Bicycling

Via Carectomy, a San Francisco CBS affiliate reports that the Bay Area's Metropolitan Transportation Commission is considering whether to revise the rules of the road to better accommodate cyclists. The changes would make it legal for cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs, and stoplights as stop signs.

As metropolises like New York and Philadelphia consider the benefits of bike sharing, and with Washington DC already off and riding, smaller cities are getting in on the action as well, often through the initiative of major local employers.

Bike Advocates Discuss Testimony as a TV Crew Looks On

The LAPD Testifies on the Gate Closure

In an effort to improve safety and mobility for pedestrians and cyclists, Washington, DC has embarked on a number of livable streets reforms (market rate street parking), and is considering others (reclaiming auto-occupied street space for people). Though a recent article in the Washington Post casts these initiatives as a "war" against car commuters, it's clear that DC officials -- like those in many US cities -- are in fact acting to level the field following decades of auto dominance, and at a time when driving has become a more expensive, less desirable option.

I'll have a full report on the Transportation Committee's big bike meeting earlier today, but one piece of quick news that doesn't require an in-depth report is an announcement by Councilman Bill Rosendahl that he will be holding a community meeting about the state of cycling within Mandeville Canyon Road. The Councilmember hopes to bring the community together to discuss how everyone can best share the road. Some ideas on the table include: signage, road improvements, road-sharing guidelines, and public education about the vehicle code.

From the Australian Bicycling Council comes word of a new amenity for bicycling commuters In Brisbane, Australia. Called cycle2city, it provides secure weekday parking and showers for up to 420 members, who will pay between $5 and $7 a day for the privilege of using the facility (that and other figures quoted here are Australian dollars, which are close to even in value with the US dollar these days).

Yesterday LAist broke the story, with graphic images, of a road rage-caused crash between two experienced cyclists and an emergency room doctor with a bid of a trigger temper.  Unlike past incidents, the mainstream media jumped on this story with graphic images making the story more “viewer friendly.”  KNBC and CBS2 both ran stories on last night’s news and the Bottleneck Blog and KFI 640 both have stories online. 

Needed Safety Amenity or Hotbed of Gang Activity