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Bike Talk

BikeTalksoundcloud.com
We are a bike advocacy and culture podcast based in Los Angeles, Ca.
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Episodes

Bike Talk - Winter Fat Bikes, Spoke 'n Art, Engineers for Bike Lanes, the Dutch, RAGBRAI, and Revolutionizing Mobility

Taylor talks with Hugh Fuller and Joe Borfo at Bike Oven’s iconic Highland Park “Spoke ’n Art Ride.” 0:20 Why fat bikes are "the quiver killer," a pitch from Physical Education teacher and mountain bike club coach Salem Derby. 4:03 News: “Loser Lane,” a fatalistic web based game about riding without a protected lane in Toronto. With Bill 212, Toronto Premier Doug Ford seeks immunity for injuries and fatalities resulting from removing Toronto bike lanes. The Ontario Society of Professional Engine...

Dec 05, 202455 min

Bike Talk - Cranksgiving

News: San Francisco's controversial center-running bike lane to be replaced by curb protected lanes. Luke Bornheimer, SF advocate for the curb protected lanes, explains. 4:09 NYC gets congestion pricing, finally. It's $9 instead of $15, but will increase. Dave Colon, StreetsblogNYC reporter, fills in the details. 9:01 As Ontario Premier Doug Ford pushes to remove Toronto's bike lanes, University of Toronto students Zev Godfrey and Eva Stanger-Ross Fight for Bikes. 18:28 Writer Nathan Deuel on hi...

Nov 26, 20241 hr

Bike Talk - Us Versus Them

Voices from World Day of Remembrance for Traffic Victims in Los Angeles. 1:48 Transportation under Trump according to Yonah Freemark, principal research associate in the Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center at the Urban Institute. 8:25 Los Angeles Bike Fest with BikeLA Director Eli Kaufman. 13:37 Strong Towns Northampton checks its tone over a bike lane closure. With Danielle McKhan, Jennifer Nery, and Alex Bowman. 19:10 Fighting for bikes means fighting back against the Ontario Pr...

Nov 20, 202458 min

Bike Talk - Kids and Bikes

Bike News: Cop29 cop-outs, solace in U.S. local elections for biking, China's huge bikeshare rides, and in Oregon, a cyclist was charged for a ride to the hospital by the ambulance that hit him. 2:19 The Northampton Cycle-Smart Cyclocross race broke from the Union Cycliste Internationale for its exclusion of trans women riders in 2023, but the race goes on; the 33rd annual Northampton, Massachusetts Cyclocross race was November 8-10. Miles Abrams, 11, came in 4th in his category. He and his mom,...

Nov 12, 202458 min

Bike Talk - Autocrats against bikes, bike lanes and safe streets in the USA and Canada

In the election bummer, some local winners for safe streets: new Congressmember Laura Friedman, Alameda Supervisor John Bauters, and West Hollywood Mayor John Erickson. Listener Kevin Grishkot asks whether, if cars were no longer available, we would require people to license their bicycles. Bike Talk’s lawyer, Jim Pocrass, explains why it’s not a very good idea. 3:18 News: Ontario Premier threatens Toronto’s popular and data proven bike lanes. Paris closes 2 miles of its city center to through t...

Nov 08, 202458 min

Bike Talk - Bikes and Politics in Glendale, West Hollywood, Ann Arbor, and NYC

News from the front lanes: LA's Traffic Nightmare, a NHTSA requirement for DUI detectors in cars, a measure to keep San Francisco’s Great Highway car free, and the 125th anniversary of the first car killing. A Glendale candidate for Congress demonizes his Democratic opponent, Laura Friedman, as "The Bike Lane Lady." Alex Belekian says if we want bike lanes we should build new cities for them. 4:15 Ann Arbor's Mayor, Christopher Taylor, is as bike friendly as his city. 18:36 NYC's "City of Yes" i...

Nov 01, 20241 hr

Bike Talk - The Power Broker, Intelligent Speed Assistance, Gravel Riding

Taylor finally finishes the epic tome on highway tycoon Robert Moses, The Power Broker, by Robert Caro, and talks to author/transportation activist Charles Komanoff about it. 1:14 A bill to require cars in California to alert drivers when they exceed speed limits by more than 10 mph was vetoed by the Governor. Jodie Medeiros, Executive Director of Walk SF, one of the bill's sponsors, speaks about the disappointment. 33:11 Taylor talks gravel with Zachary Rynew, Gravel Bike California. 42:55 Stac...

