Comments on: I Have Emotional Problems http://isocrates.us/bike/2009/08/i-have-emotional-problems/ Getting Around on Two Wheels and Two Feet Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:30:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andy Cline http://isocrates.us/bike/2009/08/i-have-emotional-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-4413 Andy Cline Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:50:48 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=1639#comment-4413 Karen... Right on! Karen… Right on!

]]> By: Karen http://isocrates.us/bike/2009/08/i-have-emotional-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-4404 Karen Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:19:08 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=1639#comment-4404 I simply don't care what the gurus think or write. I feel more comfortable with a mirror and turn my head when I feel it prudent (which is often). This reminds me of the tired old debate about whether helmet project brains or discourage bike commuting. Since I live in the US and not Denmark, I wear a helmet. It is my job to make decisions to best protect me on the road, and as long as I am following the law, it really is immaterial what anyone else thinks. I simply don’t care what the gurus think or write. I feel more comfortable with a mirror and turn my head when I feel it prudent (which is often). This reminds me of the tired old debate about whether helmet project brains or discourage bike commuting. Since I live in the US and not Denmark, I wear a helmet. It is my job to make decisions to best protect me on the road, and as long as I am following the law, it really is immaterial what anyone else thinks.

]]> By: Matt L. http://isocrates.us/bike/2009/08/i-have-emotional-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-4200 Matt L. Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:14:14 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=1639#comment-4200 Disclaimer: never met Forrester, never read his book. I call Forrester's most devoted followers teh Bike Taliban. They hate dissent and the dissenter. They tend to espouse the belief that there is one way to ride on the road, and all other ways (i.e. separated facilities), are dangerous and lethal. Their way (no separation under any circumstances, ride your bike as a part of traffic) has resulted in the 0.2 % commuting share we see in this country. It has also resulted in roadway engineers totally forgetting to design bike-friendly streets. Since I do believe there is safety in numbers and I do think bike lanes and sharrows do bring out more riders, I think Forrester's approach has been counter productive. Disclaimer: never met Forrester, never read his book.

I call Forrester’s most devoted followers teh Bike Taliban. They hate dissent and the dissenter. They tend to espouse the belief that there is one way to ride on the road, and all other ways (i.e. separated facilities), are dangerous and lethal. Their way (no separation under any circumstances, ride your bike as a part of traffic) has resulted in the 0.2 % commuting share we see in this country. It has also resulted in roadway engineers totally forgetting to design bike-friendly streets.

Since I do believe there is safety in numbers and I do think bike lanes and sharrows do bring out more riders, I think Forrester’s approach has been counter productive.

]]> By: Andy Cline http://isocrates.us/bike/2009/08/i-have-emotional-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-4136 Andy Cline Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:12:09 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=1639#comment-4136 Steve... Thanks for that link. I'd like Forester to answer this question: What changed? And I don't mean the stiff neck. Just goes to show the trouble with either-or thinking. Steve… Thanks for that link. I’d like Forester to answer this question: What changed? And I don’t mean the stiff neck. Just goes to show the trouble with either-or thinking.

]]> By: Joyce http://isocrates.us/bike/2009/08/i-have-emotional-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-4135 Joyce Sun, 09 Aug 2009 14:24:19 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=1639#comment-4135 I tried to read that book (or maybe an earlier edition, it was from the library), but I couldn't do it, in part at least because of the things you mention. I noticed that things Forester himself liked to do were absolutely necessary for the rest of us, and things that he didn't like to do were completely out of the question for all of us (the example I recall there had to do with tandem riding-- the captain holding the bike at stops without the stoker putting a foot down). I didn't find it persuasive (or readable) either way. I tried to read that book (or maybe an earlier edition, it was from the library), but I couldn’t do it, in part at least because of the things you mention. I noticed that things Forester himself liked to do were absolutely necessary for the rest of us, and things that he didn’t like to do were completely out of the question for all of us (the example I recall there had to do with tandem riding– the captain holding the bike at stops without the stoker putting a foot down). I didn’t find it persuasive (or readable) either way.

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