Originally Posted by
squirtdad
IMHO In all fairness, if you are going to call out JF you should also call out Bek. His position that bikeways are the solution to all and everything else, especially JF, sucks is not helpful. He has what seems to be a constant vendetta against VC and JF in particular that I feel takes away a lot of meaning full discussion.
But I don't see Bek as being harmful to the overall image of cyclists. JF, in my opinion, is. I think JF's ideas and methods for navigating a bike as just another vehicle are splendid. But he goes too far and alienates those who seek to advocate for cycling because they don't agree that VC is the only way. Bek....Bek is a guy that posts on a forum. I go to a city meeting and mention John Forester and people know who I'm talking about as well as his reputation (both the good and the bad). Mention Bekologist at the same meeting and you get blank stares.
Another big advocate for VC is Keri Caffrey of CommuteOrlando. But even when she takes issue with another's riding style, she manages to do it in a positive, respectful tone. She also puts her money where mouth is, investing a lot of time and energy to produce videos to show exactly why and how VC works. She is a good example of someone who is very much behind VC and also gets along well with the bicycle advocacy community.
JF started a movement; I'll give him credit for that. But I think he has become a negative ambassador for that which he seeks to promote, and in doing a negative ambassador for cycling.