Bike Talk

A school bike bus is recognized by the Burbank, California City Council for promoting safe, active Transportation. With Alfonso Directo, Jr. Advocacy Director of Act-LA and Roosevelt Elementary School parent https://www.act-la.org/ (2:53). Bike Films: “Major Taylor: Champion of the Race" Earns National News & Documentary Emmy Award Nomination-can now be streamed https://video.indianapublicmedia.org/video/major-taylor-champion-of-the-race-7pwxvd/ (9:40). “Changing Lanes,” a documentary about the conflict over a protected bike lane in Greenpoint, Brooklyn on McGuinness Boulevard. Taylor talks with the Director of Changing Lanes, Ben Wolf https://www.changinglanesdoc.com/ (10:28). Listener Email: Julian disputes Asha Weinstein’s take on high powered bikes from Bike Talk’s 26/12 episode https://biketalk.org/2026/03/26-12-bike-more-worry-less-e-bikes-and-avs/(15:04). Stacey’s (Charlie’s) News: Jersey City Approves First Protected Bike Lane in The Heights Along Franklin Street https://jerseydigs.com/protected

Taylor plans a May bikepacking trip from San Francisco to Michigan. A listener explains why she uses a backpack instead of panniers, and Tim Dyet’s review says “everyone gets a seat at the (Bike Talk) table.” (5:15) The Safe Speeds Act will require the CSPC to distinguish ebikes from illegal emotos, if passed https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7839/text?s=1&r=1&hl=hr+7839. However, the CSPC, charged with protecting consumers from things like exploding e-bike batteries, was gutted by the Trump administration for regulating lithium ebike batteries. Caron Whitaker, Deputy Director of the League of American Bicyclists, explains (8:04). Stacey’s Charlie’s News: Federal legislation addresses e-moto issue. 85 bikes seized after authorities stop planned Bay Bridge takeover. 8-year-old girl on bicycle dies after colliding with car in Charlotte, CMPD says. Guardian Bikes wants children's bikes made in the U.S.A. — and tariffs against rivals (15:26). The Mamdani administration has reversed th

Hands Off DC bike lanes, says the Washington Area Bicyclists Association in the face of the Trump administration’s intention to remove a key part of the bike network. Kalli Krumpos, Advocacy Director, gives WABA’s perspective https://waba.org/2026/03/24/four-dc-actions/ (2:34). Voices from the March 24-26, 2026 National Bike Summit in Washington, DC from bike messenger/reporter Joel Gwadz: Terry Lansdell, ED of Walk Bike North Carolina, Niles Barnes, Deputy Director of East Coast Greenway Alliance, Natasha Smith, Coordinator of Bike Walk Bowling Green in Kentucky, Patrick Martin, President of Bike ABQ in Albequerque, NM, Steven Hardy-Braz, a board member of BikeWalk NC, and Desiree Squire, Education Manager at Bike Durham in North Carolina (13:36). Charlie’s News: Bike East Bay’s Celebrate Trails Day ride supports the Bay Skyway. Queensland may implement strict e-bike regulations. The T’s bus service will exceed pre-pandemic levels this spring. Bike-friendly Emmanuel Grégoire has won the Paris mayoral elect

Taylor talks with Brent Muth at Ojai's MOB bike shop and then at a farmer's market with Annette, a member of the international nonprofit Cycling Without Age, which takes the elderly out for free bike rides (1:33). The League of American Bicyclists' National Bike Summit https://bikeleague.org/events/summit/ (9:33). Charlie's News: Cambridge, Massachusetts has seen a 250% ridership increase over two decades, with a crash rate decrease https://momentummag.com/city-shows-the-huge-payoff-for-investing-in-safe-cycling-infrastructure-with-250-increase/. There will be a National Town Hall on April 15th for the Stop Underrides Act of 2026 https://annaleahmary.com/2026/02/stop-underrides-national-town-hall-save-the-date/. Bike lanes next to the National Mall are set to be removed despite lower crash rates and faster car travel times https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/03/20/15th-street-dc-bike-lane-removal/. The NYPD will stop giving cyclists criminal summonses for minor offenses https://nyc.streetsblog.or

The cost of cars is skyrocketing https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/16/business/car-ownership-prices-interest-rates.html. Listener emails: a request for Kevin Grishkot’s bike poem https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nlAMBnuj05sUe7kwv2ABNo7zPsHbhX6-92GEOqckKlo/edit?usp=sharing, and Stephen Bingham on House and senate bills mandating side underride guards on new trucks https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/KAT26057.pdf. Charlie’s News a protected bike lane for Prospect Park in Brooklyn. New federal legislation would expand automatic emergency braking to detect bicyclists. Caltrans replaces perfectly good bike lanes with useless sharrows. Parisian bike friendly Mayor Anne Hidalgo will leave office. 6:37 NY Minute: NY Governor Hochul’s bill will lower driver insurance cost and payouts to crash victims to make it cheaper to drive. With Streetsblog NYC Editor Gersh Kuntzman https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/02/02/the-explainer-how-gov-hochuls-car-insurance-agenda-hurts-victims-helps-big-car

Taylor joins hundreds of Los Angeles bike people in the pre-dawn Marathon Crash Ride last Sunday, previewing the 26 mile route of the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon. With Joe Borfo and Joni Yung (0:20). New Jersey’s anti-ebike law from New York and California points of view. With Justin Hu-Nguyen, Bike East Bay and Anne Savage, New York Bicycle Coalition: (7:15) Automatic Emergency Braking in all U.S. cars? With Caron Whitaker, League of American Bicyclists https://bikeleague.org/take-action/action-center/ -check to see if your member has cosponsored the bill- https://bikeleague.org/take-action/policy-advocacy/federal-policy/cosponsorship-tracker/ (16:05). Charlie’s News: The Bicycle Film Festival is taking submissions https://www.bicyclefilmfestival.com/submit. Trump’s attempt to end congestion pricing is deemed illegal https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/nyregion/nyc-congestion-pricing-ruling.html. Volunteers survey sidewalks in Pittsburgh https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2026/03/03/sidewalk-survey-pitt

Cars are in the way in LA. The last Los Angeles Critical Mass was also a memorial for Regan Cole‑Graham and her unborn child Ophelia https://la-criticalmass.org/la-critical-mass-riding-miles-for-regan-this-february-2026/ -with Damian Kevitt, Founder of Streets Are For Everyone (2:15). Thoughts on oil, geopolitics, and how we can rebuild the world with renewable energy and bikes (7:20). Charlie’s news: Maryland’s Stop Super Speeders bill passes in the House https://www.instagram.com/p/DVRzVqjlWWD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link. California could face an eBike registration law https://www.ijpr.org/outdoors-leisure-and-sports/2026-02-28/license-plates-for-e-bikes-california-bill-sparks-debate-over-safety. Roughly 3 in 4 young people in Wales support street redesign https://cyclingindustry.news/research-three-in-four-young-welsh-back-street-redesign/. Australia is taking advantage of deactivated rail lines to create cycling infrastructure https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/newsroom/2026/02/26/from-sugarcane-trains-to-

Taylor and Nick’s bike origins as told on Sustainability Now! on Forward Radio in Louisville, Kentucky to Host Justin Mog https://soundcloud.com/wfmp-forward-radio/sustainability-now-nick (1:11). Taylor joins Walk ’n Rollers to fix up bikes for kids https://walkmorebikemore.org (4:02). Charlie’s News: The Bayview Black History Ride is happening February 28th in San Francisco https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/community/bayview-black-history-month-bike-ride-highlights-sf-culture/article_32cfbfbf-fe1f-41a2-b20f-8a12e700e7e0.html. A proposed New York law would create something of a tax-free transportation costs account https://www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2026-02-17/new-york-commuters-could-soon-be-able-to-use-pre-tax-earnings-toward-bus-fare-bike-shares-and-more. New York City’s garbage problem stands in the way of vacuum snow removal https://gothamist.com/news/why-doesnt-nyc-use-a-giant-snow-vacuum-like-montreal-its-world-famous-garbage. A new bike path in Australia next to a metro line will make the city even

Get a Bike Talk Sticker for your positive review. Listener email: Desmond on winter Riding and specifically mittens that attach to your handlebars, called pogies (1:41). The City of Los Angeles is set to give back over $100 million of previously won money for active transportation projects because it can’t build them in time, reports Founder of LA Streets For All Michael Schneider https://bsky.app/profile/streetsforall.org/post/3metn6f54fk2u (3:22). Can Police Stop You on a Bike for No Reason? Our lawyer says no, but your goal is to get home alive (7:30). Boston cyclists cleared a bike lane themselves after weeks of neglect from the city. With Tiffany Cogell, ED of the Boston Cyclists’ Union (13:18). Charlie’s News: a road diet in Newton, MA has decreased car traffic and increased cycling use https://mass.streetsblog.org/2026/02/10/traffic-analysis-shows-newton-bikeway-project-reduced-car-traffic-speeding-and-crashes. PennDot is set to invest $17 million in safety improvement projects https://bicyclecoal

Listener Sean in Montana writes a good review for stickers. St. Paul, Minnesota rider and cartoonist Andy Singer drops in virtually to talk about the recent Alex Pretti memorial ride (1:09). A spec Super Bowl ad for kids biking and walking to school by Tom Flood (5:12). 1,200 riders rode 42 stationary bikes for four days to generate power for the first energy-neutral Super Bowl broadcast, the Fox pre-game show https://lancasteronline.com/potholes/bicycles-power-super-bowl/article_b549506f-1944-54f6-a4f9-06dab7060cf6.html (6:51). Chicago’s Cycling Solidarity organizer Rick Rosales drops in to Taylor’s LA garage in real life. Rick talks with Taylor about Cycling Solidarity’s focus on mutual aid and vendor buyout rides to support the community targeted by ICE https://www.instagram.com/cyclingxsolidarity/?hl=en (7:38). Taylor talks to Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia, who asks why the city spends so much on lawsuits instead of making streets safer (15:50). Femmes and Friends ride organizer Aliso

