If You Build It, the Dutch Will Pedal (2017) • Hacker News Board

Re: If You Build It, the Dutch Will Pedal (2017)

#11

Post by joelbluminator » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 4:30 PM UTC

bluetomcat wrote: post #5

In an alienated society where everyone lives in his own bubble, biking and not having a car is an easy proposition. No need to drive your sick parents to the hospital, no need to help a friend with moving the furniture, putting your child on the backseat of a bike on a rainy day is not frowned upon. Almost every aspect of social life is handled by a company in the private sector or by a public institution. The majori…

Jesus christ if something's wrong with your parents you can call them an Uber right? or an ambulance

Re: If You Build It, the Dutch Will Pedal (2017)

#12

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 4:32 PM UTC

bluetomcat wrote: post #5

In an alienated society where everyone lives in his own bubble, biking and not having a car is an easy proposition. No need to drive your sick parents to the hospital, no need to help a friend with moving the furniture, putting your child on the backseat of a bike on a rainy day is not frowned upon. Almost every aspect of social life is handled by a company in the private sector or by a public institution. The majori…

[deleted]

Re: If You Build It, the Dutch Will Pedal (2017)

#13

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 4:32 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: If You Build It, the Dutch Will Pedal (2017)

#14

Post by n4r9 » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 4:32 PM UTC

freefal wrote: post #6

As someone who bikes to work most days and thinks cycling infrastructure like this is great, what do the people profiled in this article do when it rains?

I cycle to work almost every day come rain or shine. I wear cycling shorts and vest, a light waterproof fluorescent jacket, a rucksack with a foldout waterproof covering, an underhelmet cap, and I've just invested in some overshoes to protect my shoes and socks. I change into that in the morning, and when I get to work I change into clothes from my rucksack and hang the cycling clothes somewhere to dry if need be. Only when it's absolutely bucketing it down will I consider taking the bus.

Re: If You Build It, the Dutch Will Pedal (2017)

#15

Post by gonzus » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 4:32 PM UTC

freefal wrote: post #6

As someone who bikes to work most days and thinks cycling infrastructure like this is great, what do the people profiled in this article do when it rains?

It is just a fact of life. Not enjoyable, of course, but so what. Of course, if the bike ride is really long, it might become unfeasible.

Re: If You Build It, the Dutch Will Pedal (2017)

#16

Post by opencl » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 4:33 PM UTC

bluetomcat wrote: post #5

In an alienated society where everyone lives in his own bubble, biking and not having a car is an easy proposition. No need to drive your sick parents to the hospital, no need to help a friend with moving the furniture, putting your child on the backseat of a bike on a rainy day is not frowned upon. Almost every aspect of social life is handled by a company in the private sector or by a public institution. The majori…

You act like nobody in the Netherlands has a car. Most households have both a car and a few bicycles (except in a few cities), they just don't use the cars for everything like Americans tend to.

Re: If You Build It, the Dutch Will Pedal (2017)

#17

Post by sgwil » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 4:33 PM UTC

freefal wrote: post #6

As someone who bikes to work most days and thinks cycling infrastructure like this is great, what do the people profiled in this article do when it rains?

You're not made of sugar.

Re: If You Build It, the Dutch Will Pedal (2017)

#18

Post by novok » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 4:34 PM UTC

freefal wrote: post #6

As someone who bikes to work most days and thinks cycling infrastructure like this is great, what do the people profiled in this article do when it rains?

Fenders

Normal rain jacket

backpack with a rain cover

And if you really want to stay dry, something like these leg covers: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rainlegs-Black-Waterproof-Leg-Prote...

Re: If You Build It, the Dutch Will Pedal (2017)

#19

Post by gok » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 4:35 PM UTC

> “These old cities weren’t made for cars,” Mr. Wagenbuur said.

Kind of the key issue with applying this to new, post-car cities, unfortunately.

Re: If You Build It, the Dutch Will Pedal (2017)

#20

Post by spodek » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 4:36 PM UTC

> Utrecht, like many other European cities, spent several postwar decades trying to make automobile use easier.

> The effort included building a four-lane highway over centuries-old canals, making space for parked cars on its narrow cobblestone streets, and planning for a highway that was to cross the medieval city’s cathedral square.

What better to do with history than learn from it?

Next step: see the similarities of our focus on airplanes to that view on cars and how it's not improving our lives, environment, or communities, but rather hurting them all.