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Berlin's Plan to Become a City for Cyclists

citylab.com

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Re: Berlin's Plan to Become a City for Cyclists

#41

Post by airza »

RcouF1uZ4gsC wrote: post #14

The cities mentioned as being great for cyclists are Copenhagen and Amersterdam, and now Berlin is trying. What is interesting is that the countries these cities are in Denmark, Netherlands, and Germany have fertility rates of 1.7, 1.7, 1.5 births/female [0]. In other words, people aren't having that many children. When transporting children, cars become a whole lot more convenient than bicycles. You don't have to wo…

It's an almost daily occurrence to see a parent riding their bike full of kids in Leiden or Amsterdam.

Re: Berlin's Plan to Become a City for Cyclists

#42

Post by AndyMcConachie »

RcouF1uZ4gsC wrote: post #14

The cities mentioned as being great for cyclists are Copenhagen and Amersterdam, and now Berlin is trying. What is interesting is that the countries these cities are in Denmark, Netherlands, and Germany have fertility rates of 1.7, 1.7, 1.5 births/female [0]. In other words, people aren't having that many children. When transporting children, cars become a whole lot more convenient than bicycles. You don't have to wo…

As a Dutchie with no kids I must kindly disagree with you. Go to any Dutch city and you will see tons of parents riding on bikes with their kids. It's common to see 1 adult and 2 kids on the same bike.

Re: Berlin's Plan to Become a City for Cyclists

#43

Post by toomuchtodo »

fluxic wrote: post #10
sharpercoder wrote: post #4

I was in Valencia (Spain) a few weeks back. This city is one of the most ideal cities I have been to for cycling; flat, perfect climate, riverbed running right through the middle of the city, spacious roads and high density. One of the inhabitants told me they dedicated cycling lanes a year back or so. That was visible: They had painted bicycle lanes right over roads & pedestrian areas. I guess when the Valencian peo…

Just chiming in to say Valencia is LOVELY!!!! Such a fantastic, cheap, beautiful, beachy place to be.

Is it someplace you'd recommend living for a few months? From the US, always looking for new, interesting places to work remote from.

Re: Berlin's Plan to Become a City for Cyclists

#44

Post by arximboldi »

sharpercoder wrote: post #4

I was in Valencia (Spain) a few weeks back. This city is one of the most ideal cities I have been to for cycling; flat, perfect climate, riverbed running right through the middle of the city, spacious roads and high density. One of the inhabitants told me they dedicated cycling lanes a year back or so. That was visible: They had painted bicycle lanes right over roads & pedestrian areas. I guess when the Valencian peo…

Spain has been very much a car centric country but over the last years few cities have been pushing a transformation to become bike friendly. The biggest transformation I have witnessed is in Seville: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jan/28/seville-cycli...

Re: Berlin's Plan to Become a City for Cyclists

#45

Post by Steltek »

SirLJ wrote: post #27
toomuchtodo wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is how I plan on transporting my two kids by bicycle when they're a bit older (electric cargo bike): https://yubabikes.com/ Disclaimer: no affiliation/promotion/etc

Try doing the same during the winter in the northeast or central US

I have a similar bike in Boston with two kids. It's not that bad; snowpants, good gloves, and adult wind breakers thrown around them gets you pretty far. The hardest part was getting the 2yo to wear a neck warmer or face mask when it was in the 20s. I imagine a trailer would be warmer and safer on ice. The long tail is just nicer overall.

Re: Berlin's Plan to Become a City for Cyclists

#46

Post by lobster_johnson »

sharpercoder wrote: post #4

I was in Valencia (Spain) a few weeks back. This city is one of the most ideal cities I have been to for cycling; flat, perfect climate, riverbed running right through the middle of the city, spacious roads and high density. One of the inhabitants told me they dedicated cycling lanes a year back or so. That was visible: They had painted bicycle lanes right over roads & pedestrian areas. I guess when the Valencian peo…

Having wide streets where you can set side space for bicycle lanes also helps. After WW2, Berlin was in ruins, and the city was never built up to the density of many other European cities. The Soviets, in particular, were particularly fond of wide, open spaces. (The earlier Prussian kings also liked wide avenues they could march their soldiers through.) Berlin is definitely a great city to bike in.

Re: Berlin's Plan to Become a City for Cyclists

#47

Post by arximboldi »

soperj wrote: post #37
RcouF1uZ4gsC wrote: post #14

The cities mentioned as being great for cyclists are Copenhagen and Amersterdam, and now Berlin is trying. What is interesting is that the countries these cities are in Denmark, Netherlands, and Germany have fertility rates of 1.7, 1.7, 1.5 births/female [0]. In other words, people aren't having that many children. When transporting children, cars become a whole lot more convenient than bicycles. You don't have to wo…

Sounds like you've never been there. I spent some time right outside Amsterdam (in Haarlem), and you can easily get a couple kids and a baby on a bike(in a bakfiets). You can easily carry all the diapers and baby feed you need for an outing in a stroller which is all you really need because nearly everything you could want is within walking distance. -had 2 kids at the time(nearly 3 and 6 months), as well as cousins…

Agreed. Berlin is a very child-friendly city, and the biking is part of it. It is very common for parents to carry their kids in the bike. And heavy traffic makes the city less child-safe, not more.

Re: Berlin's Plan to Become a City for Cyclists

#48

Post by ekianjo »

AndyMcConachie wrote: post #42
RcouF1uZ4gsC wrote: post #14

The cities mentioned as being great for cyclists are Copenhagen and Amersterdam, and now Berlin is trying. What is interesting is that the countries these cities are in Denmark, Netherlands, and Germany have fertility rates of 1.7, 1.7, 1.5 births/female [0]. In other words, people aren't having that many children. When transporting children, cars become a whole lot more convenient than bicycles. You don't have to wo…

As a Dutchie with no kids I must kindly disagree with you. Go to any Dutch city and you will see tons of parents riding on bikes with their kids. It's common to see 1 adult and 2 kids on the same bike.

Go to any city thats not flat and you will soon find bikes to be unpractical for about everything.

Re: Berlin's Plan to Become a City for Cyclists

#49

Post by ekianjo »

nihonde wrote: post #26
RcouF1uZ4gsC wrote: post #14

The cities mentioned as being great for cyclists are Copenhagen and Amersterdam, and now Berlin is trying. What is interesting is that the countries these cities are in Denmark, Netherlands, and Germany have fertility rates of 1.7, 1.7, 1.5 births/female [0]. In other words, people aren't having that many children. When transporting children, cars become a whole lot more convenient than bicycles. You don't have to wo…

Anyone who lived in Japan knows about “mamachari” bikes, and a diminutive young mother with two kids and groceries on her bike. Not to mention all the senior citizens who ride everywhere as well. Electric-assist bikes, being able to ride on sidewalks or dedicated lanes, and safe parking help make it possible. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RLXnCu-KMdY

Poor example though. There is plenty of car traffic in Japan about everywhere, and parking yout bike is not free at all. And cyclists are super dangerous here, not respecting any rule on the road. I was almost hit by bikes going in the wrong direction several times. And mamachari riders are no exception. they speed up on the sidewalks without any regard for pedestrians.

Re: Berlin's Plan to Become a City for Cyclists

#50

Post by ekianjo »

goldesel wrote: post #22
SirLJ wrote: post #6

I hope they install a lot of showers...

Stinking is actually a consequence of a sedentary lifestyle. With the right kind of cycling infrastructure, riding a bike in flat terrain is a low intensity exercise to which the body soon adapts. It can become quite relaxing and meditative. Exemplary video of cycling in the netherlands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb0QjASuuqI

> Stinking is actually a consequence of a sedentary lifestyle.

any source for this extraordinary claim?

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