This Week in Bike Reads

Behold, WABA’s weekly roundup of stories and commentary related to cycling, particularly in and around D.C. In case you missed it in last weekend’s Examiner, Liz Essley provides an overview of the gender gap amongst D.C. cyclists and what WABA is doing to fix that problem. Tom Vanderbilt’s brief history of Capital Bikeshare for Slate gives nods to Paul DeMaio, Gabe Klein, Adrian Fenty, and Harriet Tregoning as the arbiters of the system. Greater Greater Washington has a comprehensive list of other names involved, and Embrocation Cycling has an interview with Vanderbilt. Elsewhere in Bikeshare-related content, Mobility Lab visualizes recent trip-history data. Brooklyn Spoke deconstructs the “entitled cyclist” epithet and suggests it might be worth reclaiming. Governing takes a look at an initiative in Massachusetts that would tax parking lots to pay for bike lanes. And those taxes are probably worth it: the Green Lane Project details an effort in Portland that resulted in more bike lanes, higher property values, and increased economic development, because bikes are good for business (pssst—become a WABA business member if you really want to show off!). Virginia is considering eliminating its gas tax and increasing the sales tax, which could potentially include price-conscious drivers to get behind the wheel more often. But the state might also might implement a fine for drivers who hit cyclists when opening their doors. A Pakistani woman living in Berlin decides she’s ready to ride a bike after plumbing the cultural barriers that kept her off one. The Fairfax Bicycle Master Plan isn’t publicly available, but the FABB blog has a summary covering a draft released in July. There’s a Tumblr dedicated to publicly shaming drivers who park their vehicles in the L Street cycletrack, appropriately named Who’s Blocking L Street Today? Please direct your ire accordingly. What could be more satisfying than vigorously dinging a hotel bell-shaped bike bell? Photo by Mr. T in DC