This is the course that Vancouver City Council and the Bicycle Association of British Columbia (BABC) wanted to require couriers to complete. It is almost identical to the CanBike II course which is a three day course for all cyclcists and costs $75 in 1997. The BABC shortened the course to one day and wanted to charge couriers $50 in 1988. (I would bet the 3 day course cost no more than $50 in 1988. So why the rip off the couriers?)
Course Particulars
Course Fee:$50.00 Course Length: 8 hours Instructor Qualification: CCA Certified Can-Bike II Instructor (see Appendix C)
Introduction
Traffic Skills for Couriers is designed for commercial cyclists operating a bicycle under heavy traffic conditions.
Students who enter this course should have sufficient cycling experience to be able to ride confidently in downtown traffic. The objective of Traffic Skills for Couriers is to teach specific skills which will enable couriers to use their bikes more safely and efficiently. The course also focuses on the vehicular philosophy of bicycling end emphasizes the rights and responsibilities of cyclists.
The content of Traffic Skills for Couriers covers the following subject areas;
1) Registration
2) Course Description
3) Film-Bicycling Safely on the Road
4) Vehicular Philosophy
(a) Ride on the right side of the roadway
(b) How and when to yield to cross traffic with the flow of traffic
(c) How and when to yield to same-direction traffic
(d) Destination positioning at intersections
(e) Positioning between intersections
5) Presentation by Police Department
(a) Complaints
(b) Rules and regulations
6) Parking Lot Emergency Maneuvers
(a) Rock Dodging
(b) Instant Turn
(c) Panic Stopping
7) On-road
(a) Traffic Maneuvers
(b) Cycling style
(c) Traffic Cycling Proficiency
(d) Where to Ride on the Roadway
(e) Changing Lanes
Detailed Course Outline
The following is a course outline. which is a modified version of the CCA Can-Bike Skills II manual.
1) Registration
Students will register for the course through the Bicycling Association of B.C., and will be required to fill out a registration card with name, address, and phone number. Students will also be required to fill out the attached liability release form.
2) Course Description
The instructor will briefly discuss the course objective and hand out the course outline. Purchase of the text Effective Cycling' by John Forester will be recommended but not mandatory.
3) Film - Bicycling Safely on the Road
Show approximately the first twenty minutes (the first two of three parts). This covers traffic cycling principles and emergency maneuvers.
4) Vehicular Philosophy
The instructor will emphasize that:
1) There are two classes of road users - drivers and pedestrians. Cyclists can be both but not at the same time, i.e. cyclists cannot ride on the sidewalk or on crosswalks.
2) All road users must obey the same rules. Cyclists should consider themselves to be vehicle drivers.
The instructor will introduce the five basic traffic cycling principles and emphasize that cyclists who understand and ride according to these principles will be able to ride safely in any type of traffic.
All drivers, regardless of the type of vehicle they drive, follow the same basic traffic principles. The size and speed of your vehicle may influence how you apply these principles, but the reason is the same. to reduce conflicts between road users.
Understanding the following basic traffic principles will enable cyclists to ride safely in traffic.
1) Ride on the right side of the roadway; not on the left, and not on the sidewalk. Cyclists who ride facing traffic are more vulnerable, because other drivers do not expect wrong-way traffic. Sidewalk riding is also very hazardous because each driveway or laneway becomes, in effect, an intersection.
2) How and when to yield to crossing traffic. Yielding means deciding if you must yield and, if so, waiting until it is safe to go. There are two basic rules for drivers who meet at intersections: (a) the driver on the minor street or lane yields to the driver on the main street; and (b) at an uncontrolled intersection, the driver who arrives last yields, or, If the drivers arrive simultaneously, the one on the left yields.
3) How and when to yield to same-direction traffic. Every driver who wants to move into a new line of travel must yield to traffic already in that lane. Before moving sideways on the road you must look behind to check that it is safe to do so (shoulder check),
4) Destination positioning at intersections depends on your intended direction beyond the intersection. At a simple intersection, start a left turn from near the centre line, and a right turn from curb. At a multiple-lane intersection, choose the right-most that serves your destination.
5) Positioning between intersections (mid block) depends basically your speed relative to the rest of the traffic, and also on the usable width of the road. On a lane that is too narrow to share safely, ride in the middle. On a wide lane, if you are the slower vehicle, ride to the right; if you are the faster vehicle, pass on left squeeze between moving cars and the curb.
There are, of course, many other skills, including the emergency maneuvers taught in the complete CAN-BIKE Skills II course, which students should learn and practice. The five principles outlined above represent the core knowledge every cyclist must learn.
