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Another reason is that being really respectful around cyclists is an important part of driving lessons in The Netherlands. And I think you can fail your driving

by wkjagt 4y ago

Another reason is that being really respectful around cyclists is an important part of driving lessons in The Netherlands. And I think you can fail your driving test if you pass a bike too close, open your door without looking if a cyclists is coming from behind, or passing over a bike lane at an intersection without looking. I am from The Netherlands and I only realized since moving to Canada that my home country is such a safe place for cyclists. I find it interesting that no one in The Netherlands wears a helmet when cycling and yet serious cycling injuries don’t seem to be a common thing, whereas here in Canada I know of multiple people that got “doored” or otherwise have been in a bike related accident.

habi 4y ago
> open your door without looking if a cyclists is coming from behind, Once you learn about the https://www.dutchreach.org https://www.dutchreach.org it's hard to forget it. It helps to avoid the not-looking-for-cyclists problem :) (It might even have been here on HN where I learned about it.)
- KineticLensman 4y ago
  The Dutch Rear has recently been added to the UK Highway Code [0], a mix of legal requirements and suggestions for safe road use. [0] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code
bluGill 4y ago
>I find it interesting that no one in The Netherlands wears a helmet when cycling and yet serious cycling injuries don’t seem to be a common thing Neurosurgeons in the Netherlands disagree with this, and are begging locals to wear helmets. https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2021/10/neurologists-launch-campaign-to-encourage-bike-helmets-and-slash-brain-injuries/ https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2021/10/neurologists-launch-ca... I don't know how rates of injuries compare between countries, but that is irrelevant.
- diarmuidc 4y ago
  No it's not irrelevant. If helmet wearing is linked to higher per capita head injuries, mandatory helmet wearing should be discouraged.
  - baxtr 4y ago
    Discouraged?
    - alistairSH 4y ago
      Yes, note he stated "if head injuries are more common with helmets". There have been some studies that correlate higher levels of head injuries with mandatory helmet laws. The thesis was that wearing a helmet induces more reckless cycling (higher speeds, etc) due to feeling safer. I don't remember seeing any good follow-ups studies either way and don't necessarily agree with the study.
      - deleted 4y ago
        [deleted]
      - admax88qqq 4y ago
        The other theory is that helmet laws reduce casual cycling by adding an impediment to just hoping on and going. And that those short trips to the strore tend to be safer. Personally my wife can't find a helmet that fits, Asians have rounder heads and north American helmet manufacturers are oblivious. As a result we never cycle.
        alistairSH 4y ago
        That's possibly true. I wear a helmet when I go for a bike ride (for pleasure/fitness) but don't wear one when I run an errand by bike. The former, speeds avg 18mph, top out above 30mph, and use different roads. The latter, speeds are closer to 10mph and use mostly bike lanes and wide sidewalks.
        4y ago

by wkjagt 4y ago

habi 4y ago

> open your door without looking if a cyclists is coming from behind, Once you learn about the https://www.dutchreach.org https://www.dutchreach.org it's hard to forget it. It helps to avoid the not-looking-for-cyclists problem :) (It might even have been here on HN where I learned about it.)

KineticLensman 4y ago
The Dutch Rear has recently been added to the UK Highway Code [0], a mix of legal requirements and suggestions for safe road use. [0] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code

bluGill 4y ago

>I find it interesting that no one in The Netherlands wears a helmet when cycling and yet serious cycling injuries don’t seem to be a common thing Neurosurgeons in the Netherlands disagree with this, and are begging locals to wear helmets. https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2021/10/neurologists-launch-campaign-to-encourage-bike-helmets-and-slash-brain-injuries/ https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2021/10/neurologists-launch-ca... I don't know how rates of injuries compare between countries, but that is irrelevant.

diarmuidc 4y ago
No it's not irrelevant. If helmet wearing is linked to higher per capita head injuries, mandatory helmet wearing should be discouraged.
- baxtr 4y ago
  Discouraged?
  - alistairSH 4y ago
    Yes, note he stated "if head injuries are more common with helmets". There have been some studies that correlate higher levels of head injuries with mandatory helmet laws. The thesis was that wearing a helmet induces more reckless cycling (higher speeds, etc) due to feeling safer. I don't remember seeing any good follow-ups studies either way and don't necessarily agree with the study.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
    - admax88qqq 4y ago
      The other theory is that helmet laws reduce casual cycling by adding an impediment to just hoping on and going. And that those short trips to the strore tend to be safer. Personally my wife can't find a helmet that fits, Asians have rounder heads and north American helmet manufacturers are oblivious. As a result we never cycle.
      - alistairSH 4y ago
        That's possibly true. I wear a helmet when I go for a bike ride (for pleasure/fitness) but don't wear one when I run an errand by bike. The former, speeds avg 18mph, top out above 30mph, and use different roads. The latter, speeds are closer to 10mph and use mostly bike lanes and wide sidewalks.
      - 4y ago