Ken McLeod
@kenmcld.bsky.social
Bicyclist and policy wonk hoping to make the US more safe for people when they need to go places. Policy Director @bikeleague.org
So excited to have this new Bike Advocacy Toolkit available and congratulations to @tangythai.bsky.social @nondriver.bsky.social @mckelleykc.bsky.social Max Hepp-Buchanan and others who made it possible!
You can learn more on a Tuesday, October 14, from 3:00–3:30 PM ET webinar or order it today
You can learn more on a Tuesday, October 14, from 3:00–3:30 PM ET webinar or order it today
October 2, 2025 at 7:40 PM
So excited to have this new Bike Advocacy Toolkit available and congratulations to @tangythai.bsky.social @nondriver.bsky.social @mckelleykc.bsky.social Max Hepp-Buchanan and others who made it possible!
You can learn more on a Tuesday, October 14, from 3:00–3:30 PM ET webinar or order it today
You can learn more on a Tuesday, October 14, from 3:00–3:30 PM ET webinar or order it today
Weird data quirk of the day
Somehow NHTSA reports that 3 out of 4 drivers who had a travel speed of 40 mph in a 25 mph speed limit zone were not speeding when they crashed into a bicyclist and killed them
Credit, I guess, that all drivers going over 47 mph in a 25 zone were reported as speeding
Somehow NHTSA reports that 3 out of 4 drivers who had a travel speed of 40 mph in a 25 mph speed limit zone were not speeding when they crashed into a bicyclist and killed them
Credit, I guess, that all drivers going over 47 mph in a 25 zone were reported as speeding
October 2, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Weird data quirk of the day
Somehow NHTSA reports that 3 out of 4 drivers who had a travel speed of 40 mph in a 25 mph speed limit zone were not speeding when they crashed into a bicyclist and killed them
Credit, I guess, that all drivers going over 47 mph in a 25 zone were reported as speeding
Somehow NHTSA reports that 3 out of 4 drivers who had a travel speed of 40 mph in a 25 mph speed limit zone were not speeding when they crashed into a bicyclist and killed them
Credit, I guess, that all drivers going over 47 mph in a 25 zone were reported as speeding
This graph about bikeshare systems make it seem like Covid had a big impact on the number of systems - or some other event in 2020 causes a major drop in systems www.bts.gov/newsroom/doc...
September 30, 2025 at 1:57 PM
This graph about bikeshare systems make it seem like Covid had a big impact on the number of systems - or some other event in 2020 causes a major drop in systems www.bts.gov/newsroom/doc...
Motorcycles were even more likely to be seen as aggressive, with explanations pointing toward "smallness" or weaving behavior
Not sure if that would transfer to bicyclists, except maybe in urban situations where bicyclists are faster than cars and can weave through traffic
Not sure if that would transfer to bicyclists, except maybe in urban situations where bicyclists are faster than cars and can weave through traffic
September 29, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Motorcycles were even more likely to be seen as aggressive, with explanations pointing toward "smallness" or weaving behavior
Not sure if that would transfer to bicyclists, except maybe in urban situations where bicyclists are faster than cars and can weave through traffic
Not sure if that would transfer to bicyclists, except maybe in urban situations where bicyclists are faster than cars and can weave through traffic
"Size was an important factor in perceptions of aggression - the 'bigness' of trucks contributed to perceptions of aggression"
Focus group quote:
"At that point, I was in a truck... I just felt like the big boss, I guess, and they were in a tiny little car."
newsroom.aaa.com/wp-content/u...
Focus group quote:
"At that point, I was in a truck... I just felt like the big boss, I guess, and they were in a tiny little car."
newsroom.aaa.com/wp-content/u...
September 29, 2025 at 7:28 PM
"Size was an important factor in perceptions of aggression - the 'bigness' of trucks contributed to perceptions of aggression"
Focus group quote:
"At that point, I was in a truck... I just felt like the big boss, I guess, and they were in a tiny little car."
newsroom.aaa.com/wp-content/u...
Focus group quote:
"At that point, I was in a truck... I just felt like the big boss, I guess, and they were in a tiny little car."
newsroom.aaa.com/wp-content/u...
