Originally Posted by Helmet Head
Did you, Gene, always ride OUTSIDE of the bike lane like you did on Miramar Road last Sunday? Were you always as aware of the debris and rubble collection characteristic of bike lanes as you are now (hub cap, cable)?
I don't have a complete plan on how to change our culture to accept the value of training for cyclists. But I do know that it's never going to happen unless, first, leaders in the cycling community accept the value of training for cyclists, and that that's never going to happen unless there is a way that cyclists like those that visit this forum can be persuaded of the value of training for cyclists, and that's what I'm trying to learn how to develop here.
I have ridden that way long before bike lanes went into place... essentially, as you once pointed out, I ride in that location whether the BL are there or not. But I don't want to take this into the great BL debate. Debris... BFD... if I am not dodging debris in the BL, I am dodging cracks and potholes in the street... which is why I put fat tires on my commuter. Sometimes I do ride deep into the BL though... such as up Regents road when I am doing 8 MPH and traffic is doing 50+ It is very situational.
I will admit that because of your debates, I have learned several new terms, and explored many websites geared at different sides of the various debates. Laws, no, as long ago I carried the laws in my panniers as a "gift" for errant drivers.
Now let me address what you just stated about "persuading" cyclists here. Here you are dealing with folks that have long entrenched ideas about how to ride... whereas if you were able to work with new riders... the teens and preteens, you could teach new ideas, before old habits become long entrenched. Consider for instance that it is far easier to form a good new habit, then to break a poor old one.
Here on this forum, you are mostly dealing with old habits. That is not to say that you cannot reach one or two new riders, but if you are honestly concerned about helping the scores of new riders, the ones most vulnerable, then you need to get your message out at the middle school level.