Threat Recognition

The photo to the right shows the intersection of Primrose and Colonial at rush hour. 

I’m planning to drive straight (headed for the connector trail at the north end of the street). All the cars in the lane beside me are turning left onto Colonial. The ones in front of me are turning right. Few cars continue straight because Primrose isn’t a thru road, it just serves the Coytown neighborhood. The cars facing us in the left lane on southbound Primrose are turning left onto Colonial.

Those oncoming drivers want to make the light, so they’re looking for the first opportunity to dash across — creating the potential for a left cross. The right-turning cars in front of me could give them that opportunity, if they think they can turn into the inside lane as these guys turn into the outside lane. A driver in a hurry will often place a higher priority on saving time than assessing risk.

From what I’ve seen, most cyclists cross this intersection by riding up the sidewalk and using the crosswalk. Doing that introduces an additional layer of conflict and crash potential. But mostly, it gets them stuck. Right-on-red is permitted here (unlike at many of the other intersections in this area). This puts pedestrians at a disadvantage because the right-turning motorists are looking left, watching the eastbound lanes. They will turn when those lanes are clear, regardless of the signal phase. As traffic slows for a yellow signal on Colonial, those drivers are getting a jump on the walk-signal for Primrose (I know, as if they’d notice or heed it anyway).

Monitoring

Aside from the right-turn issue, the cars in the queue will screen everything to their right from the view of the left-turning drivers, and block the view of the potential threat for anyone in that space. So at an intersection where a road has a wide lane or a bike lane, it’s important to move into the queue, and all the way to the left side of the lane. Moving only to the right tire track or middle still leaves you invisible and with poor vantage — screened by the cars in front of you.

By staying in the queue and positioning on the left side of the lane, I’ve eliminated the right-hook problem and set myself up to monitor the primary conflict area during my approach to the intersection. The left-turning drivers can see me, too.

Communication

The narrow lane and tight radius means turning cars move pretty slow. I can usually pass the car in front of me as it turns. When I get into the intersection, the left-turning car I encounter may not be the front car that had been stopped at the light. That one might have made the turn into the inside lane already. I can’t be certain the drivers of the cars behind have seen me yet. Because the left-turning drivers are not sure where the right-turning cars are going, they tend to be cautious. But before I cross the path of a left-turning car, I make sure I have the driver’s attention. Usually I can get a wave or nod of acknowledgement, sometimes I can tell the by the movement of the vehicle. In the dark, a bright headlight is great for stopping them in their tracks — I can see them hit the brakes.

After clearing the left-cross threat, I check to my right for a possible vehicle turning right-on-red from Colonial onto Primrose. Because of the width of the intersection and my vantage, I can monitor these threats easily in sequence.

General Rule of Vantage

The best vantage in your lane will generally be gotten from where a car driver sits. So, when stopped in traffic, moving the speed of traffic, crossing intersections or approaching a side street or driveway with poor sight lines go to the left tire track.

For other left cross scenarios, check out this animation.

Weekend Course
March 23 & 24

Take the full course for $75 or individual sessions for $30 each.

Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling (classroom session) 6-9PM on Friday, March 23.

Train Your Bike (bike handling session) 8 – 11 AM on Saturday, March 24.

Tour of Orlando session will begin in Colonialtown (1-4:30PM) Saturday, March 24. (completion of other two sessions is required to take this one).

Class locations TBA — in or near downtown Orlando.

For those wanting single sessions, or to take the course in 3-hour increments, you can sign up for Truth & Techniques or Train Your Bike. Individual sessions are $30 each. A package (all 3 sessions) can be purchased for $75. Package price is valid even if you take the courses on different dates.

Metroplan Scholarships are available for students and Central Florida residents with a financial need. Contact us to find out if you qualify and how it works.

To learn more about the course, click here.

You can go anywhere by bike! We’ll show you how.

Use this form to sign up for the March class!

The weather turned perfect for us this weekend! We had a great time with our students and took full advantage of the spring-like February. An excellent start to our 2012 CyclingSavvy DFW season!