5) Presentation by Police Department
A) Discussion of the types of complaints received from private citizens and the reasons for these complaints
B) Existing rules and regulations governing cyclists:
(i) Provincial Motor Vehicle Act, (ii} City By-laws.
6) Parking Lot Emergency Maneuvers
The instctor will introduce students to the three most commonly used emergency maneuvers required for accident avoidance.
A) ROCK DODGE
The instructor will place a brightly-coloured rag on the ground and have students ride fast towards it, in a single line with plenty of space between riders, and dodge around it. Students will dodge both right and left. The instructor stands near the rag to observe each student and offer praise and comments. Students are encouraged to wait until the last possible instant before making a very quick swerve and recovery around the rag. This maneuvre is essential in the avoidance of small roadside hazards such as rocks, sand, etc
B) INSTANT TURNING
The instructor will discuss the bicycle's natural ability to steer and will demonstrate how leaning steers the bike. Emphasize that emergency a cyclist needs to turn his/her bike more quickly Turning the wheel suddenly forces a lean in the opposite direction (the direction you want to go). Quickly steering into the direction of the lean results in an instant turn.
Students will ride a slalom course to build confidence both right and left instant turns around the rag,
When students demonstrate consistent proficiency the instructor will, without any advance warning, point in the direction they must turn. The emphasis is an learning to react immediately, instinctively. In a real emergency on the street there is no time to think.
C) PANIC STOPPING
The instructor will emphasize:
1) As the cyclist applies the brakes the weight shifts from the rear of the bike to the front which results in more braking power on the front wheel.
2) In a panic stop, the cyclist must apply the rear brake gently, while applying the front brake about 2-3 times as hard. If the rear wheel skids ease off on the FRONT brake.
Panic stopping teaches the cyclist to stop the bike as quickly as possible.
7. On Road Traffic Maneuvers
A) CYCLING STYLE
The Instructor will start by leading the group at a comfortable pace and then drop back to watch them individually. The instructor will note any obvious deficiencies and make positive suggestions for improvement.
For safe and comfortable group riding, the instructor will emphasize:
1) Don't run lights or stop signs to keep up with the group regroup later.
2) Always pass on the left and call out, on your left.
3) Keep at least one wheel diameter behind the wheel in front don't overlap wheels.
4) Always call out hazards and point at them if possible.
5) Smooth pedalling at 70 - 90 rpm or higher.
6) Proper use of gears, eg. shifting down before a hill.
B) TRAFFIC CYCLING PROFICIENCY
The instructor will emphasize:
1) The five basic traffic cycling principles.
2) Riding in a straight line a safe distance away from the curb to be more visible and avoid road- side hazards.
3) Keeping a safe distance away from parked cars and looking for signs that a parked car may pull out.
4) Shoulder checking before changing direction (a mirror doesn't replace shoulder checking).
5) Communicating with other road users. Cyclists must signal their intentions to other drivers who may be affected
When the class stops to regroup, the instructor will discuss any errors, and identify skills that need more practice.
C) WHERE TO RIDE ON THE ROADWAY
The instructor will emphasize:
1) Most provincial and municipal traffic acts, require the cyclist to ride "as far to the right as practicable." This should be interpreted to mean as far to the right as is safe."
The cyclist's first priority must be his/her own safety and then the Convenience of other vehicle operators.
3) There are two widths of road - wide and narrow. Explain the "CYCLIST'S LANE WIDTH RULE (ECG. p. 178).
4) Cyclists‘ lane selection and lane position at intersections depends on their intended direction after the intersection. Single destination lanes.
5) Road position also depends on the cyclist's speed relative to other traffic.
D) CHANGING LANES
The instructor will emphasize:
1) Cyclists must always plan and start lane changes well in advance.
2) Shoulder check and signal.
3) If necessary, negotiate with the motorist behind you.
4) The instructor will explain the three ways to change lanes depending on the differential speed of traffic: Slow speed traffic going same speed or slower; medium speed - traffic up to 25km/hr faster; fast speed - more than 25km/hr faster (freeways).
5) If all else fails, cyclists can dismount and walk through intersections.
Final ride on minor arterials. Choose a route that contains:
a) Wide and narrow roads.
8) Straight through, right and left turns at multi-lane intersections.
C) Changing lanes. Demonstrate and have students practice negotiating with motorists to change lanes.
If the class demonstrates competency quickly move on to busier streets.
The instructor will choose multi-lane roads practicing merges. diverges, unions, and separations. Bridge on and off ramps will be a good place to practice these.
Appendix B - Bicycle Courier Examination
Appendix C - Instructor Certification Process
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at messvilleto@yahoo.com