"making cycling irresistable"

Zebee Johnstone

via http://www.recumbentblog.com/archiv...ng_cycling.html

new paper published in Transport Reviews http://www.tsu.ox.ac.uk/trj/
about how cycling was made common in the Netherlands.

http://www.recumbentblog.com/images/pucher-paper.pdf

From the abstract:

The key to achieving high levels of cycling appears to be
the provision of separate cycling facilities along heavily
traveled roads and at intersections, combined with traffic
calming of most residential neighborhoods. Extensive
cycling rights of way in the Netherlands, Denmark,
and Germany are complemented by ample bike parking,
full integration with public transport, comprehensive
traffic education and training of both cyclists and
motorists, and a wide range of promotional events
intended to generate enthusiasm and wide public support
for cycling. In addition to their many pro-bike policies
and programs, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany make
driving expensive as well as inconvenient in central
cities through a host of taxes and restrictions on car
ownership, use, and parking. Moreover, strict land use
policies foster compact, mixed-use developments that
generate shorter and thus more bikeable trips. It is
the coordinated implementation of this multi-faceted,
mutually reinforcing set of policies that best explains
the success of these three countries in promoting cycling.

The "at intersections" is very important, why the hell don't the
powers that be here read that bit then?

Zebee

PeteSig

"Zebee Johnstone" wrote:
>
> new paper published in Transport Reviews http://www.tsu.ox.ac.uk/trj/
> about how cycling was made common in the Netherlands.
>
> http://www.recumbentblog.com/images/pucher-paper.pdf
>
> From the abstract:
>
> The key to achieving high levels of cycling appears to be
> the provision of separate cycling facilities along heavily
> traveled roads and at intersections, combined with traffic
> calming of most residential neighborhoods. Extensive
> cycling rights of way in the Netherlands, Denmark,
> and Germany are complemented by ample bike parking,
> full integration with public transport, comprehensive
> traffic education and training of both cyclists and
> motorists, and a wide range of promotional events
> intended to generate enthusiasm and wide public support
> for cycling. In addition to their many pro-bike policies
> and programs, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany make
> driving expensive as well as inconvenient in central
> cities through a host of taxes and restrictions on car
> ownership, use, and parking. Moreover, strict land use
> policies foster compact, mixed-use developments that
> generate shorter and thus more bikeable trips. It is
> the coordinated implementation of this multi-faceted,
> mutually reinforcing set of policies that best explains
> the success of these three countries in promoting cycling.
>
> The "at intersections" is very important, why the hell don't the
> powers that be here read that bit then?

