Vehicular cycling (
VC) is the practice of
drivingDriving is the controlled operation of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus. Although direct operation of a bicycle, a mounted animal or a motorcycle is commonly called riding, such operators are usually legally considered to be drivers and are required to obey...
bicycleA bicycle, also known as a bike, push bike or cycle, is a pedal-driven, human-powered vehicle with two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist or a bicyclist....
s on
roadA road is an identifiable route, way or path between places.
s in a manner that is visible, predictable, and in accordance with the principles for driving a
vehicleA vehicle is a mechanical means of conveyance, a carriage or transport. Most often they are manufactured , although some other means of transport which are not made by humans also may be called vehicles; examples include icebergs and floating tree trunks.Vehicles may be propelled or pulled by...
in
trafficTraffic on roads may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using the public way for purposes of travel...
. The phrase was coined by John Forester in the early 1970s to differentiate the assertive traffic cycling style and practices that he learned in the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
from the deferential cycling style and practices that he found to be typical in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Under the international
Vienna Convention on Road TrafficThe Vienna Convention on Road Traffic is an international treaty designed to facilitate international road traffic and to increase road safety by standardising the uniform traffic rules among the contracting parties...
(1968), a bicycle (or "cycle", as referenced by the convention) is defined to be a
vehicle and a cyclist is considered to be a
driverDriving is the controlled operation of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus. Although direct operation of a bicycle, a mounted animal or a motorcycle is commonly called riding, such operators are usually legally considered to be drivers and are required to obey...
. In a minority of jurisdictions (the states of
ArizonaThe State of Arizona is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. The capital and largest city is Phoenix. The second largest city is Tucson, followed in size by the four Phoenix metropolitan area cities of Mesa, Glendale, Chandler, and Scottsdale.Arizona was the 48th and...
,
CaliforniaCalifornia is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by area. California is the second most populous sub-national entity in the Americas, behind only São Paulo, Brazil...
,
IowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland." It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of...
,
IllinoisIllinois , the 21st state admitted to the United States of America, is the most populous and demographically diverse Midwestern state and the fifth most populous state in the nation...
,
IndianaIndiana is a U.S. state, the 19
th admitted to the Union. It is located in the Great Lakes region, and with approximately 6.3 million residents, is ranked 16
th in population and 17
th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38
th in land area, and is the...
,
MinnesotaMinnesota is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. The twelfth largest state by area in the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.2 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the...
,
New YorkNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and
TexasTexas is the second-largest U.S. state in both area and population, and the largest state in the contiguous United States.The name had wide usage among native Americans, meaning "friends" or "allies"...
in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
)
a bicycle is
legallyLaw is a system of rules, usually enforced through a set of institutions. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a primary social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus ticket to trading on derivatives markets...
defined as a "
deviceA machine is any device that uses energy to perform some activity. In common usage, the meaning is that of a device having parts that perform or assist in performing any type of work. A simple machine is a device that transforms the direction or magnitude of a force without consuming any energy...
" rather than as a vehicle, but in all cases operators of bicycles share a basic set of rights and responsibilities with operators of
motor vehicleA motor vehicle is a wheeled vehicle whose propulsion is provided by an engine or motor . The internal combustion engine is the most common motor choice, although electric motors or other types are sometimes used. Motor vehicles or road vehicles typically run on public roads...
s. Bicyclists, who do not pose an extraordinary danger to others, are not burdened with certain additional responsibilities placed on drivers of motor vehicles — for example, only motor-vehicle operators are required to have a driver's license and, in some localities, carry liability insurance.
Sometimes vehicular cycling is referred to as
integrated cycling (i.e. integrated with other vehicular traffic, as opposed to cycling on
segregated cycling facilitiesSegregated cycle facilities are roads, tracks, paths or marked lanes designated for use by cyclists from which motorised traffic is generally excluded.- Terminology :...
),
integrated traffic cycling,
cooperative cycling, or
bicycle driving.
