It’s time for the Bike News Roundup. This is an open thread.

First up, here are two videos showcasing some unconventional methods to improving crosswalk safety with your bare hands. You could make your own:

STRESS FREE – La prise de l’étoile – Pedestrian crosswalk from Xtnt – Urban Theater on Vimeo.

Or you can keep existing crosswalks clear:

Pacific Northwest News:

• Remember my dare to Julian Totcycle? — Main Tank – Family bike camping is so much cooler than family road trips.
• Shortage of crossing guards has Seattle students dodging traffic | KOMO News – Some crossing guards will always be needed, but I wonder how many of these dangerous crossings could be fixed with some road design changes.
• Officer-Involved Vehicle/Pedestrian Collision | SPD Blotter – UPDATE: The woman’s husband, who saw it happen, has a slightly different take on what happened.
• Everett police car strikes pedestrian in crosswalk | Seattle Times – That’s right, two different area police officers struck people walking while driving their police cruisers this week.
• West Seattle Blog… » West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 more bike-theft reports
• Fixing the “Dexter Disaster” is Vital for Transit – Seattle Transit Blog
• BikePortland.org » Local headlines go after Portland Bike Share
• BikePortland.org » Bob Huckaby moves forward on statewide bike registration, licensing measures
• Vehicle/Pedestrian Fatality Collision in South Seattle | SPD Blotter – Notice the focus on the person’s “dark clothing.”
• Volunteers still needed in Seattle, Kirkland, Mercer Island and more for the WA bike/walk counts
• City Could Prohibit Some Small-Lot Development | PubliCola – Really? This is the cause that gets emergency attention from the Council? As someone who lives in a backyard home, I love it, my neighbors don’t seem to mind and it gives me the chance to afford a space in a neighborhood that would price me out otherwise.
• Back to school, bike to school « Cascade Bicycle Club Blog
• Yoga and Bicycling: Pedal, Stretch, Breathe « Let’s Go Ride a Bike – life on two wheels: simple. stylish. fun. – Chicago tries out Pedal, Stretch, Breathe
• Injured cyclist sues over North Vancouver bike lane – CBC News – Interesting lawsuit.
• Hop in the Saddle — Kickstarter
• Parklets will help downtown – The Olympian – Olympia is getting parklets. What’s the hold-up, Seattle? Help small businesses by giving them a green light!
• Road diets used as tool for reclaiming neighborhoods in San Francisco | San Francisco Examiner
• Tacoma Bike Ranch: Care Packages: Mailing a Folding Bike to a Military APO with USPS!
• Portland, Ore., city planners crafting a bike-friendly cityscape – USATODAY.com

Halftime show! London company makes a flashy video showing off their idea for elevated cycle lanes (wasn’t there an idea like this “floating” around Seattle, maybe for Pioneer Square? I can’t find the link):

National & Global News:

• What Happens to Stolen Bicycles? – Great read.
• AASHTO: America’s Best Transportation Projects Are All Highways | Streetsblog Capitol Hill – Boo!
• Cutting dependence on cars isn’t anti-car, it’s common sense – Greater Greater Washington
• Mexico City Bike-Share Goes Big | Streetsblog.net
• HelmetHub’s headed your way – BostonHerald.com – Helmet vending scheme being tried in Boston.
• Democratic Platform’s Scarce Words on Transportation Fail to Inspire | Streetsblog Capitol Hill
• Cyclist Dies on Critical Mass, NBC Opens Fire | Streetsblog Los Angeles – Very sad.
• The Fight to Let Kids Ride to School | Bicycling Magazine
• Copenhagenize.com – Bicycle Culture by Design: The State of Copenhagen Congestion – Part 2 – Copenhagen is having trouble making the bold decisions that would take cycling there even further.
• Ask Umbra: Why do bike tires suck? | Grist
• Mexicans ride bikes to avoid traffic jams | Fox News Latino
• Too risky? – Everyone who touched this Aussie news “report” is horrible. One of the worst pieces I have seen in a long time. Will make you feel great about Seattle media, though.
• Alliance for Biking & Walking: PeoplePoweredMovement.org – Three big national bike/walk advocacy groups won’t merge after all.
• The car kilometre is six times more expensive than a bike kilometre – Fietsberaad – Why it makes fiscal sense to build safe, inviting bike facilities.
• New State Bill Would Streamline CEQA Reviews for Bike Lanes | Streetsblog San Francisco – Cali law would give bike lanes a bypass of expensive and time-consuming review.
• U.S. Taxpayers Are Gouged on Mass Transit Costs – Bloomberg – Why does it cost so damn much to built light rail in the US. We don’t need to compare with China (which is blowing everyone out of the water), just look at how we compare to other Western nations.
• Cycle Chic®: From Critical Mass to Cycle Chic in Budapest