Check out our Facebook album for some photos from the weekend… and our new Vimeo channel for a little recap on the on-bike portion of the workshop.

By the way… We’ve just announced our spring 2012 class schedule:

• March 2-3 - Register now!
• April 27-28
• May 11-12

Experience empowerment to act as a confident, equal road user. You will learn strategies for safe, stress-free integrated cycling and come away with the tools to read and problem-solve any new traffic situation or road configuration.

Weekend Course
February 24 & 25

Take the full course for $75 or individual sessions for $30 each.

Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling (classroom session) 6-9PM on Friday, February 24.

Train Your Bike (bike handling session) 8:30 – 11:30 AM on Saturday, February 25.

Tour of Orlando session will begin in Colonialtown (1-4:30PM) Saturday, February 25. (completion of other two sessions is required to take this one).

Class locations TBA — in or near downtown Orlando.

For those wanting single sessions, or to take the course in 3-hour increments, you can sign up for Truth & Techniques or Train Your Bike. Individual sessions are $30 each. A package (all 3 sessions) can be purchased for $75. Package price is valid even if you take the courses on different dates.

Metroplan Scholarships are available for students and Central Florida residents with a financial need.

To learn more about the course, click here.

Use this form to sign up for the February class!

Discover the joy of human-powered travel.

Experience cycling empowerment to act as a a confident, equal road user. You will learn strategies for safe, stress-free integrated cycling and come away with the tools to read and problem-solve any new traffic situation or road configuration.

Shaare Zedek‘s Social Action Committee is sponsoring Part 1 of CyclingSavvy at no charge for all adults. Parts 2 and 3 will be limited to 10 participants. As part of its efforts to promote the new Gateway Bike Plan, Great Rivers Greenway is providing scholarship funding for these participants.

Part 1: Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling

Learn the truth and techniques of traffic cycling. Through guided discussion with videos and animations, this classroom-based session familiarizes students with bicycle-specific laws, traffic dynamics and problem-solving strategies. Students discover that bicycle drivers are equal road users, with the right, ability and responsibility to control their space on public roadways.

Sponsored by Shaare Zedek Synagogue, this session is free to all adults, but please register so that the synagogue knows what size room to set up.

Part 2: Train Your Bike

This session is conducted in a parking lot. It consists of a set of progressive drills designed to increase students’ control and comfort handling their bikes in various situations. Drills include:

1. Starting, stopping  & balance
2. Understanding gearing
3. Slow balance drill (Snail Race)
4. Acceleration drill (drag race)
5. Straight-line riding
6. Turning: Cone weave
7. Turning: Follow the leader
8. Turning: Rock dodge
9. Turning: High-speed cornering
10. Turning: Snap turn
11. Quick stop

In three short fun hours, you will learn to command your bike with precision and confidence.

As part of its kickoff of the Gateway Bike Plan, Great Rivers Greenway is matching the registration fee for all participants. A $30 value, this session is available as a stand-alone class for $15.

Part 3: Tour of Mid-County*

*To participate in the Tour of Mid-County, students must have completed both “Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling” and “Train Your Bike” (the classroom and parking lot sessions). The Tour of Mid-County is about 10 miles long, and will proceed at a pace of 10-12 miles/hour

This session is an experiential tour of St. Louis roads. The course includes some of the most intimidating road features (including intersections, interchanges and merges) a cyclist might find in his or her travels. Students travel as a group, stopping to survey and discuss each exercise location. After observing the feature, discussing the traffic dynamics and the best strategy for safe and easy passage, the students ride through individually and regroup at a nearby location. This session is designed to give you the confidence and skills to handle any situation you might encounter driving your bicycle in the metro St. Louis area.

Great Rivers Greenway is matching the registration fee for all participants. A $30 value, students who are participating in the classroom and parking lot sessions may register for the Tour of Mid-County for $15.

Registration available here.

