Show #679 December 4, 2025

Guests: David Shellnut; Bill Nesper

Every time I think our issues with cars vs cyclists are getting so much worse, which of course they are, I come across something that is even more dreadful!

Seems that Canada – a place where I would have thought cyclists would be not only safer but encouraged – is definitely not that!

In my conversation with David Shellnutt, The Biking Lawyer, I learn that there is not only open hostility to cyclists, but the police seem to be complicit in making cyclists “pay” for infractions while drivers’ who have been issued tickets find themselves with no consequences whatsoever. 

Besides his busy law practice helping cyclists in a multitude of ways, David shows up to speak at club meetings, litigates anti-racism in the courts, sides with survivors of sexual violence and assault, and helps to feed the needy.

Our conversation runs the gamut from what The Biking Lawyer does to the legislation that is coming up in early 2026.

 You can find and follow him @ The Biking Lawyer on social media as well as read his blog on thebikinglawyer,ca.

And, he did indeed meet up with our Oshawa Bike Club Friends that Saturday.  

 

 

In the second half of the show, we feature the first of our holiday giving segments with Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. 

The LAB does some great things – from offering a multitude of helpful options to get involved on a local or national level to helping make our communities more bicycle friendly, which in turn makes them safer.  The LAB also hosts the National Bike Summit where, as a delegate of your community, you have the opportunity to make your case for legislation directly with the officials who can make those votes happen.

With the end of the year upon us, I like to highlight non-profits that benefit the cycling community or organizations with bicycle charity as a focus – be it local, national, or worldwide. 

Today is the first of those segments.  I’m highlighting the 145-year-old organization that originally lobbied for paved roads – only in those days, it wasn’t for cars but rather for bicycles.

Now in 2025, the League of American Bicyclists is still doing the hard work of keeping bicycles and bicyclists in the forefront of the transportation department and in 2026 the 5-year transportation bill will again be up for re-authorization.

A few years ago, I had the privilege of spending a few days in Washington with the LAB’s National Bike Summit.  From the many breakout sessions to the Day on the Hill, the Summit is a well-oiled machine and something that makes you feel as if your participation really does matter.

Go to BikeLeague.org to take action, sign up for the e-newsletter, check out the map of bicycle friendly communities, universities, and businesses, and so much more.  And if you are not a member, perhaps you’d like to join.  Or, maybe make a donation to help keep the League’s work going. It’s a worthy cause.

One other item before I sign off today.

The National Bicycle Dealer’s Association is looking for 2,000 cyclists to take a consumer survey.  It’s anonymous, fairly comprehensive, and is meant to help bike shops learn what you want and need from them .  Here is the link to the survey.

Transcript_December 4

Show #606 – July 20, 2022

Guests: Bill Nesper; Dan Cavallari

Today, the question is – What is possible by bike?

With a new infrastructure bill, money in the coffers to build protected bike lanes and connect them, and more people riding eBikes, a whole lot more than we’ve ever experienced is possible.

My first conversation is with Bill Nesper, the executive director of the League of American Bicyclists.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, the League is our action committee on the ground to whisper in the ears of Congress about getting bicycle deals done. Bill and I talk about an urgent action alert to stop the defunding of the DOT – wait, what? Who would want to defund a program that is already appropriated?  My guess is you can guess who.

Then, don’t forget to go to bikeleague.org and sign-up for the League’s e-newsletter to get your action alerts and other Bike League news and information.  And, join the Drive Less_Bike More Challenge!

In the second half of the show, I want to introduce you to Dan Cavallari, the Slow Guy on the Fast Ride.

Dan was tech editor for Velo News for 6 years and now out on his own, he’s writing, riding, podcasting, playing guitar, and sipping good whiskey – he’s got a lot of cool things going.

For this year’s Tour de France, Dan Cavallari thought he’d try something different from what he’d done in the past.

Usually traveling with the rest of the journalists, Dan flew himself AND his trusty Merlin Road bike over to Copenhagen to “follow the tour” for a few stages.

He quickly figured out that, a. you don’t need a fancy road bike in Copenhagen, and he got most of the work he wanted to do done in the first five days.  Then, he flew back to the States to follow the Tour from home.

I caught up with him on Day 11 of the race and, if you have been watching, you know THAT was the day… the very day of the most exciting stage in YEARS!  (If you haven’t been watching, Dan says you need to at least see Stage 11.)