The Art of Urban Cycling: Lessons from the Street

A deeper discussion than any others I've read.

¿The Art of Urban Cycling¿ by Robert Hurst provides quite another level of understanding for bicycling in urban traffic. The author says, ¿I possess no desire to be the pied piper of urban cycling, leading fat American motorists down the wide curb lane to freedom. This is a book for folks who are already aware of the bicycle¿s magic.¿ And, ¿Urban cycling requires a high level of engagement, mental and physical.¿ He gives us interesting in depth discussions about several subjects ¿ from the chapter titled ¿Frankenstein¿s Monster¿, his perspective of the history of bicycling in America in relation to the growth of automobile use; through ¿In Defense of Gutters¿, to the epilogue ¿Of Bicycles and Cities¿ where he states, ¿. . .if cycling makes cyclists happier, it¿s not because cycling is easy.¿ The author criticizes what he calls the ¿old-fashioned vehicular cycling¿ approach to bicycling that relies on legal traffic behavior. But, he states that John Forester¿s principle, that ¿cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as operators of vehicles¿ is a ¿stellar guideline¿ (especially) ¿¿ next to the absentminded anarchy (of) many novices.¿ And then he explains that bicyclists should not expect or seek to force the proper or legal actions of others. ¿The most effective way for a cyclist to stay out of trouble on city streets is to ¿ take on full responsibility for his or her own safety.¿ This book goes beyond the basics and the tips to explore in more depth the issues and situations that explain why good bicycling is an art more than a science.