September 2023

Editorial: San Rafael keeping pledge of improved safety for cyclists

From MarinIJ.com

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San Rafael is making progress toward enabling safe multi-modal access around the city.

The latest improvement is a bicycle and pedestrian link on the east side of Grand Avenue between Second and Fourth streets.

This is a busy part of downtown, not to mention a vital connection between the Canal neighborhood and downtown, including the transit hub.

It is a continuation of the 2019 addition of a bicycle and pedestrian bridge across San Rafael Creek, providing users with a safer route into downtown.

The needed improvements will include new traffic signals, ramps for street-corner curbs, landscaping and resurfacing the street.

Funding will mostly come from a collection of state and regional grants – the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Transportation Authority of Marin and the California Transportation Commission –  being put to good use in San Rafael for improvements toward multi-modal transportation goals.

Photo by Cedric Letsch on Unsplash

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Eyes on the Street: Metro Installed New Bollard Protection on First Street Bike Lane

From LA.Streetsblog.org

A couple of blocks of new plastic bollards might not look like much, but it just might mean that Metro and LADOT are planning to make good on missing bike/walk connections to Metro’s new subway stations

By Joe Linton

It looks like Metro is beginning to make good on improving first/last mile bike facilities that were supposed to link Metro riders with new Regional Connector stations. In the last few weeks, Metro added new plastic bollard protection to the eastbound bike lane on First Street between Alameda Street and Vignes Street, just east of Metro’s new Little Tokyo Station.

Streetsblog and LADOT (L.A. City Department of Transportation) noted the installation of the unprotected bike lane after Metro installed it in late 2022. After the Regional Connector subway opened in May, Streetsblog reported that Metro omitted and downgraded several planned station bike/walk connections, while Metro Connector project construction widened roads and added new car lanesand new parking for drivers. Advocates urged Metro and the city to fix the missing first/last mile facilities, including several places where bikeway protection had been omitted.

Could the new bollard protection on First Street be an early step in Metro and LADOT making good on planned Regional Connector first/last mile safety improvements? Time will tell.

Photo by Jasper Garratt on Unsplash

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9 Reasons Why La Vuelta Is The HARDEST Race I’ve Ever Done!

The Vuelta a España is one of cycling’s three grand tours: a three-week, 21-day slog through Spain on the hardest roads in the country. Conor rode the race back in 2017, and to this day considers it his hardest ever challenge. The scorching heat, combined with devilishly steep and relentless climbs makes La Vuelta one truly brutal bike race!

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Update: Pirelli extends recall of P Zero Race TLR tyres to USA and Canada

From BikeRadar.com

Tyres manufactured between 10th and 24th week of 2023 included in recall

By ,

Pirelli has extended its recall of the P Zero Race TLR tyres to the USA and Canada.

A recall was first issued in July to tyres in Europe and the UK only, but now Pirelli says 15,000 tyres in the USA and Canada are also affected.

Pirelli published news of the recall on 7 September, stating: “Consumers should stop using the product immediately and contact Pirelli with any questions. Consumers are eligible to receive either a full refund or a replacement tyre.”

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission says Pirelli received a report of rapid air loss, resulting in a minor injury.

Keep reading our original story for which models are affected and how to identify them.

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Sacramento is installing bike lanes to help meet California climate goals. Here’s how it works Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/news/environment/article278500889.html#storylink=cpy

From SacBee.com

BY SONORA SLATER

Local artists designed the murals that flank a cyclist’s ride down Franklin Boulevard. Community members painted the monarch butterflies, vintage cars and portraits of Hispanic men and women who reflect the area’s deep-rooted Latino heritage. Hungry riders have options: a taqueria or a bakery with cases full of sweet conchas. But on a summer day, the sun beats down, unobstructed by a tree canopy. In fact, there are no green spaces at all. There’s no bike lane, and cracks in the narrow sidewalk make the ride bumpy. Crossing the street is challenging, as few and far between designated crosswalks push cyclists to find a break between speeding cars.

At first glance, Franklin Boulevard seems like the perfect place to commute via bike, as does the rest of Sacramento. The city has warm weather, no snow and a flat terrain. What more do you need? As it turns out, a lot. People in the region are heavily car dependent. More than half of Sacramento’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to 2016 data included in a report by the Sacramento Mayor’s Commission on Climate Change, come from the transportation sector.