Principle
John Forester, a cycling transportation engineer,, has written that the
principleA principle is either:* a descriptive comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption,* a normative rule or code of conduct, or* a law or fact of nature underlying the working of an artificial device.-Principle as cause:...
of vehicular cycling is:
"Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as driverDriving is the controlled operation of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus. Although direct operation of a bicycle, a mounted animal or a motorcycle is commonly called riding, such operators are usually legally considered to be drivers and are required to obey...
s of vehicles".
This is coherent with the dictionary definition of
bicycleA bicycle, also known as a bike, push bike or cycle, is a pedal-driven, human-powered vehicle with two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist or a bicyclist....
: "a
vehicleA vehicle is a mechanical means of conveyance, a carriage or transport. Most often they are manufactured , although some other means of transport which are not made by humans also may be called vehicles; examples include icebergs and floating tree trunks.Vehicles may be propelled or pulled by...
with ...
pedalThe word pedal comes from the Latin and relates to the foot.A pedal is a lever activated by one's foot. Examples include:* Automobile pedal* Bicycle pedal...
s by which it is propelled ...".
Origins of vehicular cycling
The origins of riding in accordance with vehicular rules of the road go back to the 19th century when bicycles were invented and began sharing the roads with other vehicles, such as wagons and buggies.
Forester's book,
Effective CyclingEffective Cycling is a trademarked cycling educational program designed by John Forester, which was the national education program of the League of American Wheelmen for a number of years. The Effective Cycling program consists of text books and training courses and a training video for students...
, is generally considered the primary modern reference work about vehicular cycling. John Franklin also describes VC practices in his book,
CyclecraftCyclecraft is a British cycling skills manual written by John Franklin and published by the Stationery Office...
, which is part of
BikeabilityBikeability is a national programme for cycle training in England and Wales. It is based on the National Standard for Cycle Training, a UK Government standard run by the Department for Transport and approved by RoSPA, LARSOA, British Cycling, CTC, Sustrans and Cycling England...
, the UK's national standard for cycle training. A "nuts and bolts" reference to VC is John S. Allen's booklet
Bicycling Street Smarts.
Vehicular cycling best practices, techniques and skills
A vehicular cyclist is a cyclist who generally travels within the roadway in accordance with the basic vehicular rules of the road that are shared by all drivers, and the most
effective cyclingEffective Cycling is a trademarked cycling educational program designed by John Forester, which was the national education program of the League of American Wheelmen for a number of years. The Effective Cycling program consists of text books and training courses and a training video for students...
practices. Primarily, this means:
- Traveling on the same side of the road
A road is an identifiable route, way or path between places.
as other trafficTraffic on roads may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using the public way for purposes of travel...
traveling in the same direction.
- Staying outside of the door zone
The door zone is the space spanning about four feet from the sides of parallel parked cars. It is hazardous to ride a bicycle or motorcycle in a door zone because if a door suddenly opens, the cyclist must either crash into it or swerve into the adjacent lane of traffic. An opening door may also...
; when passing a motor vehicle that is parked parallel to the road, no closer than the width of the door.
- Respecting traffic controls, such as yield sign
In road transport, a YIELD or GIVE WAY traffic sign indicates that a vehicle driver must slow down and prepare to stop if necessary — usually while merging into traffic on another road — but needn't stop if the way is clear. A driver who stops has yielded his right of way to another...
s, stop signA stop sign is a traffic sign, usually erected at road junctions, that instructs drivers to stop and then to proceed only if the way ahead is clear.-Specifications:...
s and traffic lightTraffic lights, also known as stop lights, stoplight, traffic lamps, stop-and-go lights, robots or semaphore, are signaling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings, and other locations to control competing flows of traffic.Traffic lights have been installed in most cities...
s.
- Between intersections
In the field of road transport, an intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . Such a road junction may also be called a crossroads.-Types of intersections:...
and other junctionsIn the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
, choosing the appropriate laneThe word lane has several meanings, including and especially:#a portion of a paved road which is intended for a single line of vehicles and is marked by white or yellow lines....
or lateral position according to those rules of the road that are shared by all drivers.
