A look at the issue of cycling around British towns and cities and whether the legacy of the London Olympics should be a better cycling culture!
Cycling in the UK is pure shite, especially when compared to the environment provided to cyclists in other European countries. I recently visited the Dutch town of Houten in the Netherlands to getting the experience of cycling in a town specifically designed for bikes. You can see in the video some examples of ways Houten is laid out in a bike friendly manner. Especially in regards to the priority of bikes.
The difference between cycling all along bike paths and on the road alongside traffic is huge. One is extremely relaxing and enjoyable experience and the other is… erm… not.
This video isn’t just for people who don the full cycling jerseys, gloves, shoes etc and look like their part of the skye cycling team. But has a wider appeal to people who want a quick, healthy and relaxing mode of transport they can use everyday without having to battle with traffic.
11 Comments
This isn't a question of 'should we'; of course we should as you outline in your video. You shouldn't use such tentative language. More bicycle provision creates more liveable cities, happier children with more freedom and personal mobility, less obesity and greater road safety. I cannot understand why radical bicycle infrastructure is resisted by so many people at so many levels in the UK. There is no downside.
I was checking a few videos about cycling in Britain the other day, and I was deeply shocked to see the hostility of motorists towards cyclists. There seem to be absolutely no caution or respect for their vulnerability, as if they are saying: "Hey, you're the guy with the death wish, beat it ! " As you can imagine, living in the Netherlands, this attitude is completely unknown to me. I'm afraid Britain has a long way to go.
All country's need to adapt to bicycles, 7000 years of free road democracy shattered in 70 years by the car is not a legacy to be proud of.
"Houten was designed for biking"? Haha, Houten is nothing special in the Netherlands.
it will only hapen when we cannot afford cars ,which in reality alot of car users cannot, in eu they are pushing leasing on tv advertising , just glorified renting with massive final bill , am 50 year plus bike rider
0:01 6 years later and I still see Lisa and Bart Simpson doing well let's not mention that
The city center's are only 'cluttered' because of the cars. Replace the cars with bikes and you've got yourself quite a spacious city center.
The Dutch have the ideal idea of cyclists to get about safely. But, it doesn't seem to have got into the THICK, TIGHTFISTED, BRAINDEAD, GORMLESS so.called councils & so called government here in the U.K. As usual they'll be full.of BULL💩LIES & EXCUSES as to why they haven't or more likely NOT!!! done jack💩 about it ( Number 1 excuse is no finance 2 nd excuse no rescources. 🙅😡😤👎👎👎.
Car indicates status. People will never give up their car.
It,s a great idea!,lets have all the working class plebs get soaked to the skin every day going to work on a bike .It will make life much easier for those with money to zoom off traffic free on their important business appointments .Better still lets bring back the tin bath hanging up on a nail in the backyard,this would be much greener than a hot tub or jacuzzi ,and when not in use could double up as an admirable kennel for one,s whippets ,or racing pigeons.
Not the most interesting or effective video to promote cycling… but alright. I wish you would call the various bicycle streets, lanes and paths those different names instead of calling them all "Bike lanes". Also, you should have listed the advantages of cycling compared to the disadvantages of cars FIRST, then go into how the UK can traffic calm and make their streets more accessible to casual cycling.
And part of casual cycling, as mentioned by "Tommy DH" is not having silly laws that require helmets. UK's gotta change that.