Oct 25, 202458 min

Bike Talk - The Bike Lane Lady, Ebikes and Ebikelash, and Cycling Over 50

A Glendale Congressional candidate makes bike lane support his big grievance against Chair of the California Assembly Transportation Committee Laura Friedman in her run for Congress. 1:15 The categories of ebike and why they matter, explained by our sponsor Jim Pocrass. 7:10 Ebikelash in NYC is taking off due to the prevalence of food delivery workers who ride fast. Bills would require all e-bike riders to have license and registration and ban ebikes in parks. Transportation Alternatives Communi...

Oct 18, 202458 min

Bike Talk - Week Without Driving, WeHo Bike Mayor, Idaho Stop Rationale, Coffeeneuring

Week Without Driving was September 30th – October 6th, 2024. Here’s a view of how it went by its creator Anna Zivarts, Author of “When Driving is Not an Option” and Director of Disability Mobility Initiative at Disability Rights Washington, and Ruth Rosas, Program Manager at America Walks. 2:02 US businesses ranked by their Bicycle Friendliness, from The League of American Bicyclists. With Amelia Neptune. 11:08 West Hollywood’s Bike Mayor, John Erickson, on making his city bike friendlier. 19:53...

Oct 11, 202458 min

Bike Talk - Better Cities Films, Greenway Takeaway, This is Your Bike On Plants

The Better Cities Film Festival is all about bikes and dads, Director Josh Paget says. Also Transportation, Housing, Urban design, Environment, Community, and Technology. 5:12 It took a long time and a lot of community meetings to get the Dickens bike/ped greenway in Chicago, but a few NIMBYs were able to get it taken out without much process. We have Streetsblog Chicago Editor John Greenfield, Bike Grid Now organizer Rony Islam, and bike mom/activist Molly Lamping Fleck. 22:55 Elly Blue and Mic...

Oct 04, 20241 hr

Bike Talk - Freak Bikes, Traffic Violence, NHTSA's Golden Rule, Milwaukee, Picture Main Street

Freak Bikes the Movie, about LA Bike Kitchen founder Jimmy Lizama and his son on a bike tour of the European bike cities, screened in the Better Cities Film Festival in Detroit. Filmmaker Ryan Mekenian talks about his inspiration with Reo Ramsey, our Detroit correspondent and social ride leader who connects the movie to his bond over bikes with his own father. Bike Lawyer James Pocrass talks with us about the reasons for America's high traffic fatality and injury rates. Turns out it's unsafe spe...

Sep 27, 202458 min

Bike Talk - Local Motion, Bike Bills, Hockey Stars, CicLAmini, Monster Trucks and a New World Record

Taylor recaps his ride to Dodger Stadium. Val Cyr, Local Motion's Communications Specialist, on Vermont's great biking. America's Bike Mayor John Bauters on his run and riding for Alameda County Supervisor. Listener Emails: Tim Riley on giving up his cars because of Bike Talk, and motornormativity. Annie Pruitt on www.playgroundequipment.com/all-about-cycling/. Consumer Reports writer Keith Barry on his article about how pickup trucks are getting larger and becoming a hazard to pedestrians, smal...

Sep 20, 20241 hr

Bike Talk - Stop Victim Blaming (repost)

In this repost from March of 2024 Eddie Vargas, Grub Hub bike delivery worker, loads up groceries in Los Angeles. Bike Traffic report with Don Ward. A new study in the Journal for Transport and Land Use shows blaming individuals for traffic violence prevents systemic changes to US roadways. “There Are No Accidents” author Jessie Singer on the evolution of the accident, and how the auto industry has convinced the public that car crashes are due to “jaywalkers,” “nutty drivers,” and human error- w...

Sep 13, 202458 min

Bike Talk - Bikeable Nation (repeat, with new bike thought)

Last year's Tour de Vuelta coverage, featuring Sepp Kuss 2:45 Brake maintenance advice from fixie rider, activist, and Los Angeles Metro Bikeshare mechanic Anne Marie Drolet. 3:19 Jeff Speck, author of “Suburban Nation” and “Walkable Cities,” on making cities walkable and bikeable. With Taylor Nichols. 7:50 Getting the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to mandate Bicyclist Emergency Braking in deadly autonomous vehicles. With Ken McLeod, Policy Director of League of American ...

Sep 06, 202458 min

Bike Talk - Civil Obedience, Phantom Bikes, White Shoes, and Carfree Streets in Canada

Taylor decides on a new gravel bike. Winnipeg cyclists stage an act of civil disobedience, stopping legally in single file at a stop sign, to bring awareness of the need for a stop-as-yield policy or "Idaho Stop Law" for cyclists. With Patty Wiens, "Bicycle Mayor" of Winnipeg, and Hillary Rosentretter. 4:02 We talk to our lawyer, Jim Pocrass of Pocrass de Los Reyes in Los Angeles, about whether it's legal to ride two abreast in a lane. 16:55 News: Los Angeles will be car-free for the next Olympi...

