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John Forester's cult of Vehicular Cycling. Cycling in the US has been crippled for decades by a delusional group of ideologues who believe bicycles belong in the middle of regular motor vehicle lanes, even on 50mph state highways, and who will actively seek to prevent dedicated bicycle facilities from being built if it means people will ride in ways they disapprove of.

Cyclists have been doing this for years in Australia. Highways are some of the best roads to cycle on.

The problem with cycling infrastructure is it will only ever cover a small percentage of the roads. And often this bicycling infrastructure includes shared cycle/pedestrian paths which are stupid. Most of the time you are forced back to the road anyway.

John Forester's cult of Vehicular Cycling. Cycling in the US has been crippled for decades by a delusional group of ideologues who believe bicycles belong in the middle of regular motor vehicle lanes, even on 50mph state highways, and who will actively seek to prevent dedicated bicycle facilities from being built if it means people will ride in ways they disapprove of.

I doubt if they've been influential enough to cripple cycling. They seem to be confined to online ranting in their own little echo chamber. Thankfully.

John Forester's cult of Vehicular Cycling. Cycling in the US has been crippled for decades by a delusional group of ideologues who believe bicycles belong in the middle of regular motor vehicle lanes, even on 50mph state highways, and who will actively seek to prevent dedicated bicycle facilities from being built if it means people will ride in ways they disapprove of.

The fact that the large majority of drivers are reasonable and prudent is proved by the accident rate of cars on the road and how low it usually it.

Compared to what? Exactly how many crashes would make the crash rate no longer be low, and how would you objectively determine this number? The answer to this question is important in determining whether the rate if crashes is truly "low."

The 85th percentile rule is grounded in science.

From 1964, to be exact, before airbags and crumple zones reduced the need to avoid crashes.

Studies have consistently shown that the safest drivers are around the 85th percentile by speed...

Myth busted.

And did you know that 88% of U.S. drivers think they are the safest 50% of all drivers? I don't think we should let them determine the speed limits.

It's no problem for people in Copenhagen. Minneapolis also has a pretty big modal share for bikes, in American terms. The infrastructure and vehicles are cheap to build, take up little space, are far less deadly, and cause no air or noise pollution. I'd love to see bike infrastructure built up everywhere.

http://www.copenhagenize.com/2010/11/copenhagen-cycling-in-snow.html

You ought to be able to comfortably flat foot both legs at any given stop.

That's not what I've been told. When the pedal is at the lowest point, the knee should be slightly bent. That means when you're stopped you can balance on your toes, but not put a foot flat.

http://www.downtube.com/Bicycle_Fitting/Saddle_Height_Adjustment/ has decent pictures.

Copenhageners presumably know what they're doing: http://www.copenhagenize.com/2010/01/holding-on-to-cyclists-in-copenhagen.html

Most (near)accidents i have been in are bike-bike collisions because we ride them like mad men over here. As a matter of fact i'd suggest helmets for pedestrians over bicyclists.

The Australians solved it even better and recommended Car helments. Didn't take off...

Perhaps this is what Jane Q. Public was thinking of.

You/they are assuming everyone keeps on cycling. In Australia, loads of people simply stopped cycling when the helmet laws were introduced.

You need to add in the cost of the resulting extra roads/rails (whatever), road accidents etc.

Incidentally, Isreal is considering removing the helmet law in cities.