Welcome to the week! Before we share some great stories, here’s a quick word from an excellent sponsor: NW Connector is a bike-friendly collection of transit services that connect Portland, the Oregon Coast, and beyond. Plan your next adventure at NWConnector.org.
And here are the best stories we came across in the past week…
Steel horses: The New Yorker profiled a group of young tribal members who have left their horses in the stable and taken up mountain bike riding on their Navajo Nation reservation.
Way to go LeBron! I have mixed feelings about NBA superstar LeBron “King” James as a basketball player, but his recent moves off-the-court have made me an unwavering fan. The excellent Jason Gay of the Wall St. Journal just published an interview with James that covers many topics, including the new school he opened up where each kid gets a free bike.
Dangerous driving is an American epidemic: Residents in the Florida city of Tampa are so desperate for people to slow down they’re standing in front of their houses holding signs that say things like, “You’re driving a deadly weapon” and “Your car can kill.”
Emotional abuse of planners: USC Urban Planning professor Lisa Schweitzer has received death threats. She thinks the public’s wrath has a lasting impact on planners and wants more studies and conversation about it.
How to be first while coming in last: After a crash in an early stage left him hurting, U.S. professional cyclist Lawson Craddock struggled to finish the epic Tour de France. But in the process he raised $200,000 to repair his hometown velodrome and became a hero to many in the process.
Scooters? Ban ’em: A city council member in Los Angeles has proposed an ordinance that would ban the use of electric scooters, “Until firm regulations are in place to protect riders and pedestrians.”
Rules worth considering: I’m not usually one for lists of “cycling rules,” but former pro Phil Gaimon is a pretty good guy and I think his are worth your time.
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Tesla’s new “iPhone” car: While some people act concerned about the safety of scooters, one of the darlings of the auto world is putting out cars that the Wall Street Journal says is rife with distractions and is akin to an iPhone on wheels.
The lower MPG safety argument: The Trump administration wants to roll back Obama’s higher MPG mandate and their argument is that people will drive more if they got better gas mileage, thus leading to more crashes. They also say the use of smaller, more fuel-efficient cars aren’t as safe as gas-guzzling behemoths like SUVs and trucks.
Car abuse is the problem: Alissa Walker argues that if “climate mayors” really want credibility around transport-related GHG emissions, they should focus less on fighting Trump’s MPG rollback and more on reducing the demand to drive in the first place.
Biking’s impact on kids: Interesting study from Mexico (translate page for English) shows how young people perceive their neighborhood differently when they ride to school, versus being driven to school.
Terror tour: ISIS has taken credit for a gruesome attack on a group of bicycle riders who were on a bicycle tour in Tajikistan.
This is how you do it: A pre-vote speech by Seattle City Councilwoman Teresa Mosqueda is being hailed by activists as an excellent example of active transportation leadership. Is there anyone on Portland City Council that could manage this?
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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