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 projects. Caron Whitaker, Deputy Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists, reports. 
35:26

How do we know Middle Aged Men In Lycra aren't bike advocates? A listener asks, and it sends Taylor, Anne Marie, and Nick on a wild ride.
44:00

The Term Middle Aged Men In Lycra is both ageist and body shaming, Anne Marie concludes. 
57:37

Bike Talk Stories, our Google Group and In Memoriam: George Christensen, Dr. Barbara Friedes, Jacob Ramirez, Rob Jenner
58:30

Stacey's "Deep" Bike Thought
1:02:22

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

In honor of the New Year, Nick shares his mission statement for Bike Talk, and compares his acting career with Taylor's  (0:35). 

Taylor interviews a Costa Rican mountain biker on his recent trip to Costa Rica (4:15)...

and shares his mission statement for Bike Talk (8:30).

News: On Day 1 of Congestion Pricing in NYC, Transportation Alternatives Communications Director Alexa Sledge shares her observations (9:38).

A new California law defines "e-bike" (17:26).

Studies: Listener "Big E" emails Bike Talk about his bike, or "errand machine," and links to a study showing 52% of trips in the US are less than 3 miles (18:20).

Another study shows that relying on a car for more than 50% of the time out of the house results in a decrease in life satisfaction (20:01).

A United Kingdom charity, Wheels for Wellbeing, helps people who are disabled get on and enjoy riding bikes of all shapes and sizes. With Dr. Kay Inckle, Campaigns and Policy Manager (22:08).

Blind Tandem Bicycling With Frank Nemiroff and Sonya Chapnick (40:05).

Stacey's Bike Thought (55:37).

Bike Talk - Costa Rica, Congestion Pricing NYC, and Biking with Disability

Cohosts Taylor, Nick, Lindsay and Stacey ponder possible effects of the new administration on bikes, cars, and infrastructure  (0:57).

Listener Email: Reese Bastion writes about motonormativity, the acceptance of public hazards from cars where similar hazards like smoking wouldn't be tolerated. This sparks a discussion about how the framework that led to smoking in public being banned could apply to oversized SUVs (4:52).

Listener bike tours: 
Rick Bosacker, M.D., of New Zealand calls from a cruise ship toward the end of a family bike tour of the world's great and not-so-great bike cities (18:41). 

Brett McGraw, from Minneapolis, tours car-centric Los Angeles by bikeshare and transit (27:43).

The "Listening Tour" of Andrew Mohama, who biked home to Chicago from San Francisco, listening to people's loneliness along the way (38:03).

Bike Thought by Kendra Ramsey, Executive Director of the California Bicycle Coalition (54:37).

Bike Talk - Bike Touring, Motornormativity, and Treating the Public Health Crisis of Oversized SUVs

Donald Shoup, author of "The High Cost of Free Parking," has died. Tony Jordan, President of the Parking Reform Network, talks about Shoup's decades of teaching, writing, and speaking on reversing subsidized free car storage (1:16). 

Find our interviews with the Professor of Parking by searching "Shoup" at biketalk.org.

CalBike Joins Amicus Brief in Safe Streets Accountability Case after lower courts categorized bike riders as “recreational” street users who venture onto public streets at their own risk. Kendra Ramsey, Executive Director of the California Bicycle Coalition, lays out how sweeping the implications could be for California's riders (11:00). 

The man who coined the famous term "15 Minute Cities" and was central to Paris' bike revolution, Carlos Moreno (19:49). 

Reviews by Elly Blue, author of Bikenomics and editor of Portland's Microcosm Publishing: Marshall Taylor's autobiography, Romantasy "The Ministry of Time," and the anime film Suzume (41:18).

Buy the books Elly reviewed at Bike.org's Bookshop. 

Eric Dunn, Director of the Wild and Scenic film festival, on bike-related offerings in this year's lineup (47:07).

Detroit's Bike The Blizzard rides this month with Back Alley Bikes. Justin and Reo Ramsey relate (54:54).

Stacey's Bike Thought (57:07).

Bike Talk #2506 - Donald Shoup, Parking Reformer; 15 minute cities; bike books & movies

News: 

Healthy Streets LA, the ballot measure which requires Los Angeles to implement bike infrastructure every time city streets are repaved, is being ignored by the county's transportation agency, LA Metro. Taylor talks with the founder of Streets For All, Michael Schneider, who led the HLA campaign, and the Editor of Streetsblog LA, Joe Linton, who's now suing the city (1:33).

It’s been 100 years since the Los Angeles city council passed the ordinance which said that if you’re walking you have to give right of way to drivers everywhere, except for particular crossings.

New Mexico adopted the Stop as Yield Law for cyclists. 

