Day 293 of LA’s Vision Zero failure to end traffic deaths by 2025.
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Bad news from San Diego’s Barrio Logan, where an 86-year old man suffered life-threatening injuries when he was struck by a driver while riding his bike.
The victim reportedly suffered multiple broken bones, as well as a blood clot around the brain.
Anyone with information is urged to call the San Diego Police Department’s Traffic Division, or Crime Stoppers at 888/580-8477.
Let’s hope he makes a full and fast recovery.
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A driver faces multiple felony charges after he was arrested for the hit-and-run crash that left two teenage bike riders with serious injuries in La Quinta.
One of the boys, 14-year old Liam Cantu, remains in critical condition after life-saving brain surgery.
Unfortunately, I can’t get the page to load; hopefully it’s just a weekend server problem and the links will work when you try them.
And let’s hope for a full and fast recovery for this kid, too.
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Good advice.
A longtime competitive cyclist in San Diego warns that bicyclists are prone to osteoporosis, which can lead to hip fractures and other broken bones.
Point Loma’s Greg Bowerman adds that “good bone health demands solid weight-bearing activity, such as pumping weights or practicing yoga” to prevent fractures as we age.
I’m dealing with the same problem myself after a lifetime of riding, on top of all my other health issues brought on by diabetes, despite weight training. Although I’ve been lucky that I haven’t broken anything yet.
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Streets For All is hosting the hosts of the popular War on Cars podcast as they promote their new book next month.
Streets For All is excited to host The War on Cars podcast’s Sarah Goodyear & Doug Gordon as they celebrate the publication of their new book, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile.
Speakers include Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez (District 13), Alissa Walker (Torched.la), Bill Wolkoff (co-executive producer, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds), with more to be announced!
When: Monday, November 17th at 7:30pm
Where: Dynasty Typewriter, 2511 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057
Lots of transit options!Optional VIP reception begins at 6pm (free if you are part of our Members Club with the purchase of a general admission ticket).
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Local
LA’s Critical Mass, described as “the nation’s largest and longest-running community bicycle ride,” will ride to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on Halloween night, bringing “costumed joy and solidarity” to young patients and their families.
The state approved $700 million in funding to repair and refurbish the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the Port of Los Angeles. Although it doesn’t say whether the work will include bicycle access, which is currently banned on the 60-year old bridge.
A Santa Clarita man says he feels like a broken record after repeated complaints about kids on ebikes. Although as we’ve repeatedly pointed out, the problems stem primarily from teens on electric dirt bikes and motorbikes, many of them illegal, rather than ped-assist ebikes. But almost no one seems to make that distinction.
State
A La Jolla paper examines the roots of ebikes, which it says are “loved by riders and loathed by many who share the streets with them.” Although you may have to get past the paper’s paywall to read it.
Sad news from Palo Alto, where a man in his 80s died over a week after he was struck by a driver in his 90s while riding his bicycle. Once again raising the question of how old is too old to drive safety. And like the man in Barrio Logan, anyone still riding a bike at that age deserves better.
National
NPR examines why more parents are riding ebikes, and skipping the minivan.
Vox takes a look at the traffic revolution that’s making cities cleaner — and happier — as more cities are finally choosing bikes over cars. Unlike, say, a certain SoCal megalopolis we could name. And once again, you may have to find a way around their paywall.
Nice. Lime rolled out a mobile bike bodega stocked with free snacks, everyday essentials and Lime merchandise that Denver riders could pick up throughout the day.
Denver business owners complain about bullying after they opposed bikeways in front of their stores, including doxxing, negative Yelp reviews and harassing phone calls. Seriously, don’t do that. We’re far better off in the long run winning the day with better arguments, not harassment.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota found that more than 87% of people who received one of the state’s ebike rebates ended up buying one. And many people who didn’t get one bought an ebike anyway.
They get it. A pair of Ohio teenagers are fighting for more bikeways and safer streets after a 13-year old boy was killed riding his bike, describing “too many close calls” riding their own bikes.
A volunteer group in Burlington, Vermont has recovered nearly 900 stolen bicycles in just three years.
International
A writer for Cycling Weekly finds herself surprisingly transformed after years as a solo rider when she joins the magazine’s lunchtime group ride.
An Anglican bishop in the UK raised funds for churches in South Africa by riding his bike 80 miles across his diocese.
A former English pastor was remembered as a “keen cyclist” known for riding around town delivering a basket full of food he had grown or cooked to local families, after he passed away at 90. Which is about as nice an epitaph as anyone could hope for.
A man in the UK will spend the next 22 months behind bars for brandishing a knife during an argument to get his stolen bicycle back.
Adding tragedy to tragedy, a man sentenced to eight months behind bars for killing a woman riding a bicycle took his own life in a British prison as he awaited deportation to Poland, after guards didn’t bother to check on his welfare for the last six months.
This is what happens when you prioritize cars over people on the streets. A new report shows car traffic in the city center of Galway, Ireland, is up 6%, while bicycling is down an equal amount, and walking is down 22%. But at least transit use is up, too.
Velo looks at “the coolest bikes around” from across the world at this year’s Bespoked Show Dresden.
Competitive Cycling
A writer for the BBC learns the hard way what happens when you ride against Tadej Pogačar, even with a head start.
Despite his name, British rider Paul Double soloed to victory on the fifth stage of China’s Tour of Guangxi, taking his first WorldTour win at the ripe old age of 29.
After seven full months of racing, New Zealand’s Cam Jones and Argentine Sofía Gómez Villafañe captured the 2025 Life Time Grand Prix, following the rain and tornado shortened Big Sugar Gravel race.
Velo says pro cycling’s soccer-inspired relegation system is just a hot mess that solves nothing, as the richest teams keep winning and the smaller teams pay the price. Although one thing that might help is limiting the size of pro rosters or capping payrolls, so they have to spread the talent around a little.
Finally…
Your next e-foldie could come with a half-kilo of high-grade caviar. That feeling when bike crashes return with the fashions.
And now the feds are even shelling the CHP.
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Be safe, and stay healthy. And get vaccinated, already.
Oh, and fuck Putin.
