How one New York bike lane could affect the future of cycling worldwide

A much more significant story than the future of one bike lane in Brooklyn [NY], a great deal hangs on the lawsuit filed against the city. Interesting in light of recent events in America's other mega-metropolis, Los Angeles embracing a full blown bike plan.

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LA Pedals Into The Future

If Los Angeles, the city in lust with the car, can pedal into the future, maybe, just maybe, there is hope for this petroleum addicted world. It appears the LA City Council is on the verge of pedaling back to the future with a new bicycle transportation master plan that would create 1,680 miles of interconnected bike lanes, streets and corridors - amazing what happens when a city's mayor almost gets killed riding his bike.

In 2008, two cyclists were seriously injured on a narrow Brentwood road when a driver slammed on his car's brakes in front of them. The driver, physician Christopher Thompson, was convicted of numerous charges, including assault with a deadly weapon.

Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who represents the district where the crash occurred, said it made him rethink the way the city puts cars on a pedestal.

"There has been a real awakening in the city," he said. "We're starting to think of our streets differently. They're not just conduits for making cars move fast."

Think about that last quote - wow! In the 1890's that's one of the only ways we thought about our streets. If we could only get the wheels of progress to turn the speed of bicycle wheels - the L.A. city council looks set to shift gears and approve the future.

The Detroitasuaruses are rearing their heads

UPDATE -

Wow! That did not take long. Apparently three lanes up Broadway aren't enough for some motorists - we need your positive reaction to the Cycle Tracks more than we thought:

City reacts to the new cycle track

Please let the mayor's office know Cycle Tracks bike lanes are a positive addition to our city streets and lives: emailing the Mayor's office

Three feet closer to the most bike friendly city in America

Yesterday the City of Portland took not one step, but three, getting three feet closer to making cyclists of every ilk safer in the nation's most bike friendly city. And in reality we get five feet and a few tons of metal (parked cars) as an additional barricade to the rush of motorists.

Thanks to Mayor Adams, staff and the folks at Portland Bureau of Transportation, you will undoubtedly receive your share of "fan mail" from city motorists on this one, but stick to it, call on us for support and know that thousands of us now and many tens of thousands in the future applaud you for the effort and foresight.

I won't repeat all the details as Jonathan Maus and staff at BikePortland.org did a wonderful job covering in over on their site:

First look at Portland’s inaugural cycle track

In addition, we are going to need your support to keep the momentum (and courage of city officials) - please write them an email and offer your encouragement!

UPDATE - apparently we need your positive reaction more than we thought: City reacts to the new cycle track
Please let the mayor's office know bike lanes are a positive: emailing the Mayor's office