Paris reduced speed limits on the Boulevard Périphérique from 70 to 50 km/hr, resulting in reduced traffic congestion, smoother traffic flow, fewer crashes, lower air pollution, and lower noise levels. 
https://www.apur.org/en/our-works/tracking-changes-boulevard-peripherique-and-green-belt-districts-october-2024-february-2025

London’s Tweed Run ride is April 29.

For National Autism Acceptance Month, Detroit's Neila Johnson has created the Cycling the Spectrum ride. Neila talks with Motown Trailblazers Bike Club President Reo Ramsey (24:35).  

Cross country solo cyclist Chris Casey tells the story of his ride across the U.S. (34:05). 

Bike Thought: The 85th Percent Rule, by Charles Marohn (54:36).

Thanks Ted Rogers of BikinginLA.com.

#2515 -  Different Strokes

Listener email: the difference between bike packing and bike touring, and what handlebar bags and panniers to get (1:11). 

New York City has begun a policy of criminalizing minor traffic violations for cyclists. We talk to Carl Mahaney of Streetopia Upper West side and Open Plans, and Josh Wood of the New York City Bicycle Messenger Association (7:08). 

The legality of criminalizing cyclists, with James Pocrass (28:09). 

In other news, a NYC Critical Mass to protest overpolicing cyclists, a study showing protected bike lanes work, an Idaho Stop bill in NY, the national spread of Waymo, and a Consumer Reports petition to fix front-end blind spots in SUVs (34:25).  

The author of Bicycling in Paradise and Radical Cadence in the End Times, Florida Atlantic Association Professor Stacey Balkan, talks about petroculture, Cycle Punk, and teaching these days in Florida (41:38).

#2522 - Criminalization of Bikes in NYC and Biking in The Apocalypse

LA Bike Advocate and Altadena Town Councilmember Dorothy Wong on rebuilding her home and her town after the LA fires destroyed both (2:17).

The "Born To Be Wild" bikepackers of Northampton High School reflect on their annual 4-day tour of Western Massachusetts (13:29).

New York City is dragging cyclists to criminal court for minor and sometimes made up traffic infractions under a new anti-bike policy. Kevin Duggan, StreetsblogNYC journalist, has been doing in-depth reporting, and shares his insights with us (24:23). 

Streets For All, the Los Angeles advocates that brought us Healthy Streets LA, has merged with the San Francisco organization KidSafe SF, which fought for a car-free JFK Promenade and Golden Gate Park, transformed the Great Highway into Sunset Dunes Park, and made slow streets permanent. Robin Pam, Parent Organizer of KidSafe SF, tells us about becoming a chapter of Streets For All (40:17).

Audio from the May 30 Critical Mass ride in Chicago, by Rick Rosales (50:32).

Nebraska's Vulnerable Road User Bill has passed its final vote and heads to the Governor. If passed, LB530 will strengthen penalties for speeding or harming "Vulnerable Road Users," and require drivers to change lanes to pass when possible. By John Gibilisco (54:16). 

#2523 - An LA Bike Advocate Rebuilds, Northampton Bikepacking, and NYC Reels From Anti-Bike Laws

Taylor's riding his bike to LAX, then biking to car-free Mackinac island, MI (0:56).

Bike activist and Cascade Bike Club volunteer Merlin Rainwater was brushed by a bus after being let out in a dangerous place by a Seattle bike lane.  After a hit and run on a cyclist in the same spot, Merlin and others formed a people protected bike lane. Seattle DOT put in real barriers for protection THE SAME DAY https://www.seattlebikeblog.com/2025/04/30/after-hit-and-run-at-4th-pine-safety-advocates-plan-people-protected-bike-lane-at-1pm/ (2:28).

Our lawyer, Jim Pocrass, advises on the risks of tactical urbanism (14:32). 

Winnipeg bike activists including guests Patty Wiens, Bicycle Mayor of Winnipeg, and Michael (just Michael), made their own protected lane where cyclist Rob Jenner was killed by a car. The DOT took it down right away, citing safety https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-wellington-crescent-diy-bike-lane-1.7558922. Patty also talks about her book, That'll Never Work Here, and the exploitation of Sao Paolo bike delivery workers on her YouTube channel (22:09). 

The League of Women Voters supports congestion pricing in Los Angeles https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qSYArp1eBS3vqZZQfZsuQ-PQg_tM5nLc/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=107059636089398410683&rtpof=true&sd=true (41:24).

Taliah Lempert is an artist whose works serve as a visual celebration and documentation of bicycles, cycling and her community https://www.bicyclepaintings.com (42:15).

#2527 - Tactical Urbanism and Bike Activism in Seattle and Winnipeg + Bike Painting

A West Hollywood memorial and ghost bike placing for cyclist Blake Ackerman, killed by hit-and-run. Streets Are For Everyone Director of LA County Advocacy, Brett Slaughenhaupt https://www.gofundme.com/f/remembering-blake-ackerman (3:00).

