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

nytimes.com

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

#31

Post by KingMachiavelli »

huseyinkeles wrote: post #24
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 live in Amsterdam, I have my winter gear, water-proof shoes, pant cover etc. I never stopped cycling to work during the winter, even if it was snowing :) my commute is only 8 minutes though. I hate wind more than rain and snow tbh.

> my commute is only 8 minutes though

I bet that's the secret. I just commented comparing the Netherland's climate to Denver and while they are comparable at the end of the day it seem it must be the commute distance that really makes it work in Amsterdam. In this case, you're commute is about as long as it takes me to walk to work after I park my car.

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

#32

Post by teekert »

sgwil wrote: post #17
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.

As my mother used to say when I complained about rain haha, I say the same to my kids now :)

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

#34

Post by BiggusDijkus »

sgwil wrote: post #17
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.

Can't get Dutchier than "Wij zijn niet van suiker" :)

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

#36

Post by spodek »

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?

Besides the practical, physical advice from others on equipment and gear, I recommend a mindset reset that billions of people around the world ride bikes rain or shine every day -- old, young, rich, poor, male, female, etc -- and have for generations.

I remember riding in Vietnam during monsoon season. When the rain started, everyone pulled over a few seconds to put on their ponchos and started riding again.

I suspect that we who don't ride regularly are the exception.

Here's a podcast episode of mine of a school principal who wrote his bike to school every day in Alaska, often below 0F http://joshuaspodek.com/guests/jethro-jones. He was pretty fun about it.

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

#37

Post by sgwil »

> The city recently surpassed Amsterdam in a widely respected ranking of bike-friendly cities and is now second only to Copenhagen, which is more than twice its size.

I visited Copenhagen last year, and while it's a lovely city I have absolutely no idea how it is ranked number one cycling city in the world. Mark Wagenbuur, cited in this article, is also sceptical: https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2018/11/27/is-copenhagen-...

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

#38

Post by teekert »

vectorEQ wrote: post #29

"Cycling is like a piece of magic: It only has advantages,” said Ms. van Hooijdonk . (who never cycled into gale force winds in freezing cold and rain ;'D... wtf)

Granted the Dutch climate has little extremes but even at -5 degC and snow or 0 degC and rain, you will still see many people on their bikes with rain suits and gloves.

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

#39

Post by huseyinkeles »

KingMachiavelli wrote: post #31
huseyinkeles wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in Amsterdam, I have my winter gear, water-proof shoes, pant cover etc. I never stopped cycling to work during the winter, even if it was snowing :) my commute is only 8 minutes though. I hate wind more than rain and snow tbh.

> my commute is only 8 minutes though I bet that's the secret. I just commented comparing the Netherland's climate to Denver and while they are comparable at the end of the day it seem it must be the commute distance that really makes it work in Amsterdam. In this case, you're commute is about as long as it takes me to walk to work after I park my car .

It's not the case for everyone in Amsterdam, I decided to live in a studio in the city center, while majority of my colleagues live in the outskirts, big houses with the same rent I pay, commuting around 20-30 minutes, and still cycle :)

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

#40

Post by teekert »

perfunctory wrote: post #8
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…

> putting your child on the backseat of a bike on a rainy day is not frowned upon This is the best thing you can do for your child.

And then there is of course this one: http://www.hollandse-bakfietsen.nl/kopen/media/catalog/produ...
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