Written by: Ted Villaire
Posted: Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Five ways to help cyclists survive the Chicago roads.
You’re on your way home from work and a coworker notices
your bike helmet tucked under your arm, and says, “You’re a cyclist?” You nod
and perhaps mention one of the many benefits of pedaling to work. Then your
colleague says something you’ve likely heard number of times: “I’d love to ride
to work, but the traffic is too dangerous.” How should you respond? Do you
dismiss your colleague’s fears and tell him or her to quit whining and get
riding? Do you tell this person that biking is not for everyone and leave it at
that? Or do you suggest ways he or she may become more comfortable biking in
traffic?
For those with an interest in earning songs of high praise
from their cycling friends, here are suggestions offered by a handful of local
cycling instructors on how you can provide encouragement and guidance to the
up-and-coming cyclists in your midst.
1. Understand their fears. When someone is afraid of riding
in traffic, the first step is confirming his or her concerns, said Dave
Glowacz, author of Urban Bikers Tricks and Tips: Low-Tech and No-Tech Ways to
Find, Ride, and Keep a Bicycle. Glowacz said this approach typically opens the
door to more conversation: “I say ‘Yeah, it is scary, but there are a lot of
people who do it and don’t have any trouble,”
“I acknowledge that it’s a valid feeling no matter how
realistic their concerns are,” said Randy Warren, a Chicago Bicycle Federation
(CBF) program specialist who heads up the federation’s Commuter Challenge.
Warren suggests asking if there are specific situations that are most scary for
this person, and then offering some solutions—or providing him or her with
relevant resources.
2. Suggest a mentor. Sarah Kaplan, a cycling instructor and
bike mechanic, said novice riders can learn a lot by riding with more
experienced riders. Many urban biking skills—such as positioning oneself at a
stoplight, making left turns at a busy intersection, and riding through traffic
jams—are better understood when seen, she said. If the colleague lives within a
reasonable distance of you, Kaplan suggests commuting with this person until he
or she achieves a greater level of comfort. Also, she said, you may try to
connect your colleague with other bike commuters who could ride with this
person or advise him or her on local routes.
3. Expand their comfort zone. “Suggest that they ride in a
places that are comfortable and then expand their territory slowly,” said
Glowacz. Your colleague may want to start out on a quiet bike path, and then
slowly move onto quiet streets, he said, and then busy streets with a bike
lane, and then busy streets without a bike lane. Eventually, said Glowacz,
“Most people can achieve a level comfort riding in most places.” Still, he
warns, some people will never feel comfortable riding in car traffic.
4. Send ‘em to school. Chicago cycling instructor Eric
Willmes said beginners will become more self-assured if they know basic skills
such as riding predictably, being visible, using a helmet, and keeping a safe
distance from parked cars. Bicycle safety classes offer an introduction to
these topics from trained individuals. Wilmes and other biking instructors said
that people who participate in a good bike safety class consistently express
how much safer and more comfortable they feel riding in a variety of traffic
conditions. Cycling courses also typically touch upon other topics essential
for novices, such as bike selection and fit, basics of bike handling, and
maintenance. (See www.biketraffic.org/school
for a listing of local classes.)
5. Offer resources. Give your colleague a copy of the free
Chicago Bike Map and explain why it’s important to stick to bike-friendly roads
(www.chicagobikes.org). Point out the
Safe Bicycling in Illinois guide
and CBF resources such as Bike to Work Guide, Chicagoland Bicycle Map
and Safe Bicycling in Chicago, all found out www.biketraffic.org.
While fear of traffic is likely to be the most common
obstacle holding people back from bike commuting, a variety of other concerns
may crop up. These could involve anything from parking to cleanup to clothing
to plain ol’ fear of being different. Some of these concerns you could help
with; others are addressed in the resources listed above. And, of course,
whatever amount of guidance you provide for the would-be cyclists around you,
don’t forget to brag about your efforts with your cycling friends.
Ted Villaire is a year-round cyclist and author of 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Chicago. A
second edition of the book has just been published by Menasha Ridge Press. Get
in touch with him by visiting www.tedvillaire.com.
Gymnastics and basketball may get the most attention, but here’s what to expect from our favorite sports. 
