Three-feet buffer zone for California cyclists; gas consumption in Washington lowest since 1960s; Brazilian bike schools turn kids into future urban cyclists; and more

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* The California State Assembly approved Senate Bill 1464 on Monday, which would require motor vehicle drivers to stay three feet from cyclists in most cases. Drivers would be allowed to cross double solid yellow lines to provide bicyclists enough room. The new legislation would allow fines of at least $35 for drivers who impinge on bicyclists' buffer zones.

* Brazilian bike schools turn kids into future urban cyclists. Sao Paulo, the largest city in the continent and Brazil's economic capital, recently launched the program 'Cycling Schools,' which intends to turn kids into urban cyclists. Schools received 100 bamboo bicycles to be used in one-month courses to teach children all aspects of cycling culture, and also to implement games and activities within the school. Children learn about transit, sustainable transportation, bicycle types, basic mechanics, history of the bicycle, environmental education and even conflict mediation.In a second phase, the kids begin to ride to and from school every day, in a convoy of 15 to 25 students with supervisors escorting them.

*An injured Vancouver cyclist says he is moving ahead with legal action against the District of North Vancouver over a bike lane. The cyclist suffered a head injury, chipped teeth and damage to his tongue after he was hit from behind on a road where the city had recently removed a pilot-project bike lane.

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* What Happens to Stolen Bicycles? San Fransisco-based Priceonomics takes a look at the economic incentive for bike thieves that underpins the pervasiveness of bike theft.

* A Sightline Institute report titled Shifting into Reverse states that gas consumption in Washington and Oregon has dropped to a level not seen since the 1960s. The report concludes that this decline is the result of people driving less in the Northwest--young people especially – rather than the results of a recession-related trend or fuel-efficiency movement.

* After the death of a man driving a gas-powered bicycle in Toronto, police and citizens are raising questions about the legality and the lack of regulation surrounding such vehicles

* Demobilizing ‘War on Cars’. In a Planetizen article, Herb Caudill explains why the need to plan for a range of transportation modes and uses of space in urban environs is common sense - not part of a concerted assault on cars.

* While safe roads matter to everyone on a bike but professional cyclists spend more time on them than almost anyone. It's how they make a living. And like anyone else, they are vulnerable on the open road. In this video from People for Bikes, five professional U.S. cyclists reflect on their experiences with bicycle safety.

* City launches safety campaign, urges Seattleites to “Be Super Safe”. On Wednesday, Aug. 29, the Mayor’s Office and Seattle Department of Transportation launched their 2012 Road Safety Action Plan and a new superhero-themed road safety campaign. Titled “Be Super Safe”, the goal of the action plan and safety campaign is to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on Seattle’s streets.

* Burke-Gilman Trail Missing Link designs get sent back again. On Tuesday, Aug. 27, the City of Seattle Hearing Examiner disappointingly ruled in favor of the Ballard Business Appellants by sending the updated design for the Missing Link stretch of the Burke-Gilman Trail back to the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) for a full Environmental Impact Statement.

*Aerofex has redesigned hover vehicle technology so that it responds to a pilot's natural sense of balance without the need for flight control software. The result: a hover bike.