How the Dutch did it!

michaelm

Interesting piece on how the Dutch became the cycling capital of the world: http://twowheelsandbeyond.blogspot.com/2012/01/history-of-dutch-cycling-video-how.html

galwaycyclist

A study of Dutch practice is always useful. However to suggest, as the title seems, to that the Dutch "became" a cycling society or "recovered" cycling is in my view inaccurate.

The Dutch state never actually eliminated cycling as a form of transport in systmatic way that the Irish state has. Cycling's modal share in Amsterdam has never dropped below 20% even at its lowest point. In order to restore cycling in Ireland we also need to study in great detail how we managed to make ourselves so car dependent.

This is something we cannot learn from the Dutch because they never did it.

rollingscone

galwaycyclist wrote: »

A study of Dutch practice is always useful. However to suggest, as the title seems, to that the Dutch "became" a cycling society or "recovered" cycling is in my view inaccurate.

The Dutch state never actually eliminated cycling as a form of transport in systmatic way that the Irish state has. Cycling's modal share in Amsterdam has never dropped below 20% even at its lowest point. In order to restore cycling in Ireland we also need to study in great detail how we managed to make ourselves so car dependent.

This is something we cannot learn from the Dutch because they never did it.

Levy on unfit people

Tenzor07

DCC are planning to make Dublin City centre Cycling friendly!

http://www.thejournal.ie/pedestrians-to-have-priority-over-cars-in-new-dublin-plan-319620-Jan2012/

Lumen

Tenzor07 wrote: »

DCC are planning to make Dublin City centre Cycling friendly!

http://www.thejournal.ie/pedestrians-to-have-priority-over-cars-in-new-dublin-plan-319620-Jan2012/

They could start by pedestrianising Chesterfield Avenue in the Phoenix Park. It's been out of action for months and the effect of traffic has been fairly limited.

Also, maybe they can split some of the larger two-way streets into a one-way for motorised vehicles and a separate two-way for cyclists. Maybe a dedicated physically separated cycle route along the quays. I'd quite like to be able to cycle all the way into town with my kids without playing dodge-the-bus.

galwaycyclist

Lumen wrote: »

Also, maybe they can split some of the larger two-way streets into a one-way for motorised vehicles and a separate two-way for cyclists. Maybe a dedicated physically separated cycle route along the quays. I'd quite like to be able to cycle all the way into town with my kids without playing dodge-the-bus.

Yep exactly these large one-way street systems designed exclusively around motorised traffic is one of the things the Dutch and the Danes never seemed to have done. The Danes even state as much in their "Collection of Cycle Concepts".

Update: Actually I misread the original post as "larger one-way streets" rather than two-way streets. But the principle still applies - make cycling journies shorter and more convenient than the equivalent motoring trips. Also should we have these one-way streets at all?

Tenzor07

Lumen wrote: »

Also, maybe they can split some of the larger two-way streets into a one-way for motorised vehicles and a separate two-way for cyclists. Maybe a dedicated physically separated cycle route along the quays. I'd quite like to be able to cycle all the way into town with my kids without playing dodge-the-bus.

Would be great if it was possible to cycle in safety/ease from the O2 up to Heuston and back for example....
...Easily done if the quay-side parking is eliminated and wider pathways too, in particular near the Four Courts... Would also need additional traffic signaling with sensors set-up for bikes/cyclists....the junction(s) with O'Connell st bridge are particularly hazardous, as is further down at Liberty hall...
All those car paking spaces along Ormond quay and Wellington quay are unnessisary when you consider there are approximately 4 - 5 car parks close by....

tomasrojo

galwaycyclist wrote: »

A study of Dutch practice is always useful. However to suggest, as the title seems, to that the Dutch "became" a cycling society or "recovered" cycling is in my view inaccurate.

The Dutch state never actually eliminated cycling as a form of transport in systmatic way that the Irish state has. Cycling's modal share in Amsterdam has never dropped below 20% even at its lowest point.

This is the most detailed graph I could find:



It does suggest that the Dutch avoided the complete collapse of cycling as transport, rather than built back up to high levels.

But, as galwaycyclist said, it's always informative to see what the Dutch do. It's worth keeping in mind that it's easier to justify these levels of investment when your targeted user group is large.

Good to see that article about favouring pedestrians over motorised traffic in Dublin City Centre. Longer green-man times would be a start.

tomasrojo

thejournal.ie says:

Planners foresee that the “predominant movement pattern in the city centre will be on foot”, the document states, while cars passing through the city centre en route to other destinations will be “pro-actively discouraged”.

I think it already is the predomimant transport medium in the city centre, in terms of numbers. It isn't treated that way though.

not even wrong

Lumen wrote: »

They could start by pedestrianising Chesterfield Avenue in the Phoenix Park.

How would pedestrianising a road make it cycle-friendly?

Lumen

not even wrong wrote: »

How would pedestrianising a road make it cycle-friendly?

It would take foot traffic off the adjacent cycle path.