- While preparing to turn or turning, choosing the appropriate lane or lateral position according to destination positioning.
- Ignoring designated bicycle lane stripes when choosing where to travel on the street
A street is a paved public thoroughfare in a built environment. It is a public parcel of land adjoining buildings in an urban context, on which people may freely assemble, interact, and move about. A street can be as simple as a level patch of dirt, but is more often paved with a hard, durable...
(this does not mean to avoid riding in bicycle lanes; it means deciding whether to ride in the space demarcated as a bike lane just as one would if the stripe were not there).
- Changing lanes or lateral (left/right) position in response to, and in anticipation of, factors such as changing traffic conditions.
- Using the full lane unless overtaking traffic is likely to be delayed and the marked traffic lane is wide enough to share.
- When making a turn toward the nearside of a road when multiple traffic lanes are marked, merging into the traffic in each lane while using negotiation with other drivers as required.
- Generally feeling and acting like a vehicle driver, albeit the driver of a narrow and relatively low-powered vehicle.
Some non-vehicular cycling actions commonly taken by bicyclists include
- Riding on the opposite side of the road compared to other traffic traveling in the same direction.
- Riding in the door zone
The door zone is the space spanning about four feet from the sides of parallel parked cars. It is hazardous to ride a bicycle or motorcycle in a door zone because if a door suddenly opens, the cyclist must either crash into it or swerve into the adjacent lane of traffic. An opening door may also...
.
- Riding along sidewalk
A sidewalk , pavement , footpath , platform or footway is a path for pedestrians that is situated alongside a road or a paved...
s or crosswalks.
- Running red lights.
- Blatantly running most stop signs (certain stop signs, particularly those in quiet neighborhoods, are routinely treated cautiously as yield signs by most vehicle drivers, including vehicular cyclists, though doing so is against the the law). There are exceptions to this in some places. In Idaho, human-powered vehicles are allowed to treat stop signs as yield signs.
- Going straight across an intersection while positioned laterally for a turn or while in a turn-only lane.
- Darting inward across the roadway from the outer edge of the road, instead of merging across one marked lane at a time.
- Moving laterally without looking back and yielding to overtaking traffic that has the right of way.
- Splitting marked lanes instead of taking a more predictable position within a lane.
- While a traffic light is red, moving to the front of the traffic queue instead of taking one's place in line according to the first come, first served principle (even if doing so is outside the rules of the road).
- Passing slow or stopped traffic on the offside too fast and/or without recognizing the extra danger from passing a driver on the offside.
- Not merging out of a curbside bicycle lane when approaching a junction or intersection where the cyclist intends to go straight or turn to the offside, which would violate the destination positioning rule.
- Traveling along the edge of a marked traffic lane when the lane is too narrow for sharing side-by-side with wide vehicles. Riding the edge can mislead overtaking drivers into thinking that the cyclist is giving approval for same-lane passing.
- Traveling on freeways or where otherwise prohibited.
Lane control
A cyclist is controlling a lane (also known as "taking control of the lane", "taking the lane" or "claiming the lane") when traveling near the center of a marked travel lane. Controlling the lane normally precludes passing within the same lane by drivers of wide motor vehicles, while being positioned near a lane edge usually encourages such passing—even when it is hazardous to bicyclists.
Vehicular cyclists commonly control lanes under the following circumstances:
- when approaching a junction at which approaching or waiting traffic may turn or cross directly in front of the cyclist
- when traveling at the normal speed of traffic at that time and place (often including whenever the cyclist is the only traffic moving in that direction at that time and place)
- when there is a gap in faster same direction traffic (to improve vantage and maneuvering space with respect to noticing and avoiding hazards up ahead, and to increase conspicuousness to traffic approaching from the rear as well as to traffic with potential crossing conflicts up ahead)
- when the marked lane is too narrow to safely share with overtaking traffic
- when approaching a place where the lane narrows (such as a construction zone) so as not to be "squeezed out" when that happens
- when merging across a roadway in preparation for a turn across the opposing lanes
- when overtaking and passing another vehicle, bicyclist moving more slowly
- when avoiding hazards
- when approaching an intersection or junction at which the cyclist's destination is straight ahead
- when approaching or traveling in a roundabout
A roundabout is one of several types of circular road junctions or intersections at which traffic is slowed down and enters a one-way stream around a central island. Technically these junctions sometimes are called modern roundabouts, in order to emphasize the distinction from older circular...
