cycle paths
Space for cycle lanes – it can be found!
Whenever I tell people about my dream of having some decent cycling infrastructure in the UK, I am frequently met with the same point about there not being enough space on British roads. The general feeling is that roads are already too narrow, and that there simply isn’t any room to accommodate the type of segregated cycle lanes that work so well on the continent.
In opposition to this, I would like to present you with a group of photos taken from Google Streetview. In the left column you have shots of roads/junctions in the UK, and in the right column you have almost identical shots of places in The Netherlands. The point of the side-by-side comparison is to show how space is used differently, and how the Dutch so sensibly choose to separate pedestrians and cyclists from cars and HGVs. The streets are so similar that they could almost be before and after photos…
In each case, the cycling provision in the UK is rubbish or non-existent, while that provided on a similar street in The Netherlands offers a far superior cycling experience. Of course, if cycle lanes were better then more people would cycle, and if more people were riding bikes then there would be fewer cars on the road and so less congestion and less pollution. Everyone benefits, right?
The following video explains how the Dutch got their cycle paths, and how their cities made the transition from being car-centric to being more bicycle friendly.
What the Dutch have achieved is truly remarkable, and this is why I always hold them up as the best example for the UK to follow. They are the only country in the world able to boast the fact that more than a quarter of all their journeys are made by bike, and it would be my dream come true if we could achieve this feat in the UK.
Related articles
- Making cycle lanes safe (cyclingnelly.wordpress.com)
- Crosspost: Cyclists and pedestrians as ‘hazards’ for motorists. #wordlturnedupsidedown #takecaregtrmcr (manchesterclimatemonthly.net)
- No, it’s not the narrowest cycle path in Britain! (cyclingnelly.wordpress.com)
- Only 10 fines for illegal cycle lane parking (belfasttelegraph.co.uk)
Added benefits of segregated cycle lanes
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Another masterpiece from our friends at NL Cycling.
It’s not just people on bikes who benefit from good infrastructure. Check out the video and see for yourself.
Nothing but good stuff
8 radical ways to protect cyclists
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8 radical ways to protect cyclists
The BBC have posted an article proposing 8 different ways of protecting people on bikes.
Interestingly, instead of simply copying the exemplary Dutch solution, they suggest wacky and impractical things like ‘elevated cycle routes’ and ‘body armour’ for cyclists.
How about strict liability laws and a better network of segregated cycle paths? Come on guys, they’ve shown us how it works on the Continent, it’s about time we stopped farting about with pie-in-the-sky ideas and got our act together.
Related articles
Upgrade London’s CS2 to Continental Standards – call to arms
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Upgrade London’s CS2 to Continental Standards – call to arms
Five cyclists have died in the last nine days on the streets of London.
People are justified in their anger that cycling infrastructure is too sporadic to offer any effective protection. Please help by sending a message to London’s mayor to let him know how you feel.
Coverage from the BBC paints a fuller picture
Related articles
- Cycle deaths leave London bewildered (bbc.co.uk)
- Cyclist killed on cycle superhighway (bbc.co.uk)
- Boris Johnson called on for cycle superhighway safety measures after Bow cyclist death (express.co.uk)
- One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: What Next for Cycle Safety in London? (sustainablecitiescollective.com)
Dutch bikes in the UK 