John Forester (cyclist) facts for kids

Vehicular cycling means bikes act like cars.

John Forester (born October 7, 1929 – died April 14, 2020) was an engineer from England. He focused on how bicycles could be used for transportation. He was a strong supporter of cycling.

Forester is often called "the father of vehicular cycling". This idea means that people on bikes should ride like they are driving a car. He created a bike training program called Effective Cycling. He also wrote a book with the same name. His famous saying was: "Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles." He also wrote Bicycle Transportation: A Handbook for Cycling Transportation Engineers.

Early Life and Education

John Forester was born in East Dulwich, London, England. He was the older son of the writer C. S. Forester. In March 1940, his family moved to Berkeley, California. He went to public schools there. After his parents divorced, he finished high school on the East Coast.

Later, he studied at the University of California, Berkeley. He first studied physics. But he graduated in August 1951 with a degree in English. He briefly served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. After that, Forester settled in California. He became an industrial engineer and a professor. He also became an expert in the science of bicycling.

Becoming a Cycling Supporter

A 1978 cartoon about vehicular cycling. The cyclist likely represents Forester.

John Forester loved cycling since he was a child. He became a cycling supporter in 1971. This happened after he got a ticket in Palo Alto, California. He was riding his bike on the street. But a new rule said he had to ride on a separate bike path on the sidewalk.

Forester fought the ticket in court. The city rule was then changed. His first article about bike paths came out in February 1973. It was in Bike World magazine. He wrote many articles over the next 40 years. He often wrote about why separate bike paths were not always the best idea.

In May 1973, new safety rules for bicycles came out. These rules were from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They were later handled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The rules were first for kids' bikes. But they soon included almost all bikes.

In October, Forester wrote an article against these new rules. He especially disliked the "eight reflector" system. This rule said bikes needed many reflectors. It replaced the need for a bicycle headlight. Forester argued that car drivers might not see cyclists. This was because car headlights would not shine on the front reflector. This could lead to crashes.

Forester's Ideas on Bike Safety

Forester was known for his ideas about cycling safety. He believed that cyclists should act like drivers. He thought this would make roads safer for everyone. He created the Effective Cycling training program.

His research suggested that when cyclists and drivers understood each other, there were fewer accidents. He believed this was better than building separate bike lanes. The League of American Bicyclists used his program for a while.

Death

John Forester passed away on April 14, 2020. He was 90 years old. He died from problems related to a long-lasting flu.

See also

• Outline of cycling