Hit and runs from a Legal POV: James Pocrass  (6:01).

A simple four point plan to stop hit and runs.  BikinginLA.com blogger Ted Rogers https://bikinginla.com/2025/07/16/lets-end-hit-and-runs-once-and-for-all-mid-city-neighborhood-greenways-break-ground-and-tell-ladot-we-can-do-better/ (13:06).

The Los Angeles department of transportation “redesigning our streets to prioritize human life” on high injury arterial Pico Blvd https://ladotlivablestreets.org/projects/pico. Survey for Pico users: https://ladot.lacity.gov/pico (15:00).

CicLAvia’s Historic South Los Angeles Meets Watts, September 14th https://www.ciclavia.org/ciclavia_historic_south_central_meets_watts25 (16:15).

The Nova Scotia Premier uses threats and debunked tropes to get already bike-unfriendly Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore to abandon bike lanes. Must we reinvent the wheel every time bikephobic arguments emerge in Nova Scotia, Alberta, Ontario, and our neighborhoods? https://bsky.app/profile/biketalk.bsky.social/post/3lu4pqwxcws2a (16:54).

El Cerrito Mayor Carolyn Wysinger on pro- parking activists’ appropriation of social justice language https://elcerritoca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/582/media (19:05).

For example, an Eagle Rock, Los Angeles resident compared her loss of parking to Bantustans under Apartheid in 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=yKD1RnVRM1o (20:15).

Why we should watch the Tour de France: racing stars, team dynamics, and no more doping than any other sport. Dane Cash of Escape Collective, The Spin Cycle, and How the Race Was Won podcasts https://escapecollective.com (23:56). 

Chain stretch and what to do about it. Boston Bike Mechanic and bike shop owner Jim Cadenhead https://battleroadbikes.com/ (42:00).

Portland, Oregon has a social ride for everyone and a citywide goal of one in four trips by Bike. BikeLoudPDX board member and Clever Cycles co-owner Eva Frazier https://bikeloudpdx.org (48:32).

#2529  From LA to Halifax: Bike Battles, Memorials, and Momentum

Bike Lawyer Andrew Lewis on defending Cycle Toronto and saving Toronto's most popular bike lanes from the populist, tricky, anti-bike lane administration of Ontario Premier Doug Ford (0:29).

Cities like Los Angeles lose hundreds of millions in lawsuits due to traffic injuries and fatalities on their streets. They could save lives and money by using their streets budgets to build protected bike networks, our bike lawyer James Pocrass argues (11:15). 

As cities like NYC make war on ebikes, Upway, an online and physical marketplace for refurbished e-bikes, aims to make ebikes more affordable and accessible. With Marta Anadón, Upway Head of US (17:05).

Taylor talks to the Parking Reform Network CEO Tony Jordan on how to organize people against parking mandates. With Los Angeles mid city west Neighborhood Council transportation committee member David Sobel (33:00). 

Bike History takes a literary spin in The Case of the Missing Maid by Rob Osler, about a woman who rides her bike as a professional detective in turn-of-the-20th-century Chicago (47:50). 

#2531 Making The Case For Bikes

Vancouver bike activist Lucy Maloney won a seat on the anti- bike city council she fought for years. She gave Taylor a tour of the city and talks about her journey https://vancouver.ca/your-government/lucy-maloney.aspx (2:24). 

Speed cameras will go up this year in Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Glendale, Long Beach, and the City and County of San Francisco, courtesy of California’s AB 645. California bike lawyer (and Bike Talk sponsor) Jim Pocrass says slower speeds will make cyclists safer, but enforcement may be in question because the cams won’t recognize faces due to privacy concerns https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB645 (16:57). 

Paint and political will are all you need, says Micromobilitynyc Reddit moderator Miser of Queens, NY. Miser talks on Ave 31, the protected bike lane he fought for and won https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/05/30/eyes-on-the-street-astorias-big-beautiful-31st-avenue-bike-boulevard (25:25).    

Queens bike lane opponents are suing Miser along with the DOT for traffic calming https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/08/08/dot-stands-by-astoria-safety-project-despite-foes-anti-bike-lawsuit (38:35). 

The USDOT wants to hear from Americans what their priorities for transportation are. It’s part of the Transportation Reauthorization process, which will set priorities and spending for US transportation for the next 5 years. USDOT secretary Sean Duffy (former Fox host, now also head of NASA) says bike lanes cause traffic, and shouldn’t take money from real “vehicles.“ The League of American Bicyclists Deputy Director Caron Whitaker urges supporters of biking and walking infrastructure to comment here: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/DOT-OST-2025-0468-0001 (39:13). 