Taylor and Nick agree that scarves are for everyone. Parker S rode in the Minneapolis Alex Pretti memorial ride 1/31 and shares what it was like (6:52). Listener Rick Bosacker writes that bike rides shouldn't be polarizing, or political (2:54). Streeetsblog NYC and LA editors Gersh Kuntzman and Joe Linton share their top priorities for bike advocacy in 2026 (10:55). Charlie's News: NYC deliverista settlement delivers $5 million in backpay. The minimum hourly rate for deliveristas reaches $21.44 in NYC. A NH proposed bill would require $50/year registration for all bikes. A UK study claims cargo bike deliveries are 1.61 times faster than vans (22:10). Mayor Adams' NYC DOT awarded a contract for citywide secure bike parking to a different company than Oonee, the company synonymous with secure bike parking in NYC. Shabazz Stuart, Oonee Founder & CEO, on proving it works and being left behind https://medium.com/oonee/proving-it-works-left-behind-81d3ef16d8d2 (24:45). Karen Lankeshofer's quest to tell the w

Alex Pretti, murdered by ICE in Minneapolis, was a bike rider. Laura Groenjes Mitchell of Our Streets Minneapolis and Brett Macgraw of the West Metro Active Transportation Alliance share a multi-city memorial ride for Alex Pretti started by his local bike shop, the Angry Catfish https://bikepacking.com/news/alex-pretti-memorial-rides/. Also, a fundraiser for people trapped by ICE in Minneapolis https://bsky.app/profile/lauragmitchell.com/post/3mbvajnjdx22t (0:46) A Die-in on the steps of Los Angeles’ City Hall to protest the 290 traffic deaths in LA last year. With Damian Kevitt, E.D. of Streets Are For Everyone (8:10). Charlie's News: A damaging e-bike bill is signed in New Jersey https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/new-jersey-most-restrictive-ebike-law, and Hoboken’s successful pilot program that got drivers out of bike and bus lanes hasn’t been renewed https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/01/20/hobokens-short-lived-camera-enforcement-program-got-drivers-out-of-bike-and-bus-lanes, but at least the state is g

Do we need e-shifters? Is Taylor a luddite? (0:19) Listener Email: South Carolina’s Freeway for Bikes https://www.reddit.com/r/bikecommuting/comments/1qinw7z/south_carolinas_freeway_for_bikes_it_makes/ (2:43) Blind riding in tandem with Sonya Chapnick (3:44). Charlie’s News: New York Governor Kathy Hochul proposes a “stop super speeders” pilot program https://empire.streetsblog.org/state-of-the-state-exclusive-hochul-will-push-stop-super-speeders-bill-through-her-budget. Check out the best new bike lanes of 2025 https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/best-new-bike-lanes-2025. A New Jersey ebike lumping law threatens low-income riders and immigrants https://hudsoncountyview.com/op-ed-murphy-must-veto-anti-safety-anti-affordability-anti-immigrant-e-bike-bill/. Ontario government spent hundreds of thousands in the legal fight to rip up bike lanes in Toronto https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/foi-shows-province-external-lawyer-cost-bike-lane-challenge-9.7042278 (14:33). NY Governor Kathy Hochul wants to ap

Bike Mechanic Jim Cadenhead consults with Taylor about fixing a flat on his Surly. Problems: there's a thru-axle and he thought it was tubeless (2:45). Charlie’s News: Virginia plans to get rid of parking minimums in September https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB262. Zohran pleases some as he smooths a notorious bump at the end of Williamsburg Bridge https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/nyregion/mamdani-pothole-williamsburg-bridge-bump.html, but leaves others dissatisfied with the continuation of cyclists receiving criminal summonses https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/01/07/mamdani-says-he-opposes-tischs-criminal-bike-crackdown-but-its-apparently-still-in-place. Over 2,700 ebikes have been sold and subsidized in the Bay Area in the last 6 months https://oaklandside.org/2026/01/08/alameda-ava-energy-ebike-voucher-program-2000-purchased-east-bay/. As mountain biking gains popularity, bike parks are becoming the status quo instead of traditional trail development https://www.bikemag.com/mountain-bike-trai

Bike Talk Listener Survey results (0:40). Notable bike-related laws of 2025 with bike lawyer Jim Pocrass (15:00). Mamdani’s transit-focused inauguration in a New York Minute with Streetsblog NYC Editor Gersh Kuntzman (21:45). Charlie’s News: Mamdani brings back de Blasio-era plan for McGuinness Boulevard. Leadville, CO will host Fat Bike Worlds later in January. Citi Bike prices are increasing for the 5th consecutive year. A 93-kilometer bike highway is coming to Dubai (23:32). Los Angeles tactical urbanist Jonathan Hale charged with vandalism for installing a DIY-crosswalk where there should have been one https://la.streetsblog.org/2025/12/08/police-and-fire-departments-shut-down-volunteer-crosswalk-painting-event-in-westwood (28:31). All Bodies on Bikes founder Marley Blonsky hit by car in a Portland protected bike lane, unhurt; and the new ABOB movie, book (44:48).

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).

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 Bicy

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:

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 O The Urbanity https

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/