4 ms·

Not Just Bikes is a convincing advocacy channel. But just because you agree doesn't mean you should ignore that he is trying to convince you of a certain viewpo

Not Just Bikes is a convincing advocacy channel. But just because you agree doesn't mean you should ignore that he is trying to convince you of a certain viewpoint. Specifically, urbanization is good, cars are bad (and unfun to drive), bikes are great. Rewatch the videos, you'll note you can only enjoy many of the changes if you're an advid year round cyclist who lives in a flatish city with nice weather (and who doesn't need anything too far away, most of the time). Buses need roads. Not everyone can cycle, not even with (very, very expensive, even on the low end) ebikes.

deadbunny 2y ago
Ah yes, the Netherlands. Famous for their nice weather.
- huggingmouth 2y ago
  Comparativly, Netherland's weather is excellent.
iknownothow 2y ago
I don't need to be convinced of their viewpoint, I live it. I live in another European country, in a city with over million people. I live midway between the middle of the city and the outskirts. Practially everything one needs is available within a 10 minute bike ride. The weather is atrocious sometimes but everyone deals with it by wearing a rain poncho. People who can't bike are on mobility scooters and e-wheelchairs (paid for by health insurance) who share the bike lane. Sometimes I'm too lazy and I take buses, trams, subways and trains which are ubiquitous. And I am not an avid cyclist, wish I was. My bike for me is a tool, a $150 second-hand tool. Is that the same everywhere in the country or even the city? No. But it's common enough that you'll see parents carrying their kids around in cargo bikes practically anywhere in the country. P.S. I was generalizing when I said everything's within a 10 minute bike ride to account for all people who live along the same radius as I do. For me personally, everything's available within a 5 minute *walk* - grocery stores, cafes, restaurants, bars, gym, park, playgrounds, kindergartens, schools, train station, doctor, dentist.
J_Shelby_J 2y ago
His channel is literally called not just bikes. He likes bikes, but is not a bike supremicist. He has videos talking about how driving is more pleasant in Amsterdam (true from my experience), he has videos about how awesome Swiss trains are, he has videos about how a walkable city is good for health. Really his channel should be called “not just cars.” Bikes are just one option he likes as an alternative.
Mawr 2y ago
Pretty much all the most commonly used strawman arguments rolled into one post, good job :) You forgot to bring up moving cargo though, so A-. > advid year round cyclist So all the women, children, and parents doing utility trips each day on their $50 bikes in the Netherlands are "avid cyclists". Got it. > flatish city Bikes have had gears for a looong time. Ebikes are nice too. > with nice weather Because the Netherlands is known for its excellent weather? Anyhow, public transport is needed too. > and who doesn't need anything too far away, most of the time Yes, we're talking about cities here. Also, trains. Small trains are fun too (trams). > Buses need roads. ...yes. Thankfully nobody's proposing removing roads. > Not everyone can cycle Nobody says they can and not everyone can drive either (:O). In fact, more people can cycle than drive, funny that. > (very, very expensive, even on the low end) ebikes Show me a calculation that results in ebikes being in any way expensive compared to a car. In any case, arguing about the expense of biking is absolutely hilarious when you can get a perfectly adequate commuter bike for $50. Nobody's saying cycling is the miracle solution that works for every person in every situation, everywhere. What they are saying is transportation in dense cities must be efficient and the only way to achieve that is a combination of walkability, cyclability, and public transport. Oh, and you can just use a car if you'd like to, just prepare to pay for the burden you place on others by doing so.
throw0101c 2y ago
> with nice weather See his video "Why Canadians Can't Bike in the Winter (but Finnish people can)": * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU See also Oh The Urbanity!'s various videos on the topic: * "Winter Isn't a Good Argument Against Bike Lanes": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6153xn_seac https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6153xn_seac * "Bike Lane Haters Are Wrong About Winter": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdtR3T2Pg4s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdtR3T2Pg4s * "What Biking in the Winter is Really Like": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sokHu9bhpn8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sokHu9bhpn8 * "2,000 People Told Us Their Biggest Winter Cycling Challenges": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXETjLqHJmA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXETjLqHJmA And most recent (April 2024), "How Winter Cycling Finally Clicked for Us": * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7vickY3yG0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7vickY3yG0 Of course ones doesn't necessarily have to cycle 100% of the time either: do it when you feel most comfortable with it.

