Originally Posted by genec

True it is but a training video, and under the circumstances it shows how things are supposed to work. But indeed there are other circumstances that consist of far more risk, far more traffic, where far more skill is required and the comfort level to any one but the most skilled cyclists would be pretty low. Does it take the same high level of skill to drive on a Freeway? Looking at who drives Freeways, no. (just about anyone, while chatting on a phone can easily drive down a freeway, while listening to their favorite tunes). But to be a cyclist, and manage on roads that are not lightly traveled or on a weekend, takes "advanced skills."

So it comes down to this... any one can drive (and just about anyone does) but to bike on roads that tend to dominate the west (fast, dense traffic, arterials) one has to be a highly skilled cyclist... thus eliminating all but a few highly skilled cyclists. With that situation, we are not likely to see an increase in the numbers of cyclists... If our goal is to keep cycling in the hands of a few highly skilled cyclists... the goal is met. If on the other hand we desire to see more people take up cycling... then there is a disconnect...

As for the SWAT analogy... remember SWAT teams are an elite well trained specialty group within the larger general police population.