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The Netherlands had a very similar problem and made very simple and inexpensive changes to roadway planning. For one thing, I think a lot of American suburbs c

by dangus 3y ago

The Netherlands had a very similar problem and made very simple and inexpensive changes to roadway planning. For one thing, I think a lot of American suburbs could be way more bike friendly if people just had a safe path to ride in. We are talking a half a lane worth of pavement. Another thing is that this isn’t all or nothing. Still owning and perhaps needing a car but reducing the number of trips per week is a win. Look at pictures of European countries that used to use their central squares as parking lots. It can be done. Change certainly won’t happen via defeatism.

iampims 3y ago
Roads safe for cycling is half the battle. The other half is around zoning and mixing residential with businesses.
- johannes1234321 3y ago
  That's not half the battle. Undoing the zoning is 90% of the battle. Cycle paths can be added at a step by step basis and keeping some gaps isn't an issue and if some paths aren't used much initially there isn't a big problem. Also sometime a single line painted on the road is enough for a start. If businesses settle in dezoned area they need to attract an audience quickly, but the will be less attractive than the hyperstore or mall for car drivers and depend on a bunch of other businesses in walkable distance. Financing the period till it works can be tough and will cycle through a few businesses till a working mixture is established. And even then: In the car centric land usage, distances are too far quickly for quickly walking over to the bakery for fetching bread for breakfast, 15 minutes as a guidance for reaching everyday shops, doctor offices, a bar, ... density has to be increased. But people won't give up their yards.
  - hutzlibu 3y ago
    "Also sometime a single line painted on the road is enough for a start." I have seldom seen this solution get respected by cars. It is better than nothing, but it is a weak start, when the goal is save cycling.
- Der_Einzige 3y ago
  Legalize biking on the sidewalk nationwide. I don’t want to bike on the road for any reason. Bikers have far far lower chances of hurting pedestrians than cars do of bikers.
  - fipar 3y ago
    That’s a cultural and not a technical problem. My experience is limited, but it is that, when motorists are idiots, bikers are idiots too. Yes, sure, less chance of getting killed by a bicycle (though serious risk of injury if you’re and old-enough pedestrian). My point is: if you live in a place where a lot of drivers behave like selfish idiots to other drivers, bikers, and pedestrians, then a lot of bikers will behave like selfish idiots too. I don’t have a solution, but I just wanted to add the data point because I hate most bikers with about the same intensity I hate most drivers. As a pedestrian, both groups ignore me and put me at risk every single f-word day.
  - filmgirlcw 3y ago
    Absolutely not. In Seattle, cyclists already abuse the sidewalks when there are dedicated bike lanes everywhere. And the cyclists on the sidewalks are the worst of the worst who will plow over pedestrians without even pausing. No fucking thanks. Enforce actual bike lanes and ensure people biking following the laws and rules of the road and we'd be a lot better off. But letting people too dumb to wear helmets* or to understand why they need to be in a bike lane and not on a sidewalk onto the sidewalk with zero consequence? Absolutely not. * I do not even remotely care about the anti-helmet arguments. I’m sure you’re a cyclist who has done all the research and proof as to why if you’re good and paying attention a helmet is unnecessary or even bad. Fine. Most people on bikes and most people in cars aren’t you. Wear a helmet!
  - NewsyHacker 3y ago
    That might work in highly urban areas, but suburban USA is notorious for sidewalks that end suddenly, forcing a cyclist to return to the road. And sometimes that involves dropping off a curb and then later having to get the bike back up a curb.
  - quantified 3y ago
cdelsolar 3y ago
I haven’t owned a car since 2017. I didn’t need one living in NYC and then I bike around my suburb. My wife does have a car which we use for shopping and taking the kids places but I’m trying to hold off on buying a second one. I really wish bike culture was more of a thing; I do see other bikers on the road, but anytime I go anywhere with my bike I’m often the only one that biked there.
wombatpm 3y ago
My little midwestern town only needed three children to die riding to the park before the village finally put in 1/4 mile of sidewalks to link 3 neighborhoods with the parks and schools a 1/2 mile away
inferiorhuman 3y ago
A lot of American suburbs would be safer if they had sidewalks for people to walk on.

