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.

Some perspective on Perspective…

Posted on December 8, 2012 by jsallen

Here’s what I think is really important about this video in itself and as an example: it applies modern promotional and media techniques to put across the message of cyclist integration into the normal traffic mix. We who advocate that … Continue reading →

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A reply to comments on my previous post…

Posted on December 2, 2012 by jsallen

In a comment on my previous post, Khal Spencer asked whether the extension of a bike lane in a bike box is in fact a lane, or whether on the other hand, the bike box is more like a crosswalk. … Continue reading →

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Boston Globe: Reality Check Time

Posted on December 1, 2012 by jsallen

The caption with the picture below in the Starts and Stops column of the Metro section of the June 17, 2012 Boston Globe reads: Cyclists stopped for a red light in the “bike box” on Commonwealth Avenue in the Back … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycle facilities, Bicycling, Bike box, Bike lanes, Traffic Signals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

North-south, east-west: is that best?

Posted on November 29, 2012 by jsallen

The Facebook Cyclists are Drivers group carries a report of a cyclist who was rear-ended by a motorist who was blinded by the setting sun. And, here’s an urban planning issue I bet that you haven’t heard about (unless you … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling | 4 Comments

Cycle track mania on the slippery slope in Somerville, Massachusetts

Posted on November 14, 2012 by jsallen

My attention recently was drawn to a proposed project for Beacon Street in Somerville Massachusetts, a couple of towns away from where I live.. A presentation from a public meeting is online here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1Y_jIpLYtpycEZNOUVTNUYxQVU/edit (I was unfortunately not able to … Continue reading →

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The slow race

Posted on October 2, 2012 by jsallen

I have my antennas tuned to the signals coming from the paint and path, anti-car, transportation reform segment of bicycling advocacy. I have no access to the messages which advocates of this stripe send to one another. But when I … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling | 21 Comments

Danish story, video and comments on the Albertslund-Copenhagen “bicycle superhighway”

Posted on September 4, 2012 by jsallen

A reader pointed me to a news story on the politiken.dk blog about the Copenhagen/Albertslund “bicycle superhighway” which is getting attention and publicity. The reader’s comments on my previous post read: Yeah, its kind of joke, but to be fair … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycle facilities, Bicycling, Cycle tracks, Sidepaths, Traffic Signals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Copenhagen “bicycle superhighways” have traffic lights, driveway crossings…

Posted on September 2, 2012 by jsallen

A story ran on the program NPR (National Public Radio) Weekend Edition Saturday on September 1, 2012 about “bicycle superhighways” being constructed between Copenhagen and its suburbs. The NPR piece, with comments, is online as text with photos, here: http://www.npr.org/2012/09/01/160386904/in-bike-friendly-copenhagen-highways-for-cyclists. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling | 5 Comments

Some observations about bike-share bikes

Posted on August 29, 2012 by jsallen

I recently spent several hours riding in Montreal with a companion who was using the Bixi bike-share bicycles. These are similar if not identical to others being deployed in North American cities. I have some experience riding a Hubway bicycle … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling, gearing | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The Photoshop School of Traffic Engineering strikes again!

Posted on August 29, 2012 by jsallen

The Photoshop School of Traffic Engineering strikes again, this time in Minneapolis. For background, please read the Minneapolis blog post: http://www.ouruptown.com/2012/08/potential-cycle-track-coming-to-36th-street Also please read John Schubert’s comment on that post. I’ve added a comment too — still in moderation as … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycle facilities, Bicycling, Cycle tracks | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment