Originally Posted by genec
Since you have never been to an LAB training class (I assume) then you hardly have any reference for opinion. While Forester et al have not exactly swept cycling with their concepts... the concepts are basically sound.
What I have seen at the LAB classes in my area were folks that had a very rudimentary understanding of how to ride a bike... and very little understanding of how to do so in traffic... they just did not know what was right or wrong.
Basic training for these folks included how to signal, where and how to look, how to do basic maintenance, how to change a flat.
There was no "Skull session" indoctrinating cyclists into a "secret society" of VC heads. There was some pretty basic stuff with a suble emphasis on cyclists rights to use the road much like a motorist. This included how to merge, change lanes and make turns on roads with speeds up to about 40 MPH. Pretty typical around here.
If you had seen these riders... you too would agree that some "would be" cyclists do need some form of training. So to say that this is Forester "brainwashing" or "hyperinflated hogwash" is pure BS.
Perhaps you should drop in on a class and take a look a some of the "potential cyclists" that do need training before shooting off your ILTB opinion.
No, clearly I would have to say you have it wrong. I've been there and done that... have you?
Gene, good post. These are good points and good questions.
As for myself, I have never taken a course, although I have studied the course materials for all the levels of classes, and have read Effective Cycling several times.
It is my opinion that EC, in its pure form (let's call it "Foresterism") and even in its evolved, some would say softened, form that is the core of today's LAB courses, puts the most important aspects of safe cycling--essentially defensive driving/motorcycling ideology translated to bikes--on the back burner. In its place we get insta-turn to the rescue. I believe this is a grave disservice.
Still, I understand that not every course or LCI is the same and that many are free-thinkers, that the LAB continues to drift from Forester, that the courses are evolving and teach so much more than traffic philosophy, etc. Taking a course might be a great idea, especially for a beginner. You could meet people and have some fun. And, while you're there, make sure that defensive driving ideology stays up front where it belongs.
Robert