In the late 1940s, my pre-teen years, I would ride my bike after school, in the dark using battery lights, with no fear for my safety from my parents. This era is now referred to as the “Golden Age of Cycling.” On the Continent of Europe, cycle racing was the number one sport.

Looking back, it was a great time to ride a bike. Many of the cars on the road were pre-war from the 1920s and 1930s. New cars produced were like the Morris Minor and the Ford Anglia, (Below.) had a tiny engines around one liter. (1,000cc.) About the size of many motorcycles today.

During the 1950s, most of the people driving cars had grown up riding bicycles, their parents probably still rode a bicycle as their personal transport. They didn’t get upset with cyclists on the road, and they were content to cruise along at 30mph, occasionally reaching 50 or 60 on a straight road that ran downhill. At least they were in they were protected from the rain and cold.

Gradually all that changed, and now you have a generation who never rode a bike as a kid. Owning and driving a car becomes ever increasingly expensive, and with the spending of all that money comes an attitude of entitlement. 

read more: Dave Moulton’s blog, 28.05.13.

the title led me to think those cars were able to fit a bike in the trunk, or there were designed-in bike racks or something of the sort. but still, an interesting personal/historical account.

San Diegans who like would like their city to be more bike-friendly! Attend the Uptown Regional Bike Corridor Meeting this evening! (I would go if I were still there—but as i’m not, it’s up to you!! :] sry late notice, though)

June 12, 2013. 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Santa Fe Room, Balboa Park Club
2144 Pan American Road West. 

University Ave. spans multiple neighborhoods —Mission Hills, Hillcrest, North Park, City Heights—yet has no safe cycle infrastructure to connect them. There is no parallel west-east residential street that would work as a “bicycle boulevard” because they get cut off by canyons and freeways, plus all the destinations are on University. Root for cycle tracks on University Ave!

A horrible, dangerous intersection on University Ave. at Sixth Ave in Hillcrest. I used to live two blocks away. The pavement is bumpy here, and if you didn’t already know the layout in this area, you could have accidentally right-turned down into the freeway. NOT KIDDING.

cycle tracks in Rotterdam, NL. (for Dutch standards, Rotterdam is considered a pretty car-centric city, but they still put in cycle tracks so it’s bike-friendly)

read more: SDGLN, 12.06.13.

but even if you can’t make the meeting this evening, you can still show your support by joining local nonprofit advocacy group BikeSD and/or by sending an email to your councilmember and/or SANDAG.