The Great Big Out of Date before it's Begun Bike Blog Roundup

No sooner had the ink dried on the last blog round up (that's metaphorical ink, by the way, don't write in) than it was out of date with another cyclist killed even as a ghost bike memorial was being installed for the eight killed so far. Auld Reekie cyclist was there as were others who were left angry, chilled and sobered with Gavin Corbett not wanting to see any more of them for the sake of his sons, and Green Dad wondering if they're aimed at the right target. Pedal on Parliament detects signs of madness while Kim Harding calls for an end to blaming cyclists and Magnatom just wonders whether the life of a motorist is worth more than a cyclist? Meanwhile figures revealed that deaths and serious injuries are rising in Northern Ireland too among cyclists while child pedestrians are in danger in Wales - where another cyclist was also killed.

In London, where one fifteen-year-old is just lucky to be alive, doctors explain why London must improve or face more tragedies. The LCC considers what must be done to make Aldgate and Holborn safer as Rachel Aldred explains why just making Aldgate less atrocious isn't good enough - and it is pretty atrocious. David Hembrow extends an invitation to London's mayor and other politicians to find out how things should be done. The Newham Records considers the whole of the CS2 while the Ranty Highwayman finds the CS3 much better. And with another protest ride planned for London - do we need to take it UK wide as well?

With New York's finest excelling themselves this week, policing and justice was in the spotlight as ever. The Urban Country described one woman's fight for justice for her husband, whil in LA even the police don't know what a sharrow means . BikinginLA asks if it's any better when the boot is on the other foot? With hit and runs reported at London's Critical Mass (and the mystery silver car of Leicestershire may have struck again) the Met police are going after red light jumpers (and be grateful to Nutty Xander for watching the Route Masters for you so you don't have to) - although at least in Sheffield they're finally going after taxis blocking bike lanes. As one driver is convicted of dangerous driving after killing a cyclist while fiddling with her sat nav, Chafe City is grateful for a driver pulling over to use her mobile - just a shame she chose to block a bike lane instead - and the Wisconsin Bike Federation suffers a hard day at the office.

It might be summer recess for our MPs but the consultations keep on coming - although when will we see a proper consultation about plans to build car lanes? Richmond Cycling Campaign gets 48 hours to evaluate the council's 'Mini Holland bid'. Cambridge's consultation on 20mph shows residents are in favour while plans for a new cycle bridge are welcomed - as is a relaxation of ban on cycling on Northumberland Street in Newcastle - something that works well in Germany and in Austria. There are three important new consultations in Bristol, including a rather good looking separated track. Living Streets responds to the Scottish Government's planning plans. Cycling South Tyneside wonders how something can be a cycling route if you can't cycle along it while Traffik in Tooting wonders how Mitcham Lane could be made safe. With the DfT still stubbornly forecasting a 43% rise in traffic and cycling possibly falling in Auckland - perhaps valuing cyclists' time as much as motorists' might help - ibikelondon reminds of the real Olympic legacy - a beautiful demonstration of traffic evaporation - although a £5million boost to Kingston's local economy probably didn't hurt much either. Mr Happy Cyclist has written to his MP (have you?) while in America where Transportation Alternatives faces the axe, US cyclists are urged to contact their senators about it - at least the US is going to start funding transport projects that advance the public good as opposed to the ones just first in the queue, and Portugal gets a much improved Highway code.

With Streetsblog looking out for "motormouths", how we're percieved - and talked about is important (not calling us obstacles would be a good start) - even if it's just because we don't really have any superpowers. In Scotland, Pedal on Parliament is unimpressed by the government asking everyone to play nice, as is Magnatom. As Easy as Riding a Bike warns us not to be fooled by apparently nice continental drivers - while calls for greater liability for drivers gather momentum in Scotland and Kim Harding continues to attempt to dispel the myth of road tax (good luck with that one). While it's true that the easiest form of advocacy is also the pleasantest - just don't expect the way you ride to make any difference to how we're perceived - the main problem is as much that precious green spaces are being turned into transport corridors because our roads are too hostile an alternative - relaxed cycling comes from relaxed conditions. A picture tells a story - but sometimes it's a completely different story to the one it's supposed to illustrate, while sometimes a panhandler can make a powerful point. While we have to challenge the status quo, the SF Weekly wonders whether Critical Mass is still the way to do it while Bike Portland is delighted to see some city officials engaging with the bloggers rather than ignoring them.

