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Better Biking in Lakewood www.bikelakewood.org |
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Education is Key! Here's an unfortunate reality. Most cyclists, including those in Lakewood, do not know how to cycle safely. But they think they do. You see them cruising the sidewalks all over town, and you hear them say things like.... Stay out of the way of cars. Always ride on the sidewalk. Ride as far right as possible. Ride as though others can't see you. And of course the always laughable.... You could be dead right! None of these are true. The biggest problem is that most cyclists were taught cycling by their parents, instead of by bicycle safety experts. Misinformed parents then teach their children improperly. We've been cycling for over a hundred years and most of us are still doing it wrong. Contrast that with, for example, water safety. Hundreds of Lakewood residents send their children to our pools every summer to be taught to swim by a certified Water Safety Instructor. How many of us send our children to a certified League Cycling Instructor? Think about it.... Almost half of all cyclist/motorist collisions are caused by the cyclist. And many of the others can also be avoided by learning safe cycling. BikeLakewood would like to help educate its residents by providing the information below, and by encouraging all cyclists to participate in bike safely classes. Bicycle Education Courses League of American Bicyclists "Bike Ed" classes - The League of American Bicyclists offer a series of bicycle education courses taught by certified League Cyclist Instructors. Locally, Bike Ed courses are offered by the Ohio City Bike Co-op. Check their class schedule here. BikeLakewood recommends that all cyclists take at least the Road 1 class. Cycling Solutions - Produced by the British Columbia Cycling Coalition and B.C. insurance broker Autoplan Brokers, these materials are available online. Their Bike Smarts for Children handbook helps teachers, youth leaders and cycling instructors improve the knowledge, skills and attitudes of children with respect to safe handling of their first vehicle - a bicycle! How to Ride in Traffic (aka "Vehicular Cycling") Lakewood's east-west streets (Lake, Detroit, Franklin, Hilliard, Madison) have plenty of traffic, but are reasonably wide and certainly bikeable. But in order to ride any Lakewood street safely, you must ride on the street, with the traffic. The sidewalks are not safe for biking. Much has been written about urban biking. A few of the better articles are given below. Bicycling Street Smarts - This online booklet explains everything you need to know to ride your bike safely. It's arguably the best overall treatment of the subject. How You Can Ride Better - This series of online articles published by the League of American Bicyclists is another complete treatment of the principles of vehicular cycling. This site covers everything from lane positioning to bicycle maintenance. How Not to Get Hit By Cars - This article illustrates the ways bikes most often get hit, and pretty much in the order of frequency. The article also shows you how to avoid mistakes that can lead to collisions. One thing you will notice is that being hit from behind, which is understandably the biggest fear that keeps cyclists off the street, happens very rarely. Tips for Bicycle Driving - This is a short PDF file with tips for safe urban cycling that can easily be reproduced and distributed in hardcopy. It is authored by Northeast Ohio's own Fred Oswald. Fred is on the boards of both the Ohio Bicycle Federation and ClevelandBikes. Fred has logged over 60,000 commuter miles in his many years of cycling, and is one of the most knowledgeable and prolific writers on the subject of bike safety. Fred prepared this version especially for distribution by BikeLakewood. Where to Ride Your Bike? - Another good summary of the principles of vehicular cycling in a one-page PDF format. How To Ride in Traffic (Ken Kifer's Bike Pages) - Ken rode over 100,000 miles before his tragic death. In this page, he posits five rules for safe cycling, (1) obey the traffic laws, (2) keep alert at all times, (3) be visible day and night, (4) take the least traveled way, and (5) keep the bike in good repair. Tragically, Ken died on September 14, 2003 after being hit by a drunk driver just 6 miles from his home near Scottsboro, Alabama. He was 57........ Bike Commuting More and more people are commuting by bike these days. It's inexpensive, burns calories, and is kind to the environment. A lot of the information you'll find on the web is authored by experienced bike commuters, or by government agencies. Below are a few good articles to help you get started bike commuting, or to help you get around Lakewood. Bike Commuting and Transportation (Ken Kifer's Bike Pages) - As Ken says, "There are many who have chosen to rethink their lives and the daily grind to the office and are riding their bikes to work instead. I have written the following pages as an encouragement. I hope that my experience and suggestions, plus the help found on the many sites I have linked to, will be a guide towards living a less car-dependent, possibly even car-free life." Commuting/Touring Bikes (John Faughnan) - A wealth of information on commuting bikes from a fellow who has obviously kept up. Also provides information on accessories and clothing. Ten Tips for Safe & Enjoyable Bike Commuting (Fred Oswald) - Another good overall summary by Fred Oswald. Fred prepared this version especially for distribution by BikeLakewood. Fred also authored a helpful page on winter bike commuting. EcoCity Cleveland "Getting Around by Bicycle" - EcoCity Cleveland also publishes a page with tips on how to navigate Northeast Ohio by bicycle. Bike Commuting Tips (Washington State DOT) - This is a pretty good summary of bike commuting do's and don'ts. Bike Commuting Tips (City of Austin) - As good a one-page collection of tips as you will find. Bicycle Commuting (Bicycle Universe) - Another good overall discussion of the various issues involved with bike commuting. Maps Below are maps that could help you get around Northeast Ohio by bike. Metroparks All Purpose Trail Maps - As virtually every Lakewood resident knows, the Metroparks can be easily accessed from two locations within Lakewood -- from Detroit Road at the very western edge of the city, and by way of Hogsback Lane. From there you can bike to your heart's content all over Cuyahoga County, either on the All Purpose Trail, or on the road itself. Novice and intermediate cyclists tend to prefer the Trail, while experienced cyclists often use the roadway (which is expressly permitted). NOACA Bicycle Map for Cuyahoga County - This map will help novice and intermediate cyclists pick a route suitable for his/her cycling abilities. Maps are available for other Northeast Ohio counties as well. The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail - This multi-purpose trail was developed by the National Park Service and is the major trail through Cuyahoga Valley National Park. From it you can make connections to many of the natural and historic sites in the park and to other trails that intersect it along the way. It follows the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal. Much of the trail is crushed limestone, you won't want to be riding your racer on the Towpath Trail. |