deadbunny 2y ago

Ah yes, the Netherlands. Famous for their nice weather.

huggingmouth 2y ago
Comparativly, Netherland's weather is excellent.

iknownothow 2y ago

I don't need to be convinced of their viewpoint, I live it. I live in another European country, in a city with over million people. I live midway between the middle of the city and the outskirts. Practially everything one needs is available within a 10 minute bike ride. The weather is atrocious sometimes but everyone deals with it by wearing a rain poncho. People who can't bike are on mobility scooters and e-wheelchairs (paid for by health insurance) who share the bike lane. Sometimes I'm too lazy and I take buses, trams, subways and trains which are ubiquitous. And I am not an avid cyclist, wish I was. My bike for me is a tool, a $150 second-hand tool. Is that the same everywhere in the country or even the city? No. But it's common enough that you'll see parents carrying their kids around in cargo bikes practically anywhere in the country. P.S. I was generalizing when I said everything's within a 10 minute bike ride to account for all people who live along the same radius as I do. For me personally, everything's available within a 5 minute *walk* - grocery stores, cafes, restaurants, bars, gym, park, playgrounds, kindergartens, schools, train station, doctor, dentist.

J_Shelby_J 2y ago

His channel is literally called not just bikes. He likes bikes, but is not a bike supremicist. He has videos talking about how driving is more pleasant in Amsterdam (true from my experience), he has videos about how awesome Swiss trains are, he has videos about how a walkable city is good for health. Really his channel should be called “not just cars.” Bikes are just one option he likes as an alternative.

Mawr 2y ago

Pretty much all the most commonly used strawman arguments rolled into one post, good job :) You forgot to bring up moving cargo though, so A-. > advid year round cyclist So all the women, children, and parents doing utility trips each day on their $50 bikes in the Netherlands are "avid cyclists". Got it. > flatish city Bikes have had gears for a looong time. Ebikes are nice too. > with nice weather Because the Netherlands is known for its excellent weather? Anyhow, public transport is needed too. > and who doesn't need anything too far away, most of the time Yes, we're talking about cities here. Also, trains. Small trains are fun too (trams). > Buses need roads. ...yes. Thankfully nobody's proposing removing roads. > Not everyone can cycle Nobody says they can and not everyone can drive either (:O). In fact, more people can cycle than drive, funny that. > (very, very expensive, even on the low end) ebikes Show me a calculation that results in ebikes being in any way expensive compared to a car. In any case, arguing about the expense of biking is absolutely hilarious when you can get a perfectly adequate commuter bike for $50. Nobody's saying cycling is the miracle solution that works for every person in every situation, everywhere. What they are saying is transportation in dense cities must be efficient and the only way to achieve that is a combination of walkability, cyclability, and public transport. Oh, and you can just use a car if you'd like to, just prepare to pay for the burden you place on others by doing so.

throw0101c 2y ago

> with nice weather See his video "Why Canadians Can't Bike in the Winter (but Finnish people can)": * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU See also Oh The Urbanity!'s various videos on the topic: * "Winter Isn't a Good Argument Against Bike Lanes": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6153xn_seac https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6153xn_seac * "Bike Lane Haters Are Wrong About Winter": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdtR3T2Pg4s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdtR3T2Pg4s * "What Biking in the Winter is Really Like": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sokHu9bhpn8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sokHu9bhpn8 * "2,000 People Told Us Their Biggest Winter Cycling Challenges": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXETjLqHJmA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXETjLqHJmA And most recent (April 2024), "How Winter Cycling Finally Clicked for Us": * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7vickY3yG0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7vickY3yG0 Of course ones doesn't necessarily have to cycle 100% of the time either: do it when you feel most comfortable with it.