Aug 30, 202458 min

Bike Talk - CicLAvia, Hollywood Bike Lane, Detroit Bike Ped Conference, UK Infrastructure & Politics

Taylor and Anne Marie saw their neighborhoods at human speed in Sunday's CicLAvia in Los Angeles. “Meet the Hollywoods” opened 7 miles to people, not cars, from East to West Hollywood. Anne Marie discovers Fan Girl, a women musicians themed café. 1:13 Taylor nervously rides Luke’s Penny Farthing far. 1:52 Vanessa, Ryan, and Victor share their favorite things about CicLAvia with Anne Marie. 5:38 The Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts reopens its bankrupt bikeshare with a new operator. A repo...

Aug 22, 202459 min

Bike Talk - Bike Hate, Culture Wars, Ebike Incentives, Beach Cruisin'

Anne Marie's bike trip to Universal Studios, Taylor's mountain trip, and Bikelash news. An unhinged speaker's threat to harass cyclists at a Glendale, Ca. City Council meeting could be used against him in court, say attorney Jim Pocrass and Kirsten Bladh, Streets For All’s Associate Director of State Policy, who posted the tweet that named the hater. 16:02 A report by Circulate San Diego finds that the California Coastal Commission opposes bike lanes to the beach and affordable housing. It’s the...

Aug 15, 202459 min

Bike Talk - Car Cost, Olympic Biking, The White Line, Road Bike Advocacy

A parking ticket sets off another discussion about the cost of cars. 0:16 Monterey, California Trolley driver Tim Riley writes about subsidized transit, and how bikers can go from Salinas to Monterey Bay for $2 round trip. 7:23 Biking in the Olympics - track, MTB, the works. 11:48 When rising bike race star Magnus White was killed by a drowsy driver, his parents, Jill and Michael White, started The White Line Foundation to make roads safer and change the sentencing laws for vehicular homicide. 1...

Aug 09, 20241 hr

Bike Talk - Car Sinks, Vehicular Cycling, Blocked Lanes, Gravel Bikes, and World Naked Protest Rides

Taylor pays $1200 for his car's damper pulley, which leads to a discussion of how cars are money sinks and we need universal mobility. 0:23 A listener email from Berkeley resident Benjamin Fry rekindles a debate on "vehicular cycling." 6:20 Vehicular Cycling is part of the history of bike education. The Advocacy Director of Bike East Bay, Robert Printz, lays it down. Also, how Oakland unblocks bike lanes. 8:35 What gravel bike to buy, and where to ride gravel. A conversation with Taylor, who's t...

Aug 02, 20241 hr

Bike Talk - Suing Cities for Blocking Bike Lanes, Bike Philosophy, and Project 2025's Bike/Ped Plans

Taylor's Colorado bike trip included electronic shifting; also, practicing bike salutes. Can we sue cities over blocked bike lanes? Attorney James Pocrass answers in his Legal Moment. 6:54 What's more philosophical, road biking or commuting? Nick comes to Jesus Ilundáin, co-editor of Cycling: Philosophy for Everyone, for a tour of the mind. 17:10 The Conservative Heritage Foundation's outline for a Trump presidency, Project 2025, would mean no federal money at all for bike/ped or transit project...

Jul 26, 20241 hr 6 min

Bike Talk - Riding for Redemption, Community, and Strong Towns

Airing the grievances of bike haters can be an effective strategy as long as we're not equally crazy, says Charles Marohn, Strong Towns founder, in our webinar "Podcasting for Bike Advocates." 0:40 Biking on ski slopes, shredding on single tracks, and other highlights of Taylor's family trip to Colorado and Utah. 2:55 Andy May returned to cyclocross racing less than a year after losing a leg. He's still riding and racing, and works for a company that makes prosthetics. 8:08 It's hot. Especially ...

Jul 19, 202458 min

Bike Talk - Bike Messagers

Gear Ratios Explained by Joe Lindsey and Anne Marie Drolet (advanced intermediate). How the Tour de France inspires Taylor Nichols to draft behind strangers-and how they react. 6:03 The symbolism of a bicycle in your dreams, according to "Dreamapp." 7:38 Two weeks into the Tour de France, and it's one of the most interesting and competitive races in years, according to Joe Lindsey, bike writer. 10:53 Are high profile bike sports good for active transportation advocacy? Also: wearing the MAMIL (M...