"States can transfer up to half of the National Highway Performance Program dollars into other funds, including the Surface Transportation Block Grant, Congestion Mitigation Air Quality, and Transportation Alternatives programs" under 23 U.S. Code § 126 without federal agency intervention
September 29, 2025 at 3:34 PM
"States can transfer up to half of the National Highway Performance Program dollars into other funds, including the Surface Transportation Block Grant, Congestion Mitigation Air Quality, and Transportation Alternatives programs" under 23 U.S. Code § 126 without federal agency intervention
We've basically been defunding the New Car Assessment Program for a decade
There was one year (the last year of the Obama admin) where NHTSA requested significantly more funding - they didn't get it - and it's been a consistent decline since then (not even accounting for inflation)
There was one year (the last year of the Obama admin) where NHTSA requested significantly more funding - they didn't get it - and it's been a consistent decline since then (not even accounting for inflation)
September 26, 2025 at 2:23 PM
We've basically been defunding the New Car Assessment Program for a decade
There was one year (the last year of the Obama admin) where NHTSA requested significantly more funding - they didn't get it - and it's been a consistent decline since then (not even accounting for inflation)
There was one year (the last year of the Obama admin) where NHTSA requested significantly more funding - they didn't get it - and it's been a consistent decline since then (not even accounting for inflation)
Without new tests, or testing standards becoming stronger over time, the New Car Assessment Program has lost its value to communicate meaningful differences in safety to American consumers
More than 80% of tested vehicles got 5 stars in 2025, in 2011 fewer than 20% did
More than 80% of tested vehicles got 5 stars in 2025, in 2011 fewer than 20% did
September 26, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Without new tests, or testing standards becoming stronger over time, the New Car Assessment Program has lost its value to communicate meaningful differences in safety to American consumers
More than 80% of tested vehicles got 5 stars in 2025, in 2011 fewer than 20% did
More than 80% of tested vehicles got 5 stars in 2025, in 2011 fewer than 20% did
Great lunch panel at Stanbaugh Auditorium on the @youngstownstate.bsky.social campus
Despite some rain we've already had a successful bike audit
It's been great to see the interest in improving biking and walking from all the folks in attendance
Despite some rain we've already had a successful bike audit
It's been great to see the interest in improving biking and walking from all the folks in attendance
September 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Great lunch panel at Stanbaugh Auditorium on the @youngstownstate.bsky.social campus
Despite some rain we've already had a successful bike audit
It's been great to see the interest in improving biking and walking from all the folks in attendance
Despite some rain we've already had a successful bike audit
It's been great to see the interest in improving biking and walking from all the folks in attendance
"The President’s proposed FY 2026 budget for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) amounts to a 53% reduction in funding...and then restores about 26%of the lost funding to two newly proposed HHS divisions: the Administration for a Healthy America and the Office of Strategy"
September 19, 2025 at 7:51 PM
"The President’s proposed FY 2026 budget for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) amounts to a 53% reduction in funding...and then restores about 26%of the lost funding to two newly proposed HHS divisions: the Administration for a Healthy America and the Office of Strategy"
Diverging Diamond Interchanges have advantages for motor vehicle traffic
They're pretty difficult to make comfortable for people biking and walking highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.d...
They're pretty difficult to make comfortable for people biking and walking highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.d...
September 19, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Diverging Diamond Interchanges have advantages for motor vehicle traffic
They're pretty difficult to make comfortable for people biking and walking highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.d...
They're pretty difficult to make comfortable for people biking and walking highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.d...
Looks like they combined a Diverging Diamond Interchange with two roundabouts divergingdiamond.com/item/i-265-i...
I'd want to see data before deeming it a deathtrap, but those are two less common intersection types so it's understandable that people would have strong opinions
I'd want to see data before deeming it a deathtrap, but those are two less common intersection types so it's understandable that people would have strong opinions
September 19, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Looks like they combined a Diverging Diamond Interchange with two roundabouts divergingdiamond.com/item/i-265-i...
I'd want to see data before deeming it a deathtrap, but those are two less common intersection types so it's understandable that people would have strong opinions
I'd want to see data before deeming it a deathtrap, but those are two less common intersection types so it's understandable that people would have strong opinions
There are some good resources for how to navigate a roundabout put out by Departments of Transportation highways.dot.gov/media/11151
www.txdot.gov/content/dam/...
