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In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars (2009)

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Re: In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars (2009)

#61

Post by henrikschroder »

unwind wrote: post #43
whatusername wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some of us live in cities where it rains pretty frequently. Today would be lovely on a bike. Yesterday in the rain - not so much.

In Sweden (average 164 days/year with rain), there's a saying typically used by parents when their kids complain about the weather. It goes, translated very verbatim: "there is no bad weather, only bad clothes". It's far snappier in Swedish where it rhymes, but I guess the point comes across, still. Update: after reading a few more comments, I guess this doesn't address the other end of the spectrum, that it can be t…

Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder. :-)

Re: In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars (2009)

#62

Post by sliverstorm »

harscoat wrote: post #24

21st Century, that anybody can argue against (in this thread or elsewhere) that going by bike to work is way better, healthier, more humanly fulfilling, than by car leaves me speechless. Vote for mayors pro bike roads or ask for showers at work, there is always a solution.

I'm not going to say that we should all be in cars, but I used to ride my bicycle everywhere-

I ride motorcycles now, and I still get a lot of the upsides- open to the environment, a physical activity (though more mild than biking at a hard pace), and my stress levels are lower.

But it has one more huge upside; back when I bicycled all the time, I'd always arrive everywhere hot and sweaty. Workplaces can install showers, but what about the supermarket? The library? Classrooms? Your girlfriend's house? (which of course has showers, but back then her parents would NOT have approved)

If you're going to build a city with all of those things a few blocks away, then it's an easy ride and no big deal, but that's a pretty major overhaul. I don't see it working in existing cities. Plus, besides problems with showers, the time commitment in existing cities is pretty big. I live rather close to my job, and it would still take me 1-2 hours to get there by bicycle.

Once again, not that I love cars everywhere all the time, but it's a pretty darn big feat to switch to bicycles in many American cities.

disclaimer: I do love my bikes, I'm kind of a petrol head.

Re: In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars (2009)

#63

Post by limmeau »

moconnor wrote: post #53
coffeejunk wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I now live in Munich, which also calls itself a bike town. Although there are a lot of people riding their bikes, the streets are not at all as bike friendly as the ones in Münster. Each trip is somewhere between a suicide mission and a pleasant journey depending on where you want to go.

I'm in Munich too; compared to the UK it feels like a cyclist's paradise, especially with the ubahn as a backup in case the heavens really open.

What's the U-Bahn's policy on taking along bikes?

Re: In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars (2009)

#64

Post by sliverstorm »

harscoat wrote: post #41
gritzko wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Netherlands is a really rainy country. Still, bikes are extremely popular, like the average is 2 bikes per person. The typical commute scheme is (1) bike to the station, then (2) train (trains are good, really good), then (3) another bike to work.

To illustrate the "humanely fulfilling": while students in Rotterdam, we had to ride our bikes back 5km from a pub... it just started raining, but while biking the sky literaly fell on us. We arrived soaking wet, drenched. Among us, this remains one of our best memories.

Funny how that works. I have had many many occasions of traveling while soaking wet for miles, and they always make great stories, and weren't all that bad.

Now, on the other hand I've had times where it's just downright miserable, and I was pretty sure my fingers were on the verge of serious frostbite, and that was NOT fun and never will be. But, that's not too common.

Re: In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars (2009)

#65

Post by ugh »

limmeau wrote: post #63
moconnor wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm in Munich too; compared to the UK it feels like a cyclist's paradise, especially with the ubahn as a backup in case the heavens really open.

What's the U-Bahn's policy on taking along bikes?

Not during rush hour (6-9am, 4-6pm), and your bike needs a ticket (€2.50/day). http://www.muenchen.de/verticals/Mobilitaet/Fahrrad/Rad_U_S_...

That’s not very friendly, I wouldn’t use that except in emergencies. That’s probably why you don’t see bikes on the U-Bahn.

Re: In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars (2009)

#66

Post by brc »

I get the point - and I support the development of car-free suburbs for people who want them. Streets safe for children, people saying hello instead of staring from behind closed windows, etc. Less local pollution, more friendly streets, less accidents : all pluses.

I just don't want to see some zealot telling me I can't have a car, and that I am some sort of evil person for having one.

Further, not everywhere is suitable. Someone riding around cities near me have got high humidity and steep hills to deal with : you don't ride a bike without some serious fitness. Those cruisy bikes you see in Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Cambridge are of no use.

What I'm saying : there should be no laws against this type of thing, and no laws saying you should do it. Entirely personal choice all round.

For my part I have a large car but work from home, so it gets driven maybe once per fortnight. There's no way I would part with it : it's my ticket to freedom when I do choose to get out and about. And I enjoy it thoroughly when I do.

Re: In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars (2009)

#67

Post by joss82 »

sliverstorm wrote: post #62
harscoat wrote: post #24

21st Century, that anybody can argue against (in this thread or elsewhere) that going by bike to work is way better, healthier, more humanly fulfilling, than by car leaves me speechless. Vote for mayors pro bike roads or ask for showers at work, there is always a solution.

I'm not going to say that we should all be in cars, but I used to ride my bicycle everywhere- I ride motorcycles now, and I still get a lot of the upsides- open to the environment, a physical activity (though more mild than biking at a hard pace), and my stress levels are lower. But it has one more huge upside; back when I bicycled all the time, I'd always arrive everywhere hot and sweaty. Workplaces can install show…

1-2 hours away by bicycle is not "rather close", it's downright far.

Why not find a place where you can cycle to work in 10-15 minutes? I did it and it works great. It gives you lots of free time (short commute) and money (no car ownership). So much so that I started a freelance shop on the side.

Re: In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars (2009)

#68

Post by Locke1689 »

unwind wrote: post #43
whatusername wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some of us live in cities where it rains pretty frequently. Today would be lovely on a bike. Yesterday in the rain - not so much.

In Sweden (average 164 days/year with rain), there's a saying typically used by parents when their kids complain about the weather. It goes, translated very verbatim: "there is no bad weather, only bad clothes". It's far snappier in Swedish where it rhymes, but I guess the point comes across, still. Update: after reading a few more comments, I guess this doesn't address the other end of the spectrum, that it can be t…

Heh, the highest temperature ever recorded in Sweden is 100F/38C. Looks like in most parts the average winter temperature is warmer than Chicago. Sounds like you guys have it pretty easy.

Re: In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars (2009)

#69

Post by masklinn »

delackner wrote: post #29
masklinn wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most of Europe is far drier than the US. I don't know of any place in Europe which would be similar to Japan or Florida (consistent high heat and very high humidity during months on end in Summer), though they might very well exist.

What's your point exactly? I bicycle to work in the heat and humidity you are describing, every day. As someone else said, if you just cruise at a conservative pace, you don't even sweat very much.

> What's your point exactly?

That davidu is not exactly fair in his declaration.

> As someone else said, if you just cruise at a conservative pace, you don't even sweat very much.

I'm the one who said that...

Re: In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars (2009)

#70

Post by whatusername »

harscoat wrote: post #41
gritzko wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Netherlands is a really rainy country. Still, bikes are extremely popular, like the average is 2 bikes per person. The typical commute scheme is (1) bike to the station, then (2) train (trains are good, really good), then (3) another bike to work.

To illustrate the "humanely fulfilling": while students in Rotterdam, we had to ride our bikes back 5km from a pub... it just started raining, but while biking the sky literaly fell on us. We arrived soaking wet, drenched. Among us, this remains one of our best memories.

I've had some amazing experiences getting drenched too. But I'm not sure that it would be that amazing on my way into work. (Likely carrying a laptop).
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