — calls for mandatory helmet laws. The BBC blames cyclists using discredited data. A UK rider is hit with a bottle from a passing car, the latest in a string of similar attacks in recent years, including a bicyclist who was struck with a dead body; in fact, the country seems to be dealing with a rash of bike hate and assaults on cyclists. A full 42% of London cyclists have been knocked off their bikes in collisions with motor vehicles. A writer for the Guardian says cycling is worth the pain and riders shouldn’t let a spill or two deter them; couldn’t agree more, I’ve had four serious falls in 32 years of riding, and bounced back from everyone one. Great comment on drivers who complain cyclists are hard to see — or worse, hit them — “Why did this particular driver and none of the others have a problem seeing me?” A British driver fears he may get a speeding ticket intended for a cyclist. And the last item in our unexpectedly long report from the United Kingdom, as the Edinburgh Herald says safer streets for cyclists is an uphill struggle that needs to succeed. Demonstrating no sense of irony, the Deputy Mayor of Florence defends the choice of Pinocchio as mascot for scandal-plagued pro cycling’s 2013 World Championships. Qatar develops a bike plan, as the nation aims to become a center for cycling; can you even bike in a burka? A Singapore cyclist says road courtesy really does exist.

Finally, a Chinese news report says overcrowding has turned cycling in Amsterdam into a daily hell, which should come as a big surprise to the Dutch. A UK bike safety campaign offensively blames “cyclists riding like stupid twats” for an unnamed percentage who cause their own deaths; I suspect far more are caused by the twats who drive that way.

And as always, our friends at the Cycling Embassy of Great Britain offer a link roundup that puts this one to shame, assuming you have a few hours — or maybe days — to kill.

Category: General / Tags: , ,

Today’s post, in which I shill for Clif Bar, and offer a long and ever growing list of year-end events

November 10, 2012 / / 3 comments

This seems to be an email sort of week.

Earlier this week, I received an invitation from our friends at Clif Bar to participate in a webcast with pro cyclist Peter Stetina and Olympic mountain bike and cyclocross racer Todd Wells, along with ultrarunner Scott Jurek and snowboarder Kimmy Fasani.

The session is open to the public, and scheduled to take place Thursday, November 15th from 1:30 to 2:30 L.A. time; you can ask questions via Twitter or Facebook.

CLIF Bar is kicking back with a few of its pro athletes and would like to invite you, your readers, cycling loving friends and fellow athletes everywhere join in via webcast Thursday, Nov. 15 from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. EST / 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. PST.

Pro Cyclist, Peter Stetina, and three other world-class Team CLIF Bar athletes from different sports will be available to answer questions on everything from training, to nutrition, to what common experiences they share. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn from four athletes at the top of their respective sports by sending us your burning questions in advance of the webcast so we can make sure they’re answered.

Here’s how to tune in:

  1. Visit www.ClifBarLive.com and follow the instructions to participate
  2. Ask questions via Twitter hashtag: #AskTeamCLIFBar, CLIF Bar’s Facebook page or chat them directly into the webcast
  3. Bonus: Winners will be selected during the webcast to receive prizes from CLIF Bar!

Team CLIF Bar Athletes in Attendance:

  • Peter Stetina – Cyclist; member of the Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda team; two-time USA Cycling U23 National Time Trial Champion, 2008 and 2009
  • Todd Wells – Olympic Mountain Bike and Cyclocross Racer; member of three Olympic teams (2004, 2008 and 2012); in 2010, became first athlete to win national titles in cross-country mountain bike, short track cross-country mountain bike and cyclocross in same year
  • Scott Jurek – Ultrarunner; winner of the Western States 100 mile Endurance Run 1999-2005; author of Eat & Run
  • Kimmy Fasani – Snowboarder; first woman in more than five years to score the cover of Transworld Snowboarding Magazine and only the fifth woman in the magazine’s history

Speaking of Clif Bar, they recently sent me a small care package of their holiday season flavors to try out.

Full disclosure, I use their products to begin with. For me, they’re easy to carry on my bike, provide the energy boost I need without the sugar crash I get from some other products, and are substantial enough to stave off hunger for a couple hours.

Which is why you’ll usually find a couple in my bike bag on long rides. On the other hand, you can get similar results with a box of raisins and a decent granola bar.

That said, I liked the Peppermint Stick and Iced Gingerbread flavors; the first was cool and refreshing, perfect for a cold winter’s day or a warm SoCal ride, while the latter was like a mini holiday party in my mouth.

On the other hand, while I love pumpkin, the Spiced Pumpkin Pie missed the mark for me; it was a little too strong and too heavily spiced.

But your taste buds may disagree.

And either way, two out of three ain’t bad.

………

Bike Talk airs every Saturday at 10 am; listen to it live or download the podcast from KPFK.

Bike Long Beach hosts Bike Saturdays every weekend; ride your bike to participating local shops and business throughout the city to get special offers and discounts.

A new support group is forming for people who have been involved in a bicycle collision. Everyone is welcome to share your experiences, gain insight and understanding into your emotional state and develop new coping strategies. The group will meet Saturdays from 11:30 am to 1 pm at 6310 San Vicente Blvd, Suite 401. Current LACBC members receive a discount. To learn more, contact Aurisha Smolarski at 323/203-1526 or email aurisha.smolarski@gmail.com.

The stepdaughters of fallen cyclist Benjamin Torres are hosting a BikeRun in honor of their stepfather on Saturday, November 10th starting at Rowley Park in Gardena, and proceeding to Wilton Place and 135th St. The ride assembles at 3:30 pm and rolls at 4 pm. I highly recommend this one to honor a hit-and-run victim who should still be with us.

Flying Pigeon hosts the monthly Spoke(n) Art Ride on Saturday, November 10th, to visit galleries as part of the NELAart’s Second Saturday. Riders meet at the Flying Pigeon LA Bike Shop, 3404 N. Figueroa St at 6 pm, departing at 6:30 pm. That will be followed by the Get Sum Dim Sum Ride on Sunday, November 18th.

Sunday, November 11th, the Culver City Bicycle Coalition is holding their first annual Cruise the Creek Fun Ride and Membership Drive. The intermediate level ride will run roundtrip from Culver City’s Syd Kronenthal Park, 3459 McManus Ave, to Manhattan Beach and back, followed by a family picnic and raffle in the park. Riders assemble at 9:30 am, departing at 10, with a kids ride in the park from 11 am to 1 pm and lunch from 12:30 to 2:30 pm. The ride is free for CCBC members, $10 for non-members.

The LACBC is urging cyclists to attend the sentencing of Sidrath Misra, accused killer of bike rider Alan Deane in Pasadena last year. The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 pm on Tuesday, November 13 in Department N of Los Angeles Superior Court, 300 East Walnut in Pasadena. Bring your helmet into the courthouse with you so the judge can see the cyclists in the room.

The Biking Black Hole of Beverly Hills considers their exceptionally modest efforts at accommodating cyclists in two City Council sessions on Tuesday, November 13th. The afternoon study session will look at the city’s negligible bike rack program, while the evening session will look at the exceptionally modest proposal for two pilot bike routes. Both sessions take place in City Council Chambers, 455 North Rexford Drive in Beverly Hills; the afternoon session starts at 2:30 pm, and the evening session at 7 pm.

CORBA (the Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association) invites riders to meet at the Hub in Topanga State Park on Saturday, November 17th to celebrate their 25th anniversary and show that mountain bikers can co-exist on off-road trails. Riders will meet at 10 am, with a group photo and cash prizes starting at 10:30.

Also on the 17th, C.I.C.L.E. is hosting the Made in LA Ride: Wine, Robots and Hot Spicy Tomato Sauce! from 10 am 1:30 pm, departing at 10:30. The ride starts the LA State Historic Park entrance to Chinatown Station, 901 N. Spring Street, and will explore institutions associated with products made in the City of Angels. A $10 donation is suggested, however, no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Here’s your chance to ride with Mayor Frank Quintero at Walk Bike Glendale’s 2nd annual Mayor’s Bike Ride. The family friendly ride is open to all ages, and meets at Glendale City Hall, 613 E. Broadway, starting at 9 am on Sunday, November 18th.

Also on Sunday the 18th, you’re invited to tour the beautiful and historic San Gabriel foothills the LACBC and the authors of Where to Bike Los Angeles. The 50 mile, intermediate-level ride is free for LACBC members and a guest. Meet at Classic Coffee, 148 North Glendora Avenue in Glendora at 8:30 am, departing at 9 am.

Sunday, November 18th, the Westside’s Bikerowave is holding a free basic bike fitting class starting at 4 pm at 12255 Venice Blvd; RSVP at bikerowaveclasses@gmail.com.

The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition’s Civic Engagement Committee meets at 6:45 pm on the last Tuesday of each month. The last meeting of this year will be held on Tuesday, November 27th, at the Culver Hotel, 9400 Culver Blvd in Culver City. This month’s meeting will focus on finalizing questionnaires for L.A. Mayor and City Council candidates in the March election, as well as a possible debate for Mayor and candidate forums for City Council candidates. Email bikinginla at hotmail dot com to be added to the email list.

Few things go together better than bikes and beer, which is what you’ll get with the Stone Brewing Company Brewcyclers Ride on Saturday, December 1st. Riders will meet at Stone Brewing, 1999 Citracado Parkway in Escondido at 8:30 am, departing at 9 am sharp on a 20 mile roundtrip loop.

The LACBC’s second Tour de Taste is scheduled for Sunday, December 2nd; mark your calendar for a unique combination of bikes and great food. And yes, I’ll be there in some capacity to be determined.

The LACBC is hosting Ride Lankershim for a people-friendly North Hollywood on Saturday, December 8th to support bike improvements on Lankershim Blvd called for in the 2010 L.A. bike plan. Riders meet at Metropolis Bikes, 4660 Lankershim Blvd at 10 am.

High Desert Cyclists win the award for the first scheduled Christmas party of the year, to be held at 7 pm on Monday, December 17th at the Texas Cattle Company, 44206 10th Street West in Lancaster. You can also buy a $40 raffle ticket for a chance to win a $600 Bicycle John’s gift certificate; the raffle ticket includes a free one year family membership to the HDC.

Registration is now open for a six-day ride through San Diego and Riverside Counties between the holidays. The HI-USA Christmas Trip, which has rolled every year since the mid-1950s, starts in San Diego on December 26th and returns on December 31st, with five overnights in between. Total mileage runs between 360 and 400 miles, with terrain ranging from urban to rural, mountains to desert. Thanks to Marvin Davis for the heads-up.

Make your plans for the Malibu 7-Canyon Ride on Saturday, March 23rd with rides of 100 mile, 100 kilometers and 50 miles. The fully supported ride will begin at Zuma Beach, and pass through Latigo, Encinal, Decker, Mulholland, Little Sycamore, Yerba Buena and Deer Creek Canyons, with over 9,000 feet of climbing on the century ride. The first 200 people to register before November 15th will get a 15% discount; enter the code First200 on the registration page.

………

On a personal note, may I offer a heartfelt FU to Time Warner Cable, who mistakenly turned off our cable service when they were connecting someone else in our building. And can’t be bothered to come back and correct their own mistake until well into next week.

With service like that, it’s a wonder they have any customers at all.

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