The Great Big Summer Washout Bike Blog Roundup

As the wettest June ever shades into what's shaping up to be the wettest July, Downfader tries to convince us all that rain doesn't matter to cyclists - although it hasn't done these cycle paths much good. Still, let us look on the bright side, joining the Alternative Department for Transport's paean of praise for Camden's embrace of the 'except cycles' sign, the joys of lone cycling - or perhaps the guerilla knitter of Cambridge as she cheers up the city's cycle racks. After all, as the Cycling Silk reminds us, it's not really the weather that makes commuting by bike unpleasant. And failing that, we'll always have Sky Rides - and even Real Cycling sets his cynicism aside and finds himself enjoying Bradford's.

In a world turned upside down, Joe Dunckley discovers a novel way of increasing the numbers of cyclists in London: redefine 'cyclist'. The LCC discovers what our roads might look like if the cycling shoe were on the other foot while Carlton Reid finds a road where cars are usually banned but allowed in once a year - a kind of Sky Ride for cars, only less fun. Also swapping places were some taxi drivers taking to two wheels, while Newcastle bus drivers get a chance to find out more about what cyclists need. Bringing a little historical perspective, Bicycle Dutch digs out the Dutch angle on the UK's first cycle path - nothing new there, As Easy as Riding a Bike discovers. Still, at least the French are making a real commitment to road safety.

More seriously, let's follow the money. DC Streetsblog discovers that traffic studies systematically overstate the benefits of building roads - while the Royal Parks doesn't even have the budget to sort out a few signs. Perhaps they could get them sponsored by Barclays? Doubling our money, that £15 million announced last week is to be match funded by local authorities - hopefully they will realise that cyclists are customers too and it's worth the investment. Lancaster Dynamo isn't isn't very hopeful (but keeps on plugging away). And when they do spend it? Only a about a third actually goes on building stuff - or even painting it blue.

One place which looks as if it might usefully have spent a bit more on consultancy is Edinburgh where the trambles continues. Dave McCraw looks at how well bikes a trams can mix, while Kaputniq followed the whole tram line and documented it in a flickr set that, with the descriptions, is a blog in itself - none of which will do much to promote active travel in Scotland as Sustrans demands.

IF that's got your blood up, perhaps what you need is a spot of war? The People's Cycling Front of South Gloucestershire thinks so - while Canada's bike vigilante takes the law into his own hands and Karl McCracken discovers a new extreme sport. Cycling round the world, Skalattitude encounters some really scary road hazards that might put your last 'punishment pass' by a Ford Fiesta into perspective.

But are we in danger, perhaps, of descending into wars between ourselves? Cycling Info takes a balanced look at the pros and cons of vehicular cycling while Kats Dekker reckons cyclists just need a bit more confidence to ask for more than space on the road. David Hembrow continues to unpick the myths by looking at what segregation really means - and how it does not preclude some speedy cycling

If you're still suffering from conference withdrawal after all the excitement of Velo-City last week, fear not for the reports are still trickling in. Dublin's put all the presentations from its conference online while Bath joined in the fun with its cycling health summit.

Freshly back from Vancouver, Copenhagenize is horrified to discover Denmark is proposing a helmet law - as is Ireland - and organises an open letter. Perhaps the only bright spot is the US city which has dropped its own helmet laws to reduce its liability, proving that the law of unintended consequences is the only one that will never ever be repealed.

Not that we wish to minimise the real dangers of cycling - as New Cycling calls for better infrastructure before someone is killed (surviving your first week's commute is, after all, something to celebrate). We can't ignore the tragic case of a pedestrian seriously injured by a red-light jumping cyclist - although we do wonder how prevalent red light jumping really is. The LCC looks at one safety measure warning lorries of cyclists in their blind spots, but only if cyclists are carrying the device - how soon before that is made compulsory? And it won't do much against a motorist armed not just with a white van but a gun - or, indeed, the police themselves. Velorution asks if the country is rotten to the core while in Epsom a grieving mother wants to see older drivers regularly re-tested. Depressing as they are, the 2011 road casualty statistics are just the tip of the iceberg, Cycalogical argues, but in Cambridge at least one drunk driver is taken off the road and told to get on his bike.

With the Olympics coming, protests are growing over the Lea Towpath closure - with a demo on today and an open letter to the mayor. Boris has at least confirmed his commitment to going Dutch. Given the state of Stratford High Street and the way bikes seem to be forgotten even in otherwise people friendly street designs, he's going to be busy. Jenny Jones, for one, won't let him forget Bow Roundabout. And with the London Assembly asking what the barriers are to cycling in London, Cyclists in the City barely knows where to begin.

Things appear to be taking a turn for the worse in the US where Congress slashes funding for bikes but not for cars - although it did at least cut red tape. Showing what real investment can do, Denver sees cycling rocket, showing you don't need to be flat to achieve improved cycling levels. Mid-life Cycling discovers there doesn't even need to be a bike lane to have drivers yell at you ride in it. Despite this, cycling historically gave women their freedom (and a few other benefits to boot).

Elsewhere abroad, the Gehl approach is being applied to Toronto while Romania launches a nice low-tech bike share scheme. Cycling Info takes a closer look at Sidney's cycle lanes while vehicular cycling .reaches Finland, apparently. Want to let the roads minister know about a bicycle black spot? There's an app for that - but only in Australia.

At the risk of getting all meta on your ass, why would you write a cycling blog? (Apart from the chance to be featured here, of course). And while we're on the topic why ride with a helmet cam? Either way, you've probably been doing it too long when you start describing people's PhD theses as entertainin... If you do have a bike blog, here's more infographics than you can shake a stick at (anyone else remember when we just called them graphs? No? I'm getting old then). Another blogger, the Vole O'Speed catches up with himself at a new address.

And finally, we leave you with one cyclist who doesn't subscribe to N+1 - although if he did, he could pick a nice one up here. Jim'll Fixie, anyone?

I'll get my coat.