Will we ever have a system that comes close to the dutch system here in the UK?

[aoj]

I quite like to own one of those Dutch town bike too they look heavy and strong but at the same time very comfortable.

Since going to the Netherlands I bought a Pashley Paramount 5 speed, drum brakes and upright, . It is similar to the Dutch bike experience, best to avoid big hills though.

 

[avalon]

I've been hoping the same (in vain) down here in Australia, but the motor vehicle rules here. Somehow our government doesn't understand that building more and wider roads simply encourages more motor traffic and makes the problems worse, not better.

I don't want to get into a long debate about helmets but there is evidence that the introduction of the compulsory helmet law in Australia reduced the amount of bicycles on the roads. I myself would be happy to take a bike with me on my rare trips to the city, but the small inconvenience of carrying the helmet around all day or risking the theft of it if I leave it with the bike is enough to deter me from doing so.

 

[slowmotion]

Have you cycled in a Dutch city? Those people are absolute lunatics when they get on their wretched cycle paths. Their motorists are saints by comparison. I'm far more scared riding a bike in Amsterdam in the rush hour than taking a spin round Hammersmith Broardway at 5pm on a Friday. It's horrible.

 

[subaqua]

I can live in hope. too many UK people think bikes as a toy /plaything and not a serious mode of transport. I was talking to the guys in the office and mentioned buying a trailer so i could do the shop on the bike and they looked like i had 3 heads and had just told them i was going to eat their children. they just couldn't beleive that anybody would want to.

I might have to move to a site out of London and it will be a 17 mile ride there. i reckon and hour and 20 on the bike at my pootle speed. they think i am bonkers for even mapping a route ! - use public transport they say, use your car they say !

until that attitude changes we will be stuck with a 4 wheel/motorised transport priority which sucks.

the biggest hurdle is getting drivers to realise that it is my space as much as it is theirs and to give me safe passing distance and drive to a standard where cyclists are not in fear of the car. thats not going to happen till people start being convicted of driving offences and punished properly. Increase the fines and use the revenue to provide training better infrastructure- and i don't mean segregated I mean wider roads instead of pavements widened for vehicles to park on.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

75% of all Dutch 'cycling infrastructure' is non-segregated shared space called 'roads'. Do you really want to settle for something as piss-poor as that?

 

[Kies]

It's moving towards the Netherlands model in places like London. The introduction of the Boris bike has helped. We are however in our cycling infancy and have a long way to go before we can catch our European cousins.

 

[Kies]

in terms of using it as a viable cost effective mode of transport for the masses .... we are still in nappies. Netherlands have already reached maturity!

 

[subaqua]

75% of all Dutch 'cycling infrastructure' is non-segregated shared space called 'roads'. Do you really want to settle for something as ****-poor as that?

Adrian summed it up in another post , far more eloquently than i could.
I just want to be able to ride on a road without drivers treating me like shite. I dont really want segregated space as it gives a "them and us" perception both ways.

 

[Typhon]

I don't want cycle lanes either. Especially not ones I'm forced to use. I want better trained drivers, awareness of cyclists to feature prominently on the driving test, re-tests every 10 years, a maximum of 6 points before you get banned, much longer bans for dangerous driving/driving under the influence and longer prison sentences for those who kill or cause serious injury through negligence.

But, that'll never happen either.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Adrian summed it up in another post , far more eloquently than i could.
I just want to be able to ride on a road without drivers treating me like s***e. I dont really want segregated space as it gives a "them and us" perception both ways.

You me and Adrian both or even thrice

 

[subaqua]

I don't want cycle lanes either. Especially not ones I'm forced to use. I want better trained drivers, awareness of cyclists to feature prominently on the driving test, re-tests every 10 years, a maximum of 6 points before you get banned, much longer bans for dangerous driving/driving under the influence and longer prison sentences for those who kill or cause serious injury through negligence.

But, that'll never happen either.

a retest every 10 years is probably too much. having to take a driver education course every 10 years however ......

 

[Typhon]

a retest every 10 years is probably too much. having to take a driver education course every 10 years however ......

Perhaps, a properly designed driver education course could be more effective anyway. The driving test has a lot of flaws in it. Mine just involved driving around a large city never getting above about 20mph because of the traffic. That bared very little resemblance to the driving I've spent the rest of my life doing which is almost entirely country lanes and motorway journeys. If I hadn't parallel parked well I would have failed that test, a skill I've not once used in my entire life. But not once did I encounter a horse, cyclist or was tested on my ability to drive a reasonable speed on country lanes that are de-restricted. I could have been a complete idiot with no idea how to drive in my own local area but I still would have passed. Fortunately I wasn't, but many are.

 

[The Brewer]

Interesting video and discussion, the first thing that springs to my mind about trips to the Netherlands is how flat it is.

I hope to live in an era of friendlier car drivers, but I think the growing cost of motoring in this country is our only hope of an improved cycling environment. Maybe more should be invested in public transport to help people get out of cars more.....I certainly wouldnt trust our current public transport system for my daily commute

 

[musa]

UK seems to be far behind in terms of public infrastructure

 

[ComedyPilot]

I work for a company with a Dutch office, and I am forever applying for a transfer..........