Politics can be a depressing subject these days, but there are occasional good news, too. Here's one: Washington State just passed a new law that allows cyclists to roll through stop signs if no other traffic is present. The same law also allows cyclists to proceed through a red light...
As the days get shorter, many cyclists are thinking about lights. How do you measure the quality of a headlight? It's tempting to look at how many lumens the light puts out. After all, brighter is better, isn't it? On the road, what matters is not lumens, but lux. What is...
What does the photo above show? It reminds me of the traps used to ensnare animals, used by trappers who hunt animals for their fur. As the animal passes, its leg gets caught in the snare... So why are these snares appearing all over Seattle's bike lanes? Is it a nefarious...
Running Red Lights Few things raise the ire of motorists (and some cyclists) more than cyclists running red lights. Yet anybody who has ridden in major cities has seen riders proceeding through red lights. Why do they do this? Cyclists operate on streets that are designed for cars. The current traffic infrastructure...
Whether you are going to ride a brevet with an eye on qualifying for Paris-Brest-Paris, whether you plan to ride a century or race, or whether you just want to enjoy exploring this season, having your bike in good condition is the best way to guarantee success. If you are...
Testing bicycles may sound like a dream job – you get to ride all kinds of bicycles without having to pay for them – but it comes with risks. We ride the bikes hard, although we don't abuse them. We are smooth riders, so we don't stress components unduly. Even...
In the U.S., most "responsible" cyclists wear helmets, yet when I cycle in Europe or Japan, I see many cyclotourists who ride without helmets. The Europeans or Japanese don't seem like dare-devils or poorly informed. What is going on here? I've thought about this a lot, and I've concluded that...
Looking at the photo above from our Flèche last year, it's easy to think: "Two of these riders are much safer than the other two." The reflective vests really stand out in the flash of the camera. Being hit from behind is one of the primal fears of cyclists. It's the...
On a ride around Lake Washington, I began to notice the signs. They occurred mostly at construction sites, and re-directed bikes where the bike lane was closed. It's nice that they now put up signs, where in the past they simply roped off the bike lane or parked a big...
I am a careful rider, who looks ahead and tries to foresee possible danger spots in order to avoid them. After decades of riding in traffic, I feel competent and confident. I was surprised that cycling advocates characterize riders like me, who are comfortable of riding on most roads, as...
"Half of Copenhagen residents use bicycles to get to work or school. Not because these individuals are eco-friendly, young or sporty - but because bicycles are convenient and the fastest way to get around in the city." I was thinking about this statement from a mayor of Copenhagen as I rode...
Whether you ride fast or slow, being able to stop quickly is an important skill. Your ability to stop also depends on how well your brakes perform. In Bicycle Quarterly 37, we tested brake performance to determine: How do you brake most effectively? Do brakes with different stopping power affect braking distances? Do...
In the discussion about separate or "protected" cycle tracks, it has been surprising that planners and decision makers don't seem to want input from those who actually ride bikes. In some cases, there is open disdain for those who have been cycling in North America for many years. Now that cycling...
I'll say it up front: I want to see more people ride bikes for transportation. However, I am also concerned when perceived safety turns out to be anything but... which is exactly what happens with the "protected" bike lanes that separate bikes from cars. To illustrate my concern, let me talk...
I recently visited relatives in Berlin, Germany. One morning, I borrowed an old mountain bike and rode around town. I love Berlin, especially the neighborhoods away from the tourist bustle. It's so down-to-earth and accessible. Berlin mixes businesses and residential spaces even more than most German towns, so you're never far...
I am always surprised how many cyclists are afraid of cars and their drivers, or have downright animosity to them. I prefer to see drivers as partners in a big game called Traffic. It starts with the wording: "Share the Road" implies sacrifice. I prefer to think of other road users...
In a previous post, I pointed out that the popular "protected" bike lanes in fact are less safe than cycling on the street: The protection ends where cyclists need it most – at intersections. Here I propose an alternative model for getting more people to cycle without increasing the accident...
When I criticized the new "cycle path" in Seattle – the first of many that the city plans to install – I was surprised by the number of comments (more than 260), but even more about how much agreement there is between the proponents and opponents of separating cars and...
In recent years, there has been a worrisome trend in the U.S. to advocate for separate bike paths ("cycle tracks"), or at least some visual barrier between bike and car lanes. An organization called "Bikes Belong" advocates for "protected bike lanes." Recently in Seattle, guerilla cyclists installed pylons to separate...
Many cyclists wonder whether it is safer to ride to the very right of the road – out of the way of cars – or whether they should "take the lane" and ride in the middle of the lane as if they were a car. The answer is: "It depends...
May is "Bike to Work" month. With winter weather behind for most of us, it's a great time to use your bicycle more often for transportation, and not just for recreation. Cycling for transportation for most of us means that we often ride in the city. Safety is a major...
Today's papers report of a new government safety initiative: Cars talking to each other, for example, to warn the driver that cars ahead are stopped at a red light, or that another car is about to ignore a stop sign and blow through the intersection. A pilot project in Ann...
It is unfortunate that most "road" and even "hybrid" bikes are sold with tires so narrow that you cannot cross streetcar tracks at an oblique angle without risking a fall. The Seattle Times reported recently about a rail line that crosses a city street not far from my house. "A bicyclist...
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