Cars and Bikes-- Can't we all get along? 10/20/2011
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Biking Rules! 06/25/2011
The Biking Rules campaign in New York City just came out with a great line of stickers. I really like them and ordered an "I rest at reds" sticker. This is a great counterpoint to my last post. NYC is doing great stuff!
New York City-- Uncivil Street 06/20/2011
This is a great video of just about everyone acting badly. I love the box-graphics that show the conflicts. Bicycles appear to be extra bad-- but really pedestrians are jay-walking and cars are routinely nudging in to crosswalks full of pedestrians.
3-Way Street from ronconcocacola on Vimeo.
Street Design and Knowing thy Neighbor 12/10/2010
A new StreetFilm on the amazing research of Donald Appleyard really brings to the front and center, the effect of traffic on community. People who live on heavily trafficked streets don't know as many neighbors, and don't even know very well what their street looks like.
Urban planners talk about the mobility vs. the place function of a street. Is the street more about moving traffic or is it more about being a great and beautiful place to hang-out? In the competition between getting around and this quality of a place... we need to strike a balance not only between the many users of the street, but between the traffic and the neighbors that live next to it.
CivilCyclists: Hi Cars Project in Boston 11/30/2010
A new effort has sprung up to increase dialogue between bicyclists and cars: the hi-cars project!
The idea is that a few actions we can take as cyclists will really improve our brand on the road.
There's a make-a-video project this Saturday morning at the Livable Streets Office (100 Sydney Street, Cambridge) from 10AM to Noon. We'll break up in to small groups and design a video that we'll produce right on the spot. I'll be there and I hope you will join me.
For more info see: http://thehicarsproject.com/Home/ or email the organiser: konufer@gsd.harvard.edu
For more info see: http://thehicarsproject.com/Home/ or email the organiser: konufer@gsd.harvard.edu
Bad Road Design = Bad Behavior 10/08/2010
There's much hand wringing about the behavior of drivers, bicyclists and walkers. I saw an amazing speaker, Ben Hamilton Baillie, talk about an emerging trend in Europe: eliminating traffic lights, street markings and all the things we think are necessary for orderly traffic. Sound crazy? Check out the video below:
UK Town Takes on Traffic Speed 09/21/2010
It's easy to complain about speeding traffic-- and why not. Speed kills. Bicyclists and pedestrians are especially vulnerable to speed. One town in England is taking the bull by the horns. Essentially. In urban areas, the speed limit is set at 20 miles per hour.
If you happen to own a car, you can set the speed limit at 20MPH too. On two lane city streets, your car sets the speed limit.
If you happen to own a car, you can set the speed limit at 20MPH too. On two lane city streets, your car sets the speed limit.
Civilstreets.org
Many cities are putting in new cycling facilities-- successfully attracting new riders.
Our image among the cycling community is one of "rogue" users. As I think about all the things that cyclists can do to improve our image-- stopping at a red light seems the most visible and by extension the most powerful.
Here's a radical proposition-- for those on the fence about stopping at Reds-- consider that the best time to stop at a red is when there are the most people watching you. The synergy there is that you are making a statement to the broadest possible audience. Furthermore, stopping just might encourage a few other cyclists to stop-- increasing the image of cyclists being nice.
I look forward to your thoughts!
Our image among the cycling community is one of "rogue" users. As I think about all the things that cyclists can do to improve our image-- stopping at a red light seems the most visible and by extension the most powerful.
Here's a radical proposition-- for those on the fence about stopping at Reds-- consider that the best time to stop at a red is when there are the most people watching you. The synergy there is that you are making a statement to the broadest possible audience. Furthermore, stopping just might encourage a few other cyclists to stop-- increasing the image of cyclists being nice.
I look forward to your thoughts!
I think it's time to make a shout out for all the good things people routinely do.
First off thanks to the courteous drivers who...
Cyclists-- Unlike motorists you'll never get a ticket. Everyone notices the bad cyclists, especially as the volume of cyclists is way up in many cities. Thank you so much for...
First is running red lights. If you must do it... consider it only in very narrow situations. For me it's when two conditions prevail: First, the intersection must be completely empty with no cars in sight, and second I must be in a real rush to get where I'm going. If there are any other road users waiting for a red light and you race through, chances are that you will anger someone. If a cyclist is stopped at a red light and you fly by them, you can be 90% sure they are annoyed.
The second thing that encourages fear and anger among other road users is the sight of a bicyclist riding without lights at night. Thanks very much to the vast majority of cyclists who do use lights at night.
The third and final courtesy is not riding the wrong way down a one way street. I have to admit that sometimes this is completely unavoidable due to local conditions. Consider dismounting and walking in these situations.
Walkers-- We are all walkers at some point-- even if it's from our vehicle to the shop. Our presence on the street makes life interesting for eveyone else. Laws are made more for the comfort of vehicles than pedestrians, so the rules are more of the common-sense variety:
In all our own ways, we can be ambassadors for good behavior.
First off thanks to the courteous drivers who...
- don't exceed the speed limit.
- stop for pedestrians in crosswalks
- stop for red lights
Cyclists-- Unlike motorists you'll never get a ticket. Everyone notices the bad cyclists, especially as the volume of cyclists is way up in many cities. Thank you so much for...
- riding in ways that don't scare or anger other road users
First is running red lights. If you must do it... consider it only in very narrow situations. For me it's when two conditions prevail: First, the intersection must be completely empty with no cars in sight, and second I must be in a real rush to get where I'm going. If there are any other road users waiting for a red light and you race through, chances are that you will anger someone. If a cyclist is stopped at a red light and you fly by them, you can be 90% sure they are annoyed.
The second thing that encourages fear and anger among other road users is the sight of a bicyclist riding without lights at night. Thanks very much to the vast majority of cyclists who do use lights at night.
The third and final courtesy is not riding the wrong way down a one way street. I have to admit that sometimes this is completely unavoidable due to local conditions. Consider dismounting and walking in these situations.
Walkers-- We are all walkers at some point-- even if it's from our vehicle to the shop. Our presence on the street makes life interesting for eveyone else. Laws are made more for the comfort of vehicles than pedestrians, so the rules are more of the common-sense variety:
- when in doubt, make eye contact with drivers and cyclists. Be sure they see you. This applies even when you are fully in the right to proceed
- don't be afraid to shout to get another road users attention
- band together to fight for better pedestrian amenities. Together we can make a difference.
- Try your hardest to be happy!
In all our own ways, we can be ambassadors for good behavior.
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Whoa! You nearly killed me... 08/13/2010
Or scared the crap out of me, or made bikers look really bad.
Following up on an earlier post "how do you communicate with people who are acting badly?", my girlfriend came up with the best candidate so far: Whoa!
Whoa! According to web definitions this is commonly used for a draft animal to stop; or to cease or slow a course of action. With some road users the draft animal that comes to mind is jack ass: A male ass or donkey; a foolish or stupid person.
So, let me know what you think about yelling whoa every time you see bad behavior. It's growing on me.
Following up on an earlier post "how do you communicate with people who are acting badly?", my girlfriend came up with the best candidate so far: Whoa!
Whoa! According to web definitions this is commonly used for a draft animal to stop; or to cease or slow a course of action. With some road users the draft animal that comes to mind is jack ass: A male ass or donkey; a foolish or stupid person.
So, let me know what you think about yelling whoa every time you see bad behavior. It's growing on me.
