Lowriders have always brought a smile to my face.
Especially when they’re not cars.
Photographer and blogger Aurelio Jose Barrera recently did a photo essay on the rebirth of an Eastside tradition as the lowriders return to Whittier Blvd.
But he also captured a family riding their grownup and child-sized lowrider bicycles to take in, and be a part of, the scene unfolding on the street.
Photos by Aurelio Jose Barrera
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Apparently, the memorial for fallen cyclist James Rapley on Temescal Canyon Park is getting noticed.
The editor of the Palisades news writes about the white, bicycle-shaped bike rack that was placed in the park earlier this year. It was designed to look like a ghost bike, in addition to serving as a functional bike rack, as a reminder to everyone to bike and drive safely.
And sober, unlike the stoned driver who took his life.
Thanks to David Wolfberg for the heads-up.
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Cycling in the South Bay’s Seth Davidson has been on a roll lately as he works to stay on top of the rapidly changing developments affecting bicyclists in the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
This time, he reports on a group of over-privileged homeowners attempting, illegally, to ban bicycles from their street.
Under California law, bicycles are allowed to use any public street where motor vehicles are allowed, with the exception of most limited access highways.
So they’re more than welcome to ban bikes.
They just have to ban their own cars and SUVs, as well.
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As soon as you drive a stake through the heart of one bike-hating Facebook group, another one pops up.
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Reuters says Chris Froome’s third victory seals his status as one of the greats of the Tour de France, while he’s finally getting some respect from the crowds. Meanwhile, a British writer says the only way to save the Tour is to get fans to back off.
A Hollywood website offers five things to know about the repeat winner, while the Guardian says Froome is a role model for clean cycling in a sport that needed one.
Then again, doping wasn’t always frowned on; some people still don’t think it’s that big a deal.
An English cycling club founded by suffragettes celebrates one of their own, as 23-year old Adam Yates claims the white jersey as the Tour’s best young rider.
Rivals riders consider points winner Peter Sagan one of the best cyclists in the peloton.
And a writer for women’s magazine Marie Claire says it’s time for women to compete equally with men at the Tour, either in a parallel race on the same routes, or allowing them to actually compete in the race.
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Local
Evidently, they feel our pain. CiclaValley captures a pair of motorcycle cops who finally give up on getting a traffic light to change for them, and blow the light.
CicLAvia is hosting a $100 Play Day in LA fundraiser on September 17th.
Stephen Corwin offers nine things game-changing things you won’t understand about the new Metro Bike bikeshare until you try it.
A 20-year old UCLA student from Chico is riding nearly 4,000 miles across the US with the Bike and Build program.
Beverly Hills encourages everyone to walk or bike to a free block party on South Beverly Drive this Saturday. In other words, taking the city’s virtually non-existent bike lanes to get to the virtually non-existent bike parking.
State
A San Diego website says the San Diego Bicycle Coalition will host a discussion of the Coastal Rail Trail at a Bikes on Tap bike-in happy hour. But fails to mention when and where it will take place.
Brilliant idea, as the owner of several San Francisco ice cream bikes collects donations to pay for ice cream for kids who can’t afford it. Thanks to Megan Lynch for the link.
National
Someone vandalized Portland’s new bikeshare bikes as soon as they hit the ground, possibly because they were seen as a symbol of gentrification.
A Colorado cyclist continues to ride up to 50 miles a day, seven days a week, despite being in his 26th round of chemo for stage 4 colon cancer that has spread to his liver and lungs.
Iowa’s annual RAGBRAI ride started Sunday with a Mile of Silence in honor of bicyclists injured or killed in the state; sadly, they added one more name to that list before the memorial ride even got started.
An Op-Ed in an Iowa paper says it’s time to build protected bike lanes in the state.
Pittsburgh appears to be bucking the safety in numbers trend, as bicycling collisions increase along with ridership.
An analyst for right-wing think tank says bike lanes in Raleigh NC are social engineering at expense of those poor drivers, and accuses elected leaders of arrogance for thinking they know better than the people they’re elected to represent. Which, of course, is exactly why they were elected in the first place. Meanwhile, a local rider refutes her arguments; thanks to DOORZONE for the link.
International
Canada Bikes is hiring a new executive director. Just in case you plan to leave the country if the wrong candidate wins this fall’s election.
Support has been pouring in for a Canadian Paralympic cyclist after both of her bikes were stolen.
Two British brothers save their overweight, diabetic father’s life through bicycling.
Caught on video: A Brit bike rider uses his helmet cam to catch a man playing Pokémon GO as he drove his BMW.
Police in one English town ban bike riders from the central city due to incidents of an “anti-social manner” from a few cyclists, which pose a danger to pedestrians. By that standard, all drivers would be banned from every road, everywhere.
Finally…
Wearing a hoodie when you ride is okay, but put some pants on, too. The approved used for bike locks does not include attacking taxis for no apparent reason.
And if you’re going to ride with a loaded rifle on your back, make sure you’re legally allowed to own one.
Although that’s one way to make sure drivers give you some space.
