Bike SGV reports that Monterey Park approved plans for a 1.6 mile Complete Streets project and protected bike lanes along Monterey Pass Road.
This will be the first project to be implemented from the city’s 2014 bike plan.
Hopefully many more will follow. And other area cities will take the hint.
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CD4 Councilmember David Ryu released a study on access to Griffith Park and the Hollywood Sign, which could result in either more or less access to the park, depending on which proposals are implemented.
Not to mention a second Hollywood sign.
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CNN says ebikes are emerging as a hot trend in the US. Except in New York, that is, where they are banned for reasons no one can seem to explain.
However, sales have nose-dived in Malta, dropping 90% after the country required ebikes to be registered. Which should be seen as a warning of what could happen if bicycle registration laws are passed in the US.
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As if we didn’t have enough bikeshare news yesterday, there’s still more today.
A West Hollywood site offers more on the city council’s discussion of the WeHo Pedals bikeshare system, and the possibility of making it free for city residents.
Santa Cruz proposes removing 28 parking spaces to make room for bikeshare stations, featuring ped-assist ebikes.
Scottsdale AZ officials are less than thrilled with the results of a dockless bikeshare pilot program, which has led to blocked sidewalks and art installations being used as bike racks.
Oak Park IL is pulling the plug on its participation in Chicago’s Divvy bikeshare, saying for the cost of the program, they could buy every kid in town a new bicycle every other year. But they probably won’t.
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Local
CiclaValley takes you on a ride along the historic Old Ridge Route.
South Pasadena is looking at ways to fix commuter traffic, after the long-fought 710 Freeway was finally killed; councilmembers asked that projects in the city’s 2011 bicycle master plan be included after a consultant gave them a low priority.
El Monte police increase enforcement of traffic laws after a pair of fatal collisions involving older pedestrians.
Manhattan Beach approves the installation of three bike Fix-It stations around the city.
Long Beach approves plans for up to 120 new oil wells in exchange for restoration of wetlands on a depleted oil field, including installation of walking and bike paths.
State
Work began today to add buffered bike lanes and other safety improvements along San Diego’s Torrey Pines Road.
Bike Index co-stars with a group of DIY crime fighters to battle Bay Area bike theft. Which provides another chance to remind you to register your bike for free before anything happens to it. And report it to the nationwide Bike Index stolen bike database if anything does.
A Marin paper says it makes sense to remove a bike and pedestrian lane from the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to make more room for more cars, instead of offering a safe alternative so people don’t have to drive.
A wanted felon doesn’t get far trying to outrun police on his bicycle in Humboldt County.
National
Why settle for a folding bike when you can have folding wheels, too?
Nissan wants drivers to control their cars with their minds. Too many people don’t seem to think behind the wheel now, so what makes them think wearing a funny hat will change that?
People for Bikes lists a dozen bucket list rides for 2018, including a Big Wheel spin around the City by the Bay.
A Honolulu woman faces charges for pointing a gun at a bus driver in a dispute over the fare, then stealing a passenger’s bicycle off the front rack.
These are the people we share the roads with. Police say an Oregon woman drove off after killing a bike rider while driving drunk last month. Then returned to the scene to yell at the victim’s companions.
The federal Bureau of Land Management will expand the nationally recognized Phil’s World singletrack network in southwestern Colorado, while protecting a nearby golden eagle nest.
They get it. A Wyoming task force calls for a police training curriculum for bicycling and walking enforcement, as well as testing a high-powered air-blower to clear debris off highway shoulders that could pose a hazard to bicyclists.
Burlington VT drivers are feeling squeezed by new protected bike lanes. Although the real problem seems to be parked cars and inadequate snow removal. But sure, it’s always easier to blame the bikes.
She gets it, too. A Massachusetts letter writer says building a safe bicycle network is like building another transit system.
New York City responds to fatal bike crashes with a plan for a pair of protected bike lanes crossing Manhattan. Unfortunately, changes like this usually only happen after it’s already too late.
The New York bike path terrorist who killed eight people on Halloween is reportedly asking for a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.
Evidently, hit-and-run just isn’t a crime anymore. South Carolina authorities decline to charge a driver who left the scene of a fatal crash. If police don’t take hit-and-run seriously, why should drivers?
International
Mexico City is encouraging bicycling as more riders take to the city’s crowded streets, though safety risks remain.
Caught on video: A British bus driver is caught on a bicyclist’s helmet cam texting at the wheel.
Kindhearted Brits have started a crowdfunding campaign to replace a bicycle stolen from a midwife who used it to get to and from work.
Wired examines the physics of the bizarre 69-degree UK intersection that blinds drivers to the presence of bicyclists.
The 21-year old heir to a Florentine noble family was killed in a London collision while riding a brakeless fixie, though that doesn’t appear to have anything to do with the crash.
Record-setting Scottish round-the-world cyclist Mark Beaumont is planning to set a new hour record — on a penny farthing.
A new Barcelona study shows expanding bicycle networks across Europe could prevent 10,000 premature deaths a year on the continent.
A five-year old New Zealand program encourages truck drivers to ride a bicycle to learn how it feels on the other side of the street.
I want to be like him when I grow up. A Kiwi cyclist is still winning races at 83-years old, and doesn’t plan to quit.
Competitive Cycling
VeloNews looks at retired cyclist Iris Slappendel and her efforts to form a union for women cyclists.
Pro cyclist Nicholas Dlamini became the first black South African to wear a leader’s jersey in a World Tour race, leading the chase for the King of the Mountains at the Tour Down Under.
The Press-Telegram says it’s anyone’s guess how many people will actually show up for the Amgen Tour of California when it visits the city next May, after concluding that the official estimate of up to 225,000 who attended the event in 2007 was only off by around 190,000.
Finally…
It’s not every day a bike race is halted for a pending volcanic eruption. Probably not the best idea to participate in a triathlon five weeks after filing a claim for “incapacitating injuries.”
And forget exercise, chocolate and naps are the key to a long life.
