The Monday Roundup

Here’s the news that caught our eye this week:

– Even a police officer dressed in a bunny suit can’t get a break when trying to cross the street in a crosswalk.

– The US federal government may soon prohibit text messaging while driving a commercial truck. Texting while driving is already illegal in 20 states and restricted in 9 more, and banned by many trucking companies.

– Reactions to LaHood’s promise to invest in bicycle infrastructure are split along party lines.

– London’s first new road in a century will be open to walking, biking, transit, and taxis, but no private cars.

– In Amsterdam, police politely decline to address traffic violations committed by bicycle.

– Mexico City is making progress with its bike-friendly initiatives but still faces plenty of challenges.

– The city council in Anchorage, Alaska is set to pass a bike plan that would call for investment in basic bike infrastructure.

– In the UK, bicycles have been deemed unsafe for mail delivery, and are being phased out.

– In Australia, a proposed law would require all recumbent bicycles to be equipped with flags.

– New York City, 2010: “Cyclist gets doored, calls cops, gets tickets.”

– New York’s spate of Critical Mass lawsuits are slowly beginning to wrap up. The most recent result is a $98,000 award to several riders who, the court found, were wrongfully detained with use of excessive force. The police department has declined to act on concerns over stark discrepancies between a video of the incident and one officer’s testimony.

– People with advanced Parkinson’s disease eventually lose the ability to walk—but many can still easily ride a bike, suggesting that the two activities use different parts of the brain.

– An interesting battle is brewing around environmental overhauls for container trucking at the Port of Los Angeles.

– Electric cars are on the way, and are being marketed to the carfree set.

– Long for flashing turn signals at night? They’re built into this jacket.

Photo of author

Elly Blue (Columnist)

Elly Blue has been writing about bicycling and carfree issues for BikePortland.org since 2006. Find her at http://takingthelane.com

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Caroline
14 years ago

“People with advanced Parkinson’s disease eventually lose the ability to walk—but many can still easily ride a bike, suggesting that the two activities use different parts of the brain.”

This is amazing! How wonderful for that man that his physical therapists gave him a push!

felix
felix
14 years ago

FYI. My virus/fishing scanner went off the charts on that site that is linked.

Opus the Poet
14 years ago

Is anyone really surprized that the Party of No is voting as a block against something the current administration has endorsed?

KWW
KWW
14 years ago

Regarding the truck/texting legislation, I read in another forum where 8 motorcycle riders were killed by one truck driver while texting in SC.

wsbob
wsbob
14 years ago

The promotional campaign for the Nissan Leaf (streetsblog story/electric cars)is funny. Check that picture out: A bunch of black car seats in passenger compartment configuration, sitting on the street next to the curb.

So inviting. Is this anywhere as good as car-free Time’s Square’s plastic lawn chairs? The point of the promotion is supposed to be…what? That a car not producing carbon monoxide is like not having a car on the street at all?