The Monday Roundup: Forgotten bike highways, near-doom for Froome, evil automakers, and more

This week’s Monday Roundup is sponsored by Biketown, who reminds you that: “Even if you own a bike, you can’t beat the convenience of BIKETOWN – it’s perfect for one-way trips or spontaneous rides. Join today and Save $20!”

Welcome to the week. Here are the best stories we came across in the past seven days…

Carfree cold feet: Some business interests and other residents are raising concerns about a plan to make a major corridor in central Berlin carfree by 2019.

Bringing bikeways back: British bicycling journalist and author Carlton Reid is up another wonderful project: the resurrection of a network of bike highways built in the UK in the 1930s. And don’t forget to check his Kickstarter.

A day in the life: Urban researchers found that about 1/3 of riders in a study had a close-call and many were the target of dangerous driving and verbal assault.

Getting justice: Road rage is more common than people think. If it happens to you, here’s a tale of why it’s so important to get a license plate number and pursue a case against the perpetrator.

I’ll opt for the bike: New, peer-reviewed research out of New York City shows that amount of bus trips fell 2.42 percent with every thousand bike-share docks.

Equity, advocacy, and politics in LA: A former bike shop owner and active bike advocate tried to run for Los Angeles City Council; but it didn’t go well at all because his online persona was tone-deaf and offensive.

Money talks, bullshit plans: Highlighting this piece about Toronto’s progress on Vision Zero solely for this quote: “Vision Zero will not become reality because it’s written in a report. It must be written in the streets.”

Doing us all a favor: A man in Virginia fancies himself as a safety hero by erecting a sign imploring people in cars not to stop for people trying to cross on foot or on a bike.

Car culture exhibit A: Volvo is supposed to be all about safety. Yeah, whatever.

Complacency crashes: A study found that people were more likely to crash their cars closer to home. (FWIW this jibes with my personal belief that boring roads — roads that are straight, wide, unobstructed — breed distracted driving.)

Froome’s near doom 3-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome was the victim of a hit-and-run. And he tweeted it!

Dodge peddles death: Dodge’s new “Demon” is a racecar being marketed for use on our streets. This is a clear and present danger that should be illegal — says none other than Automotive News. And of course the National Motorists Association thinks it’s no big deal.

Hate to break it to you: I’m not sure what’s more ridiculous, the headline of this story — or the fact that so many people thought something would actually change by simply passing a “3-foot passing” law.

Unless this happens: A passing law is only as good (in part) by the enforcement that comes with it. Police in Texas are using a radar device that measures distance to catch dangerous passers.

City-sanctioned Strava segments: Good idea or nah? A city in Ireland has erected signs marking the start-finish of popular Strava segments.

Thanks to everyone who sent us suggestions.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber or make a donation today.

Features, Front Page, The Monday Roundup
The Monday Roundup