by dangus 3y ago

iampims 3y ago

Roads safe for cycling is half the battle. The other half is around zoning and mixing residential with businesses.

johannes1234321 3y ago
That's not half the battle. Undoing the zoning is 90% of the battle. Cycle paths can be added at a step by step basis and keeping some gaps isn't an issue and if some paths aren't used much initially there isn't a big problem. Also sometime a single line painted on the road is enough for a start. If businesses settle in dezoned area they need to attract an audience quickly, but the will be less attractive than the hyperstore or mall for car drivers and depend on a bunch of other businesses in walkable distance. Financing the period till it works can be tough and will cycle through a few businesses till a working mixture is established. And even then: In the car centric land usage, distances are too far quickly for quickly walking over to the bakery for fetching bread for breakfast, 15 minutes as a guidance for reaching everyday shops, doctor offices, a bar, ... density has to be increased. But people won't give up their yards.
- hutzlibu 3y ago
  "Also sometime a single line painted on the road is enough for a start." I have seldom seen this solution get respected by cars. It is better than nothing, but it is a weak start, when the goal is save cycling.
Der_Einzige 3y ago
Legalize biking on the sidewalk nationwide. I don’t want to bike on the road for any reason. Bikers have far far lower chances of hurting pedestrians than cars do of bikers.
- fipar 3y ago
  That’s a cultural and not a technical problem. My experience is limited, but it is that, when motorists are idiots, bikers are idiots too. Yes, sure, less chance of getting killed by a bicycle (though serious risk of injury if you’re and old-enough pedestrian). My point is: if you live in a place where a lot of drivers behave like selfish idiots to other drivers, bikers, and pedestrians, then a lot of bikers will behave like selfish idiots too. I don’t have a solution, but I just wanted to add the data point because I hate most bikers with about the same intensity I hate most drivers. As a pedestrian, both groups ignore me and put me at risk every single f-word day.
- filmgirlcw 3y ago
  Absolutely not. In Seattle, cyclists already abuse the sidewalks when there are dedicated bike lanes everywhere. And the cyclists on the sidewalks are the worst of the worst who will plow over pedestrians without even pausing. No fucking thanks. Enforce actual bike lanes and ensure people biking following the laws and rules of the road and we'd be a lot better off. But letting people too dumb to wear helmets* or to understand why they need to be in a bike lane and not on a sidewalk onto the sidewalk with zero consequence? Absolutely not. * I do not even remotely care about the anti-helmet arguments. I’m sure you’re a cyclist who has done all the research and proof as to why if you’re good and paying attention a helmet is unnecessary or even bad. Fine. Most people on bikes and most people in cars aren’t you. Wear a helmet!
- NewsyHacker 3y ago
  That might work in highly urban areas, but suburban USA is notorious for sidewalks that end suddenly, forcing a cyclist to return to the road. And sometimes that involves dropping off a curb and then later having to get the bike back up a curb.
- quantified 3y ago

cdelsolar 3y ago

I haven’t owned a car since 2017. I didn’t need one living in NYC and then I bike around my suburb. My wife does have a car which we use for shopping and taking the kids places but I’m trying to hold off on buying a second one. I really wish bike culture was more of a thing; I do see other bikers on the road, but anytime I go anywhere with my bike I’m often the only one that biked there.

wombatpm 3y ago

My little midwestern town only needed three children to die riding to the park before the village finally put in 1/4 mile of sidewalks to link 3 neighborhoods with the parks and schools a 1/2 mile away

inferiorhuman 3y ago

A lot of American suburbs would be safer if they had sidewalks for people to walk on.