or traffic circleA traffic circle is one of several types of circular intersections. Traffic is normally allowed to go in one direction only around a central island. In the absence of signs or signal control, traffic entering a circle has the right-of-way, although many circles give right-of-way to the primary...
John Franklin advocates operating bicycles in accordance with the basic rules of the road for vehicle operation. Using the terms "primary riding position" — meaning in the center of the traffic lane — and "secondary riding position" — meaning about 1 meter (3.2 feet) to the side of moving traffic, but not closer than .5 meters (1.6 feet) from the edge of the road — Franklin advocates the primary riding position as the normal position and the secondary riding position only when it is safe, reasonable and necessary to allow faster traffic to pass.
Vehicular cycling, including controlling lanes when appropriate, is supported by traffic laws in most countries (California's Vehicle Code section 21202 is an example of this).
Lane sharing
All forms of
lane sharingLane sharing is the practice of operating a vehicle in a traffic lane in a manner that allows other traffic to use the unused portion of the lane, or to pass slower traffic in the lane by using an unused portion of the lane. When lane sharing is done for the purpose of passing slow or stopped...
are aspects of vehicular cycling. While sharing lanes by normal width vehicles is rare, this is because lanes are rarely wide enough for two normal width vehicles to travel side-by-side. But, like motorcyclists, due to their relatively narrow width, bicyclists can often share lanes comfortably and safely. Even drivers of automobiles occasionally share lanes, such as when one is slowing and merging to the outside in order to make a turn from a very
wide outside laneIn the United States of America, wide outside lane , or wide curb lane , is a term used by cyclists and bicycle transportation planners to refer to the outermost lane of a roadway when it is wide enough to be safely shared side by side by a bicycle and a wider motor vehicle at the same time. ...
, while through traffic passes within the same lane to the inside.
As long as it is safe and not explicitly prohibited, lane sharing does not contradict the vehicular rules of the road. Due to the relatively narrow and slow nature of bicycles, the opportunities for lane sharing are generally more frequent for bicyclists than for other drivers. The practice of whitelining while being passed by faster traffic in both adjacent lanes is demonstrated in the
Effective CyclingEffective Cycling is a trademarked cycling educational program designed by John Forester, which was the national education program of the League of American Wheelmen for a number of years. The Effective Cycling program consists of text books and training courses and a training video for students...
video/dvd.
Lane splittingLane splitting is riding a bicycle or motorcycle between lanes in the same direction as traffic. It is also sometimes called lane sharing, whitelining, filtering, or stripe-riding...
is often used by cyclists, including vehicular cyclists, to filter forward past slow or stopped motor traffic. Sharing
wide outside laneIn the United States of America, wide outside lane , or wide curb lane , is a term used by cyclists and bicycle transportation planners to refer to the outermost lane of a roadway when it is wide enough to be safely shared side by side by a bicycle and a wider motor vehicle at the same time. ...
s, when safe and reasonable, in order to facilitate being overtaken by faster traffic, is also a common vehicular cycling practice.
Vehicular cyclists know that often implicit in lane sharing is yielding of the remainder/unused portion of the lane. For example, when riding in a lane sharing position, a cyclist must yield to overtaking traffic using the other part of the lane, or obtain right-of-way to move over through negotiation, before moving laterally into that space.
Speed and destination positioning
Vehicular cyclists and other drivers who travel in accordance with the vehicular rules of the road use "speed positioning" between intersections. The basic principle is "slower traffic keeps to the outside (nearside in British English); faster traffic to the inside (offside in British English)". When lanes are marked, slower drivers generally operate in the outermost travel lane (in a country operating right-hand traffic rules, the outside lane is the right lane). When lanes are not marked, slower drivers generally operate as far to the outside of the traveled way as is reasonably efficient and safe.
