bay area cycling news

It seems that the truck driver in the November 4 fatal collision with cyclist Lauren Ward was also involved in another cyclist getting killed in Santa Cruz in August 2007. On Aug. 7, 2007, Vera's big rig and cyclist John Myslin, a 25-year-old high school teacher, collided at the intersection of Mission and Bay streets in Santa Cruz. An investigation concluded that the popular Pacific Collegiate School teacher was at fault and police advised the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office not to file charges against Vera. Police have yet to release a final statement on the November 4 crash because a lack of eyewitnesses is making the analysis difficult. If you have any information regarding the November 4 crash, please call CHP investigators at 650-369-6261. Read more at the Palo Alto Daily News (on Mercury News' website).

San Mateo County Times (via San Jose Mercury News website) has a great piece on Lauren Ward, the bicyclist who was killed Thursday by an 18 wheeler on Alpine road. Veronica Lentfer, a friend who knew Ward through the swim club and went on several bike rides with her, said she was always trying to help make the roads safer for bicyclists. Read more on their site .

SJ Bike Party is a gathering every third friday in San Jose. This past friday was the No Pants Ride , which, like Critical Mass , is getting both positive and negative attention. In a post on the SJ Bike Party website responding to friday's activities , ride organizers try to stem the tide of rowdy revelers that enjoy partying, and not necessarily biking. I am deeply dismayed by the attitudes and the aggression on the ride. Community means friendship and respecting one another. Bike Party has grown into a huge successful event because we are open to everyone and we love everyone. However, as of today, some of you are no longer welcome. If you think San Jose Bike Party is a place to get shit faced and pick fights, don’t come. If you think San Jose Bike Party is a place where you can do what you want and harass cars, don’t come. If you are so in love with a bike ride that you cannot give up your binge drinking, fight mongering, douche-baggery, then start your own ride. You c...