Photo by Dário Gomes on Unsplash

 

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Is The Science Wrong? Which Bike Actually Climbs Faster?

ightweight vs aero is one of cycling’s biggest debates, and after all the love we’ve seen for the new lightweight Orbea Orca, it’s time to open it up again! Science says aero bikes are faster, even up climbs, but is that actually true? We’ve called on our resident hill climber, Andrew “The Twig” Feather, to find out which really is the fastest bike for climbing.

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Here are the Best Rail Trails in North America to Explore by Bicycle

From MomentumMag.com

Written by:

The allure of a long, winding trail stretching across stunning landscapes has an undeniable appeal to cycling enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. North America boasts a plethora of rail trails, once the veins of the railway network, now transformed into beautiful pathways for cyclists and pedestrians. Let’s have a look at some of the best rail trails in Canada and the United States, exploring their unique characteristics, the must-see stops along the way, and how long it takes on average to complete these scenic adventures.

Katy Trail – Missouri

Description: The Katy Trail State Park, stretching across Missouri, is one of the longest rail trail in the United States. It spans 240 miles, following the Missouri River’s path, offering cyclists a blend of history, natural beauty, and small-town charm.

Highlights: Visit the historic town of St. Charles, take a detour to the Katy Bridge, and savor local wines in Hermann. Marvel at the Missouri River bluffs and diverse wildlife.

Duration: The average time to bike the entire Katy Trail is about 5-7 days, with plenty of B&Bs, campgrounds, and small towns for overnight stops.

Image courtesy of BLM.gov

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Beverly Hills closes gaps in bicycle infrastructure

From BeverlyPress.com

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Beverly Hills bicyclists might one day have a new way of traveling to West Hollywood, as staff prepares to install bike lanes on Beverly Boulevard that could connect to the neighboring city, transportation planner Jessie Holzer Carpenter said.

City officials will provide more details about the proposed bike lanes during a Traffic and Parking Commission meeting on Sept. 7, and residents are encouraged to give their thoughts in person or by contacting the city at askpw@beverlyhills.org.

The Beverly Boulevard bike lanes were identified in the city’s 2021 Complete Streets Plan because they connect to existing bikeways on North Santa Monica Boulevard and North Palm Drive, and because the street does not have existing parking spaces, meaning that the lanes will not reduce parking, Carpenter said.

Also, the city of West Hollywood is planning to install its own bike lanes on Beverly Boulevard, creating a new link between the two cities, Carpenter said. Beverly Hills is also working to close a “short gap” of bike lanes on Santa Monica Boulevard that would create another inter-city bikeway.

West Hollywood officials approved a contract for a feasibility study on expanding bike lanes on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Beverly Hills officials have been soliciting public input on the bikeway expansions for months, and so far, the feedback has been positive, Carpenter said.

“What we’ve heard so far is a lot of support for the project because it closes that gap in the network,” Carpenter added. “There is no on-street parking on this segment … so it doesn’t remove any street parking. All it does is narrow traveling to provide a dedicated bike way.”

Photo by BP Miller on Unsplash

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Get Started Cycling Indoors | Equipment, Set-Up & Zwift Explained

Indoor training is a great way to stay fit during the colder and wetter months. You can get on the bike for a hard training session or just a leisurely ride, all from the comfort of your own home. Manon shows you how to ride indoors, taking you through all the essential equipment you’ll need to get started!

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‘The First of Its Kind’ : Pasadena to unveil protected bikeway on Union Street

From PasadenaWeekly.com

By Luke Netzley

To help increase safety and connectivity for community members on the road, the city of Pasadena has neared completion on its Union Street Protected Bikeway project, a 1.5-mile-long, two-way protected bike lane that runs along Union Street between Arroyo Parkway and Hill Avenue. On Saturday, Sept. 9, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in front of city hall to unveil the new construction.

“The project really started as part of the bicycle transportation action plan that was developed in 2015 … to determine how we could really enhance the bicycle network in Pasadena,” said Joaquin Siques, deputy director of transportation for the city of Pasadena. “Union Street was identified as a corridor where we could provide a bike facility that has additional protection and really provide that two-way connection between Pasadena City College, a connection to Caltech and bring people, residents and students from those campuses into the central business district on a corridor that had a lot of extra space.”

Along with routes meant for PCC and Caltech students, the project will also help connect residents and visitors to destinations like Old Pasadena and Playhouse Village on bike.

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