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Effective Cycling (sixth edition)
By John Forester ( MIT Press, Cambridge, 1993, 599 pages).
The bible of common sense and solid research on bicycle safety and the
principle of vehicular cycling (acting like other traffic). Also a comprehensive
book on many other aspects of bicycling. Forester's main point when it
comes to bicycle safety is, "Cyclists fare best when they act and
are treated as drivers of vehicles," a statement that has been proven
true by every major study ever done, and which is the basis of how bicyclists
are treated under the vehicle code.
The Quotable Cyclist
Edited by Bill Strickland ( Breakaway Books, New York, 1997, 358 pages).
A great little book full of quotes on all things bicycle, including many
by famous people (everyone from Albert Einstein to Michelle Pfeiffer).
Divided thematically into sections ranging from "Crashes" and
"The First Ride" to "Love" and even "Hate"
(anti-bicycling quotes). Strickland is a former editor of Bicycling magazine,
so he knows his stuff and makes the book a fun read.
The Essential Bicycle Commuter
By Trudy E. Bell (Ragged mountain press, Camden, Maine, 1998, 168 pages)
Bell provides a complete guide not only to commuting, but also to using
your bicycle for other practical travel and errands. There are chapters
on everything from how to select and buy a good second-hand bicycle to
how to bring your children along. An excellent book for anyone who wants
to make use of their bicycle for transportation.
Urban Bikers' Tips and Tricks
By Dave Glacowacz (Wordspace Press, Chic ago, 1998, 250 pages)
As the title says, this book is geared toward city riding. It's highly
practical with a tough edge. There are tips for some things we would not
recommend doing. However, overall, it's a good resource. There are good
advanced techniques for how to deal with city traffic, bike theives and
other not-so-friendly inhabitants of the urban landscape. There's even
a full treatment of how to "uglify" your bike so it is less
likely to get stolen.
Asphalt Nation
By Jane Holtz Kay (Crown Publishers, Inc. New York, 1997, 358 pages)
If you ever wondered how it got to be so easy to travel by car and so
difficult to get anywhere without one most places in America, this book
will explain how it all came about. Holtz-Kay has done her homework and
presents a thorough history of how the automotile has shaped our urban
landscape, our architecture, our national psyche and more - and not always
for the better. This is not a radical extremist rant, but a careful case
study and analysis by the architecture and planning critic for The Nation
magazine. A must read for anyone concerned with urban planning issues.
