The Monday Roundup

Here’s the news and other cool stuff that caught our eyes this past week…

– Scientific American asks, “Has the U.S. reached ‘Peak Car’?”

– The auto industry has finally come up with an environmentally friendly car. The Onion has the scoop on the new Prius “Solution” model.

– There’s another example, this time from Berkley, CA, of a hit-and-run driver being brought to justice because of the footage from a bicycle-mounted camera.

– The City of Los Angeles has announced it will install 43 miles of new bike lanes over the next year, building on a network of 71 miles of bicycle facilities they’ve already installed.

– If you missed it back in June, here are five surprising lessons the Velo-City conference.

– Over on Kickstarter, that leather bicycle frame handle made by Portlander Geoff Franklin has far surpassed its funding goal, raising nearly $20,000. And remember the M.O.M. cargo trailer? After a failed Kickstarter campaign last year, its developers — Sellwood resident Len Rubin — is trying again.

– Flashing yellow left-turn arrows around Washington County are worrying some residents because they do not protect people using crosswalks, on foot or on bikes, from people turning in motor vehicles.

– The City of Ellensburg is getting attention for possibly being Washington State’s best city for biking and walking.

– The Eugene Bicyclist penned a great tongue-and-cheek Declaration of Bicycle Independence to celebrate the Fourth of July.

– Despite July 4th being one of the worst days for instances of DUII, police officers in Lake Forest Park, Washington reportedly executed an enforcement action against people on bikes entering a crosswalk on a flashing signal.

– The New York Times has taken note of Portland photographer Tim LeBarge’s excellent cyclocross photographs.

– Portland citizen activist Greg Raisman released a short film about intersection painting projects in Portland that shows the powerful community-building potential of the commons.

– Portland-based author April Streeter, author of Women on Wheels, discusses her favorite parts of riding around Portland and other topics in a profile on VeloVogue.

– Chicago’s 12th Ward Alderman George Cardenas says he’s in favor of Chicago starting up an open streets event, similar to Portland’s Sunday Parkways.

– TIME discusses bicycling in New York City and the potential consequences of bike share “unleash[ing] thousands of new cyclists loose on New York’s streets.”

– USA Today also says bike share systems in North America are fanning the flames of “the battle between car drivers and bicyclists”.

– The Florida Department of Transportation took a look at sharrows in Miami Beach (here’s a PDF of the study) and found the shared lane markings increased compliance with traffic laws.

– By now you’ve heard lots about young people driving less and biking more, and here’s much of that information summed up in a helpful infographic.

– You have to take a look at this hilarious series of photos, showing motor vehicle lanes made to look like terribly designed bicycle facilities around the UK.

– One Danish travel agency has introduced a travel package for couples who want to explore Denmark by bicycle which they’re calling the “Love on a Bike” Tour.

– Looking for a fun summer project? Here are instructions to build your own personal turn signals from a few simple electronic components.

– For another DIY challenge, check out this guide to building a kid’s bike basket out of cloth.

– For those looking for a simpler hands-on project, here’s a quick and easy “bicycle essentials kit” made from an Altoids tin.

– The LumaHelm, a multicolored brightly-lit bicycle helmet is receiving a lot of attention for being highly visible but it also looks like it’d fit in well on many of Portland’s themed group rides.

– If you’re looking for inspiration to ride, look no further than this interview with the “Unstoppables” as they train for the 2012 London Paralympic Games:

– And finally, check out this wind-powered water pump prototype, build from old bicycle components:

— Did you find something interesting that should be in next week’s Monday Roundup? Drop us a line. For more great links from around the web, follow us on Twitter @BikePortland.