MassDOT’s under-the-radar redesign spits cyclists from a bike lane onto a busy road, Strong Towns Northampton member Alex Bowman discovers (41:43).

#2533 Bikes Up

Zohran Mamdami’s New York City transit scavenger hunt with participant Wilson Nichols, Taylor's nephew (2:38).

San Francisco bike share user Kalise shares with Taylor what drives her to ride in SF (but not Los Angeles) (7:19). 

The high price of bike share, and what could be a better model: free, at first. With Dave Snyder, author of the Substack article, "Bike Share Booms Despite a Broken Business Model" https://themovementnewsletter.substack.com/p/bike-share-booms-despite-a-broken (9:16) 

The Crosswalk Collective paints crosswalks where they legally ought to be, but aren't. When Collective member Jonathan Hale painted crosswalks at a West Los Angeles park, the LA Department of Transportation made them real https://la.streetsblog.org/2025/08/12/stoner-park-crosswalk-saga-draws-attention-to-l-a-s-transportation-safety-dysfunction (26:07).

The California Bicycle Coalition sponsors AB891, the Quick Build Bill, which would allow Caltrans to make fast and cheap safety improvements to streets https://www.calbike.org/caltrans-quick-build-pilot-2/ (49:39).  

#2534 - Build It

Why, being flat and on Manhattan's "doorstep," is Long Island so resistant to all bike infrastructure? asks listener Sean Cirillo (0:53).

West Hollywood bike lane opponent Kyle Brazil debates Taylor about installing a bike lane on Fountain Avenue (6:13). 

The author of A Love Letter to Suburbia, Diane Alisa, has empathy for conservatives and suburban people who might want to ease away from car dependency, but are triggered by the word 'city' (30:47).

#2535 These Are The People in Your Neighborhood

Bike tours of Portland, Oregon by Cycle Portland, an interview of Charlotte by listener contributor Jonathan Weiss (1:26).

A Love Letter to Suburbia is a new book on how car dependency, corporate control, and disintegrating community values have eroded the sense of connection and purpose that once defined American neighborhoods, and how to fix that with pedestrian first "villages."  Author/Instagram influencer Diane Alisa talks (6:06).

A longtime listener that happens to be a professional planner responds to some of the arguments raised by the West Hollywood bike hater from our last episode, in script form (28:45).

Northampton, Massachusetts documentary maker Thomas Draudt uses his art to battle the bike haters and support the multimodal complete streets project "Picture Main Street" (48:00).

#2536 - Answers

Listener emails in response to last episode's bike lane hater from Eric Brightwell, host of the Nobody Drives in LA podcast https://ericbrightwell.com/nobody-drives-in-la/ and Ross, a West Hollywood vehicular cyclist who uses the street on which Bike Lane Hater does not want a lane (0:21). 

What are the legal implications for organizing a community bike ride, bike bus, or other non-sponsored event? asks listener Dr. Rick Bosacker. Our lawyer/sponsor Jim Pocrass lays down the law on liability for taco ride organizers (4:43). 

Strong Towns founder and Confessions of a Recovering Engineer author Chuck Marohn and the author of A Love Letter to Suburbia Diane Alisa on why we don't have better bike infrastructure, the right/left divide, and how we'll get things done (9:40). 

Boston's Bikeway Block Party is an inclusive, community-focused festival designed to showcase arts, activities, and culture and celebrate shared space. Jim Cadenhead, original Bike Talk host and BBP organizer, recaps the Party (34:06).

Bay Area Transit's Biking, Birding, and BART ride: Stacey Randecker with BART Bike Access Program Manager Heath Maddox and BART Bicycle Task Force member Moe Gevirtz (41:05).

#2537 Validation

A JAMA study finds biking is associated with lower dementia incidence: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2835115 (23:00)

Should we tell people they ought to bike to COSTCO? A Bluesky user responds to episode #2535 (2:49). 

Bike East Bay Advocacy Director Robert Prinz explains why federal bike infrastructure doesn’t have to be “stupid,” in response to Charles Marohn’s comments in episode #2537 (4:49).

A West Hollywood resident defends the famous Fountain Ave bike lane pilot project from the perspective of both “entitled driver” AND “entitled cyclist” (7:13). 

Black Girls Do Bike founder Monica Garrison on the Kitty Knox Academy, a program to prepare “Sheroes” to become nationally certified League Cycling Instructors (LCIs) through the League of American Bicyclists https://www.blackgirlsdobike.org/lead (9:06). 

Dutch Cycling Embassy International Relations Manager Chris Bruntlett on how China is leapfrogging the Netherlands in bike infrastructure and bikeshare, the popularity of bike transportation versus bikelash fueled by a privileged minority, and Women Changing Cities https://bookshop.org/a/99134/9781915722409 (22:07).