Multi-lane roundabouts are definitely more confusing (and harder to navigate for people biking and walking)
www.txdot.gov/content/dam/...
Multi-lane roundabouts are definitely more confusing (and harder to navigate for people biking and walking)
September 19, 2025 at 3:54 PM
There are some good resources for how to navigate a roundabout put out by Departments of Transportation highways.dot.gov/media/11151
www.txdot.gov/content/dam/...
Multi-lane roundabouts are definitely more confusing (and harder to navigate for people biking and walking)
www.txdot.gov/content/dam/...
Multi-lane roundabouts are definitely more confusing (and harder to navigate for people biking and walking)
Participants in this study "judge AV firms as more liable than both firms that make human-driven vehicles and human drivers for damages when not at fault."
They used the pedestrian crash scenario that led to Cruise shutting down as part of the study
They used the pedestrian crash scenario that led to Cruise shutting down as part of the study
September 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Participants in this study "judge AV firms as more liable than both firms that make human-driven vehicles and human drivers for damages when not at fault."
They used the pedestrian crash scenario that led to Cruise shutting down as part of the study
They used the pedestrian crash scenario that led to Cruise shutting down as part of the study
Early voting voting begins today in Virginia
Nice and easy to vote at the registrar's office in Roanoke,
VA today
Nice and easy to vote at the registrar's office in Roanoke,
VA today
September 19, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Early voting voting begins today in Virginia
Nice and easy to vote at the registrar's office in Roanoke,
VA today
Nice and easy to vote at the registrar's office in Roanoke,
VA today
Would have been nice if they had a picture of a school with a crosswalk, but hey, nice to see Montana promoting Walk to School Day this October 8th mdtnews.mt.gov/news/news-fo...
September 18, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Would have been nice if they had a picture of a school with a crosswalk, but hey, nice to see Montana promoting Walk to School Day this October 8th mdtnews.mt.gov/news/news-fo...
Nice discussion about low-speed vehicles that go over 25 mph at the end of @lookbothwayspod.bsky.social
Not an area of NHTSA's regulation I've looked at, but it'd be super interesting to get the Microlino and Citroen Ami legalized as an unintentional part of tariff deals
Not an area of NHTSA's regulation I've looked at, but it'd be super interesting to get the Microlino and Citroen Ami legalized as an unintentional part of tariff deals
September 16, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Nice discussion about low-speed vehicles that go over 25 mph at the end of @lookbothwayspod.bsky.social
Not an area of NHTSA's regulation I've looked at, but it'd be super interesting to get the Microlino and Citroen Ami legalized as an unintentional part of tariff deals
Not an area of NHTSA's regulation I've looked at, but it'd be super interesting to get the Microlino and Citroen Ami legalized as an unintentional part of tariff deals
"The average American now drives nearly 5% less than they did in 2004."
"From 2017 to 2022, average daily trips among young adults fell nearly 50%, and their personal travel mileage dropped by 41%."
Linear traffic growth patterns do not seem to be coming back, and investments should reflect that
"From 2017 to 2022, average daily trips among young adults fell nearly 50%, and their personal travel mileage dropped by 41%."
Linear traffic growth patterns do not seem to be coming back, and investments should reflect that
September 16, 2025 at 7:59 PM
"The average American now drives nearly 5% less than they did in 2004."
"From 2017 to 2022, average daily trips among young adults fell nearly 50%, and their personal travel mileage dropped by 41%."
Linear traffic growth patterns do not seem to be coming back, and investments should reflect that
"From 2017 to 2022, average daily trips among young adults fell nearly 50%, and their personal travel mileage dropped by 41%."
Linear traffic growth patterns do not seem to be coming back, and investments should reflect that
Finalists for AASHTO's America's Transportation Awards are available. Voting through November 17th aashtojournal.transportation.org/top-12-named...
Some interesting looking projects, including from Kansas and Kentucky
Delaware has a street widening with a side path @bikede.bsky.social
Some interesting looking projects, including from Kansas and Kentucky
Delaware has a street widening with a side path @bikede.bsky.social
September 15, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Finalists for AASHTO's America's Transportation Awards are available. Voting through November 17th aashtojournal.transportation.org/top-12-named...