Jul 11, 20241 hr 2 min

Bike Talk - Bike Church

Voices from CicLAvia in South Los Angeles, where public spaces and health were reclaimed through car-free streets. 5:43 Cycling Past 50: how older adults will need to adapt to their changing cycling abilities with older adult mobility and wellness researcher and Executive Director of dblTilde CORE, Carol Kachadoorian. 22:47 Teaching adults to ride with Rob Kadota. 35:43 Racer and bikepacker Adin Maynard describes a route in the heart of Western Massachusetts he designed for Bikepacking.com. 44:3...

Jun 28, 20241 hr 13 min

Bike Talk - Pedalpalooza

The Bicycle Film Festival in the Berkshires, with local organizers Nick Russo and Alison McGee. Also, Olympic mountain bike champion Lea Davison on her film "You Can't Do it Alone" on coming out and the Unbound gravel race. 2:03 What's Pedalpalooza? A festival of bike fun in Portland, 20 year volunteer organizer Megan Sinott explains. 10:56 Cyclists' Personal Injury Attorney Jim Pocrass on the problem of hit and runs. 20:45 How did the Netherlands get so bike friendly? Chris Bruntlett, author of...

Jun 21, 20241 hr 1 min

Families for Safe Streets Podcast

NY Governor Hochul's abrupt and catastrophic turnaround on congestion pricing leaves people who live in NYC with all the costs of cut-through traffic, and none of the money that would have funded transportation. Taylor, Nick and Anne Marie talk with journalist Charles Komanoff and Transportation Alternatives Communications Director Alexa Sledge. 3:24 Taylor talks with Families for Safe Streets members who confront the preventable epidemic of traffic violence by advocating for life-saving changes...

Jun 14, 20241 hr 2 min

Bike Talk - The Art of Cycling

Voices from the West Hollywood Pride Ride. 2:36 Can a victim of hit and run sue for PTSD? Los Angeles cyclist Aaron Lipstadt consults Jim Pocrass, a personal injury attorney specializing in bikes. 13:34 The Art of Cycling: Philosophy, Meaning, and a Life on Two Wheels, by James Hibbard, is about Western philosophy and the limits of rational thinking, being on track for the Olympics, and doping in elite sport. 23:28 Voices from a kids' Bike Rodeo by Safe Routes To Schools in the town of Worthingt...

Jun 07, 202458 min

Bike Talk - Killed by a Traffic Engineer

Taylor's European bike interviews: Rome "didn't get the memo" on safe streets for bicyclists, while Barcelona's Superblocks are awesome as advertised. 1:14 Wes Marshall shatters the delusion that science underlies our transportation system in a new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer." 12:50 Seattle gets its first protected, "Dutch-style" intersection; Winnipeg doesn't. Boardmember of Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and co-leader of Queen Anne Greenways Mark Ostrow talks about Seattle bike advoca...

May 31, 202458 min

Bike Talk - Ride For Your Life

Revolutionaries Jimmy Lizama, Meg Wachter, and AnneMarie Drolet at the Ride of Silence in Los Angeles. 3:22 A Great Tree Ride for Bike Week in Northampton, Mass. with All Bodies on Bikes' Jacob Sheppard-Saidel, All Out Adventures' Karen Foster, and Friends of Northampton Trails' Elana Huisman. 9:31 Bike Touring in the U.S.A with Adventure Cycling Tours Operations Specialist Corbett Hall. 15:00 Taking on California's Active Transportation Program Cuts in Sacramento with Jeanine Ward-Waller, Direc...

May 24, 202458 min

Bike Talk - Trail Angels

Part time Bike/Bus only lanes are a suggestion not taken in Los Angeles, as shown in a video by Streets For All Founder Michael Schneider. Michael talks with Miriam Pinski, PhD, Transportation Researcher at Shared-Use Mobility Center, about why and what can be done. 0:27 Christina Uss, the author of “The adventures of A Girl Called Bicycle,” “A Few Bicycles More,” “The Colossus of Roads,” and other children’s books spins tales and fills tires at an Easthampton, Massachusetts library. 11:35 Dwan ...

May 17, 202458 min

Bike Talk - We Belong

The Mayor of Emeryville, California, John Bauters, weighs in on whether a bad bike lane is better than none, designing a city where bikes belong, and running (as a cyclist) for Alameda County Supervisor. 0.39 Sports journalist Joe Lindsey breaks down the beauty of bike racing and explains why this season's Grand Tours may be the most exciting in years. 18:55 Jacob Sheppard-Saidel's "Bike Commuting 101" workshop as part of Bike Month in Northampton, Massachusetts aims to increase access to biking...

May 10, 202458 min
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