Pushing Pedals Sundays, a social ride that patronizes black owned businesses in Detroit, closes for winter and football season. Reo Ramsey, bike light and pedicab entrepreneur, tells us about the ride (48:50).

#2538 - Reasons to Ride

Bay Wheels bikeshare in the East Bay lends ebikes for $20/month to qualified residents and $120 for everyone else, reports Bike East Bay co-Executive Director Justin Hu-Nguyen (1:05).

Former San Francisco Supervisor Joel Engardio on being recalled by drive-happy voters over his support for converting a portion of the Great Highway into the new Sunset Dunes Park (7:08). 

Biking, BARTing, and e-scooting at 14 in the Bay Area: Quin Binzak (24:50).

The Federal Government has taken away approved funding for bike and safe streets infrastructure, or, as it says, anything "hostile to cars." Caron Whitaker, E.D. of League of American Bicyclists, on its work with lawmakers. Also, League Certified Instructor training (29:56).

Avoid stoking fear in our messaging, writes Dave Snyder in his bike advocacy newsletter (39:39).

Charlie's News (42:15)

It's getting darker, dynamo lights are awesome, and other light stuff from Battle Road Bikes mechanic Jim Cadenhead (45:03)

#2539 - Champions of Bike Advocacy

Ride For Your Life is a Washington, D.C. memorial ride in honor of Sarah Langenkamp, whose husband, Dan, worked to pass a law protecting cyclists in her name after she was killed riding in a bike lane. Taylor talks to Dan Langenkamp https://waba.org/event/ride-for-your-life-2025/ (2:04). 

After Bike Talk thinker Stacey Randecker was hit while riding, we asked why personal injury lawsuits take so long to pay out. Our lawyer, Jim Pocrass, tells all (18:35).  

Charlie’s Bike News (24:40).

A report called “The Powerless Brokers” by Circulate San Diego finds "California can’t build transit." Lindsay talks to Circulate SD CEO Colin Parent https://www.circulatesd.org/powerlessbrokers (27:05).  

NYC bill Intro 1138 would ban parking within 20 feet of street corners, “daylighting” intersections so drivers and other road users can see what’s coming...but NYC’s DOT exaggerated the parking spaces that would be lost, Upper West Side Council Member Gale Brewer pulled her support for the bill, and now its passage is in danger. All for the love of parking, explains Streetopia Upper West Side Director Carl Mahaney.  
https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/10/02/bean-counting-street-safety-advocates-blast-gale-brewers-daylighting-flip-flop (39:43)


Ride The Vines is a Temecula, California wine region cycling event that supports charities, schools, and bike safety. Taylor talks with Gary Oddi and Ernie Castro about the event. https://www.tvbikecoalition.com/ride-the-vines (46:53)

Stacey’s Bike Thought (54:39).

#2540 The Deadly Status Quo

Bike tech: Dynamo lights and pocket compressors (0:19).

Charlie’s News (4:21).

Two authors on what we’ve lost by making kids car dependent: author of A Love Letter to Suburbia Diane Alisa interviews co-author of Curbing Traffic Melissa Bruntlett on her chapter, Child-Friendly City https://bookshop.org/a/99134/9781642831658  (6:51).

The delights of a Slovenian bike tour with Hour Away guide Nejc Peternelj and  Taylor’s brother John & Sister in Law Alice, who took the tour by ebike https://www.hour-away.com/cycling-holidays/guided (22:34).

Bike Ped Committee Chair Kristen Sykes interviews Holyoke, Massachusetts Mayor Joshua Garcia about countering car culture with complete streets on the 3rd annual Holyoke Mayoral ride (43:18).

#2541 Countering Car Culture

Bike Talk Listener Survey (0:23)

People on bikes are “Nature’s Most Efficient Traveler,” reveals Scientific American https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-human-on-a-bicycle-is-among-the-most-efficient-forms-of-travel-in-the/ (1:42)

Charlie’s News: League of American Bicyclists’ Advocacy Toolkit, Calbike’s Independent Electric Mobility Council, and Portland’s emergency World Naked Bike Ride (3:43).

MAGA Speaker Mike Johnson calls the World Naked Bike Ride "the most threatening thing I've seen yet," inspiring a Kermit The Frog song on the Jimmy Kimmel show (5:30). 

Cycling Solidarity buys out vendors targeted by ICE in Chicago and distributes the food to hungry people by bike. We talk with Rick Rosales, AKA “Captain Jack Sharrow,” a Cycling Solidarity organizer and Critical Mass rider (7:44). 

Women Changing Cities is a book on women leaders shaping their cities “From Paris to Bogota, Manila to Montreal… reclaiming streets, reimagining mobility, and designing safer, more inclusive public spaces.” Vancouver leader and bike activist Lucy Maloney interviews co-author Melissa Bruntlett in the second part of last week’s interview by Diane Alisa (14:26). 

