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.