@ H@rry: I think Utrecht had quite a bit less snow than Groningen, and you didn't think to use a car (not that that is a serious option).
Anyway: what I notice in the video is how many cyclists ride with no or hardly any lights. This evening I noticed the same. On a stretch of cycle path without any lampposts (and no adjacent road), there were quite a few cyclists without any discernible light. The only way I noticed them was through reflective material.
Now I don't ask that everyone starts using an B+M Ixon IQ as I do, but a visible light would be really nice, as opposed to these invisible lights.
@Maarten About the lights. It really was almost light when I was filming and this is where a lot of cyclists start their ride (Central Station) so you see a lot of people just beginning their journey who didn't turn on their lights anymore. The cyclists arriving from elsewhere started when it was darker so they still have them on.
I think there a more cyclists than ever who ride with perfect lights. Very different from say 15-20 years ago when I sometimes felt I was the 'only one' with lights.
All the campaigning had some result in my opinion.
@Maarten: the general idea seems to be that as long as other people have their lights on they will see the ones without. Stupid. I made the same comment on Amsterdamize once and got the reply that the non-lit riders were all adults so "who am I to wag a finger at them?". Until it's too late, of course.
H@rry: Walking's not so bad. I actually drove as a result, which is nearly unheard of.
Krazmo: You should see it in summer !
Others: Yes, it is silly that people ride with no lights, and I have to say that I find that it's a bigger problem here than it was in the UK.
In fact, lights are merely a secondary safety device. Keeping cyclists away from the source of danger (motor vehicles) is a much more powerful way of keeping cyclists safe.
That is why Dutch cyclists get away with so much, yet are still much safer here than those in the UK.
All comments are moderated so your comment may not appear on the blog immediately after you send it. Sensible debate is encouraged. Please do not waste my time with spam or trolling as such posts are always deleted.
Well, the snow made me walk instead of cycle ;-)
ReplyDelete@ H@rry: I think Utrecht had quite a bit less snow than Groningen, and you didn't think to use a car (not that that is a serious option).
ReplyDeleteAnyway: what I notice in the video is how many cyclists ride with no or hardly any lights. This evening I noticed the same. On a stretch of cycle path without any lampposts (and no adjacent road), there were quite a few cyclists without any discernible light. The only way I noticed them was through reflective material.
Now I don't ask that everyone starts using an B+M Ixon IQ as I do, but a visible light would be really nice, as opposed to these invisible lights.
Wow.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen so many cyclists together outside of a race. It's mesmerizing.
@Maarten About the lights. It really was almost light when I was filming and this is where a lot of cyclists start their ride (Central Station) so you see a lot of people just beginning their journey who didn't turn on their lights anymore. The cyclists arriving from elsewhere started when it was darker so they still have them on.
ReplyDeleteI think there a more cyclists than ever who ride with perfect lights. Very different from say 15-20 years ago when I sometimes felt I was the 'only one' with lights.
All the campaigning had some result in my opinion.
@Maarten: the general idea seems to be that as long as other people have their lights on they will see the ones without. Stupid. I made the same comment on Amsterdamize once and got the reply that the non-lit riders were all adults so "who am I to wag a finger at them?". Until it's too late, of course.
ReplyDeleteH@rry: Walking's not so bad. I actually drove as a result, which is nearly unheard of.
ReplyDeleteKrazmo: You should see it in summer !
Others: Yes, it is silly that people ride with no lights, and I have to say that I find that it's a bigger problem here than it was in the UK.
In fact, lights are merely a secondary safety device. Keeping cyclists away from the source of danger (motor vehicles) is a much more powerful way of keeping cyclists safe.
That is why Dutch cyclists get away with so much, yet are still much safer here than those in the UK.
@Maarten: the car is no option at all for me, since I do not own one.
ReplyDelete(I do share a small camper, but it was not parked at my place)