Which might be a good thing, because sometimes the bloggers have the good ideas with Seattle Bike Blog considering the best way to tackle one dangerous street while Pedestrianise London considers when it's good to share. Copenhagenize continues to dissect what makes a cycle-friendly city, with the green wave. In Florida the cone fairy doesn't mess around blogging she just unleashes traffic calming on dangerous streets by night while Lady Fleur tackles the 'jaws of death' bike rack and discovers it works better than she thought. Meanwhile the bloggers continue to have fun at the road transport lab - while in Ireland they've already built the first 'Dutch style' roundabout although I'm not sure the Dutch would agree. The Green Lane project will be stepping up its blogging and in case this round up isn't enough for you picks out the best San Francisco and Austin bike blogs.

With cycling something that should be for all ages, Peter Matthews finds the plans for Leith walk will be an improvement but they're still not going to make it suitable for his Mum - but at least e-bikes make the Cairngorms more accessible for all ages - although the Dutch are having to consider the cycling implications of e-bikes keeping older people cycling longer (as with all Dutch cycling problems, we're filing that one under 'nice problem to have'). And at the other end of the age spectrum, with the Guardian looking at cycling with kids, what do you do when you discover you've inadvertently raised a staunchly vehicular cycling toddler? Perhaps she too will grow up to pedal against the patriarchy.

As New York's bike share scheme is almost too popular for its own good, and Seattle's planned scheme gets its first sponsor (but only for supplying helmets...) Velib is still the Daddy of them all. Let's Go Ride a Bike discovers they make great emergency public transport - while for those cities without a bikeshare how about an Air BnB for bikes?

Elsewhere in the world of Bikenomics, Cyclehoop is flying the flag for British businesses while a new 'practical bike' shop finds its feet in Boston. Seattle gets its business leaders involved in drawing up its bicycle master plan while Streetsblog considers what really bankrupted Detroit - although bikes are making the city better one brunch at a time. Target targets Portland with bikes but forgets about bike parking - a foolish move in a city where the bike blog has its own real-estate correspondent.

We're a long way from that in the UK although we do get a Get Britain Cycling magazine. The Alternative DfT would like to see more detail on Lambeth's plans while Mad Cycle Lanes of Manchester would like any details at all of plans for bikes during works on NCN6 while it turns out blocking a cycle lane completely to warn 'road users' of road works is fine. In Inverness a bridge upgrade is a bit of a disappointment. And with Cromer unsure whether it's banned cycling or not on the prom and the heat wave claiming it's first (and only) cycling parrot victim, Clacton moves to ban nude cycling - we do wonder what McDonalds would make of that.

Further afield as the Dutch continue to perfect their cycle paths and their cities compete to be the best, the rest of the world struggles to catch up. New York celebrates new bike lanes and watches a new contraflow emerge while DC approves new bike lanes and the LA river is to get 51 miles of bike path while the Flying Pigeon is surprised by signs of a joined up network emerging in the city. The need for parking scuppers one bike lane proposal in San Francisco, but elsewhere where there isn't room for a separate track, there's a proposal to remove the cars instead - perhaps like Mackinack Island, the city can become entirely fudge powered. As Chicago politicians visit Copenhagen, Ciclovias have failed to take off in the city the way they have elsewhere. In Canada a nice path is hampered by poor signage while road closures and other measures will combine to make an active transport corridor in Vancouver. In Australia, Bicycle Perth sees some positive things while Auckland plans for a 20% modal share for bikes. What would it take to make Edinburgh more like Berlin? And how about a couple of months volunteering in Mozambique?

And finally, whatever will get more women cycling, we're pretty sure it's not this - definitely what NOT to wear on your bicycle speed dating session.