Do you have any details of the traffic cycling program for kids to share? Maybe we in Jacksonville can use it to complement the ‘Bike to School’ program.

Also, do parents (who were kids 20 yrs ago in the traffic cycling program) commute by bike today?
Do their kids commute by bike? If they were trained, shouldn’t they already be teaching their kids about traffic cycling?

The traffic cycling program should have grown exponentially since 20 yrs (kids ride on the road, other kids watch and learn, all kids grow up and teach their kids and so on).

“Is a bicycle allowed to share a lane with a slower motorist, passing to the motorist’s left?”

In California, this is often called “lane splitting.”

If it isn’t legal, why is it OK when the motorist is faster than the cyclist? A cyclist has a much better idea of where the “corners” of his vehicle are than does the typical motorist.

AND, how does this answer differ from state to state?

Let’s not get into a discussion about whether it’s a good idea or not, though I would contend that it’s certainly a LOT safer than the frequent practice of sneaking up alongside a motor vehicle on the right.

To start things off, I’ve heard this is illegal in Texas, though I’ve not dug through all possible statutes.

A friend of mine worked on a traffic cycling program for kids 20 years ago. The program was so effective, those kids (now parents) have come back to him and his partner asking where that program is—they want it for their kids. Why? It changed their lives. It empowered them to bust through the psychological limitations of car culture. Awesome stuff. It’s coming back.

In Hackney, UK, they teach traffic cycling to moms and kids. They’ve been very successful at empowering people.

It’s combination. Empowering people to use any road and providing access (through infrastructure) that allows them to choose more pleasant routes wherever possible.

US cities are huge and spread out. We will always have to rely on roads to reach all destinations. Focusing on teaching people to ride like they mean it is critical. And through that, we will – slowly but surely – change the culture.

Every time we go out into the world we change the collective consciousness about this just a little bit. I’m surrounded by clients and colleagues who do not ride, but who understand the best practices of safe cycling because of their exposure to me. What’s funny is, the non-cyclists in my life are much more open-minded and accepting of the “ride like you mean it” philosophy than the cyclists.