Class Resources/homework

We’ll discuss these resources in class, or this will be homework to learn between sessions.

Schedule of group rides in Portland, Oregon: https://www.shift2bikes.org/

Bike Buddy program. Free connection with an experienced bicyclist near you. The experienced rider will meet you at your mutual convenience, answer your questions, and ride around with you. This is more social. The experienced rider is unlikely to know laws, traffic theory, or crash data. https://bikeloudpdx.org/bike-buddy/

How far to ride from parked cars. This is the parking lot demonstration we do in classes. Here’s the demo delivered from the Education Director of the League of American Bicyclists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyKFtMNgT34 and https://www.facebook.com/bob.shanteau.3/videos/107920732553063. This is also taught in the exact way by the American Bicycling Education Association https://cyclingsavvy.org/2018/08/bike-lanes-dooring/

How fast and slow traffic co-exist in traffic lanes. Video from the American Bicycling Education Association: https://vimeo.com/272643165. Slow traffic releases fast traffic, as described here and here.

FAQ about lane position in traffic lanes, with explanations. Most people find this counter-intuitive. Webpage from the American Bicycling Education Association: https://cyclingsavvy.org/road-cycling/. Also watch the embedded video “Lane Control v Right Tire Track”.

Hazard avoidance from turning trucks or trailers. Webpage from the American Bicycling Education Association: https://cyclingsavvy.org/what-cyclists-need-to-know-about-trucks/

Oregon classifies cyclists as “vulnerable road users”: https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_801.608, https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_811.135, and https://www.tcnf.legal/vulnerable-roadway-user/

Behaviors that cause crashes. Our class teaches hazardous avoidance maneuvers both parties can take, focusing on the top causes: Jeevan, V. (Oct 2023) “Behavioral Causes of Crashes Between Drivers and Cyclists in Portland, Oregon”, BikeLoud PDX

Behaviors that cause death. Our class teaches hazardous avoidance maneuvers both parties can take, focusing on the top causes: Komanoff, C. (May 2000), “The only good cyclist. NYC Bicycle Fatalities – Who’s Responsible?”, Right of Way

One road, many users. Compiled by our instructor.

Crash/fatality data (for instructor knowledge)

20 year literature review of behavioral causes of crashes and fatalities, written by our instructor: https://corvallisrow.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/crow-collision-study.pdf
ODOT research on why drivers “right hook” cyclists. Data shows that 2/3rds of drivers never check the bike lane before driving through. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1317&context=cengin_fac
Best presentation of how chance of death exponentially increases for each additional mph. https://www.propublica.org/article/unsafe-at-many-speeds
Seminal literature review on relationship between driver speed and death. Conducted by AAA: https://aaafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2011PedestrianRiskVsSpeedReport.pdf
How to conduct a pass. Presented by Honda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHTz50YnWhk

Laws (for instructor knowledge)

FAQ for driving around cyclists. This is the same as cyclists’ rights. Compiled by Traffic Instructor Vivek. https://portlandbicycleschool.com/driving-around-bicycles/
Portland attorney’s free book. Learn the biking laws that apply to cyclists and drivers. https://www.tcnf.legal/app/uploads/2016/10/pedal-power.pdf

Traffic theory (for instructor knowledge)

Oregon Drivers Manual. Drivers must know this inside and out. This is our common source of knowledge. Bicycle instructors teach concepts from this. This is Oregon’s greatest bicycle rights document, as it explains the scenarios that drivers must yield to cyclists. Available free online.
Oregon Bicycling Manual. This is okay. If cyclists only read one manual, it should be the Drivers Manual. Available free online.
American Bicycling Education Association website, packed with bicycle traffic theory
League of American Bicyclists web s ite, with some bicycle traffic theory