David Hembrow links today to this excellent video lecture about how to make cycling comfortable and convenient for everyone (image is a link that takes you to the video):
See also: Making Cycling Irresistible: Lessons from The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany [pdf].
John Pucher, professor of planning and public policy, Rutgers University, also makes the civil rights argument in this video.
Comments 2
I think there is a simple piece of logic here that many campaigners overlook. If you want a high rate of cycling then a majority of the population must cycle.
Otherwise you’re aiming just at the small self-selected part of the population who will cycle anyway.
Spreading the appeal of cycling means changing the emotions of cycling. It can no longer be a “traffic jamming” battle against automobiles, but must be pleasant for all. Safe for all. Free of hassle.
If conditions on the streets scare away a large percentage of the population then you never can have a mass cycling culture. That’s where infrastructure comes in. Not any infrastructure – good infrastructure which makes everyone want to cycle, and is not just put in as a sop to the minority who are already cyclists.
What I sometimes point out to people about this place is that unlike in the UK where we were a bit unusual in cycling everywhere, we’re not unusual here. Every person on our street cycles for practical purposes from 87 year old neighbours on one side, younger grandparents on the other side, middle aged parents with teenagers, younger parents with babies, and of course teenagers and children on their own.
This applies equally to the next street along, and in fact every street in this city, and this country.
In countries where “everyone” drives, there are exclusions based on age and wealth. Cycling can be truly inclusive of the entire population.
Posted 22 Nov 2008 at 2:41 am ¶David… Thanks for putting a finer point on the argument.
Posted 22 Nov 2008 at 8:31 am ¶