Los Angeles has been through a lot this year. But one unintended consequence of all the restrictions and disruptions to our lives could show city leadership how L.A. could finally become a bike-friendly city in 2021 and beyond. Through November, the LAPD reports that...
Month: December 2020
Where are you allowed to ride your bicycle in California?
The law in California states that you can ride anywhere you want in the roadway if you are traveling at the same speed as the surrounding traffic (or faster). So, if you are going 35 mph in a 35 mph area, you can travel in the main lane and take as much space as you...
Biking world loses gregarious champion Roy Wallack in accident
The world of cycling lost a longtime champion a week before Christmas. Journalist, author, adventurer and competitor Roy Wallack was killed on Dec. 19 in a mountain biking accident in the Santa Monica Mountains west of Los Angeles. While biking with friends in Point...
Do sharrows keep bicyclists safer?
Many bicyclists, as well as drivers in and around Los Angeles, have mixed feelings about sharrows. These road markings, which consist of two arrowhead-shaped lines (chevrons) with a cyclist underneath, denote lanes that can be used by both cyclists and those in...
Safety is simple: We need more bike lanes
Bike lanes are not without flaws. They do not perfectly protect cyclists. There are a lot of factors in play. That said, studies have repeatedly shown that they are safer than riding bikes without designated lanes, as so many are forced to do. For instance, one study...
Horrific video underscores importance of giving bikes ample room
Far too many motorists tend to view their trips in five-second increments rather than focusing on their journey as a whole. As such, many drivers are quick to frustration as soon as they find themselves behind a bicyclist. This can cause them to pass bikers as quickly...