We’ve resolved to help you make bicycling safe, comfortable, and fun again.  Whether you are riding for sport, transportation, or just plain fun, CyclingSavvy will give you tools and confidence to ride any street (or path) safely and comfortably.

Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling

February 3rd, 6-9PM

Updated Location:  Northway Church (map)

Learn the truth and techniques of traffic cycling. Through guided discussion with video and animation, this classroom-based session familiarizes students with bicycle-specific laws, traffic dynamics and problem-solving strategies. Students discover that bicycle drivers are equal road users, with the right and ability to control their space.

This session is available á la carte for $30. You may take it as a stand-alone class.

Train Your Bike

February 4th, 8-11 AM

Updated Location:  Northway Church parking lot (map)

This session is conducted in a parking lot. It consists of a set of progressive drills designed to increase students’ control and comfort handling their bikes in various situations. Drills include:

• Start/Stop, Power Pedal & Balance Stop
• Snail Race, Slow-speed Balance
• Drag-race, Gears & Acceleration
• Ride Straight, One-handed
• Shoulder Check
• Object-avoidance Handling, Weave, Snap
• Turning: Slow-speed Tight Turns, High-speed cornering, Emergency Snap-turn
• Emergency Braking

This session is available á la carte for $30. You may take it as a stand-alone class. In three short hours, you will learn to command your bike with precision and confidence.

After the Train Your Bike session the class will ride to lunch before beginning the Tour of Dallas.

Tour of Dallas

February 4th, 12:30-4 PM

Start/End @  Northway Church parking lot (map)

This class requires completion of the first two sessions. It will begin after a group lunch.

This session is an experiential tour of Dallas roads. The course includes some of the most intimidating road features (intersections, interchanges, merges, etc.) a cyclist might find in his/her travels. The students travel as a group, stopping to survey and discuss each exercise location. After observing the feature, discussing the traffic dynamics and the best strategy for safe and easy passage, the students ride through individually and regroup at a nearby location. This session is designed to give you the confidence and skills to handle any situation you might encounter.

Register Online

Individual sessions are $30 each package for all three sessions is $75.

If your new year’s resolutions include saving money and adopting a healthier lifestyle, we can help. Start the year right by learning how to use your bike to go anywhere, safely and easily.

Experience empowerment to act as a confident, equal road user. You will learn strategies for safe, stress-free integrated cycling and come away with the tools to read and problem-solve any new traffic situation or road configuration.

Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling (classroom session) 6-9PM on Friday, January 13.

The Jan 14 on-bike sessions are full. There is plenty of space in the classroom and you may sign up for the waiting list. We’ll notify you if a slot becomes available.

Train Your Bike (bike handling session) 9 AM-Noon on Saturday, January 14.

Tour of Orlando session will begin in Colonialtown (1-4:30PM) Saturday, January 14.(completion of other two sessions is required to take this one).

Class locations TBA — in or near downtown Orlando.

For those wanting single sessions, or to take the course in 3-hour increments, you can sign up for Truth & Techniques or Train Your Bike. Individual sessions are $30 each. A package (all 3 sessions) can be purchased for $75. Package price is valid even if you take the courses on different dates.

Metroplan Scholarships are available for students and Central Florida residents with a financial need.

To learn more about the course, click here.

Use this form to sign up for the January class!

For more info, send email to gcziko(at)gmail(dot)com

The West Coast’s first CyclingSavvy course will be offered January 6, 7 and 8, 2012 in Berkeley and Oakland, California. The course will be given by CyclingSavvy co-developer Mighk Wilson (CSI) and Gary Cziko  (CSI, LCI, PhD).

Discover the joy of human-powered travel.

Experience empowerment to act as a confident, equal road user. You will learn strategies for safe, stress-free integrated cycling and come away with the tools to read and problem-solve any new traffic situation or road configuration.

Part 1 of the course will accommodate 30 people. Parts 2 and 3 will be limited to 12 participants with sessions offered both Saturday and Sunday. The cost for all three parts of the course is $75.