As is the comprehensive traffic education, policies to make driving more
inconvenient, and compact land-use policies. We need some work done on these
as well. Just putting in bike lanes won't bring the bikes out. I see plenty
of empty bike lanes in my neck of the woods.
--
Cheers
Peter

~~~ ~ _@
~~ ~ _- \,
~~ (*)/ (*)

Zebee Johnstone

In aus.bicycle on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 22:20:30 GMT
PeteSig <petesig@bigpond.com> wrote:
>
> As is the comprehensive traffic education, policies to make driving more
> inconvenient, and compact land-use policies. We need some work done on these
> as well. Just putting in bike lanes won't bring the bikes out. I see plenty
> of empty bike lanes in my neck of the woods.

Absolutely, it's a multi tentacled problem, it needs several sharp
axes.

The making cars more inconvenient to use is a biggie. Maybe along
with BUGS and other advocates having "no lycra" days when people cycle
in normal clothing. Making cycling something you don't need special
kit for.

I see kids cycling to work in normal clothes all the time, and did
when I was a kid, thought nothing of it. I wear shorts on the bent
but in the winter I wear longs rather than jeans for the trip to the
shops as they are more comfortable on the bike.

However it does paint cycling as inconvenient.

Zebee

Donga

On Nov 11, 9:11 am, Zebee Johnstone <zeb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> In aus.bicycle on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 22:20:30 GMT
>
> PeteSig <pete...@bigpond.com> wrote:
>
> > As is the comprehensive traffic education, policies to make driving more
> > inconvenient, and compact land-use policies. We need some work done on these
> > as well. Just putting in bike lanes won't bring the bikes out. I see plenty
> > of empty bike lanes in my neck of the woods.
>
> Absolutely, it's a multi tentacled problem, it needs several sharp
> axes.
>
> The making cars more inconvenient to use is a biggie. Maybe along
> with BUGS and other advocates having "no lycra" days when people cycle
> in normal clothing. Making cycling something you don't need special
> kit for.
>
> I see kids cycling to work in normal clothes all the time, and did
> when I was a kid, thought nothing of it. I wear shorts on the bent
> but in the winter I wear longs rather than jeans for the trip to the
> shops as they are more comfortable on the bike.
>
> However it does paint cycling as inconvenient.
>
> Zebee

That would be the day for pretending that "normal" clothes are more
comfortable and practical than lycra? Forgeddit. Cycling does involve
changing ones habits, let's not pretend. People will make their
choices on bigger things than whether I wear lycra.

Zebee Johnstone

In aus.bicycle on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 17:34:42 -0800
Donga <idomybestworkonabike@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> That would be the day for pretending that "normal" clothes are more
> comfortable and practical than lycra? Forgeddit. Cycling does involve
> changing ones habits, let's not pretend. People will make their
> choices on bigger things than whether I wear lycra.

While you have to get dressed in silly clothes to go to the shops,
then why bother?

Zebee

G-S

Donga wrote:
>
> That would be the day for pretending that "normal" clothes are more
> comfortable and practical than lycra? Forgeddit. Cycling does involve
> changing ones habits, let's not pretend. People will make their
> choices on bigger things than whether I wear lycra.
>

I'd look silly (well sillier than normal) in lycra [1]

I find mountain bike shorts are a good compromise YMMV.


G-S

[1] Gee... look at the overweight yellow colored lycra guy on the hybrid [2]

[2] Normal looking MTB shorts are a tad less 'obvious'. [3]

[3] But hey... if people are slim and fit enough for lycra to look good
go for it. [4]

[4] It's sort of like bikinis and speedos... only fit people should be
seen in them IMHO.

TimC

On 2007-11-10, PeteSig (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
>
> "Zebee Johnstone" wrote:
>>
>> new paper published in Transport Reviews http://www.tsu.ox.ac.uk/trj/
>> about how cycling was made common in the Netherlands.
>>
>> http://www.recumbentblog.com/images/pucher-paper.pdf
>>
>> From the abstract:
>>
>> The key to achieving high levels of cycling appears to be
>> the provision of separate cycling facilities along heavily
>> traveled roads and at intersections, combined with traffic
>> calming of most residential neighborhoods. Extensive
>> cycling rights of way in the Netherlands, Denmark,
>> and Germany are complemented by ample bike parking,
>> full integration with public transport, comprehensive
>> traffic education and training of both cyclists and
>> motorists, and a wide range of promotional events
>> intended to generate enthusiasm and wide public support
>> for cycling. In addition to their many pro-bike policies
>> and programs, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany make
>> driving expensive as well as inconvenient in central
>> cities through a host of taxes and restrictions on car
>> ownership, use, and parking. Moreover, strict land use
>> policies foster compact, mixed-use developments that
>> generate shorter and thus more bikeable trips. It is
>> the coordinated implementation of this multi-faceted,
>> mutually reinforcing set of policies that best explains
>> the success of these three countries in promoting cycling.
>>
>> The "at intersections" is very important, why the hell don't the
>> powers that be here read that bit then?
>
> As is the comprehensive traffic education, policies to make driving more
> inconvenient, and compact land-use policies.

I don't understand why it is legal and encouraged to park on the road
outside your house.

If you were actually forced to provision for your car on your own land
at your own expense, we'd see less people owning less cars because
they can't afford to put aside the garage space. In dense areas, we'd
not see cars at all, because there is no space.

Roads could be smaller, increasing the density again. Council
expenses would be much reduced. It'd be more bike and pedestrian
friendly.

And then out of residential areas, shops expect council to provide
their carparking spots. As it is, shops complain bitterly if you
remove the 2 carparking spots outside their shop, because obviously 2
spots are really going to increase their clientelle. If shops want
people to be able to drive to their location, they should have to
provision for the carparking out of their own expenses.

--
TimC
Yesterday, after years of trying, I finally managed to take a photo of a
subway train that said "INSTRUCTION CAR" just so that someday I can caption
it "...but where's the DATA CDR?" when I'm ready to make a joke that's
nerdy even by the standards of jokes about LISP. -- James "Kibo" Perry

John Pitts

On 2007-11-11, G-S <geoff@castbus.com.au> wrote:
>
> I'd look silly (well sillier than normal) in lycra [1]
>
> I find mountain bike shorts are a good compromise YMMV.
>
>
> G-S
>
> [1] Gee... look at the overweight yellow colored lycra guy on the hybrid [2]

In the group I ride with, it's only the young, thin riders in their
teens and twenties that are bashful about wearing lycra. Us older,
heavier types are over that body image thing.

--
John
Every program has at least one bug and can be shortened by at least one
instruction. By induction, every program can be reduced to one
instruction which doesn't work.

PeteSig

"John Pitts" wrote:

> In the group I ride with, it's only the young, thin riders in their
> teens and twenties that are bashful about wearing lycra. Us older,
> heavier types are over that body image thing.

Your riding group has twenty year olds in it? And even teenagers? WOW!!

In my club the new members have never been much more than five years younger
than me, for the last 15 years! Don't know what things the youngsters are up
to, but joining bike clubs sure ain't one of them.

--
Cheers
Peter

