[kqr]

This is indeed true -- I try to get my wife to use front brake more, and I sure will teach my children to.

But it remains the fact that many cyclists don't use the front brake -- or are even aware of its advantages.

(If you want to find out yourself, step off your bicycle and move it gently either forward or back. Try applying first the brake in the direction of travel, and then the trailing brake. You may be shocked at the difference!)

Heck, most people I know have the kind of rear brake that applies when you pedal backward. They find it more important to have hands firmly gripping the bars than pulling levers in situations where they want to stop. (Not saying it's sensible, but it is what they report. It's hard to convince them to use the front brake when their lives have stacked them against it.)