This Just In: Motorists Cause Most Bicyclist Deaths, League Report Concludes

When I lived in Tampa, the local Florida Department of Transportation and its supporters would repeat over and over that bicyclists are causing their own deaths.

That bicyclists are the ones to blame for getting killed on the deadliest roads in America.

The DOT even paid some local hot-shot ad firm to create a campaign telling bicyclists to be fearful of the roads and that bicyclists were basically dopes for getting themselves killed.

Then along comes the League of American Bicyclists -- the preeminent national bicycle advocacy group in the country -- with its own recent study of national bicyclist fatalities. Check out the League's post and report here.

And lo and behold, the LAB concludes that motorists should be blamed for killing bicyclists.

And the League also concludes there is shocking lack of pubic outrage and urgency in cities that have the highest bicyclist killings in the country (Re: Tampa/Hillsborough County).

Here is one web site's summary of the LAB bicyclist death report.

Good Things Go In Pairs

Everyone knows that the Summerlin section of Las Vegas is roadie heaven with all the wide roads and bike lanes, but even recumbent cyclists -- and recumbent TANDEM cyclists -- are out on the roads of Summerlin.

These guys were at 215 and Far Hills Avenue, likely picking up the new 215 trail extension.

Interbike Opens Show To Public On Final Day For $20

Last year I reported that Interbike opened its B to B trade show in Las Vegas to the public on the final day by allowing bike shops to sell $50 passes to its best customers.

Well, this year Interbike has decided to open the trade show to everyone on the final day in September for $20.

Here's the Bicycle Retailer story on the show being open to consumers on the last day.

Interbike's final day date is Sept. 12.

My Morning Dose of Early Morning Red

Early light is wonderful at the Red Rock scenic loop.

And on the other side of the road around Mile 2 you see this.

Climbing the steep grade at Mile 4 is tough, but it's made easier thanks to the lovely roadside scenery.

Finally, at the overlook, it's time to savor the views. Top is 4,771 feet, according to the park, though my altimeter says 4,805.

Meeting Bob From Saugerties, NY On The Red Rock Scenic Loop

This morning I was debating whether to take State Road 159 through Red Rock Canyon to Blue Diamond or veer off onto the Red Rock Scenic Loop for some serious elevation gain to 4,771 feet.

Turned out that I made the wise decision to hit the Scenic Loop because I got to meet this 70-year-old, fella, Bob, a retired health care worker from Saugerties, NY, 90 miles north of New York City.

I saw Bob's 2003 New York five-boro bike ride jersey, so I figured he was from around metro NY. When we began chatting, he said he was from a small village 90 miles north of New York City.

I said Saugerties and Bob seemed mildly surprised that I identified it since it is a small village in north Ulster County, both on the Hudson River and a gateway town to the mighty Catskills.

Bob was pedaling a Cannondale R300, which is an aluminum road bicycle that is about 20 years old. He had a granny front ring and a cleated shoe to churn out the tough miles from two to five as we chatted and pedaled up the steep grade. His wife was on their son's old road bicycle, a Centurian, I believe.

We chatted away about the Hudson River, Saugerties and the Catskills. Bob is an avid hiker and a member of the 3,500-foot hiking club of the Catskills. He and and his wife are driving across the country via Nashville. He's staying in Summerlin so that a daughter from Phoenix can visit.

Have fun Bob and good strategy to get up so early to bike and beat the famed Vegas heat.

Escaping The Vegas Three-Digit Heat By Biking Mt Charleston

When it's late May and it's three-digit-temp time in the Las Vegas Valley, it's time to seek cool refuge at 8,000 feet and Mount Charleston, where the temps are in the pleasant 78-80-degree range. The evergreen aroma is amazing, bringing me back to biking Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park.

On Monday, to contemplate why our country is so beautiful and so violent at the same time, I biked the Lee Canyon Rd. and Kyle Canyon Rd. areas near the top at 8,000 feet, including the nine-mile, high-elevation road that connect the two.

I prefer Lee Canyon near the Meadows and ski lodge area.

The pass road connecting both canyon roads is an amazing ride, though it's much harder going from Kyle to Lee Canyon Road. This perspective is looking south toward Kyle Canyon Road.

Motorist Obsessed With Sending Bicyclist Into The Ditch

Let's get into the mind of a motorist who intensely dislikes bicyclists.