Because of the bicycle's narrow width, a cyclist can "share" a marked lane (i.e., be passed by overtaking drivers within the lane lines) more often than the driver of a wider vehicle can. A bicyclist who decides to share a lane should ride about a meter (3.2 feet) to the outside of overtaking traffic and about the same distance from roadside hazards (such as the
door zoneThe door zone is the space spanning about four feet from the sides of parallel parked cars. It is hazardous to ride a bicycle or motorcycle in a door zone because if a door suddenly opens, the cyclist must either crash into it or swerve into the adjacent lane of traffic. An opening door may also...
). For this reason, bike lanes which are within a meter of a parking lane should be considered a hazard.
As drivers approach a junction of ways, the principle of "destination positioning" comes into play, and they should position themselves laterally according to their destination (left, straight or right):
- Where lanes are marked, slower drivers approaching a junction should choose the outermost lane that serves (i.e., corresponds to) their destination. For example, if the outermost lane is a turn-only lane, drivers in that lane who do not intend to turn outward should merge inward into the adjacent lane.
- When lanes are not marked, drivers approaching a junction will travel along the inside of their side of the road if turning toward the inside, along the outer side if turning to the outside, and in between if going straight.
The best rules of the road allow any slower driver (including a cyclist) to establish the center of the outermost marked lane (between the left and right tracks of wider vehicles) as their default or
primary position. When traffic is
- overtaking and will likely be significantly delayed while waiting to pass outside that travel lane, and
- the lane can be efficiently and safely shared with that traffic
then the polite driver moves over in the
secondary position, nearer to the outer edge of that lane. In general, vehicles (whether pedal or motor) are more visible and predictable when traveling along in the primary position. Bicycles in the secondary position are less likely to be noticed.
Looking back
The skill of
looking back over one's shoulder is essential whenever a cyclist needs to
- check that moving laterally or turning will not violate the right-of-way of someone who is overtaking
- broadcast the cyclist's desire (to move laterally or turn) to other road users so that they can better predict the cyclist's path
- see if someone who's overtaking is about to make a mistake and violate their right-of-way
Looking back is usually visible enough that it can suffice as a signal that the cyclist wishes to move or turn in the direction of the look. A sustained look back increases the odds that the signal will be noticed. Compared to hand signaling, looking back has the advantage of allowing the cyclist to keep both hands on the handlebars. Some jurisdictions, however, mandate that bicyclists use hand signals before moving laterally or turning.
Looking back can be challenging to perform: it requires traveling in a straight line while looking behind for up to a few seconds. The natural tendency is to not continue in a straight line, but to turn the bike in the same direction as the look. The tendency to turn can be countered with practice; learning to relax the elbow in the direction of the look is key. The more often looking back is done, the more comfortable and effortless it will become.
Special mirrors are available for mounting on a cyclist's helmet, eyeglass, or handlebar. Such mirrors enable the cyclist - with practice - to check for overtaking traffic with less effort. Another advantage is that the check can be accomplished more quickly, reducing the amount of time the cyclist isn't watching where they're going. Although such mirrors are small in size, the mounting is so close to the eye that the field of view can approach that of an automotive rear-view mirror (although that poses more of a challenge for eyeglass wearers). However, the field of view is usually still limited enough that looking back remains an essential skill for vehicular cycling.
Even with its limitations, mirrors are regarded as an important or even critical piece of safety equipment by some cyclists. Others value mirrors more as a means to avoid the shock of being surprised by high-speed traffic passing from behind.
Negotiation
The concept of
negotiation is an important part of traversing across one or more lanes of traffic. The basic idea is to negotiate for the right-of-way in the adjacent lane, move into that lane, and then repeat the process for any additional lanes. This is an important vehicular cycling skill, because it allows the cyclist to merge in with the flow of other traffic instead of cutting across at a right-angle (as a pedestrian would).
