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
"We've already got driverless trucks...That technology is gonna explode. We have to anticipate where that technology is taking us and put together a bill that addresses it."
A technology that has exploded with limited federal support is shared micromobility - imagine if we supported it
A technology that has exploded with limited federal support is shared micromobility - imagine if we supported it
November 24, 2025 at 8:57 PM
"We've already got driverless trucks...That technology is gonna explode. We have to anticipate where that technology is taking us and put together a bill that addresses it."
A technology that has exploded with limited federal support is shared micromobility - imagine if we supported it
A technology that has exploded with limited federal support is shared micromobility - imagine if we supported it
I don't think state moped laws have been updated for electric power, but this paper looked at moped regs recently nap.nationalacademies.org/read/27837/c...
As a bicyclist, with a class 1 e-bike, I worry that this type of e-moto will result in e-bike bans despite the difference
As a bicyclist, with a class 1 e-bike, I worry that this type of e-moto will result in e-bike bans despite the difference
November 21, 2025 at 7:07 PM
I don't think state moped laws have been updated for electric power, but this paper looked at moped regs recently nap.nationalacademies.org/read/27837/c...
As a bicyclist, with a class 1 e-bike, I worry that this type of e-moto will result in e-bike bans despite the difference
As a bicyclist, with a class 1 e-bike, I worry that this type of e-moto will result in e-bike bans despite the difference
Yeah, I don't see anything on their website about legal issues related to this type of vehicle anticbikes.com/pages/faq
It's too fast to be an e-bike
They might sell them as an "off-road vehicle" like the Segway Xyber, but most of their marketing shows on-street use
It's too fast to be an e-bike
They might sell them as an "off-road vehicle" like the Segway Xyber, but most of their marketing shows on-street use
November 21, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Yeah, I don't see anything on their website about legal issues related to this type of vehicle anticbikes.com/pages/faq
It's too fast to be an e-bike
They might sell them as an "off-road vehicle" like the Segway Xyber, but most of their marketing shows on-street use
It's too fast to be an e-bike
They might sell them as an "off-road vehicle" like the Segway Xyber, but most of their marketing shows on-street use
While the USDOT has done nothing, EuroNCAP has done three iterations of testing
Global automakers have to do EuroNCAP testing as well
Tesla excels at it www.autoevolution.com/news/refresh...
Embarrassing that USDOT can't do testing that is commonplace in peer countries and saves lives
Global automakers have to do EuroNCAP testing as well
Tesla excels at it www.autoevolution.com/news/refresh...
Embarrassing that USDOT can't do testing that is commonplace in peer countries and saves lives
November 20, 2025 at 7:19 PM
While the USDOT has done nothing, EuroNCAP has done three iterations of testing
Global automakers have to do EuroNCAP testing as well
Tesla excels at it www.autoevolution.com/news/refresh...
Embarrassing that USDOT can't do testing that is commonplace in peer countries and saves lives
Global automakers have to do EuroNCAP testing as well
Tesla excels at it www.autoevolution.com/news/refresh...
Embarrassing that USDOT can't do testing that is commonplace in peer countries and saves lives
The existence of the movie "The Bike Riders" tells me that we'll never get the language exactly right, but bicycles and motorcycles rarely get confused and I doubt that parents accidentally buy their teenager a motorcycle when they want to buy a bicycle (which does happen with e-bikes and e-motos)
November 20, 2025 at 3:53 PM
The existence of the movie "The Bike Riders" tells me that we'll never get the language exactly right, but bicycles and motorcycles rarely get confused and I doubt that parents accidentally buy their teenager a motorcycle when they want to buy a bicycle (which does happen with e-bikes and e-motos)
"The energy involved in a car traveling at 42 mph (68 kph) is equivalent to the energy dissipated if the same car were to fall from a height of 59 feet (a six-story building) and hit the ground... Based on research, most humans would not survive the fall if they absorbed 100 percent of the energy."
November 19, 2025 at 6:42 PM
"The energy involved in a car traveling at 42 mph (68 kph) is equivalent to the energy dissipated if the same car were to fall from a height of 59 feet (a six-story building) and hit the ground... Based on research, most humans would not survive the fall if they absorbed 100 percent of the energy."
