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?
ILTB's issues with the LAB, the LAB courses & Forester go far deeper then you think. I know why he feels the way he does about it. A lot of it is personal issues with Forester for things that happened between the 2. I can not disclose what but just know it is personal. ILTB is taking his personal feelings about forester & the LAB out on anyone who indicates they support the LAB, are a member of the LAB or agree with Forester. ILTB pounces on them, berates them & brow beats them with his diatribe as he has shown here with the hope of swaying people to believe as he does. The only thing to do is either agree to disagree or just stop discussing it with him.
Ever hear the term it is useless to argue with a pig, it is a waste of time & annoyes the pig? That could easily apply here.
There are those of us who like the LAB & Forester & what they stand for, there are those of us who like them but not everything about them, there are those that think they have a purpose but do not wish to be members, etc, there are those that think things are fine the way they are & there is no need for the LAB or Forester.
Then there is ILTB who has personal issues with Forester.