A failure of understanding

As Easy As Riding A Bike

As odd as it may seem to British people, surveys of Dutch citizens that ask them why they choose to cycle for the trips they make very rarely find them mentioning ‘cycling infrastructure’ as a reason for doing so – be it in the form of protected cycleways, or filtered permeability that keeps levels of motor traffic low on streets that are shared.

Take, for instance, this 2006 Netherlands transport ministry survey which examined (amongst other things) the reasons people cycle instead of drive for short trips under 7.5km (about 4.5 miles). It found that the most common reasons for doing so were (in order of importance) –

1. cycling is healthy
2. cycling is pleasant
3. cycling is good for the environment
4. I can cycle through traffic quickly
5. I can park my bike easily
6. cycling is easier, I don’t have to look for somewhere to park the car
7. cycling is cheap
8. other people cycle
9. habit
10. I don’t…

View original post 1,688 more words