Backpedaling 26/33

Taylor rides Barcelona, and says it’s civilized. A Quebec court rules against Toronto’s famously successful protected lanes. Michael Longfield, Executive Director of Cycle Toronto, explains https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/14/ontario-free-to-axe-toronto-bike-lanes-regions-top-court-rules. 4:15 NYC closes a 1 block gap in Ashland Avenue's protected bike lane in Brooklyn, known as “Crashland” for the danger created when Mayor Adams’ corrupt administration blocked that part of the path. Streetsblog NYC reporters Emily Lipstein and Michael Duggan fill in the gaps https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/08/12/crashland-no-more-mamdani. 15:28 A fully funded safety improvement project on Forest Lawn Drive was stopped by LA Mayor Bass despite years of public planning, extensive community outreach, and documented safety concerns. Streets Are For Everyone ED Damian Kevitt breaks it down https://www.streetsareforeveryone.org/blog/forest-lawn-drive. 20:25 Somerville, Massachusetts achieves Vision Zero for the third year in a row https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0811/traffic-safety-somerville-vision-zero. 25:27 News: Driver Hits 11, Kills Two College Cyclists in Tennessee https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/19/us/cycling-team-crash-milligan-university.html#:~:text=The%20crash%20happened%20around%208,Carter%20County%2C%20Tenn.%2C%20officials%20said. The car killing of British rider Fin Tarling during Friday's stage of the Volta a Portugalhttps://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/articles/czxqqlpnx98o. Bike hating Ontario Premier Doug Ford wins court battle to strip Toronto of its main downtown bike lanes https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/doug-ford-wins-major-court-battle-to-strip-toronto-of-its-main-downtown-bike-lanes/article_0da549f1-658b-4f93-b3aa-0dcd7f9273a8.html. London’s Cycleway network grows five-fold in decade to 450km https://cyclingindustry.news/londons-cycleway-network-grows-five-fold-in-decade-to-450km/. 26:37 Riders of the “friendly 8” in Halcyon, New Jersey, Kimberly Organo-Solo and Charles Sontag, with ride leader Lo Sontag, on why they ride and don’t ride more https://www.suburbanreview.com/p/d1011-sponsors-the-friendly-8-ride. 28:44 Owner of Allez Allez bike shop in Los Angeles, Kyle Kelley, whom interviewer Jim Cadenhead calls “the most famous fixie foo that ever was.” 39:19 Erasure poetry from bike hate mail submissions by Liza Birch, a Rhode Island bike advocate. 42:40