Comments on: it would be a lot cheaper to get along http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2008/05/16/it-would-be-a-lot-cheaper-to-get-along/ miscellaneous nerdery Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:39:17 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Brian Lacy http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2008/05/16/it-would-be-a-lot-cheaper-to-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-3178 Brian Lacy Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:04:15 +0000 http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2008/05/16/it-would-be-a-lot-cheaper-to-get-along/#comment-3178 As a cycling coach, helping 1,000’s of novices become lifelong cyclists, the factors that help people ride are: 1. Gaining handling, aggressive driver and awareness skills. Showing assertiveness/expert handing, not reacting with anger, staying alert are very effective. Outwardly firm/friendly, inwardly noting license plate/witnesses/details about the violator. Get out your phone as soon as it’s safe to do so, or get one from a witness. 2. Riding with others. Alone many of us feel too exposed to the real and imagined risks. Cars are typically nicer to even small groups 3. Dismantle all hurdles step by step. My program is built in 4 stages: a. Motivation/Cycling-mindset (feeling part of the solution, learning to enjoy and be great at spotting/avoiding hazards), b. Trip Planning (clothing, lights, parking, route, time management, etc), c. Bike Handling (detailed rodeo from start stop, feather/emergency braking, crossing slippery surfaces/RR tracks, emergency turns, looking back while riding straight etc ), d. Repair essentials - as indicated by the student’s riding goals. Final point. The rate of car trips continues to outpace the increase number of bike trips. Facilities are great. Real-world, no-jargon, empowering education is an urgent missing link, as the more there are of us devoted to living all the benefits bikes give us, the wider the door opens for those just a bit less pioneering than ourselves. This goes double for kids, their families. As a cycling coach, helping 1,000’s of novices become lifelong cyclists, the factors that help people ride are:

1. Gaining handling, aggressive driver and awareness skills. Showing assertiveness/expert handing, not reacting with anger, staying alert are very effective. Outwardly firm/friendly, inwardly noting license plate/witnesses/details about the violator. Get out your phone as soon as it’s safe to do so, or get one from a witness.
2. Riding with others. Alone many of us feel too exposed to the real and imagined risks. Cars are typically nicer to even small groups
3. Dismantle all hurdles step by step. My program is built in 4 stages:
a. Motivation/Cycling-mindset (feeling part of the solution, learning to enjoy and be great at spotting/avoiding hazards),
b. Trip Planning (clothing, lights, parking, route, time management, etc),
c. Bike Handling (detailed rodeo from start stop, feather/emergency braking, crossing slippery surfaces/RR tracks, emergency turns, looking back while riding straight etc ),
d. Repair essentials – as indicated by the student’s riding goals.

Final point. The rate of car trips continues to outpace the increase number of bike trips. Facilities are great. Real-world, no-jargon, empowering education is an urgent missing link, as the more there are of us devoted to living all the benefits bikes give us, the wider the door opens for those just a bit less pioneering than ourselves. This goes double for kids, their families.

]]> By: Jim http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2008/05/16/it-would-be-a-lot-cheaper-to-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-2265 Jim Sat, 17 May 2008 01:56:14 +0000 http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2008/05/16/it-would-be-a-lot-cheaper-to-get-along/#comment-2265 Now that we're getting some summer weather, the neighborhood hot-rodders are back to using the street in front of the shop as a drag strip. Yep, gas is still too cheap. Now that we’re getting some summer weather, the neighborhood hot-rodders are back to using the street in front of the shop as a drag strip. Yep, gas is still too cheap.

]]> By: US EPA asks: Why are you or aren’t you biking to work? | Commute by Bike http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2008/05/16/it-would-be-a-lot-cheaper-to-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-2264 US EPA asks: Why are you or aren’t you biking to work? | Commute by Bike Fri, 16 May 2008 17:04:04 +0000 http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2008/05/16/it-would-be-a-lot-cheaper-to-get-along/#comment-2264 [...] Via the Midway Bike Blog, where wjc has his own good thoughts on cycling infrastructure and how cyclists actually are a help to motorists: we reduce congestion because we’re one less car when we bike and we reduce demand for gasoline making more available for them to burn, [...] [...] Via the Midway Bike Blog, where wjc has his own good thoughts on cycling infrastructure and how cyclists actually are a help to motorists: we reduce congestion because we’re one less car when we bike and we reduce demand for gasoline making more available for them to burn, [...]

]]> By: Tim http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2008/05/16/it-would-be-a-lot-cheaper-to-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-2263 Tim Fri, 16 May 2008 15:56:58 +0000 http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2008/05/16/it-would-be-a-lot-cheaper-to-get-along/#comment-2263 I agree with you. I feel the terror every single day. As I get older, I become more aware of my exposure. Every car door I pass, every car I hear behind me, every car turning, I'm wondering, will this be the one? Another impediment I've heard a lot about is the need to shower once you bike to work. I rarely do so, even though we have showers here at work. I've also always said that peak oil means getting used to the way people smell. If we have to bike and have less energy for showers, then people will start to smell like the biological organisms they are. I'm getting in on the ground floor of that one. Another impediment is that gas is too cheap, still. I agree with you. I feel the terror every single day. As I get older, I become more aware of my exposure. Every car door I pass, every car I hear behind me, every car turning, I’m wondering, will this be the one?

Another impediment I’ve heard a lot about is the need to shower once you bike to work. I rarely do so, even though we have showers here at work. I’ve also always said that peak oil means getting used to the way people smell. If we have to bike and have less energy for showers, then people will start to smell like the biological organisms they are. I’m getting in on the ground floor of that one.

Another impediment is that gas is too cheap, still.

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