Part 1: Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling

Friday, January 6, 2012; 6:30 – 9:30 pm
3515A Tolman Hall
University of California
Hearst Ave. & Arch St.
Berkeley, CA (street map; campus map)

Tolman Hall is on the north side of the campus, (two buildings east from the west corner of the campus). Room 3515 is in the Education part in the east (uphill) wing of the building. You can enter the building on the 1st or 2nd floors. When you leave the elevator or stairwell on the third floor, turn right. Make the next two rights and 3515A will be on your left. For those arriving by car, on-street parking on Hearst or another nearby street should not be hard to find Friday evening during University break.

Learn the truth and techniques of traffic cycling. Through guided discussion with videos and animations, this classroom-based session familiarizes students with bicycle-specific laws, traffic dynamics and problem-solving strategies. Students discover that bicycle drivers are equal road users, with the right, ability and responsibility to control their space on public roadways.

This session is available as a stand-alone class for $30.

Part 2: Train Your Bike

Saturday, January 7, 8:30 to 11:30 am COURSE FULL
Sunday, January 8, 8:30 to 11:30 am COURSE FULL
Parking lot at 1357 5th St.
Oakland, CA 94615 (map)

If arriving via BART, exit the West Oakland station on the left. Turn left again when you exit the station (heading east) and you will see (across the BART parking lot) buildings that say “Cable Moore” and “California Soda.” The parking lot we are using is on the far side (across Mandela Parkway) of the “California Soda” building. We will probably use the larger part of the parking lot that is on the far (east) side of metal building on the parking lot. You can see a sequence of photos leaving the BART station here.

This session is conducted in a parking lot. It consists of a set of progressive drills designed to increase students’ control and comfort handling their bikes in various situations. Drills include:

1. Starting, stopping  & balance
2. Understanding gearing
3. Slow balance drill (Snail Race)
4. Acceleration drill (drag race)
5. Straight-line riding
6. Turning: Cone weave
7. Turning: Follow the leader
8. Turning: Rock dodge
9. Turning: High-speed cornering
10. Turning: Snap turn
11. Quick stop

In three short hours, you will learn to command your bike with precision and confidence.

This session is available as a stand-alone class for $30.

Thanks to Francisco Lira and Pacific Park Management for providing access to their parking lot, and to Bonnie Wehmann for putting us in contact with Francisco.

Part 3: Tour of Oakland*

Saturday, January 7, 2012;  1 pm to 4:30 pm. COURSE FULL
Sunday,  January 8, 2012;  1 pm to 4:30 pm. COURSE FULL
Jack London Square
Broadway and Embacadero
Oakland, CA 94607 (map)

*Registrants must have completed the sessions “Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling” and “Train Your Bike” to participate in the Tour of Oakland. They also must be able to cycle up to 8 miles at an average speed of 12 mph (with frequent stops).

This session is an experiential tour of Oakland roads. The course includes some of the most intimidating road features (including intersections, interchanges, merges and railroad crossings) a cyclist might find in his or her travels. Students travel as a group, stopping to survey and discuss each exercise location. After observing the feature, discussing the traffic dynamics and the best strategy for safe and easy passage, the students ride through individually and regroup at a nearby location. This session is designed to give you the confidence and skills to handle any situation you might encounter driving your bicycle in the Bay Area or elsewhere.

This session is available as a stand-alone class for $30.

More information about the philosophy, content and purpose of the CyclingSavvy course can be found here.

Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling

Instructors: Dan Moser & Toni Ferrell, Fort Myers Florida

January 11, 5:30-8:30pm
Offices of Harvey Software – Ground Floor Conference Room
7050 Winkler Rd #104 (Myerlee Square)
Fort Myers, Florida

Learn the truth and techniques of traffic cycling. Through guided discussion with video and animation, this classroom-based session familiarizes students with bicycle-specific laws, traffic dynamics and problem-solving strategies. Students discover that bicycle drivers are equal road users, with the right and ability to control their space.

