tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post500148783099490082..comments2024-02-24T06:21:30.987+01:00Comments on A view from the cycle path: I feel afraid, I get harrassed. I'm not welcome there.David Hembrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-56737852609996878892008-11-04T11:15:00.000+01:002008-11-04T11:15:00.000+01:00Adrienne, thank you for posting from San Francisco...Adrienne, thank you for posting from San Francisco.<BR/><BR/>I'm sorry about the confusion about the population of San Francisco. 3 million is the figure given by Wikipedia as the "Urban" population, while your figure is the "City" population.<BR/><BR/>I last visited the city a little over 15 years ago. It's a great place, but I have to say it didn't look like somewhere particularly friendly to David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-30607743415231038942008-11-04T06:54:00.000+01:002008-11-04T06:54:00.000+01:00How about a San Franciscan getting in on this subj...How about a San Franciscan getting in on this subject?<BR/><BR/>1st- SF does not have 3 million people in it . In 2007 we had about 770,000 (see wikipedia for San Francisco Population). Despite the big rep, we are truly a tiny place (49 square miles).<BR/><BR/>2nd- San Francisco is quite odd in that we have self contained suburbias within the city. The Sunset district in the western part of Adrienne Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16658593098911314756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-67510812763588008112008-11-03T12:16:00.000+01:002008-11-03T12:16:00.000+01:00I'm a member. The "Vogelvrije Fietser" (Fietsersbo...I'm a member. The "Vogelvrije Fietser" (<A HREF="http://fietsersbond.nl" REL="nofollow">Fietsersbond</A> magazine) is amongst the things on my reading list which helps me learn Dutch !David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-66831391475344461042008-11-03T12:00:00.000+01:002008-11-03T12:00:00.000+01:00@ Harry. Ah, but Dutch cyclists are not all member...@ Harry. Ah, but Dutch cyclists are not all members of the union. In fact I don't think I know anyone who is (and I also don't know anyone who doesn't bike, but that's another story). biking is just not part of a movement at all.Annekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13303232666607267415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-54978562001176388782008-11-01T21:05:00.000+01:002008-11-01T21:05:00.000+01:00I agree with David that CM is probably not working...I agree with David that CM is probably not working as well as the organizers would like. Cyclists had better get organized and make sure that they are involved when new infrastructure is being planned or old roads renewed. Who else but an experienced cyclist can inform a city council better on how to build a safe and convenient infrastructure for other cyclists. The "Fietsersbond" (Cycling Union)Harry Liebenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03197119763898555397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-43172613576277230152008-11-01T13:22:00.000+01:002008-11-01T13:22:00.000+01:00Last night I rode with CM in Toronto. Its not a p...Last night I rode with CM in Toronto. Its not a protest here. When the mayor participates in an event, and the police block car traffic on side streets to facilitate it, it is fair to say that it is not a protest. Young mothers with their babies ride, children, old people, everyone.<BR/><BR/>Or if it is a protest, then the Queen's Birthday parade is also a protest. :)<BR/><BR/>Its just peopleKevin Lovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13186428862833389619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-86593964752054002742008-10-31T22:18:00.000+01:002008-10-31T22:18:00.000+01:00David, thank you for this post. I've touched on th...David, thank you for this post. I've touched on the subject (how the movement is basically counter productive) on several blogs of Critical Mass riders, but never got through. And I understand.<BR/><BR/>You've laid it out perfectly, so I'll think I'll finally embark on this too and reference to your post on my blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-15841076971004001542008-10-31T15:13:00.000+01:002008-10-31T15:13:00.000+01:00Cyclingred, I think there is nothing wrong with no...Cyclingred, I think there is nothing wrong with non violent protest and civil disobedience.<BR/><BR/>However, protest should have an aim and work towards that aim. In the case of Critical Mass, I don't think that is happening.<BR/><BR/>I have nothing against the massers, but what is it for ?<BR/><BR/>If they simply want to have a monthly party on the streets and make a bit of noise, then they canDavid Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-3878376549379460002008-10-31T14:30:00.000+01:002008-10-31T14:30:00.000+01:00Like David said, and I said before, Dutch people d...Like David said, and I said before, Dutch people don't take the bike to make a point or anything, they (me included) never even think twice about getting on their bikes. It's just as natural, I imagine, as getting in a car is for Americans. Because there are bikepaths, bike crossings, traffic lights and things like that it's often just the easiest and safest way to travel, whatever your Annekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13303232666607267415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-49921856645512272262008-10-31T13:18:00.000+01:002008-10-31T13:18:00.000+01:00David,If you adopt me, I'd happily move to the Net...David,<BR/><BR/>If you adopt me, I'd happily move to the Netherlands. My parents may have an issue though but we can work through that rationally, cant we?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-40279724574575552912008-10-31T13:14:00.000+01:002008-10-31T13:14:00.000+01:00I have never attended a critical mass ride. My fe...I have never attended a critical mass ride. My feelings are more ambivalent about them. They may be confrontational. But isn't it essentially just another form of civil disobedience? Do you think civil disobedience has a place in bringing change?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-1819700716206557412008-10-31T12:06:00.000+01:002008-10-31T12:06:00.000+01:00I know exactly what you mean. However, we actually...I know exactly what you mean. However, we actually do live in suburbia here.<BR/><BR/>However, this is a Dutch version of suburbia. It's only about 2 km to the city centre and we've a choice of very pleasant routes.David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-5878761347513459032008-10-31T11:53:00.000+01:002008-10-31T11:53:00.000+01:00David,Well saved. I cant imagine living in suburbi...David,<BR/><BR/>Well saved. I cant imagine living in suburbia, chained to the car like a house arrest ankle bracelet!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-75335578523617263032008-10-31T08:11:00.000+01:002008-10-31T08:11:00.000+01:00Actually, I have sympathy with people who have tak...Actually, I have sympathy with people who have taken those decisions.<BR/><BR/>I don't think most people think of the consequences of what they do. They simple go along with what other people do, and what their environment encourages. <BR/><BR/>In "Return of the Scorcher," Michael Replogle's comments that "Infrastructure tells you what to do."<BR/><BR/>He's right. Dutch people tend to plan their David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-15116660166319830922008-10-31T03:19:00.000+01:002008-10-31T03:19:00.000+01:00I can understand the interviewee's comment about "...I can understand the interviewee's comment about "Not everybody can make that decision". <BR/><BR/>An alarming number of people live in inefficient neighborhoods far far away from work and businesses. They have willingly chained themselves to the car and are themselves responsible for not being able to make the decision of cycling. The interviewee is merely stating the obvious. <BR/><BR/>The Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com