Photo from MyBikeLane.

Putting you in danger

This TV news story about bicycles starts out talking about behavior “putting you in danger,” and the reporter goes out on the street to witness lawbreaking firsthand. But what’s amazing about this Philadelphia segment is that it’s all about cars blocking bike lanes, and the real safety hazards that result. They interview drivers parked in bike lanes, most of whom don’t seem concerned about the consequences. (CBS 3 Philadelphia via the Streetsblog Network, Stephen Miller)  (Tip: Stephen Miller)  

Headline a flop, article good

Lisa Rein reverses course from her last few “dreamy sprawl” articles to write a pretty good piece on Maryland’s Smart Growth law and its lack of success. As Friends of White Flint note, the headline writer goes a bit sensationalist with “Study calls Md. smart growth a flop,” as it’s not so much Smart Growth that’s a flop but the weak law. Richard Layman explains the problem with Maryland’s law in more detail, and notes that Montgomery has done the best job of creating a “growth boundary,” while Prince George’s has lagged. (Post, FLOG, RPUS)  

Don’t let the growth policy flop

The Montgomery County Planning Board’s efforts to steer growth toward transit-rich areas is getting mixed reviews from the Council. Phil Andrews sees designing around high-speed traffic as a “quality of life” issue, while Roger Berliner is more positive despite some constituent pushback. (Post)  

Deliberately hurt two cyclists, go to jail

An LA jury has convicted the doctor who slammed on his brakes right in front of two cyclists to “teach them a lesson” about riding on the narrow canyon road, seriously injuring both. (LA Times, LAist, Jeff)  

Tax shelter hazard rears its head again

Remember those tax shelters, called SILOs, that local transit agencies used (or were pressured into) to sell their equipment to banks and lease it back? Remember how last year, a Belgian bank wanted to call in WMATA’s loan, forcing it to pay millions, just because AIG collapsed and the bank saw a chance for a windfall profit? This issue hasn’t gone away, many transit agencies are still facing huge potential payments, and Congress is looking at legislation to stop the banks from calling in the loans. (Streetsblog Capitol Hill)  

Everybody cross now

London has created its first all-way pedestrian crossing, which U.S. engineers call the “Barnes Dance,” at a particularly crowded intersection where 32,000 people cross in an hour during the rush period. (Times of London, Charlie)  (Tip: Charlie)