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The Truth Behind My Viral Bike Crash
Plus, start planning your summer bike tour, a Washington bike route, and stats for the nerds
Sam Westby
February 27, 2026
Welcome to the Bike Bulletin. We’re like finding a group ride in a new city. Don't worry about anything. We’ll take care of the route, give you a draft, and maybe even throw in a cafe stop.
This newsletter is about a love for two-wheeled transit. From riding around town to riding across the country, the more time you spend on a bike, the better. You can look forward to a new edition every week.
Here’s what we have today.
🌍 RIDE: The Olympic Discovery Trail
💡 TIP: Start Planning Your Summer Bike Tour
🎥 WATCH: The Truth About My Viral Crash
📰 NEWS: New e-bike regulation, trail funding, and a statewide bike map
Written by Sam Westby, @samcwestby
ROUTE ON MY RADAR
The Olympic Discovery Trail
Here’s what you’d be getting yourself into.
Point-to-point route across Washington’s Olympic Peninsula from Port Townsend to La Push.
127 miles (204 kilometers) with 6100 feet (1859 meters) of elevation gain
Mix of separated multi-use path (paved and gravel) and on-road connectors
Western-most segment of the Great American Rail Trail
The route: ridewithgps.com
Official olympicdiscoverytrail.org
BIKE TRIP TIP
Start Planning Your Summer Bike Tour
Hey, it's almost March. You should start thinking about your summer bike trip.
Here’s a list of things you’ll need to figure out.
Route
Timing
Budget
Logistics and transportation for the start/end
Where are you sleeping? Camping/motels/friends
Bike and gear
How to repair common issues
Training (get that butt ready)
Navigation
If that seems like a lot, just start by dreaming about a route. Where do you want to go? That will help everything else fall into place.
You can find info about everything else in my video about How To Bike Across the U.S.
For paved routes in the United States, check out the Adventure Cycling Association. For off-road routes, check out bikepacking.com
WHAT I’M WATCHING
Thousands of people online thought that I could have avoided my (now infamous) bike crash. “Why didn't you stop?” “Why didn't you turn?” In this video, I put those claims to the test. Was it actually my fault?
This was just posted today!
Watch on YouTube
A New California Bill Proposes License Plates for E-Bikes
Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahn proposed a new bill that would require license plates for Class 2 (throttle-assisted up to 20 mph) and Class 3 (pedal-assist up to 28 mph) e-bikes. The intention is to increase public safety and accountability.
This continues a saga of e-bike regulation in response to dangerous riding, often by riders on e-motos (anything that goes above 28 mph). Instead of cracking down on legal Class 2 and Class 3 e-bike riders, regulators may find better results by creating regulations for e-motos.
Source: electrek.co
57,000 Lime Bike Trips in One Day in Seattle
During a massive event like the Seahawk’s Superbowl Parade, driving as a form of transportation breaks down. Limited space and infrastructure can cause traffic backups and a lack of parking. On the other hand, biking, walking, and public transit have much higher capacities during surges. This event shows Lime Bikes’ resilience under a surge that was double their daily average.
Source: seattlebikeblog.com
Kansas DOT Releases a State-Wide Bike Infrastructure Map
I wish more states did this. As a bike tourist, deciding how to get across a state can put me on some sketchy roads. The KDOT mapped out bike routes, road types, and traffic levels. Catch me on those Low-Traffic Country Roads.
Source: KSN
Quick Hits
3 miles. The distance of the East Bay Greenway expansion in Oakland, California set to break ground later this year. (oaklandside.org)
Concrete. The Admiral Way bike lane in Seattle, WA, is getting an upgrade — concrete barriers separating it from the car lane. (westseattleblog.com)
$2M. The amount awarded to San Antonio, Texas, to build a 2-way bike path around Woodlawn Lake. (KSAT)
$3,000. The amount of grant money that Tampa, Florida, is giving to some residents for the purchase of an e-bike. (electrek.co)
Regulated. Fort Wayne, Indiana, added definitions for Class 1, 2, and 3 e-Bikes into their ordinances. (WANE)
Blocked. A New York State Supreme Court judge temporarily blocked New York City from lowering the Central Park bike speed limit from 20 mph to 15 mph. (Streetsblog)
A Note From Sam
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