E243 James Longhurst BIKE BATTLES



Americans have been riding bikes for more than a century now. So why are most American cities still so ill-prepared to handle cyclists? James Longhurst, a historian and avid cyclist, tackles that question by tracing the contentious debates between American bike riders, motorists, and pedestrians over the shared road.

Bike Battles explores the different ways that Americans have thought about the bicycle through popular songs, merit badge pamphlets, advertising, films, newspapers and sitcoms. Those associations shaped the actions of government and the courts when they intervened in bike policy through lawsuits, traffic control, road building, taxation, rationing, import tariffs, safety education and bike lanes from the 1870s to the 1970s.

note: our computer AND backup recorder stopped in the middle of our news section. So if you find yourself wondering “did I miss something?” The answer is yes.

Also: Will Vanlue joins to bring his perspective, aaron rides the solstice, and Lisa is back in PDX!

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Headlines

from bicycling.com via Doug Robertson(sustaining donor): Introducing the McBike – McDonald’s New Bike-friendly Takeout Container

from thehill.com: Scott Brown takes up bicycle repair

from theguardian.com: People power: the secret to Montreal’s success as a bike-friendly city

from momentummag.com: Unifying Bike Advocacy: National Brotherhood of Cyclists Conference

Fine Print

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