Some interesting looking projects, including from Kansas and Kentucky
Delaware has a street widening with a side path @bikede.bsky.social
Some interesting looking projects, including from Kansas and Kentucky
Delaware has a street widening with a side path @bikede.bsky.social
Removing murals is a political choice, not backed by safety data or by changes in standards
Murals are not traffic control devices and cannot be “non-uniform traffic control devices" if they comply with regulations about not being traffic control devices mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/11th_Ed...
Murals are not traffic control devices and cannot be “non-uniform traffic control devices" if they comply with regulations about not being traffic control devices mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/11th_Ed...
September 15, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Removing murals is a political choice, not backed by safety data or by changes in standards
Murals are not traffic control devices and cannot be “non-uniform traffic control devices" if they comply with regulations about not being traffic control devices mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/11th_Ed...
Murals are not traffic control devices and cannot be “non-uniform traffic control devices" if they comply with regulations about not being traffic control devices mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/11th_Ed...
Alexandria is #2 by percentage of workers
Ugly Excel screenshot, but it was the easiest way to clip that data
Ugly Excel screenshot, but it was the easiest way to clip that data
September 12, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Alexandria is #2 by percentage of workers
Ugly Excel screenshot, but it was the easiest way to clip that data
Ugly Excel screenshot, but it was the easiest way to clip that data
I would also love to see those graphs
Unfortunately, the only federal data we get on an annual basis about how much bicycling is occurring is the "commute to work" data
It's based on one question, and it doesn't capture multimodal commutes or hybrid commuters www.census.gov/library/publ...
Unfortunately, the only federal data we get on an annual basis about how much bicycling is occurring is the "commute to work" data
It's based on one question, and it doesn't capture multimodal commutes or hybrid commuters www.census.gov/library/publ...
September 12, 2025 at 9:20 PM
I would also love to see those graphs
Unfortunately, the only federal data we get on an annual basis about how much bicycling is occurring is the "commute to work" data
It's based on one question, and it doesn't capture multimodal commutes or hybrid commuters www.census.gov/library/publ...
Unfortunately, the only federal data we get on an annual basis about how much bicycling is occurring is the "commute to work" data
It's based on one question, and it doesn't capture multimodal commutes or hybrid commuters www.census.gov/library/publ...
2024 American Community Survey data is out
Congratulations to New York City on another year of strong growth for bike commuting - topping 70,000 people who primarily use a bicycle to get to work in 2024 data.bikeleague.org/data/cities-...
(Chicago and Boston also have new all-time highs)
Congratulations to New York City on another year of strong growth for bike commuting - topping 70,000 people who primarily use a bicycle to get to work in 2024 data.bikeleague.org/data/cities-...
(Chicago and Boston also have new all-time highs)
September 12, 2025 at 8:11 PM
2024 American Community Survey data is out
Congratulations to New York City on another year of strong growth for bike commuting - topping 70,000 people who primarily use a bicycle to get to work in 2024 data.bikeleague.org/data/cities-...
(Chicago and Boston also have new all-time highs)
Congratulations to New York City on another year of strong growth for bike commuting - topping 70,000 people who primarily use a bicycle to get to work in 2024 data.bikeleague.org/data/cities-...
(Chicago and Boston also have new all-time highs)
I think that connected infrastructure and vehicles has a role to play in reducing traffic deaths, but this imagery is kind of grim
Something very American about connecting every person, vehicle, and traffic control device rather than designing safer, smaller, streets www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgtG...
Something very American about connecting every person, vehicle, and traffic control device rather than designing safer, smaller, streets www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgtG...
September 11, 2025 at 7:47 PM
I think that connected infrastructure and vehicles has a role to play in reducing traffic deaths, but this imagery is kind of grim
Something very American about connecting every person, vehicle, and traffic control device rather than designing safer, smaller, streets www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgtG...
Something very American about connecting every person, vehicle, and traffic control device rather than designing safer, smaller, streets www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgtG...
Yet more data showing that separated bike lanes benefit everyone
Separated bike lanes makes streets safer for everyone
Separated bike lanes makes streets safer for everyone
September 11, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Yet more data showing that separated bike lanes benefit everyone
Separated bike lanes makes streets safer for everyone
Separated bike lanes makes streets safer for everyone