doublelineblock (Will)Jan 9, 2023
Brent Toderian

This actually isn’t surprising at all, but it still needs to said over & over — the biggest barrier to more urban biking in cities is the fear of cars.

“A study confirms that if we are serious about getting people on bikes, they need a safe place to ride.”

Via @lloydalter #TreeHugger #bikes #cities #urbanism #cars #BikeLanes
https://www.treehugger.com/fear-of-cars-biggest-biking-barrier-study-6979522

Biggest Barrier to Biking Is a Fear of Cars

If we are serious about getting people on bikes, they need a safe place to ride.

Treehugger
Jan 4, 2023 at 10:32pmWeb
Show threadSuzanne KettleyJan 4, 2023

@BrentToderian @lloydalter

I 100% agree. It's definitely true for me.

Show threadPax Ahimsa Gethen 🏳️‍⚧️Jan 4, 2023

@BrentToderian @lloydalter I would definitely consider cycling again if I didn't have to share roads with cars.

(ETA I don't drive, I walk and take public transit)

Show threadHeath RyanJan 4, 2023

@BrentToderian @lloydalter

This is Melbourne, Australia, where I live and where we met a few years ago - where car insurance is optional and where tinted side windows quietly became legal a few years back.
Step 1: mandatory motor insurance
Step 2: make cars safer by outlawing US-style tinted windows

Show threadSir ToastyJan 5, 2023

@heathryan @BrentToderian @lloydalter
Saying insurance is optional in Vic is misleading.

Vehicle Property insurance is optional, Victoria has 'no fault' person insurance(TAC) included in Vehicle Registration, so any incident in Victoria involving a car, motorbike, train, or tram the people involved are covered.
https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/what-to-do-after-an-accident/who-can-claim-with-the-tac

Cyclists however don't pay the TAC levy and so if the incident doesn't involve car/motorbike/train/tram it's on them

Who can make a TAC claim?

You can make a claim with the TAC if you were involved in an accident caused by a car, motorcycle, bus, train or tram.

TAC
Show threadHeath RyanJan 5, 2023

@SirToasty @BrentToderian @lloydalter

Saying TAC is insurance is more misleading. It’s a medical fund.

Vehicle property insurance (either fully comprehensive or third party) where premiums are linked to the risk from the driver based on the driver’s driving history is optional. THIS is real insurance, and this is behaviour changing insurance with financial consequences.

The rest of the world (excluding NZ and Australia) have real insurance.

Show threadSir ToastyJan 5, 2023
@heathryan @BrentToderian @lloydalter
The TAC's website says they are a insurance scheme and in other states similar insurance is called 'compulsory third party insurance'
And aside from enriching insurance companies I really doubt making vehicle property insurance mandatory would change driving behaviour since it doesn't do much to discourage crashes, and being uninsured atm has massive costs if they are at fault right now.
Show threadHeath RyanJan 6, 2023

@SirToasty @BrentToderian @lloydalter

Simply compare Australian legislation to the UK. The facts speak.

Show threadKelsonJan 4, 2023
@BrentToderian This is yet another reason why "Nobody uses them!" is such a meaningless critique of painted bike lanes.
Show threadMichael SmartJan 4, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter Yes that's me. Moved house recently from an inner-city suburb with many bike paths and bike lanes to a less affluent further-out suburb that has hardly any of either. As a result I am seldom riding my bike at all, and not seeing many other bike riders.
Show threadRobin CapperJan 4, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter recent 'discussion' with someone asking for more roads to have 'Sharrows' so motorists knew to share with bikes. 100% wrong approach i reckon, all roads (bar motorways) are shared
Show threadCatherineJan 5, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter This is so true. I used to cycle every day but the traffic is so heavy and the roads so dangerous that I very rarely dare. Most towns are the same but it's particularly bad in #Eastbourne
Show threadIan GibsonJan 5, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter true for me - work is a bikeable distance but with only painted bike gutters the likelihood of being killed to death is too high for my liking so I drive
Show threadLot⁴⁹Jan 5, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter This is so true. I'm 73, have ridden a bike since I was 9 or so, but find ordinary residential streets too scary to ride on.
Show threadpahiJan 5, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter wer hätte das gedacht!
Show threadMilonguero cyclistaJan 5, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter Also: Agressive drivers need to get punished. Seriously punished.
Show threadPhil LandmeierJan 5, 2023

@BrentToderian @lloydalter That's certainly true here where I am in West Virginia. This town was founded in the 1700s. Streets are narrow for horses and now one way. There's no room for a bicycle anywhere.

It's a shame because bicycles could zoom around town easily. Instead, cars are gridlocked single file on narrow streets.

But this is West Virginia, so it will never change.