Taylor plans a bike tour from San Francisco to Michigan with Josh Bowden, Adventure Cycling Experiences Operations Specialist (35:36)

Coffee on a cargo bike with Adrian of Satellite Coffee (52:32). 

#2542 Cycling Solidarity

Charlie’s News: NYC sets a 15mph limit on ebikes, a new Seattle bike lane also works for trucks, ultralight emergency response cargo bikes, and the impact of tariffs on the bike industry https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/pfb-responds-to-tariff-announcement (3:00).

No Drive Halloween campaign (4:26).

Ontario, Canada Premier Doug Ford is trying to ban speed cameras and bike lanes in an all out war on safety and active transportation- but there's active resistance from Dr. Carrie Mitchell, an associate professor at the University of Waterloo who started a petition calling for the speed camera ban to be reversed https://www.change.org/p/reverse-the-decision-on-speed-cameras-in-ontario (5:08).

The classifications of ebikes in New York City is confusing, and riders are paying the cost. Nick talks with Sophia Lebowitz about her article in Streetsblog NYC https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/10/21/the-problem-with-e-bikes-the-super-fast-illegal-ones (13:20).

A brief on the legal implications of misleading ebike categories with James Pocrass, Personal Injury attorney (26:46).

NYC Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is questioned on ticketing ebike riders in a debate. Opponents Cuomo and Sliwa want more ticketing, but Mamdani’d rather look at incentives to speed from food delivery app companies like DoorDash and Grubhub (32:04).

Planning Taylor’s bike tour, Part 2: logistics and planning. With Josh Bowden, Experiences Operations Specialist of Adventure Cycling (34:03).

#2543 Ebikelash

Emails: the bike life of musical director Tim Dyet and Steve Weyland's counsel to not blame delivery apps for lawbreaking ebikers in NYC (congratulations NYC by the way) (1:58).

Faulty bike infrastructure and a drunk driver blamed for deaths of cyclists Kerry Bonner, 25, and Egor Popov, 31 at Vigil and response by Patty Wiens, Bike Mayor of Winnipeg (7:25).

Charlie’s news: Carbrained NYC Councilmember Vicky Paladino (had) a challenger, FDNY urged to make safer streets, Malibu’s Pacific Coast Highway safety makeover TBD, Kilian Jornet rides to 72 US summits in 31 days (10:04).

A children's book about Annie Cohen Kopchovsky, AKA Annie Londonderry, who rode her bike around the world in 1885, is banned by the Pentagon for violating Trump's DEI policy. With author Mary Boone (12:20). 

Northampton's 34th annual Cyclocross event with Penny, Chloe, and JAM fund racers Tanya Boulanova and Ellen Noble (24:28). 

Bike LA's Bikefest with Bike LA Director Eli Akira Kaufman (34:51).

Planning Taylor’s Bike Tour, Part III, with Josh Bowden of Adventure Cycling (45:45).

#2544 Reform the System

Email: Reese, a listener, says we shouldn’t assume conservatives don’t listen to Bike Talk, like Nick said in the previous episode. We all agree: biking embodies values everybody can and should get behind (3:11).  

Charlie’s News: The City of Malibu approves safety plans for deadly PCH, a Queens, NY City Council seat is kept by an anti-bike zealot, Doug Ford seeks to repress debate on his speed camera ban, and California’s ebike incentives are swapped for a car trade-in program https://www.calbike.org/response-to-carb-on-ending-the-e-bike-incentive-project/ (6:32).

A Dia De Los Muertos vigil “remembering fallen ridazz” at the Bike Oven in Los Angeles, with Joe Borfo https://www.instagram.com/p/DQZuZD6j6kp/?igsh=MWI2MDB1cWM3OHpkYQ%3D%3D (9:11).

Los Angeles bicycle casualty statistics and what we are doing about it, with our LA bike lawyer James Pocrass (11:25).

House Transportation Committee Chair S. Graves says “we’re not gonna be spending money on murals and train stations or bike paths or walking paths” in the Transportation Reauthorization Bill, which determines spending for the next 5 years. League of American Bicyclists Deputy Executive Director Caron Whitaker walks us through that. Also, the League’s upcoming Bike Summit https://bikeleague.org (17:50). 

A New York City transportation advocates panel with Alexa Sledge, Communications Director of Transportation Alternatives, Streetsblog NYC Editor Gersh Kuntzman and writer Sophia Lebowitz, Streetopia Upper West Side Director Carl Mahaney, and veteran NYC safe streets activist Charles Komanoff on their hopes for a Mamdani Mayoral administration (22:34). 

Bikes were winners in Minneapolis elections, says Our Streets Minneapolis board President Laura Mitchell https://bsky.app/profile/lauragmitchell.com (49:45).

