Welcome to the week. Let’s make it a good one.
Below are the most notable stories I came across in the past seven days. Thanks to everyone who suggested links this week!
Clarence Eckerson gets his due: One of the O.G. cycling and urbanism documenters, Clarence Eckerson of Streetfilms, is at the twilight of an amazing career and this article is a great look at his vital and influential work of the past two decades. (Hellgate NYC – Give them your email to read the whole thing!)
He’s back: In a disgusting and unacceptable “F-you!” to our legal system, Oscar Burrell — the man who was arrested for dangerous driving last month — is back out on the streets recording his antics for social media. There’s another warrant out for his arrest and we can only hope they don’t let him off so easy this time. (The Oregonian)
Ode to ‘winter bikes’: I feel like Portland is still full of folks who love and respect their “winter bikes,” so I figured some of you might appreciate this piece that bids them a loving farewell. (Cycling News)
Hiding plates: Florida isn’t messing around. Lawmakers there are proposing a new approach that would make obscuring plates — something that entitled and freeloading drivers are doing in greater and greater numbers these days — a crime. (WKMG)
Terry and tariffs: Legendary women’s cycling apparel maker Terry is one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Trump Administration over their use of tariffs, which they say have made it even harder to make a profit. (AP)
Disreguarded: The Associated Press did a special report on the dangers faced by crossing guards, who are increasingly being hit by car drivers who are too selfish and distracted to care about anyone but themselves. (AP)
I’m jealous: Utah’s department of transportation has gone way beyond Oregon’s “scenic bikeway” approach and has published a statewide map of bike paths that are akin to a freeway network for cycling — and it’s already received a $45 million down payment. (Salt Lake Tribune)
Bike culture in Johannesburg: A riding club for young women who are new to cycling is just one sign that cycling in Jo’burg has gone beyond being the domain of the elite or a last resort of the poor. (Guardian)
Cycle to work, works: The UK’s “Cycle to Work scheme” gives employees a tax-free option of buying a bike, and it boosts about $750 million into the economy each year. (Bike Radar)
Have cars, ‘won’?: Yes, in many respects. But as you’ll see in this piece, the publication of a book like, ‘Life After Cars’ and others on shelves today, shows that the fight isn’t over. (Grist)
Thanks to everyone who sent in links this week. The Monday Roundup is a community effort, so please feel free to send us any great stories you come across.
Thanks for reading.
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Already here:
Life with SUVs and recreational trucks.
With 92% of households in the US having cars there will likely never be a “life after cars”. Cars (vehicles) are here to stay in some form or another.
I’m all for making them more efficient, put more safety features in them, make drivers more accountable, etc. etc. etc.
But to think the US (or even the whole planet) will ever be without vehicles is laughable. Sorry to burst your bubble.
Not only that, but many bike riders are adopting motorized bikes. We’re truly entering a new golden age of motorized transportation.
There’s a difference between vehicles, writ large, and a system of private individual motor vehicle ownership. The former is definitely here to stay. Jury is still out on the latter.
Whose bubble is getting burst?
Soren didn’t say that life without vehicles is already here, so there’s no bubble to burst.
For those of us who already save money, improve our health, and build stronger community bonds through bicycle commuting, it seems clear that incentivizing bicycle commuting should be a policy priority. Great to read the Bike Radar article offering the numbers to back this up. Even if those numbers are in £ rather than $.
The USA used to do it, during the Clinton and Dubya administrations at least. When I worked for PBOT as a lowly technician and later as a transportation planner in ND, I was given a bonus for bicycling, which was paid for through the federal 1040 tax structure, but they eventually got rid of it through various tax reforms after BO was elected. it’s worth noting that Dubya biked (trail riding) and that Bill and BO did not.
I like hearing about plate/tag enforcement, just wish that was happening here. JM, you ought to do a follow up piece about parking enforcement here in town. In June of ’24 they made a big fuss about how parking enforcement was gonna go on the offensive, ticket for no plates and expired tags and all that, but it never materialized. I’d love to know why. Or at least hear their excuses for why anyways. I ride by cars that never move, plates from other states with years old tags, etc., and goddamn, it annoys the shit out of me.
“Hiding plates: Florida isn’t messing around. Lawmakers there are proposing a new approach that would make obscuring plates — something that entitled and freeloading drivers are doing in greater and greater numbers these days — a crime. (WKMG)”
So I guess there are some good things about living in a red state? 🙂
I’m jealous: Utah’s department of transportation has gone way beyond Oregon’s “scenic bikeway” approach and has published a statewide map of bike paths that are akin to a freeway network for cycling — and it’s already received a $45 million down payment. (Salt Lake Tribune)
Wait, isn’t Utah a red state? So cycling can be bipartisan? Never would know that from most of the commenters on BP…..
This isn’t a red vs blue thing. Recreation makes up a huge part of Utah’s economy. Many mountain states are looking to diversify away from winter sports as snowpack becomes less reliable.
Most states have statewide bike route systems, very 1990s, even red states. NC & VA have marked routes statewide, but most aren’t very safe unless you are fearless or have a deathwish. It’s worth noting that “500 miles out of 3,100” or 16% of Utah’s is completed (much of it likely substandard painted bike lanes and/or gravel), and $45 million ain’t much really.
I will take your usual obvious bait.
Utah has world famous scenery, maybe the best skiing in the world, hosted for several years the tour of Utah, a world class cycling race. They routinely host Winter Olympics.
The people who live there are outdoors people, they get millions of outdoor tourists, Cycling is popular there.
They are conservative politically but politics has Nothing to do with the article except for Cult members.
What is your Boring point? How many times can you take a topic and turn it into RED/BLUE?
You Cult members are so dull and boring.
Cult members’? Settle down, BB — you’re ranting like you’ve just discovered heretics in the comment section. Pointing out irony isn’t a cult; it’s called paying attention. Utah’s is doing better than supposedly ‘progressive’ states… that’s the whole point. Maybe stop preaching from the pulpit and actually read the post before lighting the torches.
Oscar Burrell violating the terms of his sentence is about the least surprising news of the week. Can only hope the police are able to arrest him more expediently than last time and that his case is heard by a judge who has a reasonable grasp on reality.