CALIFORNIA BICYCLE NEWS AND CYCLING SAFETY TIPS BLOG

The Los Angeles City Council approved legislation on March 1, 2011 to implement more than 1,680 miles of bike paths, according to the Miami Herald. The legislation is a huge step forward for bicycle safety advocates. The 2010 Bicycle Plan also calls for the city to add 200 miles of new bike paths to the interconnected bike path system every five years. The Los Angeles City Council has been working on this plan for years. The plan is a monumental step in promoting bicycle safety in Los Angeles; the city has added only 377 miles of bike paths since 1977, according to the L.A. Times. Local cyclists opposed the bill in 2009, saying it failed to meet their needs; the city council consequently rejected it. The revamped plan has the full support of cyclists and local non-profit organizations.  Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who approved the plan on March 1, is an…
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A street sweeper in San Diego struck and killed a cyclist last Friday, February 11, according to 10 News San Diego.  Cyclist Stuart Peverly, a father of two from Mira Mesa, was riding in the bike lane on Genesee Avenue near Clairemont Mesa Boulevard Drive. Police identified the driver of the street sweeper as 77-year-old Fred Franklin Fuller.  Fuller owns Southwest Sweeping Services. The bicycle accident occurred shortly before 5:20 pm last Friday afternoon.  The sweeper that struck Peverly was traveling in the same direction.  Fuller told investigator Ron Lemester that he fell asleep while driving the sweeper, and he has been working long hours lately. According to SignOnSanDiego.com, the bicycle accident caused Peverly to flip over his handlebars.  Peverly received treatment at Scripps Memorial Hospital – La Jolla for multiple blunt force injuries, skull fractures and brain damage.  Doctors pronounced him dead at 10:45 pm that same night. According…
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A bicycle accident in Mid-City injured Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as he was riding down Venice Blvd.  According to the LA Times, a taxi pulled out in front of him and stopped short, forcing Villaraigosa to slam on his brakes, flinging him over his handlebars.  Villaraigosa was riding in the bicycle lane. Mayor Villaraigosa suffered a broken elbow and received treatment at Ronald Reagan/UCLA Medical Center.  This incident comes on the heels of increased complaints from locals concerned with bicycling safety.  They have been calling for a stricter enforcement of bicycling safety laws and more bike lanes, arguing that at least a share of funds from Measure R–a 2008 sales tax designated for city transportation projects—go to building more and maintaining existing bicycle lanes on roadways. LAPD Chief Charlie Beck has promised in the past to make bicycling safety a higher priority for local bicyclists and pedestrians.  According to…
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