#2545 Bikes Win

Taylor bikes in the rain to LA Bikefest to talk with LA Bicycle Advisory Committee’s car-free Jennifer Gil and to World Day of Remembrance for Traffic Victims with Rob Kadota and Streets Are For Everyone founder Damian Kevitt (2:08).

News: LA City Controller makes an app where you can see the where LA budget goes https://budget.lacontroller.app, the USDOT declares it won’t fund biking, walking, or trains, the LA River bike path design and timeline is contested, there’s an aluminum velodrome in Tucson, and a Wyoming and Idaho bike/ski trail would complete the 180 mile Greater Yellowstone Trail network (10:50).

Email: “Skirting the Negativity Pit;” Rick Bosacker, MD on the disconnect between the positivity of cycling and the negative responses from online trolls. Rick writes that bike advocates may fail to speak out because of “pluralistic ignorance” (15:48).

Bike Touring and camping gear and bike recommendations from Josh Bowden of Adventure Cycling (17:48).

The Hierarchy of Cycling Needs: Charlie interviews Lisbon researcher Rosa Felix on her modeling of people’s self-assessed propensity to bicycle (40:48). 

Bikes For All volunteer Craig Smith introduces the bike charity that gives bikes to people who need them (51:58).

#2546 Bikes For All

The most recent Los Angeles CicLAvia’s 11/23  “Stranger Things” open street event was made possible by Netflix (0:18). 

Katie Wilson’s election as Mayor of Seattle through a bike lens with Brie Gyncild, Gordon Padelford and Merlin Rainwater of Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and Tom Fucoloro, editor of Seattle Bike Blog (8:25).

News: LYFT’s Citibike in NYC is the world’s most expensive bikeshare, Families For Safe Streets in Portland seek to stop “superspeeders” with a bill to require speed limiting technology in their cars, People For Bikes invests in the St. Louis bike network, and the CPSC warns about Rad Power ebike batteries (28:19). 

“Dashcam” app and handlebar mount by Armin Samii create an affordable bike camera that helps gather crash data to keep riders safer (33:30).

Disc brakes explained by Jim Cadenhead of Battle Road Bikes in Lexington, Massachusetts (47:12).

#2547 What Works

Bike books for Christmas-with the editors of Microcosm’s “They Ride at Night” anthology of Queer, Feminist, Fantastical Bicycle Halloween Stories, Summer Jewel Keown and Elly Blue (3:36).

Queens City Couriers delivers anything by bike in Buffalo, New York. Rebecca tells us about that, a bike messenger memorial, and how being a bike courier compares to being a Marine, which she also has been (13:15). 

Charlie’s News: NYC council candidates funded by Uber, women transportation leaders, bike lane sweepers, and last year’s Chicago and Philadelphia traffic casualty stats (25:55).

Police bias, media bias, and bike law with Jim Pocrass (27:14).

How to get in shape for a bike tour, the latest in our bike tour series with Josh Bowden of Adventure Cycling (36:29).

And drop in to our December 16, 4pm Pacific Instagram event with Adventure Cycling at https://www.instagram.com/adventurecycling/

#2548 Bike Rights

Our Mission Statement, reviews, a listener email, and please take our survey! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVwttiNKX8APpEgM3lmvlUI9d8KqQl9uedQ8YmdiJ5rPf0ow/viewform (0:19)

Charlie’s News New bike lanes in Boston increase bike trips and decrease car traffic https://mass.streetsblog.org/2025/12/05/boston-data-show-streets-with-new-bike-lanes-successfully-shift-traffic-from-cars-to-bikes; Astoria, Queens rips up a partially installed bike lane due to bikelash https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/12/05/queens-judge-orders-city-to-nix-half-installed-queens-bike-lane; Iowa City free bus ridership and service is up, emissions down https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/climate/iowa-city-free-buses.html; FSA/HSA pre-tax $ can be put towards a bike- with a doctor’s note https://usa.streetsblog.org/2025/12/04/this-holiday-season-buy-your-kid-a-bike-with-your-pre-tax-healthcare-money(4:57).

Montreal plows snow from bike lanes and sidewalks. Why can't every snowy city? We ask Patrick Murphy of Oh The Urbanity https://bsky.app/profile/ohtheurbanity.bsky.social (7:28). 

A round table on the NY Times Article "The Dangers of Ebikes" https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/briefing/the-dangers-of-e-bikes.html with our New Yorker/Marin County panel- Warren Wells, Policy and Advocacy Director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition https://marinbike.org; Carl Mahaney, Director of Streetopia Upper West Side https://www.streetopia.city; Sophia Lebowitz, writer of “The ‘Problem’ With E-Bikes? The Super Fast Illegal Ones,” https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/10/21/the-problem-with-e-bikes-the-super-fast-illegal-ones and Miser, organizer of the subreddit MicromobilityNYC https://www.reddit.com/r/MicromobilityNYC/: (14:50)

A bike tour of Japan by Aaron Lipstadt (42:25). 

