Bicycle Transportation

A professional engineer and avid avocational bicyclist, John Forester combined these interests in founding the discipline of cycling transportation engineering. This book presents the basic principles of the field, buttressing the author's arguments in an earlier, privately printed edition with new insights and updated information. In this book, Forester contends that when motorists and cyclists obey existing traffic laws and regulations, and when each group respects the other's right of way and rights to the roadway, riding a bicycle along streets with traffic is safer than pedaling on restricted bike paths and bike lanes. He argues the case for cyclists' rights with passion, zeal, and statistics. His opinions are not simply the whimsical notions of a man who loves cycling, but are solidly based on experience, traffic studies, and roadway design standards. Bicycle Transportation begins by comparing "vehicular cycling" to what the author calls "inferiority cycling." Among the numerous topics it discusses are the demographics and economics of cycling, accidents, the effects of bicyclists on traffic, effective educational programs, improving bicycling facilities, and dealing with government cycling policy. The book outlines the complete process of cycling transportation design and offers a recommended cycling transportation program.