The Monday Roundup

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow.
Time to show some bike love.
(Photo: Will Vanlue/BikePortland)

Here’s the news that caught our eyes this past week…

– After all the drama over the beleaguered House transportation bill last week, Republicans begin this week with the task of steering the bill away from an impending cliff.

– Sports icon Lance Armstrong, 40, has returned to triathlon. He placed second in an Ironman competition in Panama, just 37 seconds out of first place.

– The New Zealand Medical Journal has concluded hours cycled per capita in their county dropped 51 percent after mandatory helmet laws went into effect. A spokesman for the Cycling Advocates’ Network feels the law “does more harm than good.”

– A straightforward road diet plan in Birmingham, MI faces resistance: “I don’t object to bike paths,” one resident tells a local paper, “I like them, but my common sense tells me you shouldn’t put them on a major thoroughfare going through the city.” Sound familiar?

– Lawmakers in Illinois have introduced a bill that would extend the texting-while-driving ban to people operating pedal-powered vehicles. Many support the bill but some opponents feel the law is unnecessary.

– Recently formed advocacy group Women on Bikes SoCal has kicked off a campaign in Long Beach, California to double the number of women and girls on bicycles.

– There are plenty of ways to “make public transit awesome” including things as simple as “a place to lock up your bike.”

– The southern California city of Pomona is considering opening their streets solely to human-powered transportation for an event similar to Portland’s Sunday Parkways.

– A building in Ohio which originally housed the Wright brothers’ bicycle shop has fallen into disrepair and, after being deemed “a public nuisance,” it may be torn down.

– The Federation Of Tiny Small Industries of India (FOTSII) is pushing to increase the minimum floor price on Chinese bicycles and components to help them compete with inexpensive imports.

– The City of Hillsboro approved plans for a high-density housing complex at NW Cornell Road and John Olsen Avenue. Development in the area will come along with improvements to the transportation network, likely including new facilities for people on bicycles.

– Bike moves aren’t exclusively a Portland phenomenon; they’re also gaining momentum in Hartford, Connecticut.

– Discovery World, a science and technology museum in Wisconsin, will be home to Pedal Power: A Week-Long Exploration of Bicycling in April. The exhibit will feature bicycle-centric films, hands-on workshops, and other demonstrations.

– Sharrows have come to Clarksville, Tennessee.

– Houston, Texas may not be the first place you think of when you hear the words “bike to work” but the city is seeing more and more people commute by bike.

– A new bike helmet design, which looks like it was designed by Tony Stark, folds down small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

– An artist from Brazil covered a bicycle in wicker to create a symbol “of a fuel-less transport system and meticulous craftsmanship.”

– In the spirit of Valentines day, The Eugene Bicyclist imagines a conversation between himself and a 15-tooth cog looking for some love.

– Remember tomorrow there’s no better way to show your love than helping your “sweety” with a flat or stopping on a ride for a quick kiss.

Did you find something interesting that should be in next week’s Monday Roundup? Drop us a line.