The Making of a Vehicular Cyclist
-- About the Author --
Fred Oswald
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The Making of a Vehicular Cyclist-- About the Author --
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Fred started commuting to work via bicycle in the mid-1980's and has been riding regularly since 1990, gradually increasing from about 65 trips to work and 1300 miles per year to about 180 trips each year plus other utility cycling totaling 4500 miles annually. He rarely rides solely for recreation.
His conversion to a "vehicular" cyclist is fairly typical: (A vehicular cyclist operates a bicycle as the driver of a vehicle, following the standard rules of the road. This is the safest and most efficient method of bicycle transportation.) When he started, like most novices, he avoided main roads in favor of quiet residential streets. He occasionally rode on sidewalks where main roads could not be avoided. But he noticed sidewalk cycling creates hazards at intersections and driveways where drivers crossing his path do not look for fast traffic on the sidewalk. He also began to realize the roads were not as bad as originally thought.
One day he was riding on a sidewalk with his daughter (then age 12) when a car pulled out of a restaurant parking lot, blocking the sidewalk. His daughter was unable to stop in time and bumped the side of the car. Fortunately, she was not injured, but the experience provided a lesson about the hazard of riding on sidewalks, especially near commercial driveways. It is particularly dangerous to ride the "wrong way" with respect to traffic on the adjacent road.
This experience and a few timely tips from friends taught him that it is safer to ride on the roadway, following the same traffic laws as other drivers. He also learned that if he rides close to the curb, then some passing drivers will squeeze past at unsafe clearance. However, if he rides a bit further into the lane (typically in the right tire track), then, contrary to initial belief, passing drivers will not run him over but instead they give much more space. In addition, with this improved lane position, there are fewer motorist errors, such as the "right hook" where a car passes, then cuts in front of the bicycle to make a right turn. Another benefit to riding further left is that it allows a "safety zone" to the right in case something goes wrong. But the main benefit of this lane position is that far fewer things go wrong.
As he gained this experience, he wondered about his legal rights as a user of the road. Did he "own" the lane he was using? Were cars passing illegally where the lane is not wide enough for both a bicycle and a motor vehicle? Note that many two-lane roads are not wide enough for sharing the lane. Thus passing traffic must often cross a double yellow line to use part of the oncoming traffic lane to avoid squeezing by at unsafe clearance.
Reading traffic laws was no help. Ohio Revised Code (§ 4511.55(A)) says "Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable ..." Except for that word "practicable", this would seem to encourage "hugging the curb", a practice that leads to drivers dangerously "squeezing by". Eventually, he learned that the right tire track is generally the right place to ride. He also discovered that he can cooperate with other traffic too. If traffic backs up behind him, he can usually find a safe way to let them pass. (For one thing, once cars slow down, less safety space is needed.) This knowledge is the secret to safer and more pleasant cycling.
One morning in 1994, as he was riding on US Rt.42 (5 narrow lanes including center turn lane) near his home, a police officer ordered him to ride against the curb. By this time he had enough experience to be certain that the officer's order was contrary to safety. He wrote to the police chief suggesting officers need training about operating bicycles properly. However, he did not then know where they could get this training. The chief did not answer the letter.
Four years later, he saw the video Effective Cycling when the NASA Research Center in Cleveland bought a copy for its "Learning Center". He immediately realized it could be a good tool for teaching police, city officials, etc. He bought his own copy for advocacy. He also bought several dozen copies of the booklet Street Smarts by John Allen for educating public officials. After two more letters to the chief, an officer finally called to see the video.
Fred first heard about local ordinances that require riding on sidewalks and other dangerous practices at a meeting of the local planning agency's bicycle planning committee. A cyclist had been stopped in North Olmsted, near Cleveland, and threatened with a ticket for riding on the road. Fred later learned of other communities with similar bad laws, including Avon Lake, OH, certified as a "Bicycle Friendly Community" by the League of American Bicyclists. Ironically, the planning agency has been completely unwilling to advise cities that some ordinances need reform. Alas, the "Bicycle Friendly" program continues to reward cities that treat cyclists badly.
The editor of Crankmail, the local bike club newsletter, was also concerned about these dangerous laws. Fred wrote a short article about "Sidewalk Laws" for the Crankmail Web Site. Thus began a significant cycling advocacy section that now includes over two dozen articles about model cycling laws, legal defense of cyclists, plus "how to" information including a parents' brochure, links and more. The "short article" now has information and ratings about the cycling ordinances for 60 communities in NE Ohio. About half of the cities researched had one or more ordinances that mandate dangerous practices. A few communities (including N Olmsted) revised their cycling ordinances as a result of this work.
One of the most effective venues for advocacy is a good state cycling organization such as the Ohio Bicycle Federation. Fred became a board member of OBF because it has been working on several worthwhile projects, including reforms for Ohio bicycle traffic laws. In 2001, OBF persuaded the Lieutenant Governor to publish Ohio Bicycling Street Smarts through the Ohio Dept. of Public Safety.
The newest OBF program established a Cyclist Friendly Communities Award Program. This emphasizes safety, education, and treating cyclists fairly. The OBF web site includes an extensive "Toolkit" of resources to help communities meet the criteria.
In April, 2002, Fred attended a workshop to become a "League Cycling Instructor", certified by the League of American Bicyclists. This allows him to teach bicycle driving through BikeEd classes. Certification also provides the credentials as a cycling expert. You can see a preview of his BikeEd course on the Crankmail Web Site.
Fred ran for the board of the League of American Bicyclists as a reform candidate (to correct several serious problems including BFC). However, a clique including appointed (not elected) directors conspired to "steal" the election. You can read about this disgraceful misconduct at The LAB Election Scandal of 2003. You can find the latest news on the LAB Reform Web Site.
Fred's "better half" is Dianne Oswald, companion, elementary schoolteacher and mother of three. Dianne does little cycling but is a good hiker, cross-country skier and canoeist. She patiently tolerates his many hours typing articles about cycling on the computer.
Robin Oswald, the author's daughter, has become a prominent triathlete and
"ironwoman". She was a runner in middle and high school and a swimmer in
high school and college. Cycling is a more recent activity. She is a
determined competitor, placing 16th of all the women at Ironman USA at Lake
Placid in 2001 and then moving up to 9th in 2002. In 2003, she went "pro"
and took 5th place at Ironman Wisconsin.
Robin is also a triathlete
coach and personal trainer.
Fred's other children are students: Jay is a mechanical engineering and music major (trombone) at Case Western Reserve Univ. and Michael a horn performance major at Cleveland Institute of Music. Neither currently shows much interested in cycling. (Perhaps when they get older.) The right photo shows all three offspring just outside Carnegie Hall in NY following a performance by Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra in March 2001. The boys were then members of the Youth Orchestra.
revised 9 Feb 2004