This is fantastic! When you get a moment watch this 'bicycle rush hour' clip in the Netherlands, it is almost surreal. I really wish we lived in a area that used more bikes instead of cars! What are you thoughts on this?
24 comments:
Anonymous
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two thoughts... one. it is so quiet and peaceful two. everyone is very thin. that's how it was when we lived in toronto too. lydia
I was in the Netherlands last summer and LOVED the biking! It's so cyclist-friendly with special bike-roads and bike-stop lights. I think about it quite often - there the roads are shared and cyclists are respected. Here we are always competing for road space.
I went to the Netherlands earlier this year and some of those cyclists were scary...and had road rage. It is a great way to get around and they utilize it well, but as a pedestrian if we wandered within 3 feet of their lane they would ring their little bells or yell at us. It would seem they are used to clueless tourists wandering into their designated areas.
I am from the Netherlands and I never really consciously thought about our cycling culture. Funny to watch this video and realise that it's a very Dutch thing which people wonder about. Actually, I remember going to work in Amsterdam with a big smile on my face every day as each day started with the same scenario: tourists photographing our multi-story bicycle storage at the Central train station...;-)
I don't know.. I live in Portland and though it's not nearly as populated with commuters on bikes, it's still a little crazy. They say the city is perfect for bicyclists, but I disagree. The roads are too narrow and when it rains, it's SO hard to see them.
This is so great! And hilarious how orderly everyone was, obeying the traffic rules. I think I'd have more confidence to bike around if I didn't feel I was taking my life into my own hands each time I did.
This is awesome! I've been on a cycling holiday to Holland and was amazed by all the cycle paths. I'd love to cycle to work... but live in central London where the bicycles share the bus lanes, and it is terrifying!! Sally
I like this idea and they are trying to implement it in Sydney. But it's just ridiculous here - most people wouldn't be able to remain stylish after an hour-long riding commute (plus you'd need to be pretty damn fit to start off with!). I think it only works in places that are more self contained, like in the Netherlands and Paris, and flat! in Sydney, people live a lot further out of the city and it just is not a viable transport option. Looks like a nice way to get to work though! Sure beats sitting in traffic in a car.
I am longing, now to return to Holland! When I visited I was so impressed with the number of bicycles - and everyone (mostly) obeyed traffic laws, and had a little bell on their bikes to alert pedestrians they were behind. Yes, most were thinner than Americans, and Holland, that year was rated as having the happiest people in the world! Connection? I love your blog!
i also had the immediate thought that everyone was thin! it was also so quiet and basically peaceful, especially compared to my chicago rush-hour perspective!
I love how only a couple cyclists disobeyed the rules. Here in Chicago some streets have pretty heavy bike traffic but many cyclists tend to dart out into traffic, endanger pedestrians, and generally give the rest of us a bad name. Not to mention clueless drivers and pedestrians...I love to bike and sometimes I bike to work but it takes an hour at a fast clip (this looks so leisurely!) and is definitely a work-out.
Could I point you to this little film as well? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMv3OB6XHvQ It shows how completely and utterly committed we (I'm Dutch) are to our bikes, we will ride them come rain come snow!
24 comments:
two thoughts...
one. it is so quiet and peaceful
two. everyone is very thin.
that's how it was when we lived in toronto too.
lydia
I was in the Netherlands last summer and LOVED the biking! It's so cyclist-friendly with special bike-roads and bike-stop lights. I think about it quite often - there the roads are shared and cyclists are respected. Here we are always competing for road space.
It's a fun video to watch - thanks for sharing!
I went to the Netherlands earlier this year and some of those cyclists were scary...and had road rage. It is a great way to get around and they utilize it well, but as a pedestrian if we wandered within 3 feet of their lane they would ring their little bells or yell at us. It would seem they are used to clueless tourists wandering into their designated areas.
i don't know...the endless road construction and pot holes on I-15 would be pretty hard to give up for such a pleasant bike ride.
I find this so inspiring. But no one wears helmets.
They probably don't need helmets because there are no cars on the road to crash into.
I am from the Netherlands and I never really consciously thought about our cycling culture. Funny to watch this video and realise that it's a very Dutch thing which people wonder about.
Actually, I remember going to work in Amsterdam with a big smile on my face every day as each day started with the same scenario: tourists photographing our multi-story bicycle storage at the Central train station...;-)
move here to Portland!!
I am mesmerized! I also noticed everybody is thin - no wonder!
It's so awesome! And, look, everyone is so thin and stylish!
I'm hopeful and inspired by the changes Mayor Bloomberg's brought to Manhattan and Brooklyn - there is hope for us yet!
wonderful! Miami Beach just started a Deco Bike "bike rental" program for residents and tourists--- it's great to see everyone using them!
I did notice in Boulder, Colorado, that they snowplowed the bike path behind our house before clearing the roads--- lots of cyclist commuters there :)
I live in LA and love riding my bike. But sometimes it's scary! I dream of something like this, too. Great post!
I don't know.. I live in Portland and though it's not nearly as populated with commuters on bikes, it's still a little crazy. They say the city is perfect for bicyclists, but I disagree. The roads are too narrow and when it rains, it's SO hard to see them.
This is so great! And hilarious how orderly everyone was, obeying the traffic rules. I think I'd have more confidence to bike around if I didn't feel I was taking my life into my own hands each time I did.
it look so neat there... i guess it would be nice if you have just that amount of bikes to see... but still way much better than a gazillion cars! =)
This is awesome! I've been on a cycling holiday to Holland and was amazed by all the cycle paths. I'd love to cycle to work... but live in central London where the bicycles share the bus lanes, and it is terrifying!!
Sally
I like this idea and they are trying to implement it in Sydney. But it's just ridiculous here - most people wouldn't be able to remain stylish after an hour-long riding commute (plus you'd need to be pretty damn fit to start off with!). I think it only works in places that are more self contained, like in the Netherlands and Paris, and flat! in Sydney, people live a lot further out of the city and it just is not a viable transport option.
Looks like a nice way to get to work though! Sure beats sitting in traffic in a car.
I love that I live in this very city! Commuting has never been so fun -- I always feel so GOOD when I get to my destination. :)
I am longing, now to return to Holland! When I visited I was so impressed with the number of bicycles - and everyone (mostly) obeyed traffic laws, and had a little bell on their bikes to alert pedestrians they were behind. Yes, most were thinner than Americans, and Holland, that year was rated as having the happiest people in the world! Connection?
I love your blog!
i also had the immediate thought that everyone was thin! it was also so quiet and basically peaceful, especially compared to my chicago rush-hour perspective!
I love how only a couple cyclists disobeyed the rules. Here in Chicago some streets have pretty heavy bike traffic but many cyclists tend to dart out into traffic, endanger pedestrians, and generally give the rest of us a bad name. Not to mention clueless drivers and pedestrians...I love to bike and sometimes I bike to work but it takes an hour at a fast clip (this looks so leisurely!) and is definitely a work-out.
Could I point you to this little film as well?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMv3OB6XHvQ
It shows how completely and utterly committed we (I'm Dutch) are to our bikes, we will ride them come rain come snow!
...not for istanbul city =)
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I really appreciate your thoughts and ideas, thanks for reading!