The first step in traversing across a lane is
looking back for traffic that may be overtaking in that lane. When there is overtaking traffic which will arrive too soon for the cyclist to merge out into the lane (i.e., there is an insufficient gap), the cyclist needs to either wait until traffic has passed and a sufficient gap becomes available, or request that someone in that traffic explicitly yield the right-of-way by slowing down to let the cyclist in. Simply looking back is often all that is required to signal the cyclist's intent, but sometimes a hand signal is helpful in getting a driver in overtaking traffic to yield right-of-way by slowing down to the cyclist's speed in order to allow the cyclist to move in front of the driver. Once right-of-way has been acquired in the adjacent lane, the second step is for the cyclist to move into that lane.
If there is another lane to traverse, the cyclist repeats the steps until there are no more lanes to traverse. The key to the process is that the cyclist merges into traffic lanes as per the rules of the road, one lane at a time, either when there is a natural gap to move into, or after someone slows down explicitly to allow the cyclist to move over.
The higher the relative speed of the overtaking vehicles, the more time and space a willing motorist needs to notice the cyclist's request and to safely slow down enough to allow the cyclist in. An assertive arm signal coupled with a timely look back is usually sufficient to accomplish this, even in very dense and fast traffic. When the relative speed is large and the gaps are too small for merging, the cyclist who is unwilling to use negotiation either has to wait for traffic conditions to improve or find another route.
The vehicular cycling attitude
Vehicular cycling advocates such as John Forester contend that if a cyclist does not act like a vehicle driver, they are unlikely to be treated like one by other road users, stating "There is much more to the vehicular-cycling principle than only obeying the traffic laws for drivers. The vehicular-style cyclist not only acts outwardly like a driver, he knows inwardly that he is one. Instead of feeling like a trespasser on roads owned by cars he feels like just another driver with a slightly different vehicle, one who is participating and cooperation in the organized mutual effort to get to desired destinations with the least trouble". (Forester, Bicycle Transportation Engineering, 1994, p. 3).
Pedestrian cycling
An alternative to vehicular cycling is pedestrian bicycling, or bicycling according to the pedestrian rules of the road. Pedestrian bicycling often means riding on
sidewalkA sidewalk , pavement , footpath , platform or footway is a path for pedestrians that is situated alongside a road or a paved...
s,
pedestrian crossingA pedestrian crossing or crosswalk is a designated point on a road at which some means are employed to assist pedestrians wishing to cross. They are designed to keep pedestrians together where they can be seen by motorists, and where they can cross most safely with the flow of vehicular traffic...
s, and other pedestrian facilities. In those jurisdictions where such behavior is illegal, the cyclist may be held liable for any personal injuries or property damage that results. There are peculiar hazards associated with this activity, including (but not limited to)
- Opening passenger-side doors.
- Pedestrians, dogs, children playing, etc.
- Potential conflicts with other vehicles at all intersections, including driveways and alleys, as well as major intersections.
- Entering crosswalks, where drivers turning into your path are often looking the other way.
Many cyclists use a combination of vehicular cycling and pedestrian bicycling. Some cyclists will resort to pedestrian cycling to avoid busy
roundaboutA roundabout is one of several types of circular road junctions or intersections at which traffic is slowed down and enters a one-way stream around a central island. Technically these junctions sometimes are called modern roundabouts, in order to emphasize the distinction from older circular...
s, using pedestrian crossings (if provided)--in Britain cyclists are often encouraged to do so by signs and shared-use footways (for pedestrians and cyclists).
This approach has the drawback that extra care must be taken when transitioning from one mode to the other, since transitioning often leads to actions not expected by others. In particular, during a transition, a cyclist must yield the right-of-way to both pedestrians and vehicle drivers. Car-bike collision statistics indicate that those who operate bicycles (and other pedal vehicles) in contradiction with the vehicular rules of the road are particularly vulnerable.
