Spotted
My Gallery
08/29/2008
Adventures NYC
June 14, 2008
Cycling in Traffic
Cycling in Traffic
Nearly 30 years ago, prominent bicycle advocate, cycling transportation engineer, and author John Forester wrote a book called Effective Cycling. In his book, Forester introduced the world to the Vehicular Cycling Principle, which has since
become the near defacto rule of law for cyclists worldwide and endorsed by the League of American Bicyclist. Forester’s book, now in its sixth edition and nearly 600 pages long, reasserts the virtues of vehicular cycling as the principle style of riding a bike in an urban environment. However, as author and professional bicycle messenger Robert Hurst is quick to point out in his book Art of Cycling, there is a fundamental flaw with Forester’s approach. Hurst challenges the very foundation of the vehicular cycling principle and suggests in his book that there is much more to riding a bike in traffic than simply following the rules.
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Good for all cyclists
Hurst has produced a book that is applicable to cyclists of all types, not just urban cyclists. As someone who commutes in a mixed urban/suburban environment, I found the insights and advice to be very practical. Hurst's writing style is casual but brilliant, very conversational but never lacking in substance. The book is well-designed and easy to browse or read at length -- I've done both. It places many aspects of cycling (helmets, bike paths, injuries, and road protocol) in a practical perspective, updating many classic analyses along the way. Highly recommended if you find that reading/learning about cycling is part of why you enjoy cycling.
Excellent book for any rider
Excellent book for any rider who rides to commute or just rides to live. Blends the learnings of "Effective Cycling :6th edition" and other inner city riding techniques. Provides a non-biased view of riding in the city and it's surrounds and urges all riders to take responsibity for their actions on the road.
I love riding my bike through the city
"I love riding my bike through the city-- Cities are fascinating when you experience them from a bicycle. To me riding a bike through a city is an adventure. I am amazed when others are amazed that I don't have a car and don't want one.
City bike riding is great--- and this is a great book for anyone who wants to learn wise ways to wisely negotiate urban streets and traffic. Hurst articulates the street sense that takes years of riding to acquire. I have been riding as a bike commuter in urban settings for the past 20 years-- this book is on target.
If you want to ride your bike more and depend on cars less, this is a good source to turn to for some sage advice. To really learn, of course, you need to ride your bike on your streets in your city.
If you decide to ride, read this book. If you are already a veteran of the urban biking wars, read this book-- I learned a lot. I feel even more relaxed riding now than I did before I read the book.
There are other books about cycling that are worth reading (such as Effective Cycling by John Forester but I think this one is the best of the bunch."
I agree that this book is of value to any rider, really
I loved everything about this book. It is smart, well written and researched, provocative and laugh-out-loud funny. I'm not sure I made any BIG changes in the way I ride, but having read the book, I now understand more clearly why I ride the way I do. Certainly there are moments when I am more decisive in my thinking vis-a-vis cars. And the added measure of moral rectitude to which I am now entitled might have changed my posture in the saddle a bit.