Advocacy & Safety - Anyone Read The Art of Urban Cycling by Robert Hurst?

I just finished this book. It was written by a bicycle messenger. It is primarily about safety. His method takes what he feels is the best of the Vehicular cycling theory and meshes it with the Invisible cyclist theory. Some of his views are interesting, although I'm not sure I'd adhere 100% to what he says. I did like the book though.

Is anyone familiar with the book? I'm interested in any opinions you all might have.

never heard of him.

I just finished this book. It was written by a bicycle messenger. It is primarily about safety. His method takes what he feels is the best of the Vehicular cycling theory and meshes it with the Invisible cyclist theory. Some of his views are interesting, although I'm not sure I'd adhere 100% to what he says. I did like the book though.

Is anyone familiar with the book? I'm interested in any opinions you all might have.

Thanks for starting this thread. I haven't read this book but will put it on my reading list. It looks like the original edition isn't available but that a slightly revised version has been released with a slight change to the title. It's new title is "The Art of Cycling (A Guide to Bicycling in 21st Century America)." To get a feel for the contents, here's a link to the listings. Looks like an interesting read.

http://teeheehee.bostonbiker.org/2008/03/02/the-art-of-urban-cycling/

I need to get this book as soon as I get my financial aid. I don't have that much money right now...

Thanks for starting the thread! :)

I need to get this book as soon as I get my financial aid. I don't have that much money right now...

Thanks for starting the thread! :)

Check with your local library, it may be available there!

Check with your local library, it may be available there!

That's where I got my copy.

I will have to check which bus route will lead me to the local library. Besides, I don't have a bicycle yet and cannot drive a car due to my visual impairment.

pretty good read. he's got another book out called the cyclist manifesto. the art of cycling has a lot of practical riding advice and a lot of great bicycling history.

Robert is a snappy writer about bicycling and offers darn good street smart advice about bicycling.

the art of cycling has a lot of practical riding advice and a lot of great bicycling history.

Yes, I agree. The history of the streetcar and automobile and how they shaped urban planning and how that effects cycling today was interesting.

I think this book is excellent. He establishes something quite eloquent with the title alone- that cycling is an "art". Books about cycling that emphasize a kind of linear adherence to hard and fast "rules" tend to stimulate a mindset that is not flexible for the survival strategy necessary for effective urban cycling.

That you don't adhere 100% doesn't seem to be the point of the book in my opinion- I certainly wasn't 100% but I still thought it was a great book. That it gets you thinking and aware in the right way seems to be it's intention.

I believe he is a frequent poster in BF. Perhaps he'll weigh in. I recommend this book more frequently than almost any other for people looking for tips as they start commuting by bike to work.

I haven't bought it, mainly because when I skimmed through it at Barnes & Noble, I kept agreeing with everything I was reading. I figured, "Eh, it makes sense to me, might as well keep doing what I'm doing."

Is anyone familiar with the book?

I will check it out - thanks!

You should look at Urban Bikers' Tricks and Tips - Low-Tech and No-Tech ways to Find, Ride, and Keep a Bicycle by Mr. Bike Dave Glowacz (Wordspace Press)

I just read The Cyclist's Manifesto mentioned above. I liked it a lot.

Art of Cycling is a good book to read when you begin riding. He definitely gives a nice practical background on safety issues.

Cyclists Manifesto is a good book as far as advocacy is concerned.

Hurst seems to be obsessed with A&S. I can't imagine why, we've got to be the biggest bunch of jerks around...

The Art of Urban Cycling and its second edition, relabeled as The Art of Cycling, is a good book. It's the first book that got me interested in the vehicular cycling model, and my copy is pretty dog-eared. Good content, and written in an engaging yet tongue-in-cheek style.

Mr. Hurst hangs out here frequently in A&S...

I just finished this book. It was written by a bicycle messenger. It is primarily about safety. His method takes what he feels is the best of the Vehicular cycling theory and meshes it with the Invisible cyclist theory. Some of his views are interesting, although I'm not sure I'd adhere 100% to what he says. I did like the book though.

Is anyone familiar with the book? I'm interested in any opinions you all might have.

Robert posts here from time to time.

I've read the book and have been looking for another book he wrote, called the Cyclist Manifesto. (actually found it at Powells before Xmas, but the lines were too long... )

Personally I think Robert Hurst hit the nail right on the head... His book is practical and straight forward.

I know that some of you have read Cycle Craft by John Franklin (UK). If you're interested, he has now revised it for the US market.

It's certainly (IMHO) one of the best and clearest expositions of how to ride safely in traffic.

... and of course I like his section on helmets...

I've read it. I did a longer review at Amazon.com, but briefly, here's what I think:

Hurst wants to teach you to ride like a bike messenger. That's cool if you want to ride like a bike messenger, but it does absolutely nothing to help normal people learn how to bike. It's like a cookbook written for pro chefs, which assumes that you'll be getting into a commercial kitchen and cooking spectacular special meals, when what most people need is a cookbook that'll teach them how to cook something fast, simple, and healthy at home. He's ultimately a lot like Forester: he thinks the way the roads are now is the way they ought to be, and he's not really interested in people who don't identify themselves as cyclists. Status quo.

That said, he's got a lot of good observations and advice for those who want to ride in an intense, hard-core style. I just don't see my mom -- or most people -- wanting to do that. And we won't get a bike culture in this country until my mom feels comfortable out there.

I've read it. I did a longer review at Amazon.com, but briefly, here's what I think:

Hurst wants to teach you to ride like a bike messenger. That's cool if you want to ride like a bike messenger, but it does absolutely nothing to help normal people learn how to bike. It's like a cookbook written for pro chefs, which assumes that you'll be getting into a commercial kitchen and cooking spectacular special meals, when what most people need is a cookbook that'll teach them how to cook something fast, simple, and healthy at home. He's ultimately a lot like Forester: he thinks the way the roads are now is the way they ought to be, and he's not really interested in people who don't identify themselves as cyclists. Status quo.

That said, he's got a lot of good observations and advice for those who want to ride in an intense, hard-core style. I just don't see my mom -- or most people -- wanting to do that. And we won't get a bike culture in this country until my mom feels comfortable out there.

We won't (and haven't) built a bike culture using what Forester preaches either.

If we have any expectation of "mom" feeling comfortable riding a bike "out there," we're going to have to change "out there." The only places I have seen older folks comfortably riding were in places like Davis and Oulu Finland... which both have low speed limits and lots and lots of separated bike paths. A change like that in America will be a long time coming.