Bill Walton's Bike Thought (54:57)

Stacey's Bike Thought (55:22)

Also, 12/12/25 is the last day people can order Bike Talk books from the Bookshop page at biketalk.org with Standard Shipping to have them arrive on time to put under the tree.

#2549 Moral Panic On Ebikes

Vehicular cycling and Aaron Swanson of League of American Bicyclists' League Certified Instructor's most recent graduating class in Los Angeles https://bikeleague.org/ridesmart/become-instructor/ (4:15).

Charlie’s News- Streetsblog NYC article on everything wrong with anti Astoria bike lane ruling https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/12/09/heres-everything-wrong-with-the-judges-order-to-rip-up-the-31st-street-protected-bike-lane; are AVs like Waymo cyclists’ allies? https://www.wired.com/story/can-bike-riders-and-self-driving-cars-be-friends/ Indianapolis plows bike lanes for first time https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/indianapolis-dpw-plows-major-trails-and-protected-bike-lanes-for-first-time; NJ bill would require license and insurance for all ebikes https://www.nj.com/news/2025/12/nj-bill-would-require-licenses-registration-and-insurance-for-all-e-bikes.html; Comebacks to this year’s anti-bike arguments https://momentummag.com/your-comeback-guide-to-all-the-anti-cycling-arguments-youll-hear-this-year/ (7:25)

Coffee + randonneuring= Coffeeneuring https://chasingmailboxes.com/2025/09/29/coffeeneuring-challenge-2025-youre-only-15-once/. With Karen Canady (15:38).

Bike Long Beach on NIMBY opposition to the Orange Avenue Backbone Bikeway https://carlitelb.org/2025/11/16/save-orange-ave-bike-lanes/ (23:55).

Biking in winter in Minneapolis with Brett McGraw (36:20).

A European bike tour with Craig and Tamara Blett (45:30).

Stacey’s Bike Thought (55:14).

#2550 Weakest Link

Listener email: The AV debate: safer than humans (Waymo at least, but Teslas crash more often). On the other hand, AI is inhuman and AVs could increase car dependency (https://www.commondreams.org/news/tesla-robotaxi-crash-rate) (1:07).

Charlie's News: Pride bike racks in response to pride crosswalk removal in Florida; University of Minnesota study shows biking before sunrise doesn't hold back elementary school cyclists; Bike LA and Lime Hero partner to round up for local programs; Cheeky vests win back funding for bike lane plowing in Ontario (5:30).

Why don’t drivers lose their license for multiple DUIs and worse in California? (See License to Kill https://calmatters.org/investigation/2025/04/license-to-kill/). We ask our lawyer (and sponsor), Jim Pocrass (8:20).

The Federal Reauthorization bill won’t include money for bikes, walking, or anything that would slow cars for the next 5 years unless we let congress know that Americans want to be safe on their streets. Caron Whitaker of League of American Bicyclists asks bike groups to sign on to this letter to congress: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTXpKC8AL92qTCPzwoYTNRKoqRpk7pffOQPZyzf1Y-Ig1-aw/viewform (15:37). 

A judge in Queens, NYC ruled that a partially finished protected bike lane had to be removed. Her judgment was questionable and should be overturned, StreetsblogNYC writer David Meyer says https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/12/09/heres-everything-wrong-with-the-judges-order-to-rip-up-the-31st-street-protected-bike-lane (18:46). 

Sustainable travel expert Peter Cox on cycling as a social movement (33:25).

#2551 Call To Action

A sample of the interviews that made Bike Talk Bike Talk in 2025: 

Lucy Maloney, bike advocate turned council member in Vancouver from Episode 2533 https://biketalk.org/2025/08/2533-bikes-up/ (0:38). 

Zohran Mamdani interviewed by micro mobility organizer "miser" when Zohran ran for Mayor, from Episode 2525 https://biketalk.org/2025/06/2525-we-love-la-deliveristas-zohran-for-bikes-nyc-and-picture-main-street/ (13:56).

Black Girls Do Bike/Anjoleah Daye on BGDB in Los Angeles from the 2/7/2025 Episode  https://biketalk.org/2025/02/bikes-for-kids-in-la-and-florida-black-girls-do-bike-and-ebikes-over-60/ (24:37).

Sophia Lebowitz on the problem of illegal ebikes, or emotos from Episode 2543 https://biketalk.org/2025/10/2543-ebikelash/ (37:23).

Jonathan Hale on painting DIY crosswalks in Los Angeles from Episode 2534 https://biketalk.org/2025/08/2534-build-it/ (45:18).

#2552 best of 2025

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