| Re: drivers speeding away
On Jan 26, 6:24 pm, tkeats2...@hotmail.com (Tom Keats) wrote:
> In article <1169766269.903611.261...@q2g2000cwa.googlegroups. com>,
> frkry...@gmail.com writes:
>
> > On Jan 25, 11:41 am, r15...@aol.com wrote:
> >> On Jan 24, 9:52 pm, tkeats2...@hotmail.com (Tom Keats) wrote:
>
> >> > ...Because "being predictable" connotes
> >> > relying on others to look after our safety. But we've
> >> > really gotta look after ourselves.You said it all when you said it.
>
> >> > Maybe cyclists' safety is more about predicting, than
> >> > it is about being "predictable."Sing it, Brother!!!
>
> >> New cyclists are admonished to be 'visible and
> >> predictable' first and foremost. This implies that
> >> ultimately it is up to the drivers to keep them safe,
> >> and that their responsibility as cyclists lies in helping
> >> the drivers keep them safe.
>
> > The implication you state is only in your own mind.
>
> > Beginning cyclists are admonished to be visible and predictable
> > because, without such instruction, so many of them are neither.
> > Without instruction, most of them don't seem to know that rules of the
> > road even exist for cyclists. Their behavior is random and dangerous
> > to themselves.When I learned to ride (a handful of decades ago) I was
> immediately taught the protocol of right-of-way. In fact,
> I figure Effective Cycling's 5 basic principles pretty much
> sublimate down to that.
>
> I guess following a protocol is a manner of being
> predictable.
>
> So why not specifically say: "observe (or at least
> recognize) right-of-way rules" instead of just a
> mamby-pambyishly glib: "be predictable?"
You need to understand that my statement "be predictable" is in the
context of responding to Robert. That's not the vocabulary emphasized
in class nor in the various books and websites that espouse vehicular
cycling; it's merely the way it was brought up in this particular
thread.
In teaching League cycling courses, I've taught mostly folks who have
drivers licenses. With them, the most efficient way to describe "rules
of the road" behavior is, I think, to say "If you wouldn't do it in a
car, you probably shouldn't do it on a bike." I also quote whoever
said "Same roads, same rights, same rules." I also quote Forester's
statement, "Cyclists fare best when they act, and are treated as,
drivers of vehicles."
But I also express that concept in other ways, especially when I've had
pre-driving kids in my classes. One advantage of a class over an
Internet posting is that you can explain (and demonstrate) concepts in
many ways.
You also need to understand that these classes do not rely on mere talk
& chalk. There's classroom discussion, video, demos using models, etc.
but there's parking lot work (that's where emergency turns are taught,
for example) and there are hours of road work among motor vehicles,
with lots of stops for discussion.
> Or one could optionally, list the 5 basic principles
> of Effective Cycling at them. But I'd still put them
> in context of right-of-way.
I suppose each teacher explains things slightly differently. That's
normal. But good teachers will still get the ideas across.
- Frank Krygowski
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