This session is available á la carte for $30. You may take it as a stand-alone class.

63% of Florida adult cycling hospitalizations do NOT involve a motor vehicle. Many are crashes with fixed objects, pavement hazards, pedestrians, animals or other cyclists, and could be avoided with better bike-handling skills.

Train Your Bike

Instructors: Dan Moser & Toni Ferrell, Fort Myers Florida

January 14, 8:30 – 11:30am
Edison State College, Fort Myers Campus – Southeast Parking Lot (access via Edison Parkway, from Summerlin Road)
Fort Myers, Florida

This session is conducted in a parking lot. It consists of a set of progressive drills designed to increase students’ control and comfort handling their bikes in various situations. Drills include:

• Start/Stop, Power Pedal & Balance Stop
• Snail Race, Slow-speed Balance
• Drag-race, Gears & Acceleration
• Ride Straight, One-handed
• Shoulder Check
• Object-avoidance Handling, Weave, Snap
• Turning: Slow-speed Tight Turns, High-speed cornering, Emergency Snap-turn
• Emergency Braking

This session is available á la carte for $30. You may take it as a stand-alone class.

Urban Tour

Instructors: Dan Moser & Toni Ferrell, Fort Myers Florida

January 14, 12:30 – 4pm

This session is an experiential tour of local roads. The course includes some of the most intimidating road features (intersections, interchanges, merges, etc.) a cyclist might find in his/her travels. The students travel as a group, stopping to survey and discuss each exercise location. After observing the feature, discussing the traffic dynamics and the best strategy for safe and easy passage, the students ride through individually and regroup at a nearby location. This session is designed to give you the confidence and skills to handle any situation you might encounter.

This session is only available with the full course.

Discounted full package includes all three segments (including a future Urban Tour) for $75

Truth & Techniques and Train Your Bike may be purchased á la carte for $30/each
Tours of Southwest Florida require completion of the other two sessions.

Please note that Classroom-based sessions are limited to 15 students, and On-bike sessions are limited to 12 students so that we may provide personalized instruction. Reserve your space early!

>REGISTER HERE<

Contact Dan Moser for details: dan@floridabicycle.org or 239-334-6417

Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling

December 9th, 6-9PM
Location: JCC of Dallas (map)
Learn the truth and techniques of traffic cycling. Through guided discussion with video and animation, this classroom-based session familiarizes students with bicycle-specific laws, traffic dynamics and problem-solving strategies. Students discover that bicycle drivers are equal road users, with the right and ability to control their space.
This session is available á la carte for $30. You may take it as a stand-alone class.

Train Your Bike

December 10, 8-11am
Start/End @ NorthPark Center
This session is conducted in a parking lot. It consists of a set of progressive drills designed to increase students’ control and comfort handling their bikes in various situations. Drills include:

• Start/Stop, Power Pedal & Balance Stop
• Snail Race, Slow-speed Balance
• Drag-race, Gears & Acceleration
• Ride Straight, One-handed
• Shoulder Check
• Object-avoidance Handling, Weave, Snap
• Turning: Slow-speed Tight Turns, High-speed cornering, Emergency Snap-turn
• Emergency Braking

This session is available á la carte for $30. You may take it as a stand-alone class. In three short hours, you will learn to command your bike with precision and confidence.
After the Train Your Bike session the class will ride to  lunch before beginning the Tour of Dallas.

Tour of Dallas

December 10, 12:30-4PM
Start/End @ NorthPark Center
This class requires completion of the first two sessions. It will begin after a group lunch.
This session is an experiential tour of Dallas roads. The course includes some of the most intimidating road features (intersections, interchanges, merges, etc.) a cyclist might find in his/her travels. The students travel as a group, stopping to survey and discuss each exercise location. After observing the feature, discussing the traffic dynamics and the best strategy for safe and easy passage, the students ride through individually and regroup at a nearby location. This session is designed to give you the confidence and skills to handle any situation you might encounter.

Register now!

Individual sessions are $30 each package for all three sessions is $75.