The Art of Urban Cycling (Hurst)

[redrhodie]

I read it.

The whole point of the book is that a bike is not a car, so what you wrote about it being okay for your DD to drive through a stop sign in a car is missing his point about bike riding in a big way. In another way, you're hitting the nail right on the head. He teaches that we (cyclists) are invisible, and should expect your teenage daughter to run that stop sign, and what we need to know to keep from getting hurt.

Since I read the book, I never assume any car driver is following the rules of the road. I assume they're talking on their cell phones, not paying attention, and are going to make mistakes, and my job is to be ready for them. I now know where to positon myself to avoid the side swipe, the car that makes a right turn in front of me with no signal, the opening door (I got hit with one of those once--so I already learned that lesson). He doesn't say don't follow the rules of the road, but use your judgment, primarily to stay safe.

It's a book about anticipation, focus, and bike handling skills. It's also about foriving mistakes, and remaining cool under pressure. I highly recommend it.

Correction.. he does say don't follow the rules of the road (as they are written for cars). His opinion is that bike rules should be different, since we are more vulnerable, and less visible.