With very few exceptions, the safest way to ride is as part of the traffic, going with the flow of the normal traffic pattern. Bicyclists who ride this way get where they're going faster and, according to scientific crash studies, have about five times fewwer crashes than bicyclists who make up their own rules (J. Forester; Effective Cycling. Cambridge, MA, MIT Press, 1985).
Sometimes the simplest things tend to be forgotten when bicycle commuting, this is one example from the bicycle driving manual of PA, makes some interesting points and keeps people abreast and aware, of taking the time to understand that status that a bicycle should clearly be able to hold as a vehicle.
When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Here was a machine of precision and balance for the convenience of man. And (unlike subsequent inventions for man's convenience) the more he used it, the fitter his body became. Here, for once, was a product of man's brain that was entirely beneficial to those who used it, and of no harm or irritation to others. Progress should have stopped when man invented the bicycle. ~Elizabeth West, Hovel in the Hills
There is much to be said as it is mentioned here, about what was the first and the best invention of man, of a vehicle that was human powered, easy to repair and also provided the benefit by simply turning the pedals.
Then times clearly changed, for the better or the worst, people became more lazy, wanting convenience, without the sweat. Yet in that moment, or at least that process more forgot how wonderful a vehicle a bike is, because they became inundated with constant advertisements of the idea that having a car made you someone.
As time progressed more and more people started jumping on the bandwagon, those who knew bicycles as their primary mode of transport passed away and the next generation being overloaded with images, advertisements and ideas started making the car the primary mode of transportation. So begin the process of forgetting how wonderful a bike can be, and even today there is a rebuilding of the idea by more people riding bikes as an example it is still the best means to an end.
Read More About My Sentiments of Bicycling @ bikejourneys.wordpress.com
The wonders of bicycling, how simple and enjoyable it can be with the added benefit of good health, and a decrease of your carbon footprint. Beyond that when you are bicycling you also have some crazy, fun times.
In example just tonight in a short, time trial type of ride to a local supermarket I was riding with my brother when heard something drop and then saw him get off his bike, something was missing ...
As we reached the bottom of the hill, he stopped and I looked at his bike, his seat had come up missing, it's mount had failed and the end result was a bike without a seat and a pointless search for something so small as the bolt that held the mount together in the darkness of the night. As with winter comes shorter days, and longer nights.
We searched for awhile, using our bike headlights as lamps, and let me tell you, bike headlights are close to useless as they are often directional and are designed to be seen not so much to help you see. Though the effort was exerted because you may as well right, since you can actually stop on a bike and get off and look at things.
Finally we decided to just head over to the Grocery store, and all was fine, we arrived there, I stayed outside and watched the bikes while he went inside and got what was needed. And figure at the outset of the return trip things would be better, how wrong we were.
As we were coming closer to the house, he stopped again, I waited being a good guy and all, then when he caught up I asked him. "What happened?" he responds "I lost my shoe!" we laughed, and then I replied, "Well this has been a hell of a night huh?" and he heartily agrees. The thing was this grocery store is not to far from the house, so all this happened in something like eight miles or for those in europe 12.874752 kilometers (using google calculator) so certainly a short ride but isn't it amazing how much can occur in such a short distance?
An explorer of new mediums, a cyclist who made a choice long ago to travel through life on two wheels and by human power. A wayward traveler who writes on his journeys and experiences as well as a dream Journalist who seeks insight through his subconscious thoughts. All the while taking the time to explore Social Media, while Advocating for Pets and Animals as they are sentient beings too. An individual who feels that since the internet in it's original form, was community based. Who Speaks on Open Source and Ubuntu as viable alternatives to the proprietary based world.
An explorer of new mediums, a 