Author Archives: jsallen

About jsallen

John S. Allen is the author or co-author of numerous publications about bicycling including Bicycling Street Smarts, which has been adopted as the bicycle driver's manual in several US states. He has been active with the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition since 1978 and served as a member of the board of Directors of the League of American Bicyclists from 2003 through 2009.

PeopleforBikes approves transformation of Michigan Street, Indianapolis with Photoshop

Posted on March 4, 2015 by jsallen

[Note: I’ve changed the title and a few words in this article, because a reader has pointed out the the drawings I’ve commented on, while approved by PeopleforBikes, are not from PeopleforBikes — the impression which an article I cited … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling | 20 Comments

Is this an electrically-assisted bicycle?

Posted on February 27, 2015 by jsallen

The photo above is of ELF microcars from the US company Organic Transit. The ELF is marketed as a velocar — an enclosed, pedal-powered vehicle — but in reality, it is an electrically-powered microcar designed to meet the legal definition … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling | 3 Comments

When slow is too fast

Posted on February 26, 2015 by jsallen

The basic speed limit, not to go too fast under the existing conditions, is often lower than the posted speed limit. When facilities like the bike lane in the video are built in which 10 mph, or even 5 mph, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling, Bike lanes | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Lessons of Taiwan crash

Posted on February 23, 2015 by jsallen

The video embedded below of a car-bicycle collision in Taipei, Taiwan has been making the rounds on the Internet. When you have started the video playing,you can click on “Youtube”, and then on the little gear wheel at the lower … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling | 1 Comment

Europeans ride like this?

Posted on October 29, 2014 by jsallen

Check out this promotion video for Kickstarter funding, shot in Germany, or maybe Austria or Switzerland. The streets look German, and part of the narration is in German with English subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNs0ZQ_wzAc The video shows three bicyclists. One of them … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling | 10 Comments

You Gotta Be Kidding

Posted on September 5, 2014 by jsallen

The photo below is from MIT Spectrum, a publication of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The original caption reads: Rotating between asphalt, grass and photovoltaic cells, spaces can dynamically shift from city street to park to energy source — on … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling, New York City | 2 Comments

Monsere, Dill et al. — Not Yet a Review, But…

Posted on July 1, 2014 by jsallen

M. Kary, who prepared a review of the Lusk et al Montreal study, has had a preliminary look at the Monsere, Dill et al. study of barrier-separated on-street bikeways (“cycle tracks”) which the bicycle industry lobby PeopleforBikes is promoting as … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycle facilities, Bicycling, Cycle tracks | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

An Americanized Dutch intersection

Posted on June 13, 2014 by jsallen

The video embedded below was produced by Nick Falbo for a design competition at George Mason University. Mr. Falbo is now employed at Alta Planning and Design, a leading design firm which promotes and designs special bicycling infrastructure. Protected Intersections … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling, Cycle tracks, Sidepaths, Traffic Signals | 14 Comments

PeopleforBikes promotes a new study

Posted on June 10, 2014 by jsallen

There hasn’t been time yet for a thorough review of the new study of barrier-separated bikeways on streets touted by the bicycling-industry lobbying organization PeopleforBikes [dead link now, not archived], though claims of lack of traffic conflicts on these bikeways … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling | 24 Comments

Berri at Cherrier, Montreal

Posted on May 25, 2014 by jsallen

Gerald Fittipaldi, who is on an e-mail list with me, has posted a video on Flickr of cyclists traveling through an intersection where a two-way bikeway turns from one street to the other. Clicking on the link above or the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling, Cycle tracks, Sidepaths | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment