tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post2718417064463614125..comments2024-02-24T06:21:30.987+01:00Comments on A view from the cycle path: Boston's strange "pedestrian" zone. How a British town has made even a pedestrian zone serve motoringDavid Hembrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-64649975647817819112019-12-25T07:31:23.058+01:002019-12-25T07:31:23.058+01:008 years late but:
"The problem in Sydney isn...8 years late but:<br /><br />"The problem in Sydney isn't that your cyclists are particularly fast. How could that possibly be true ? Do you think every Dutchman is less fit than every Australian ?"<br /><br />I spent 3 months in Japan and then 3 in Australia. There are in fact many differences and I suspect the Dutch are closer to Japan. Comparing Osaka to the Brisbane city Damien Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13321329197063620556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-42877617094104526572011-12-19T17:29:31.091+01:002011-12-19T17:29:31.091+01:00I think most UK people think that Pedestrian Zone ...I think most UK people think that Pedestrian Zone automatically means cycling is banned - even if it is not. In fact I think central government advice is that the default position should be to allow cycling unless there is a good reason for not to.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11443493823465136241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-15143009117225292612011-12-16T18:41:13.893+01:002011-12-16T18:41:13.893+01:00This might have a lot to do with Boston having the...This might have a lot to do with Boston having the highest level of obesity in Britain (and Britain has the highest level of obesity in Europe).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-15063250983097284612011-12-15T20:37:55.561+01:002011-12-15T20:37:55.561+01:00About toddlers:
Our local pedestrian zone in Schl...About toddlers:<br /><br />Our local pedestrian zone in Schlebusch, a part of Leverkusen(Germany), allows cycling. At school times there are "massive walls" of schoolkids on bikes taking up the full width of the former national road.<br />But the street is also equiped with some playground equipment. And there are toddlers running around freely.<br />Something I have never spotted a fewWolfgangnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-76194110045599631752011-12-14T01:01:54.779+01:002011-12-14T01:01:54.779+01:00Hi, okay. I will visit in a hired Hummer and see ...Hi, okay. I will visit in a hired Hummer and see what happens...<br /><br />But thanks for pointing out that that street is not a "pure" ped. street. Having a through-route for bikes on an otherwise pedestrian street in a pedestrianized-center is great, so perhaps it would have been better to also show those no biking streets. Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder. <br /><br />Also, ISlow Factoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12056080802746709323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-70688604874614262562011-12-13T23:06:43.316+01:002011-12-13T23:06:43.316+01:00GIF / Todd: I think I ought to invite you here for...GIF / Todd: I think I ought to invite you here for a driving study tour :-) The experience of driving in the Netherlands is actually quite interesting. The infrastructure does control your behaviour.<br /><br />I'm not saying that it has nothing to do with local customs, but these can change with time.<br /><br />Note also that the example street which I used in Assen is a through route for David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-30532332576423691692011-12-13T22:28:35.940+01:002011-12-13T22:28:35.940+01:00David, perhaps Martin means "selfish" or...David, perhaps Martin means "selfish" or "reckless" rather than "too fast". There are lots of examples like this in my neighbourhood in Berlin, yes, also where the centre of the road is actually free of barriers like bollards or walking people. People just cycle where they want to. <br /><br />I agree that design is a great or even main influence on behaviour of Slow Factoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12056080802746709323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-52774066176258572862011-12-13T08:15:55.832+01:002011-12-13T08:15:55.832+01:00Martin: The problem in Sydney isn't that your ...Martin: The problem in Sydney isn't that your cyclists are particularly fast. How could that possibly be true ? Do you think every Dutchman is less fit than every Australian ?<br /><br />Rather, the problem is that you have inadequate facilities which push people into conflicts. The cyclists are "too fast" according to the pedestrian group because they're riding on shared David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-40670819129159169972011-12-13T02:10:30.247+01:002011-12-13T02:10:30.247+01:00This is similar to Philadelphia's Chestnut Str...This is similar to Philadelphia's Chestnut Street pedestrian mall in the 1970s. It quickly failed, leaving planners with the conviction that pedestrian zones don't work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-42222871434649751002011-12-12T23:22:53.166+01:002011-12-12T23:22:53.166+01:00I remember a few High street areas in Britain when...I remember a few High street areas in Britain when I was there and the one in Slough had a similar issue with Buses sneaking through from time to time. The best Pedestrian zone would have to be in Canterbury but that was twenty years ago.<br />Many high streets have been struggling with Shopping malls being built all across the country. The ultimate car culture accessory. <br />Pedestrian Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02288258477481107716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-103955275378757142011-12-12T14:43:35.492+01:002011-12-12T14:43:35.492+01:00The sound the bus makes is indeed remarkably irrit...The sound the bus makes is indeed remarkably irritating, particularly if you know Mendelssohn's overture for <i>A Midsummer Night's Dream</i>. Perhaps, however, it is a good reminder of the "asses" in the town council who put it there.David Ardittihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06255565837583244148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-43125523935416883692011-12-12T09:56:36.983+01:002011-12-12T09:56:36.983+01:00Indeed so Lee. Boston needs a bypass.
However, it...Indeed so Lee. Boston needs a bypass.<br /><br />However, it needs to be a real bypass. i.e. something that takes vehicles out of the centre of the town without the aim of increasing capacity overall.<br /><br />Unfortunately, British "bypasses" are often nothing of the sort. They simply provide an extra route with extra capacity for motor vehicles. A route which is quicker for some David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-89296619658405414392011-12-12T09:47:35.306+01:002011-12-12T09:47:35.306+01:00Another important diffrence you have not mentioned...Another important diffrence you have not mentioned is that Assen has an Autosnelweg bypass. Boston has no bypass atall meaning alot of the traffic you see on the A16 is through traffic going from towns north of boston getting to places to the south and visa versa. There has been alot of campigning for a bypass but nothing has come of it yet, most likley as it would cost too much for our cash leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05100364489299164604noreply@blogger.com