Sam Stepped into Some Controversy

Plus, the Napa Valley Wine Trail and Stats for the Nerds

Author

Sam Westby
October 30, 2025

Welcome to the Bike Bulletin, where you can find a year’s worth of adventures in a 5-minute read.

—Sam Westby @samcwestby

This is a weekly newsletter about bike trips, urban cycling, and a love for two-wheeled transit. The more time you spend on a bike, the better. I share new editions every Thursday, gearing you up for the ride ahead.

Here’s what we have today.

  • 🌍 RIDE: Napa Valley Vine Trail

  • ❓ MUSINGS: (Accidentally) Stepping into Some Controversy

  • 🎥 WATCH: Oregon’s Monte Cristo Loop

  • 🚲 ARCHIVES: Los Angeles’s Forgotten Bike Highway

  • 📰 NEWS: New bike paths and extended walk signals

ROUTE ON MY RADAR

Napa Valley Vine Trail

If you’re doing some wine tourism, you have the opportunity to squeeze in a ride while you squeeze those grapes.

Here’s what you’d be getting yourself into.

  • A 47 mile (76 kilometer) paved multi-use trail from Vallego to Calistoga, California

  • Ride through vineyards, rolling hills, and wine-country vistas

  • Many wineries are located near or directly off the trail (and have bike racks)

  • It’s not perfectly continuous, but it’s almost there

  • Official website - https://www.vinetrail.org/

SOME MUSINGS

(Accidentally) Stepping into Some Controversy

In the Bike Bulletin a few weeks ago, I wrote about what to do if you’re hit by a car. This was inspired by a recent accident that I was in. Things turned out okay. I was hardly injured, and the driver’s insurance recently covered my damage.

I waited until the insurance settled to post a video about the accident. I caught the whole thing on camera, so you can watch the crash if you’re curious. As of writing this, it’s at 2.9 million views on Instagram and 2.2 million views on TikTok.

Things like this bring controversy into my otherwise peaceful life. The comment sections are split 50/50 between the drivers and cyclists. How do I deal with this? How should cyclists deal with hate?

First, giving hate back will never get more people on bikes. I don’t like reading negative comments, but attacking those people won’t get me anywhere. Even reasoning with those people won’t get me anywhere.

Instead, I need to constantly re-ground myself with what is true. I like bikes. I want more people to bike. I did nothing wrong. When I keep myself grounded, random internet strangers have less power over me. The path forward is to keep doing what I’m doing.

  • Keep having fun on my bike

  • Share content

Any fighter has to learn to take a punch. Cyclists happen to have people who are excited to punch us. I’ll take as many punches for you as I can. It’s about patience and staying grounded. They’ll get tired eventually. Don’t they know we’re endurance athletes?

WHAT I’M WATCHING

The Monte Cristo Loop

Chris and his friend Rob take on a 115 mile bikepacking loop in the mountains of Oregon. I found the 21-minute video to be a calm watch, offering a glimpse into the lives of two friends having fun.

Watch on YouTube

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Los Angeles’s Forgotten Bike Highway

In 1900, Los Angeles had a bike highway — and the US was a world leader in bike lanes

Vox is a general interest news site for the 21st century. Its mission: to help everyone understand our complicated world, so that we can all help shape it. In text, video and audio, our reporters explain politics, policy, world affairs, technology, culture, science, the climate crisis, money, health and everything else that matters. Our goal is to ensure that everyone, regardless of income or status, can access accurate information that empowers them.

www.vox.com/2015/6/30/8861327/bike-lanes-history

In the 1890s, the U.S. saw a bike “boom”. Many early bike paths were built during this era. For example, the California Cycleway was a 1.3 mile tolled “bike highway” that opened in 1900. Other U.S. cities passed ordinances requiring “sidepaths” for bicycles. This article argues that the U.S. was once a leader in building bike infrastructure until the car stole the spotlight.

  • 45 seconds. The extended walk sign option at 3 Portland, Oregon intersections. This makes crossings safer for children’s bike buses in the morning. (Bike Portland)

  • A new bill. The Philadelphia City Council passed a bill last week to move forward with a contested bike lane project on Spruce and Pine streets. (CBS)

  • 1.5 miles. The length of a new bike path in Seattle, Washington. It connects downtown to the south end. (My Northwest)

  • 1 mile. The length of a new path in Louisville, Kentucky, connecting two parks. (WDRB)

  • 51 kilometers. The length of new cycle routes announced by Transport for London. (Citti Magazine)

A Note From Sam

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