This is interesting

[Biged]

How the Dutch got their cycle paths - YouTube

 

[Blew it]

Yes, It's a brilliant clip.

I have viewed it many times, if only to remind myself how envious I am of their cycle-friendly infrastructure.

I think there may be a less obvious reason why cyclists are completely segregated from motorised vehicles in mainland Europe, that is the 'strict liability' insurance ruling applied to any motor vehicle driver who hits a cyclist. Something we will never see applied here in Britain.

I can't really complain too much, as here in Swindon we enjoy an extensive safe-cycling network of shared routes. The problem is, on these 'shared routes' Pedestrians must be given priority. Even on routes with a delineating white line, if the pedestrians are so minded that they insist on walking six-abreast and refuse to allow a cyclist to pass, then there is nothing the cyclist can do but take to the grass verge to get round them.

I expect this will be viewed as a little fanciful, but it seems that cyclists in Britain are now being viewed in the same as way they are in India, the accepted form of transport for the societal 'low caste'.

 

[lemmy]

I alluded to this here after spending a few happy days cycling around Paris in the summer. What a luxury to ride up the grand boulevards with a kerb between you and the rest of the traffic.

The best we seem able to do is a few million pounds worth(!) of blue lines painted on the road here and there. If we really wanted to encourage cycling in our cities, we'd do as many continental cities have done and where possible, separate the traffic from the cycles physically.

Unfortunately, we seem mostly unwilling to bite the bullet here. Might stop the cars parking....and therefore the flow of revenue from fining them.

 

[flecc]

But even the Dutch have second thoughts about segregation of traffic types. Only this week we've had the BBC Radio 4 program "Thinking Streets" about this. Here's the blurb:

The streets beneath our feet are getting smart. Pavements are melting into the roads and traffic lights are disappearing. Inspired by the work of scientists and engineers in Holland and Japan, this is a revolution in urban design. Part of it is a movement known as 'Shared Space', which promises to dramatically change the way cities look and how we experience them. In Thinking Streets, Angela Saini asks if all these ideas really fulfil the promise of making us all safer, happier and more efficient?

You can listen again on the BBC i-player, here's the link:

"Thinking Streets" on i-player