Shared road space

on eye contact:

I had been an assertive pedestrian and cyclist for a decade and thought that my skills were somehow lacking cause I failed to use eye contact that was advocated in many respectful competent cycling advice. Then I read this and stopped worrying:

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/chainguard/message/24799

I disagree with Forester (who is one of the most knowledgeable people in cycling) on this. There is certainly no need to go overboard on eye contact, i.e. it would be nonsense to suggest that you should always attempt it at night, or through tinted car windows, etc. People certainly shouldn't think that if they find little application for it, they're somehow doing it wrong. Regardless of what's taught in training, people will get most of it right, but not all of it, approximately to the extent to which their personal riding styles mesh with what they've learned.

There is a tendency with some elements of cycle training, e.g. primary position, to exaggerate the applicability and to over-emphasise one element at the expense of others.

The disagreement about eye contact is largely one of degree, and this is where differences between different cities come in. In London, there are plenty of interactions, e.g. at tight junctions, where eye contact with drivers comes in very handy, and rarely fails. Also, with levels of walking so high in London, I find eye contact with pedestrians who might step out into the carriageway without proper care essential. It's not the be-all and end-all, but it is a very useful tool in the toolbox.

I would probably agree with him that in most traffic environments in the US, there is relatively little point in eye contact, as you just don't tend to get that close to people a lot of the time.