Helmet Head
Just found this... it's awesome!
In his book, Cyclecraft, British cycling author and advocate John Franklin never uses the term "vehicular cycling". But in this paper (http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk/digest/vehicular.pdf) he does. Here are some excerpts:
The term 'Vehicular Cycling' comes from America,
but the phenomenon that it describes is intrinsically
British. It describes the style of cycling whereby
cyclists ride as part of the general traffic mix, enjoying
the same rights as the drivers of other vehicles and
accepting the same responsibilities. Cyclists share
common road space and they interact with other
drivers in such as way as to maximise their safety
and progress. It is quite distinct from the style of
cycling practised in many northern European countries,
where cyclists are kept apart from motor traffic as much
as possible, riding on separate cycle tracks or lanes.
...
Position on the road is by far the most
important influence that a cyclist has
over his safety. Indeed, the loss of this
ability to influence the actions of others
is one reason why road-side cycle tracks
and shared footways increase danger at
junctions. Many cyclists fail to position
themselves properly because of their
fear of traffic, yet it is this very fear that
puts them most at risk. Encouraging
unsafe behaviour by directing cyclists to
more hazardous positions does nobody
any favours.
Riding too close to the edge of the road
leaves a cyclist with no escape room in
the event of an emergency. Drivers
concentrate on that part of the road
where there is potential risk to
themselves, and notice much less
outside this zone of maximum
surveillance. After crashes, motorists
will often relate how they did not see a
cyclist until just before impact. It is
always safest to ride within the zone of
maximum surveillance, not outside it.
...
Recent research in Europe and America
suggests strongly that the greatest
influence on cycling safety is the
number of cyclists, not infrastructure.
Better safety comes from more cycling,
not the other way about, nor is safety in
any way improved by moving away
from a vehicular basis.
Someone learning to drive a car is not taught
to fear and avoid traffic, but how to cope with
it, yet a car driver is not
that much less at risk than an adult cyclist. If
cycling is to have a future as a universal mode
of transport, then we
should be encouraging techniques that assist rather
than frustrate that end.
This paper: http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk/digest/vehicular.pdf
Other papers by John Franklin: http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk
In his book, Cyclecraft, British cycling author and advocate John Franklin never uses the term "vehicular cycling". But in this paper (http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk/digest/vehicular.pdf) he does. Here are some excerpts:
The term 'Vehicular Cycling' comes from America,
but the phenomenon that it describes is intrinsically
British. It describes the style of cycling whereby
cyclists ride as part of the general traffic mix, enjoying
the same rights as the drivers of other vehicles and
accepting the same responsibilities. Cyclists share
common road space and they interact with other
drivers in such as way as to maximise their safety
and progress. It is quite distinct from the style of
cycling practised in many northern European countries,
where cyclists are kept apart from motor traffic as much
as possible, riding on separate cycle tracks or lanes.
...
Position on the road is by far the most
important influence that a cyclist has
over his safety. Indeed, the loss of this
ability to influence the actions of others
is one reason why road-side cycle tracks
and shared footways increase danger at
junctions. Many cyclists fail to position
themselves properly because of their
fear of traffic, yet it is this very fear that
puts them most at risk. Encouraging
unsafe behaviour by directing cyclists to
more hazardous positions does nobody
any favours.
Riding too close to the edge of the road
leaves a cyclist with no escape room in
the event of an emergency. Drivers
concentrate on that part of the road
where there is potential risk to
themselves, and notice much less
outside this zone of maximum
surveillance. After crashes, motorists
will often relate how they did not see a
cyclist until just before impact. It is
always safest to ride within the zone of
maximum surveillance, not outside it.
...
Recent research in Europe and America
suggests strongly that the greatest
influence on cycling safety is the
number of cyclists, not infrastructure.
Better safety comes from more cycling,
not the other way about, nor is safety in
any way improved by moving away
from a vehicular basis.
Someone learning to drive a car is not taught
to fear and avoid traffic, but how to cope with
it, yet a car driver is not
that much less at risk than an adult cyclist. If
cycling is to have a future as a universal mode
of transport, then we
should be encouraging techniques that assist rather
than frustrate that end.
This paper: http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk/digest/vehicular.pdf
Other papers by John Franklin: http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk