Reference Material Toolkit:
The Toolkit can help you improve conditions in your community. It covers policy & planning, ordinances, education, signal detectors and parking.
Disclaimer: Materials are listed here as a public service. Some is from outside sources. The Ohio Bicycle Federation does not control these sources and is not responsible for their content.
Bicycle Transportation Policy Statement (pdf file). Ohio Bicycle Fed. guidelines for planners and city officials.
Improving the Cycling Environment, an illustrated article by Fred Oswald that gives tips on fixing road hazards, proper shoulder width, appropriate facilities, dealing with problems, sidewalk issues, etc.
Digest of Ohio Bicycle Traffic Laws. Excerpts from Ohio traffic laws with explanations for what they mean to cyclists.
Guide for Bicycle Traffic Ordinances. Guidelines for local ordinances that are fair, uniform and promote safety.
Model Local Bicycle Code. A model package of local bicycle laws that promote safe practices and are consistent with Ohio traffic law.
Cycling Education. Links for many more articles on education, including presentations, handouts, videos and a photo gallery.
Bicycle Blunders by Fred Oswald. Illustrated article discusses common blunders (serious mistakes) related to bicycle use, education, advocacy, engineering, and traffic laws. These blunders make cycling more difficult, more dangerous and threaten our right to use the roads. Article concludes with "Getting beyond the Blunders" -- how to avoid repeating these mistakes.
Let's Stop Miseducating Society About Cycling. Much of what we were taught as kids is wrong and some is dangerous. This article explains why and how this happened and how to stop the circle of misinformation.
Dilemmas of Bicycle Planning by Paul Schimek, An excellent discussion of issues that should be understood by every bicycle planner.
National Police Bicycle Awareness Curriculum, a new program developed through a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For information, contact the
Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition.
The
International Police Mountain Bike Assoc. runs classes for police bicycle patrols.
Getting Vehicle Detectors to Detect Bicycles, 2-page illustrated flyer by Fred Oswald.
Re-Evaluating Traffic Signal Detector Loops article by Alan Wachtel
Detection of Bicycles by Quadrapole Loops at Demand-Actuated Traffic Signals article by Steven Goodridge.
Cycling Educational Materials
We have several flyers below as pdf files. These are available as a public service at no charge except your cost to duplicate. Download the file, and print to make a master that you can then photocopy. A laser printer may give best results. (Some flyers have tight margins so they may not print properly on an ink jet printer.)
Ohio Bicycling Street Smarts: A 48 page booklet that includes a summary of Ohio traffic laws plus a concise reference of proper cycling technique. Issued by Ohio Dept. of Public Safety and ODOT. Call 614-644-7095 to request copies. You can also read the
commercial edition online.
Cycling Education, Links for many more articles on education, including presentations, handouts, videos and a photo gallery.
Bicycle Safety Cards, Small cards useful for handouts. Both parent and adult cyclist versions. (pdf file, 2-sides, 6 per page).
Bike Safety for Kids - A Parent's Guide (1-sheet, 2-sides, fold to make brochure, pdf file, 79 Kb)
Where to Ride. Flyer for adults by Bob Bayn. pdf file, print 2-sides, cut to make 1/2 pg flyers. (Utah State Web site)
Tips for Bicycle Operation (pdf file, 500 Kb). A 1/2 page, 2-sided illustrated flyer that gives basics of riding in traffic.
Passing Thoughts -- Bikes and Cars Sharing the Road. Covers lane position, safe passing clearance and the concern about delaying traffic.
Teaching Cycling to Children. A compilation of ideas and resources for teaching children (and their parents) good cycling techniques.
'Cycling Shorts' -- Short Bicycle Education Messages. This article has several short messages you can use in a city newsletter, to accompany youth activity mailings or add to your web site.
Bike Quiz for Scouts or other youth groups. (1/2 page, 2-side flyer plus 1/2 pg 1-side answer sheet, pdf file) The quiz is not easy. You need a resource book such as Bicycling Street Smarts so kids can find the answers.
Bicycle Driving Seminar slideshow. A program showing the safest, most efficient methods as used by experienced cyclists (notes included). Full ~3 Mb PowerPoint file suitable for showing to an audience.
Cycling Knowledge Test, (pdf file, 20 Kb, answer sheet included), based on the Effective Cycling video. Use this test for two different purposes: (1) A training tool for public officials & police; (2) For a 'diversion' program as an alternative to fines for bicycle-related traffic violators. (Especially recommended for motorists that harass or endanger cyclists).