Show threadDave WarnockJan 5, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter yes, except really it is the drivers that frighten me.
Show threadandrzej_jozwikJan 5, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter "Safe Place to Ride" should be chanted on every occasion and everywhere. Safety is still a huge problem. In some areas of my city where cyclists have been killed in traffic accidents, white bikes have been painted as a symbol. #poland #bike #cities #urbanism
Show threadIza Running AgainJan 5, 2023

@BrentToderian @lloydalter

I would love to have a bicycle that I could get around on for fun and some other things but the roads in this area are not built to give bikes or people on foot a safe means to go from place to place. They're built for cars only really.

Show threadKziJan 5, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter @notjustbikes considering cyclist basically take all the risk, and remain at the mercy of car driver competence, attention, and recurring anger management issues, I'm indeed not surprised 😬
Show threadClinical RawlsianJan 5, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter I think this is as true for the suburbs, if not more so. Every suburban parent I know is rightly terrified to let their children ride bikes outside their neighborhood (and sometimes inside). They live in constant fear that their kids will be killed trying to cross a six lane stroad to get to a shopping center or struck by an F150 driver doing 50 through a residential area.
Show thread1959bestJan 5, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter And not just urban bikers. I'm very uncomfortable about cycling into my local town along a narrow A road.
So I don't, sadly.
#addingham #ilkley #westyorkshire
Show threadSeb  🌳🚶🌳Jan 5, 2023
@1959best @BrentToderian @lloydalter For what seems to be a hub of cycling (cyclists etc), you would think Ilkley/Addingham would have much safer connections
Show thread1959bestJan 5, 2023

@Seb @BrentToderian @lloydalter
There is a proposed Wharfedale Greenway under consideration (and development, further down the dale) which will help enormously. Great if it also heads up to #boltonabbey

Can't wait.

https://friendsofwharfedalegreenway.org.uk/

Before my wife became ill, we were vaguely involved, but now, like so many other great projects, we have to leave it to others. A great project to support, in any way one can.

Friends of Wharfedale Greenway - Friends of Wharfedale Greenway

The Friends of Wharfedale Greenway was set up in 2021 by volunteers from communities along the Wharfe valley. We support the vision of creating a Greenway supporting wildlife, leisure, and active travel. We are currently working with local communities and Town/Parish Councils to raise awareness of and support for the Greenway. This website is to

Friends of Wharfedale Greenway - Supporting plans for the Wharfedale Greenway
Show threadSeb  🌳🚶🌳Jan 5, 2023
@1959best @BrentToderian @lloydalter It looks like a really interesting project. All of the communities along it would benefit massively
Show threadtrishandertonJan 5, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter And city buses. And cops who park in the bike lanes.
Show threadbangaroo 🦘Jan 5, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter @notjustbikes Philly bikers basically have a mutual trauma we all talk about over beers it’s so stressful.
Show threadCitykidPVDJan 5, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter I coulda told you. In youth and middle age I rode everywhere on a bike. Now, the unavoidable stress is intolerable. I wish I could get an ebike and enjoy cycling again. Toward the end of my riding days I tried to believe most drivers were becoming more considerate, but the rest were growing increasingly vicious and the not vicious ones are usually on their phones.
Show threadTony FlorioJan 5, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter I think the rise of gravel biking has been driven, in part, by the fact that it allows former road bikers to choose routes that either have no vehicles or very little traffic.
Show threadSolar🌄GardenJan 5, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter
for me and about 25% of non-riders ac to recent survey, it also means safety from breathing vehicles' toxic fumes. So that doesn't automatically make putting a barriered lane beside a busy road a solution. Being anywhere *near* traffic is just a downer.
Show threadPhil Stevens Jan 5, 2023

@BrentToderian @lloydalter I was hit and dragged by an inattentive driver when I was 15. Still not keen on riding in traffic and I'm pushing 60.

Separated infrastructure is the only way to roll.

Show threadguerogramJan 5, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter I'm a bicycle commuter through a downtown metro (Indianapolis) for many years. I'm terrified almost every day.
Show threadJoão GomesJan 6, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter @lxparapessoas check it out!
Show threadDavid HomerJan 6, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter Absolutely! Fear of cars driven by people who have no idea or interest in the effect on other road users of how they drive.
Show threadliveablesheffieldJan 6, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter Like you said seems obvious how to promote this to the local council though?? 👀👀👀
Show threadTheAnymouseProphetJan 9, 2023

@BrentToderian
What I really hate is when drivers are looking left to turn right, paying no attention to cyclists in the bike lane.

@lloydalter @BrentToderian

Show threaddrg40Jan 12, 2023
@BrentToderian @lloydalter
I should spend a few days in Amsterdam. You will find the issue is nothing physical, just attitude. In Amsterdam the roads ARE a safe place to ride your bike.
By the way, if you do take my advice and survey the Amsterdam transport scene do not hire a car - unless of course you enjoying frightening yourself witless.
Oh, and out of interest, Amsterdam has some interesting bits of kit they use to rescue cars from the canals, Avoid tram tracks like the pox.