Forester observations on cycle tracks

Post date: Oct 19, 2011 5:57:37 PM

In a letter to the Journal of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, John Forester himself a transportation engineer, identifies problems with European-style cycle tracks

Among his observations are,

• • the cyclist who operates at typical roadway speed, 15 to 25 mph, has great difficulty in avoiding such (crossing-type) collisions,

• (European) cycle-tracked streets have very few driveways.

• cities with bikeway systems began as walking cities, with trip distances suitable for walking.

• cycling (is chosen) because it is faster than walking,

• cities are also quite inconvenient for motoring, making even slow-speed cycling more competitive with motoring,

  • (in Europe) it is accepted that cyclists do not have the rights and duties of drivers of vehicles; they have to obey the special bikeway laws,

  • cyclists (in North America) must always be allowed to obey the rules of the road for drivers of vehicles.

See Forester's letter in Reference Material folder