Cambridge, Mass. installs self-help bike station

Little things go a long way sometimes: take this self-help bike station for instance. It’s a simple, (comparatively) cheap small station with air pump, tools and patches that, I think, greatly improves the cycling infrastructure of an area. UC Davis had/has one of these as well. I think they’re a great idea!

http://bostonbiker.org/2011/03/22/cambridge-installs-self-help-tool-stations/

LA City Council Passes Cyclist Anti-Discrimination Ordinance

Los Angeles City Council has unanimously approved a new ordinance that seeks to end harassment of bicyclists by motorists; a persistent problem all over our car obsessed United States but especially so in LA. The ordinance makes harassing a cyclist a civil violation that could lead to court judgment awarding up to $1000 to the victim (plus court and attorney fees). Harassing a road user is already in the vehicle code but requires a law enforcement officer to witness the harassment; fat chance of that happening. Making it a civil violation puts power back into the hands of the victim. From the official city document:

It is the belief of the City Attorney that the City could enact an ordinance making it a civil
violation of the LAMC for anyone to discriminate against a bicyclist by unlawfully assaulting,
threatening, or harassing a bicyclist, and create a private cause of action with attorneys’ fees for a violation. This would allow bicyclists to seek redress for harassment in situations where the police or other enforcement personnel do not witness the harassment, or where there is insufficient evidence to warrant a criminal filing.

http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2009/09-2895_ca_11-10-10.pdf

Sounds like a huge step forward in ending motorist harassment of cyclists and I do hope more cities will follow LA’s innovative lead.

Reporting Google Maps bike issues

Regarding reporting Google Maps bike issues…do it! Google has been incredibly receptive to hear from the biking public on it’s new bike routing feature of Google Maps. I’ve so far submitted about 10 different problem reports (mostly missing bike routes from the map) and they have got back to me on nearly all of them informing me that the change will be made with this e-mail:

Hi Dan,
Your Google Maps problem report has been reviewed, and you were right! We’ll update the map soon and email you when you can see the change.

–
Thanks for your help,
The Google Maps team

My favorite part: “you were right!”. Leave it to Google to make you feel warm and fuzzy.

So go ahead, take a look at your city’s bike map on Google Maps and send in those corrections. You can do so by clicking the “Report a problem” link at the bottom right of the screen.

School bans students from walking & riding

Madness, pure madness.

Though Janette Marino and her son, Adam, were warned prior to the first day of school, they rode in defiance anyway only to be greeted by an unhappy group of school administrators and a state trooper.

The school cited dangerous road conditions on Route 9, which leads to the school, as a primary reason for the policy, even though the road in question is currently designated as an official "bike route."

Janette made it clear that her son feels "pretty strongly" about biking to school. She explains, "I think it’s my parental right to transport my child to school in the way I deem is appropriate. I think the district is usurping its authority by telling me that I can’t."

Source: Mom and son face off with the law for biking to school

Full article: http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2009/09/14/news/doc4aada71020507442523775.txt

Suck it Rob Anderson – SF Bike Plan approved after 3 years!