cfsmtb
June 6th 06, 02:20 AM
Fascinating article from Procycling about the so called "Toy-Bicycle
Syndrome" from an American perspective. From an 'Australian
perspective', the recent increase of commuter and utility cycling has
numerous irrational obstacles to overcome.
http://probicycle.com/
Which we will in due course ... -(cfsmtb sits up a bit straighter,
pushes shoulders back, looks stoically into the distance....)-
****************************
THE AMERICAN TOY-BICYCLE SYNDROME[/B]:
BIKE RIDERS ARE UNPREDICTABLE. MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DODGE OR BE
DELAYED BY BICYCLES. MUCH MORE LIKE PEDESTRIANS THAN VEHICLES, BICYCLES
SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROADS AT ALL. IF A SEPARATE SIDEWALK OR OTHER
PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE PATH CAN NOT BE PROVIDED, THEN BICYCLISTS MUST BE
KEPT OUT OF THE WAY OF MOTORISTS BY THE USE OF SEPARATE BICYCLE LANES.
*TOY BICYCLE*:
- GROUPED WITH PEDESTRIANS AS A PEDESTRIAN-ON-WHEELS.
- SEPARATE, LIMITED, DANGEROUS, SLOW, SUBSTANDARD RESTRICTED SYSTEM OF
LANES AND PATHS.
- SPECIAL CLASSIFICATION OF ACCESS, RIGHTS AND RULES.
- DANGEROUS SHARED PEDESTRIAN PATHS.
- GO SOMEWHERE TO RIDE
*VEHICULAR CYCLING*:
- SAME RIGHTS AND LEGAL STANDING AS EVERY OTHER VEHICLE OPERATOR.
- ENFORCE SAFE SHARABLE ROAD DESIGN POLICIES. ACCOMMODATION ON EVERY
ROAD. - - SHARABLE-WIDTH LANES, BIKEABLE SHOULDERS.
- SAME ROADS - SAME RIGHTS - SAME RULES
- THE SAFEST FORM OF RECREATIONAL AND UTILITY CYCLING- BY FAR.
- RIDE TO GO SOMEWHERE
[B]HOW DID THIS HAPPEN, AND HOW DOES IT CONTINUE?
The Toy-Bicycle Syndrome began in the 1950's and is based upon the
concept of bicycling as children's' play activity, which in fact it
largely was in the America of 1950. In the 1970's a fitness-crazed
adult American public discovered the modern lightweight 10-speed
bicycle and the "bike boom" began.
Millions of cyclists took to the roads and panic set in with motorists
and transportation planners that had long held the belief that bicycles
belonged on sidewalks. Thirty years later, those same concepts prevail
and control the American bicycling environment.
Worse than ignorance alone, the American public and transportation
establishment base their beliefs and actions on a false foundation.
Motorists and the vast majority of bicycle owners have no understanding
of the concepts and safety of proper cycling and how easy it is for
motorists and cyclists to coexist. Rather than working for the little
that is needed to make vehicular cycling safe, easy and practical on
every road, American bicycle advocacy, decisions and goals are
invariably based on the toy-bicycle syndrome.
--
cfsmtb
Syndrome" from an American perspective. From an 'Australian
perspective', the recent increase of commuter and utility cycling has
numerous irrational obstacles to overcome.
http://probicycle.com/
Which we will in due course ... -(cfsmtb sits up a bit straighter,
pushes shoulders back, looks stoically into the distance....)-
****************************
THE AMERICAN TOY-BICYCLE SYNDROME[/B]:
BIKE RIDERS ARE UNPREDICTABLE. MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DODGE OR BE
DELAYED BY BICYCLES. MUCH MORE LIKE PEDESTRIANS THAN VEHICLES, BICYCLES
SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROADS AT ALL. IF A SEPARATE SIDEWALK OR OTHER
PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE PATH CAN NOT BE PROVIDED, THEN BICYCLISTS MUST BE
KEPT OUT OF THE WAY OF MOTORISTS BY THE USE OF SEPARATE BICYCLE LANES.
*TOY BICYCLE*:
- GROUPED WITH PEDESTRIANS AS A PEDESTRIAN-ON-WHEELS.
- SEPARATE, LIMITED, DANGEROUS, SLOW, SUBSTANDARD RESTRICTED SYSTEM OF
LANES AND PATHS.
- SPECIAL CLASSIFICATION OF ACCESS, RIGHTS AND RULES.
- DANGEROUS SHARED PEDESTRIAN PATHS.
- GO SOMEWHERE TO RIDE
*VEHICULAR CYCLING*:
- SAME RIGHTS AND LEGAL STANDING AS EVERY OTHER VEHICLE OPERATOR.
- ENFORCE SAFE SHARABLE ROAD DESIGN POLICIES. ACCOMMODATION ON EVERY
ROAD. - - SHARABLE-WIDTH LANES, BIKEABLE SHOULDERS.
- SAME ROADS - SAME RIGHTS - SAME RULES
- THE SAFEST FORM OF RECREATIONAL AND UTILITY CYCLING- BY FAR.
- RIDE TO GO SOMEWHERE
[B]HOW DID THIS HAPPEN, AND HOW DOES IT CONTINUE?
The Toy-Bicycle Syndrome began in the 1950's and is based upon the
concept of bicycling as children's' play activity, which in fact it
largely was in the America of 1950. In the 1970's a fitness-crazed
adult American public discovered the modern lightweight 10-speed
bicycle and the "bike boom" began.
Millions of cyclists took to the roads and panic set in with motorists
and transportation planners that had long held the belief that bicycles
belonged on sidewalks. Thirty years later, those same concepts prevail
and control the American bicycling environment.
Worse than ignorance alone, the American public and transportation
establishment base their beliefs and actions on a false foundation.
Motorists and the vast majority of bicycle owners have no understanding
of the concepts and safety of proper cycling and how easy it is for
motorists and cyclists to coexist. Rather than working for the little
that is needed to make vehicular cycling safe, easy and practical on
every road, American bicycle advocacy, decisions and goals are
invariably based on the toy-bicycle syndrome.
--
cfsmtb