Advocacy & Safety - The role of attitude in traffic cycling

The Six Million Dollar Man is a vehicular runner.

I don't run... but I do recall being taught to do it facing traffic... so so much for "vehicular mode."

As for being the six million dollar man... heck if I could do 60 on my bicycle I wouldn't have the speed differential arguement... In fact, that is called a motorcycle.

If you will look at my last post on the "Sidewalk" thread, you will see that a person's attitude is what is really irrelevant. Behavior can be systematically recorded, analyzed, and revised. But a person's attitude cannot be analyzed. What we have here is a methodology of cycling (VC based upon "attitude") that cannot be scientifically-based, as it cannot be analyzed. Only the behaviors can be analyzed. Behaviors have consequences, as I discussed on that thread. Those consequences either promote safe behaviors, or serve to be a dis-incentive. Helmet Head, when he says VC needs to have the proper attitude, really means that they have to behave like vehicles, and if they (we) do, we will be safer. This behavior can be analyzed. But the attitude he discusses cannot.

John, you're missing my entire point. Perhaps you need to reread the opening post of this thread.
You say that "attitude is what is really irrelevant"? Irrelevant to what? To what can be recorded and analyzed? Sure, but so what?

We agree that behavior is what ultimately matters for all of the reasons you listed above. I believe behavior is particularly important because a cyclist cannot expect to be treated with respect by motorists, as a vehicle driver himself, unless he acts like a vehicle driver. And acting like a vehicle driver is of course within the realm of behavior.

But what makes a person act one way, instead of any other way? Is it not what he thinks and feels? Is it not his attitude? Consider traffic cycling, where you often have to make split-second decisions. No time to gather data and analyze, you have to act, now. But how, with no time to analyze, do you act like a vehicle driver? How do you hone your instincts such that you instantly know what action in the given situation is consistent with safe and appropriate vehicular behavior? That, my friend (if I may), comes from attitude. It comes from an attitude rooted in believing, deep down that you are a vehicle driver, and truly understanding what that means. It's knowing how to act like a vehicle driver, without really thinking about it. It's about feeling comfortable pulling up behind the last vehicle in line waiting for a light, and not even considering squeezing in on the side in a narrow intersection lane. It's about riding in an area of town you've never been, and still sensing correctly when it is time to start merging for that upcoming left turn. That's what I mean about attitude, and why I believe the role of attitude is so important in traffic cycling.

Serge

But what makes a person act one way, instead of any other way? Is it not what he thinks and feels?

. . . muscle memory.

You must be kidding. Muscle memory applies in very specific contexts, like falling off a bike, not for deciding what lane position to select in a given situation.

But what makes a person act one way, instead of any other way? ... Is it not his attitude? ...
an attitude rooted in believing, deep down that you are a vehicle driver...
It's about feeling comfortable pulling up behind the last vehicle in line waiting for a light,
and not even considering squeezing in on the side in a narrow intersection lane.
And attitude is why: Most drivers travel along in the primary position within a marked lane by default
Most cyclists travel along in the secondary position by default
This is true whether or not there's a discriminatory law that requires cyclists to assume the secondary postion (my state doesn't have such a law, but it does have similar attitudes).

Good point, Bruce.

I wonder, if a farmer is driving a tractor at 15 mph on a quiet 55 mph rural road with a good dirt shoulder, would he drive partially in the shoulder the whole time, or drive fully in the lane, only pulling over into the shoulder when faster traffic approached from the rear that could not easily pass (due to oncoming traffic and/or a double-yellow dividing line)?

I see a lot of tractors in Santa Barbara (strange, isn't it.) They usually ride to the right, but being so large they are still blocking traffic and most people can't pass until there's a good line of sight.

Judging from the clumps of dried mud along the roads in Oxnard, I'd say tractors there do the same. Even if they did ride in the shoulder they'd still be half into the road.

I wonder, if a farmer is driving a tractor at 15 mph on a quiet 55 mph rural road with a good dirt shoulder, would he drive partially in the shoulder the whole time, or drive fully in the lane, only pulling over into the shoulder when faster traffic approached from the rear that could not easily pass (due to oncoming traffic and/or a double-yellow dividing line)?I'm not sure if you're wondering about average, mean or best behavior. Anyway, the tractors that I remember overtaking during several Cycle North Carolina trips were pulling equipment (large harvester, very wide sprayer, several tobacco trailers, etc.) and had all those wheels within the marked roadway (useful shoulders are rarely seen on N.C. "farm to market" roads).