Great story about making change at the local level
Also, a great reminder that we have unsafe streets and bad biking and walking infrastructure due to conscious choices in the past, like the 1-2 punch of Omaha converting to "faster" one-way streets and removing its streetcar network in 1954-55
Also, a great reminder that we have unsafe streets and bad biking and walking infrastructure due to conscious choices in the past, like the 1-2 punch of Omaha converting to "faster" one-way streets and removing its streetcar network in 1954-55
November 19, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Great story about making change at the local level
Also, a great reminder that we have unsafe streets and bad biking and walking infrastructure due to conscious choices in the past, like the 1-2 punch of Omaha converting to "faster" one-way streets and removing its streetcar network in 1954-55
Also, a great reminder that we have unsafe streets and bad biking and walking infrastructure due to conscious choices in the past, like the 1-2 punch of Omaha converting to "faster" one-way streets and removing its streetcar network in 1954-55
It feels almost like by default every VDOT project is going to have a weird intersection
I was in Richmond last weekend and walked across this monstrosity of a "normal" intersection, so maybe one signal is preferable to waiting for three because they couldn't bother with a crossing on each leg
I was in Richmond last weekend and walked across this monstrosity of a "normal" intersection, so maybe one signal is preferable to waiting for three because they couldn't bother with a crossing on each leg
November 19, 2025 at 5:36 PM
It feels almost like by default every VDOT project is going to have a weird intersection
I was in Richmond last weekend and walked across this monstrosity of a "normal" intersection, so maybe one signal is preferable to waiting for three because they couldn't bother with a crossing on each leg
I was in Richmond last weekend and walked across this monstrosity of a "normal" intersection, so maybe one signal is preferable to waiting for three because they couldn't bother with a crossing on each leg
People walking don't get their own phase, but also don't have a conflicting turning movement
Movements should look something like this while crossing the street
Movements should look something like this while crossing the street
November 19, 2025 at 5:19 PM
People walking don't get their own phase, but also don't have a conflicting turning movement
Movements should look something like this while crossing the street
Movements should look something like this while crossing the street
Is anyone else seeing this type pedestrian crossing showing up?
The Virginia DOT seems to love them as part of prioritizing traffic flow on arterial streets because they technically don't have a conflicting pedestrian phase (people cross while left turns happen on either side of them)
The Virginia DOT seems to love them as part of prioritizing traffic flow on arterial streets because they technically don't have a conflicting pedestrian phase (people cross while left turns happen on either side of them)
November 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Is anyone else seeing this type pedestrian crossing showing up?
The Virginia DOT seems to love them as part of prioritizing traffic flow on arterial streets because they technically don't have a conflicting pedestrian phase (people cross while left turns happen on either side of them)
The Virginia DOT seems to love them as part of prioritizing traffic flow on arterial streets because they technically don't have a conflicting pedestrian phase (people cross while left turns happen on either side of them)
"automakers are getting better at passing the standards, and they're doing a great job of testing to those standards ... [but] you go outside of those standards, and the performance is less effective"
While tech improved, this type of private testing is no substitute for NHTSA doing its job
While tech improved, this type of private testing is no substitute for NHTSA doing its job
November 19, 2025 at 4:46 PM
"automakers are getting better at passing the standards, and they're doing a great job of testing to those standards ... [but] you go outside of those standards, and the performance is less effective"
While tech improved, this type of private testing is no substitute for NHTSA doing its job
While tech improved, this type of private testing is no substitute for NHTSA doing its job
Telling to see an unsignalized slip lane featured - but not noticed or remarked upon - in this story about TXDOT's pedestrian safety efforts
It's been 25 years since the last day without a traffic death in Texas #EndTheStreakTX www.kiiitv.com/video/news/l...
It's been 25 years since the last day without a traffic death in Texas #EndTheStreakTX www.kiiitv.com/video/news/l...
November 18, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Telling to see an unsignalized slip lane featured - but not noticed or remarked upon - in this story about TXDOT's pedestrian safety efforts
It's been 25 years since the last day without a traffic death in Texas #EndTheStreakTX www.kiiitv.com/video/news/l...
It's been 25 years since the last day without a traffic death in Texas #EndTheStreakTX www.kiiitv.com/video/news/l...
"most popular media articles will utilize passive
voice to implicitly shift blame away from motor vehicles in collisions with e-scooters" escholarship.org/uc/item/1r32...
voice to implicitly shift blame away from motor vehicles in collisions with e-scooters" escholarship.org/uc/item/1r32...
November 18, 2025 at 2:24 PM
"most popular media articles will utilize passive
voice to implicitly shift blame away from motor vehicles in collisions with e-scooters" escholarship.org/uc/item/1r32...
voice to implicitly shift blame away from motor vehicles in collisions with e-scooters" escholarship.org/uc/item/1r32...
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