Bicycling

A couple of years ago, the City of Pasadena considered banning bicycles from what they're now calling the "Rose Bowl Recreation Loop" because of the conflict being created between cyclists and car drivers.  At the time the city sided with the drivers citing their "commutes" as more important than the cyclists and pedestrians using the loop as a public space.  Pasadena's plan was hotly debated, but eventually shelved.

Recently the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition launched a series of local campaigns designed to highlight some "best practices" in bicycle design and planning.  One of those campaigns focuses on re-engineering 4th Street as a Bike Boulevard in the Mid-Wilshire area, from where it begins on Hoover Street to where it ends on Alta Vista Blvd. at the Park LaBrea residential complex.

Wired gives us a look at a number of bicycle-related applications for the iPhone, including Back Light, which allows you to tell cars following too closely on your back wheel exactly what you think they should do with themselves ("Stop!," of course). I'll admit I would put a lot of other choice statements there, but that's because I'm not as sensible as you, dear readers.

Metro may not be ready to move on a new "Bikes on Trains" proposal just yet, but that doesn't mean that they aren't trying to set aside bike space on trains in the meantime.

Last week, two proposals by Metro staff dominated a lot of the Livable Streets discussion in Los Angeles.

Are you ready for your blood to really boil?

Especially after the events of last Friday, it's always a sobering moment when you read about cyclists being killed by drunk or otherwise reckless drivers.  However, in this instance there is a silver lining to the tragedy; for once the driver is being charged with murder and not a lesser assault charge as we see all to often.

(editor's note: Some of the details of the Highland Park shooting have been left intentionally blank at the request of the ride organizers for their safety.  Keep that in mind in the comments section, please.  Update:  A couple of people have asked me for the address of the attack so that they could avoid that area on bicycle.  I can't give the address of the alleged shooter, but can say the shot was fired at the intersection of Avenue 52 and Longfellow Street in Highland Park which is very, very close to the house in question.)

Imagine trying to make a movie while leaving almost no carbon footprint...no batteries used in the lights, no cars or trucks used to haul equipment and public transit, walking and bicycling used to get the actors and crew to every location.  That's the task created for themselves by Rebel Without a Car Productions, which include our good friends Stephen and Enci Box; and they need your help.