~~~ ~ _@
~~ ~ _- \,
~~ (*)/ (*)

TimC

On 2007-11-11, PeteSig (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
>
> "John Pitts" wrote:
>
>> In the group I ride with, it's only the young, thin riders in their
>> teens and twenties that are bashful about wearing lycra. Us older,
>> heavier types are over that body image thing.
>
> Your riding group has twenty year olds in it? And even teenagers? WOW!!
>
> In my club the new members have never been much more than five years younger
> than me, for the last 15 years! Don't know what things the youngsters are up
> to, but joining bike clubs sure ain't one of them.

Oi!

I was a member for a year! And there was once a cute girl or two that
I tried to encourage to come along.

--
TimC
Usage: fortune -P [-f] -a [xsz] Q: file [rKe9] -v6[+] file1 ...

Theo Bekkers

Zebee Johnstone wrote:
> Donga wrote:

>> That would be the day for pretending that "normal" clothes are more
>> comfortable and practical than lycra? Forgeddit. Cycling does involve
>> changing ones habits, let's not pretend. People will make their
>> choices on bigger things than whether I wear lycra.

> While you have to get dressed in silly clothes to go to the shops,
> then why bother?

And not being able to walk without taking your shoes off.

Theo

lemmiwinks.au@gmail.com

On Nov 11, 10:11 am, Zebee Johnstone <zeb...@gmail.com> wrote:

> The making cars more inconvenient to use is a biggie. Maybe along
> with BUGS and other advocates having "no lycra" days when people cycle
> in normal clothing. Making cycling something you don't need special
> kit for.

Every day is "no lycra" day for me. I did buy a pair of shorts from
Torpedo7 just because they were on special for $20 and I wanted to see
what all the fuss was about, but apart from trying them on and
thinking "Erk, uncomfortable, too restrictive" I'm yet to use them.

Cycling is physical exercise, no way around that. Most people think
their life is over if they have to walk more than 1/2 a block to their
car, so convincing them to expend more energy than it takes to pick up
their car keys just to get to work is always going to be about as
popular as a pork chop in Jerusalem.

Donga

On Nov 12, 8:59 am, "Theo Bekkers" <tbekk...@bekkers.com.au> wrote:
> Zebee Johnstone wrote:
> > Donga wrote:
> >> That would be the day for pretending that "normal" clothes are more
> >> comfortable and practical than lycra? Forgeddit. Cycling does involve
> >> changing ones habits, let's not pretend. People will make their
> >> choices on bigger things than whether I wear lycra.
> > While you have to get dressed in silly clothes to go to the shops,
> > then why bother?
>
> And not being able to walk without taking your shoes off.
>
> Theo

Imelda taught me to have different shoes for different situations.
Enter the MTB model for when you need to walk. Enter standardised
Crank Bros pedals on all bikes in the quiver.

EuanB

My experience yesterday suggests otherwise.

My wife went to a school reunion the other day and there was afternoon tea afterwards, which I was invited to. Being a one car family that meant a 12km ride.

I don't know about the rest of you but I'm not particularly comfortable sitting around in Lycra for four or five hours so I rode down in my normal clothes, no drama's whatsoever. On arriving I put the bike on the roof rack, locked it up, chucked my helmet and gloves in to the boot and no one was any the wiser that I'd gotten there by bike until much later in the day and then there was astonishment that I rode in normal clothes.