Marvelling at the width of a single direction cycle path through a village part way between Assen and Groningen (it's the same on the other side of the road).
On the study tours, we show what everyday cycling really looks like with the quality cycling oriented infrastructure of the Netherlands. We don't cherry-pick good locations because there is no need to. It's very simple: people make a huge number of journeys by bike because the infrastructure makes it possible with a feeling of subjective safety which is not rivaled elsewhere.
The study tour busts myths about the Netherlands. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. A good solution can be found in every location, from the oldest streets through to the newest. It's possible to achieve a similar cycling environment everywhere, but this requires that you really want it and will work hard towards it.
This is the second larger study tour which we have held this year. A little earlier in the year we did a tour with a group of Australian visitors.
The UK chose to have the fantastically expensive and completely unusable Trident and [by default] chose to make children and cycling dangerous. Whereas the Dutch have never AFAIK even considered WMDs and chose to make children and cyclists safe.
It seems to me that the Dutch have made the right choice and have saved a pretty sum at the same time. And those savings completely ignore the numerous very real benefits to a country of having a population that extensively uses active transport on a daily basis.
And as is quite clear now, getting children to develop a culture of exercise makes them healthier throughout their life, whereas the UK has a population that is leading Europe in obesity, but is that something to be proud of?
The positive stuff Three types of safety - the importance of subjective safety. Dutch Safety Figures - Cyclists in the Netherlands are the safest in the world. Sustainable safety - the principles which have lead to Dutch roads, streets and cycle-paths being safe. A million per hour - The scale of cycling in the Netherlands is enormous. Dutch people make more cycle journeys each day than the entire English speaking world put together. What Works - examples of policy, infrastructure and campaigning which have made a different in the Netherlands. Superhighways - "Cycling superhighways" are not a new idea in the Netherlands Cycle Paths - Well designed cycle paths benefit all cyclists, regardless of experience or speed Segregation without cycle paths - you don't always need a cycle path to keep cyclists safe from motorists History - how the Netherlands got to where it is now Before and After - views of places before and after they have been transformed for cycling Directness - examples of prioritising cycling Traffic Lights - examples of how cyclists can be prioritised and kept safe at traffic light junctions. Roundabouts - roundabouts in the Netherlands have one very important feature to learn from: They keep cyclists away from motor vehicles. This is far more important than the differences in geometry vs. roundabouts in other countries. Gritting of cycle paths - dealing with snow and ice. Children - It may seem hackneyed, but children really are the future. If they can't cycle safely then where will future adult cyclists come from ? School travel Cycle Parking Cycle Parking at railway stations Health effects of cycling Road Works - cyclists are thought of in the Netherlands Commuting - Commuting cyclists are interesting, but they're not the only people who should ride bikes. Anatomy of a reliable everyday bicycle - the common features of bikes used by nearly every person every day in the Netherlands. Speed - a post specifically for those who imagine that everyone in the Netherlands is slow
This blog is free of charge to read and for most individual usage including reasonable "quoting" of its contents. However, neither the text nor the photos on this blog are in the public domain. To find out more, please read our copyright and licensing information.
Donations
The articles on this blog have consumed thousands of hours to write and all are available to read for free. Some readers have asked for a donation button. Whilst we are very grateful for support, please do not feel that you are obliged to donate:
Search
Non-sponsored links
Come and see for yourself how policy and infrastructure in Assen and Groningen have lead to the high cycling modal share in this area:
We make our living by organizing cycling holidays and selling quality bicycle components.
A cyclist in a cycling family living in the capital of the cycling province of the world's greatest cycling country. I was born in the UK, lived for a bit in New Zealand and now live in the Netherlands. I do varied work, running a web shop, making baskets and as a cycling tour guide.
My email address is david@hembrow.eu
Posts
4 reacties:
That looks like you had a very good time. I already got that from all the information on Twitter, but it is good to also see it all in one post!
With the Australian group playing "Spot the Tourist" was easy peasy. This group, not so much.
Just an observation.
The UK chose to have the fantastically expensive and completely unusable Trident and [by default] chose to make children and cycling dangerous. Whereas the Dutch have never AFAIK even considered WMDs and chose to make children and cyclists safe.
It seems to me that the Dutch have made the right choice and have saved a pretty sum at the same time. And those savings completely ignore the numerous very real benefits to a country of having a population that extensively uses active transport on a daily basis.
And as is quite clear now, getting children to develop a culture of exercise makes them healthier throughout their life, whereas the UK has a population that is leading Europe in obesity, but is that something to be proud of?
Just to second everything David said: the eye opener on the tour is that it's ALL like that, not just on 'bike routes'.
I can heartily recommend taking this tour to anyone interested in seeing for themselves what first class cycling provision is all about.
Post a Comment