Here’s the news that caught our eye this week:
– A government-commissioned study in the UK has found, presumably to nobody’s surprise, that overall, most drivers don’t like sharing the roads with bikes when there is no bicycle infrastructure and that negative views of cyclists, generally of the “they don’t obey laws or pay for the roads” variety, abound.
– An academic study, also in the UK, and also just released, came to the conclusion that the non-cycling public thinks that bicycling is totally normal and cool, should be taken seriously, and should be accommodated on the road. The one thing the studies have in common: Nobody wants to take space away from cars.
– Also in the UK, the Mayor of London took the UK transport secretary to task for continuing to make public statements in the “cyclists don’t pay for the roads” vein.
– Wednesday finds more cities sitting out World Carfree Day than five years ago. Many, like Corvallis, Oregon and Tallinn, Estonia, still mark the day with encouragement and incentives to leave the car at home. Other cities, like Ashland, Oregon, boast street fairs and bike rides. But a greater number are focusing their efforts year round on Park(ing) Day celebrations, ciclovias/open streets (LA will host its first in October), and even weeklong events, like in Montreal, to explore questions of livability and mobility.
– The University of Toronto has made its campus roads carfree for a year-long pilot program. Instead of cars, the roads now offer tables, chairs and wi-fi.
– Bike lanes and sharrows have not yet come to the moon, but they are taking Spokane by storm, in the wake of a major surge in interest in bicycling in that city.
– Dallas, Texas is investing in a bicycle master plan but change won’t come easy, say planners.
– Interbike, the gargantuan North American bicycle industry trade show, has announced that next year it will be held in Anaheim, California after many years in Vegas.
– A new invention would allow bike paths to be eked out of narrow roadways by making use of the ditch.
– In Ohio, a fierce battle over rumble strips on a narrow highway is being waged between engineers and bicycle advocates.
– Singapore has just passed a law allowing drivers licenses to be suspended during traffic investigations for major driving offenses, rather than waiting for a court’s decision.
– Out of Canada: A car made of hemp.
– A nice story on the power of the bicycle when your only alternative is to walk long distances.
– In Jakarta, Indonesia, a bicycle-mounted librarian gives books to street kids.
– And finally, the video of the week: Gonna Ride My Bike Until I Get Home is charming the bike socks off internet procrastinators in large numbers.
Seen some worthy bike news we haven’t posted here? Add a link in the comments, use the del.icio.us tag “mondayroundup” or email elly at bikeportland dot org.