We have two similar but very different books on the topic of urban cycling!
Urban Bikers’ Tricks and Tips
Link to book at Powell’s
Link to book at Multnomah County Library
List Price:
This book is the ultimate practical guide. All kinds of situations that a cyclist may run into are outlined and diagramed with pragrmatic (and usually legal) tips.
Every possible left turn scenario is covered! When should you take the lane? How do you pass a bus that’s unloading passengers (it depends on how many passengers are left to board)? It’s all here.
I’m giving this one to my 15-year-old daughter to read for cycling to school in downtown Portland.
The Art of Urban Cycling
Link to book at Powell’s
Link to book at Multnomah County Library
List Price:
While this book covers much of the same practical ground as the first (perhaps not in the same level of detail), it adds a lot of philosophy and theory about the role of the cyclist in the urban environment.
Do you know what the school of vehicular cycling is? Why does it eschew bike paths? When are helmets dangerous? A book that will make you think while it prepares you for your commute!
One response to “Bookshelf: Urban Cycling”
I’ve always been a big fan of the first, Urban Bikers’ Tips and Tricks. It’s also available at the Multnomah County Library (I’d link to it, but they’re about to update their card catalog, so I’m sure the link will change). The author, Dave Glowacz, is currently the Director of Education at the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, one of the best bike advocacy groups in the nation. He’s also a really nice guy. Here’s his website about the book, including a bunch of tips from it. He’ll be at Interbike, signing copies of the revised edition of his book.