folder fanatic

https://www.policy.rutgers.edu/faculty/pucher/Irresistible.pdf

The private car & it's usage is the key in whether or not cycling is adopted by masses of people. Example from the article (Warning: it is very long, but worth your time to read):

"......While history, culture, topography and climate are important, they do not
necessarily determine the fate of cycling. Government policies are at least as
important: transport policies, land-use policies, urban development policies,
housing policies, environmental policies, taxation policies and parking policies. In
many respects, the UK and the USA have given the green light to the private car,
almost regardless of its economic, social and environmental costs. In sharp
contrast, cycling has prospered in the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark over
the past three decades precisely because these countries have given the red light,
or at least the yellow warning light, to private cars. Instead of catering to ever
more motor vehicles by expanding roadways and parking facilities, Dutch,
German and Danish cities have focused on serving people, making their cities
people-friendly rather than car-friendly, and thus more liveable and more
sustainable than American and British cities....."

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gerv 

Thanks for posting this.

I liked the video of the Dutch Bicycle master plan. In Des Moines (and I think quite a few other US cities...) we are having a Bicycle Master plan developed, but it will be certainly light years behind the one in this video. However, goes to show what a national movement towards more efficient transportation will do for you.

The document discusses a long list of topics we've talked about here - from traffic calming techniques to training and education.

I hate to say this, but it is not difficult to see their whole transportation infrastructure is much more evolved than the North American. Is it just because they have "the green light to the private car"? Or is it something tied more to education systems and culture?

Dahon.Steve

That was a very good. Thanks,

The Dutch master plan lacks one thing and that's promoting the CarFree lifestyle. It seems like they want to curb the number of cars on the road and promote utility cycling along with public transportation. Yet, as you can see, they did not show all the cars and gridlock at all. If they are going to be make significant progress, education of life without car ownership must be of most importance. The motorcar should be viewed in the same manner that a utility cyclist is looked upon in the US and the rest of world. It is a life of sacrifice and pity.

folder fanatic

Do not miss the next segment in this topic: The Key To A Cycling Future Part 2 @ https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?626106-The-Key-To-A-Cycling-Future-Part-2
I divided this topic up into 2 parts on purpose as it proved to be very long indeed.

Robert Foster

The interesting thing might be what do we consider advanced compared to what people living in the countries mentioned think as advanced? In the US technology is considered king in advancement. Going to the moon, space flight, nuclear powered war ships. We even used to buy motorcycles that were too big for Japan from Japan.
Because we have viewed technology as the answer one has to wonder how a low tech solution will go over in a high tech country that is much larger and more entrenched in the car culture than the Danish ever were?
I just have a sneaky suspicion our friends and neighbors who have voted with their wallets when it comes to automotive development and infrastructure will continue to do so in the foreseeable future.
We not only gave the green light to the automotive revolution in the US we embraced it as the salvation from the past and the road to the future. The Japanese may be even worse than we are. Who do you know that doesn’t have a cell phone or a computer with internet access? When I was in Japan they had more gadgets than I had ever seen even in magazines.
I think it is a good question that gerv asked. It may just be how we educate our children and our culture about technology and its place in our daily life.

Dahon.Steve

[QUOTE=Robert Foster;10488032][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Because we have viewed technology as the answer one has to wonder how a low tech solution will go over in a high tech country that is much larger and more entrenched in the car culture than the Danish ever were?
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]/QUOTE]

Cycling may be low tech but the whole plan is not. The Dutch are not just looking at the bicycle as the only solution. I suspect they have more people using the Metro and buses than those using bikes. Expanding a lightrail or bus transport system is neither low tech or cheap.

Robert Foster

[QUOTE=Dahon.Steve;10488612]No it isn’t cheap but looking at the cuts we are already making in public transportation all over the US I will reserve my excitement when I hear the people or voters clamoring for more public transportation. Even in some of the CF forums there are plenty of the members that have little affection for buses. I simply am not ready to hold my breath for the general American public to accept a Dutch solution in any form. Nor that a government that is heavily invested in the Auto industry will have a change of heart anytime soon. Many are now saying GM stands for government manufacturing.

crackerdog

Of course, it isn't just what is more efficient as far as how fast one gets from here to there. There is something wonderful about greeting people walking or bicycling, listening to the birds, feeling the breeze, knowing the neighbors instead of the cars they drive. I build a lot of neighborhood trails in our small town and whenever a home owner sees me I point how lucky they are to have a trail near their house. They will get to know all the interesting people who walk instead of watching TV and I point out that it is like having a community block watch but you don't have to go to any meetings. I have a connector trail in front of my house and I've made quite a few friends in the neighborhood because of it. I've never met anyone while driving my car but I meet people all the time on my bike and while walking.