Examples of pedestrian bicycling:
- going straight across an intersection from the outside edge of the road (next to the curb)
- making inside turns only when it's clear (don't bother negotiating) by darting straight across the road during a gap
- resorting to pedestrian-style turns when no gaps are to be had
- eschewing streets with narrow outside lanes whenever possible (and, thus, where there is no room to be "out of the way")
Segregated cycling
Another alternative to vehicular cycling, "segregated cycling", is available in areas with
segregated cycle facilitiesSegregated cycle facilities are roads, tracks, paths or marked lanes designated for use by cyclists from which motorised traffic is generally excluded.- Terminology :...
that support cycling without sharing roads with vehicular traffic. Cities that are providing such facilities are reporting a high degree of usage, for example Montréal and Ottawa (Canada) and many European cities. Research indicates that cyclists are willing to pay a higher price in longer travel time for designated facilities such as an on-street bike lane.
Education
In addition to reading about
vehicular cycling in textbooks, a cyclist can participate in training courses offered by organizations such as the
League of American BicyclistsThe League of American Bicyclists is a non-profit membership organization which promotes cycling for fun, fitness and transportation through advocacy and education....
and the Canadian Cycling Association.
Another source for education regarding the basics of vehicular cycling is John S. Allen's pamphlet,
Bicycling Street Smarts.
Advocacy
Vehicular cycling experts—such as John Forester, John Franklin and John S. Allen—advocate for the operation of
pedal powered vehiclePedal powered vehicle is used to describe several types of vehicles:* tricycle* bicycle* velotaxi* Cab-bike* Pedalo* Human-powered helicopter...
s (including bicycles) in
trafficTraffic on roads may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using the public way for purposes of travel...
according to the principles of vehicle operation (i.e.,
drivingDriving is the controlled operation of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus. Although direct operation of a bicycle, a mounted animal or a motorcycle is commonly called riding, such operators are usually legally considered to be drivers and are required to obey...
). Some VC advocates feel that, in addition to the safety and efficiency benefits, cyclists should operate vehicularly to increase
societal acceptanceSocietal psychology is a development within social psychology which empahsizes the all-embracing force of the social, institutional, and cultural environments, and with it the study of social phenomena in their own right as they affect, and are affected by, the members of the particular society...
and to directly challenge the government's sanctioning of priority for motorists.
Opponents often object to vehicular cycling as overlooking the needs and interests of the majority who feel that, since motorists effectively already have areas of priority (travel lanes and freeways), cyclists deserve their own priority areas (such as
cycle lanes and tracksSegregated cycle facilities are roads, tracks, paths or marked lanes designated for use by cyclists from which motorised traffic is generally excluded.- Terminology :...
).
See also
- Effective Cycling
Effective Cycling is a trademarked cycling educational program designed by John Forester, which was the national education program of the League of American Wheelmen for a number of years. The Effective Cycling program consists of text books and training courses and a training video for students...
- Bike lane debate
- Utility cycling
Utility cycling encompasses any cycling not done primarily for fitness, recreation such as cycle touring, or sport such as cycle racing, but simply as a means of transport. It is the most common type of cycling in the world...
- Cycling hand signals
Hand signals are given by cyclists and some motorists to indicate their intentions to other traffic. Under the terms of the Vienna Convention on Traffic, bicycles are considered to be vehicles and cyclists are considered to be drivers...
- Segregated cycle facilities
Segregated cycle facilities are roads, tracks, paths or marked lanes designated for use by cyclists from which motorised traffic is generally excluded.- Terminology :...
Further reading
- Effective Cycling by John Forester (First edition, 1976; Sixth edition, The MIT Press, 1993) ISBN 0-262-56070-4
- Cyclecraft by John Franklin (First edition, Unwin Books, 1988; Fourth edition, The Stationery Office, 2007) ISBN 978-0-11-703740-3
External links
- Segregation: are we moving away from cycling safety?, John Franklin
- Video of LAB
The League of American Bicyclists is a non-profit membership organization which promotes cycling for fun, fitness and transportation through advocacy and education....
traffic cycling instructors demonstrating lane controlLane control can refer to* Vehicular cycling#Lane_control* Reversible lane...
lane control.