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Amsterdam has joined the chat. /s Bikes are only dangerous when they are mixed with high-speed auto traffic. On dedicated paths, they're pretty safe. More so
by alistairSH 3y ago
Amsterdam has joined the chat. /s
Bikes are only dangerous when they are mixed with high-speed auto traffic. On dedicated paths, they're pretty safe. More so when the bikes are lower-speed townie bikes (dutch style or similar, vs a "TdF race bike") and helmets are worn.
Cargo bikes exist. Racks and bags are available for most normal bikes. Some cargo bikes have platforms that can be used as a seat (similar to a motorcycle). No such thing as poor weather, only poor clothing choices. Yes, there are people who will never be able to ride a bike and we need to build with them in mind as well.
The US, in general, is terrible at building for an array of transportation alternatives. It's basically cars, cars, cars. Are bikes (or scooters or buses) a 100% substitute for cars today? No. Could they be for a large portion of the population? Absolutely, we just need to push for it. In the long run, we'll be better for it. Cars have massive costs - not just buying the car, but maintaining it, fueling it, building roads, opportunity costs related to parking spaces, environmental impacts, etc.
Even if we get to the point where a typical 3-4 person family has one car instead of 2-3, we'll be better off.
- slashdev 3y agoCanada entering the chat. There is definitely poor weather. I know people will cycle in the snow and ice, but I don’t recommend it. I agree that bikes are great, when the infrastructure supports them, and reducing usage of petrol cars is sensible for the planet. But they still can only supplement a car for most families in most places.
- alistairSH 3y agoOulu, Finland manages to keep bike transit viable over winter (20% of trips most of the year, 12% of trips through winter). https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2021/01/22/meet-the-bike-loving-finnish-city-that-keeps-pedalling-even-in-the-snow https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2021/01/22/meet-the-bike-... Like I said, even if we get from 2-3 cars/family to 1 car/family, we're WAY ahead in resource use, health, space usage, etc.
- concordDance 3y ago12% doesn't seem viable as a car replacement
- linsomniac 3y agoI think the point he was making was that in the winter in Finland there was "only" a drop of ~40% in cycling. I say "only" because for many people, myself included, my winter cycling drops by ~100%.
- _aavaa_ 3y agohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU