Jake – “One can’t simply take the attitude of “I’m inherently more sustainable – get out of my way!”
And “This would let people know how to interact properly, and it would also send the message that this is something people need to learn and pay attention to. When drivers and pedestrians start to see bikes as a legitimate player on the road, rather than a nuisance one hopes not to encounter, the interactions will be safer and more courteous.”

As I read and note these comments I am reminded of the urban cycle way strategy in a particular shire of the sunshine coast where councils have given over to cyclists demands to build and accommodate more cycle ways . . . at the expense of pedestrian access. And the anecdotal “proper” interactions of cyclists.

In a society where there are many dictating economic factors outside the purview of the “cyclist getting to their endpoint, sustainably and in the least amount of time, at the expense of those ignorant pedestrians, are we not missing a simple common courtesy, read-other people who may be hard of hearing, parents, grandparents or carers with prams who regularly utilise the pedestrian ways (which were by the way removed and replaced with cycle ways for the benefit of the cyclists)

Whist we are making some headway in terms of urban cycle way infrastructure and in the field of the communication of cyclists right,s we should not forget the return of the common courtesy to those who do the sustainable tango every day; trying to manoeuvre prams, walking frames and wheelchairs where once there was a pedestrian crossover . . .

Were our cities’ infrastructure and planning, history and social fabric inherently similar to that of Copenhagen, Kyoto or Amsterdam it may be that I could ride my Omafiets Dutch Cargo bike to work each day . . . albeit at 5km on the Bruce Highway from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane on a safe cycle way . . . dare I say somewhat safer than the said pedestrian way, now given over to cyclists.

(Footnote – this common access path had the pedestrian symbol removed and replaced with a cycle only symbol, and this is the only access way from point A to point B. I would also like to add the said “pram pushing grandmother” DID go to council to bother them about the bias nature of the new arrangement)

In this participatory world we should also acknowledge our co-participants sustainable actions, however humble or slow.

Riding the bike, one quickly finds oneself at the bottom of the totem pole. Both cars and pedestrians expect the cyclist to yield. Now, there are rules to govern these interactions. But many people don’t know them – or don’t feel that they need to know them. Pedestrians cross the road casually any time they want. Cars zoom around bicycles as if relishing the assertion of their size and power. I can see why cyclists get frustrated, but cycle rage does not help the cause. One can’t simply take the attitude of “I’m inherently more sustainable – get out of my way!”

I think cities need to start clearly communicating the rules of the road governing pedestrians, cyclists, and cars. This would let people know how to interact properly, and it would also send the message that this is something people need to learn and pay attention to. When drivers and pedestrians start to see bikes as a legitimate player on the road, rather than a nuisance one hopes not to encounter, the interactions will be safer and more courteous.

We have to deal with things as they are now while I hope we can move toward a point where cars are the least desirable option within the urban core – or not an option at all.

As it is, I was impressed with the Boris bikes and the London bike lanes. I found the prospect of urban cycling on the whole somewhat dicey – and rather fun.

I do not know if we are “overthinking”.

I think we need to keep talking about the issues, nurture and progress attempts at getting more people cycling (even if we might not agree 100% with some of the measures …). And we need to provide a good example ourselves, riding our bicycles whenever practical, in normal clothes, to meetings etc. Being tolerant and positive about what we do.

We might never be like Copenhagen (cycling in snow, anybody?), but who cares? Personally I don’t care if people cycle or not, I just wish they would use cars a tiny bit less often … Organisations such as yours play a huge role in setting directions for the world our kids will live in. Play that role to your best ability. Keep writing.

The action to thought ratio for cycling is probably much less than for other transport modes. Maybe because we think about each mode in isolation, modes like cycling and walking are thought of as nice to haves and easier to cut from project scope. This is not the case in countries with higher cycling mode share.

It would be helpful if politicians received a more consistent and positive message from bicycle advocates. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t is not a good way to get political traction to make the brave steps towards cheap low cost significant action, i.e. reducing on-street car parking.