http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: "Cyclists in Amsterdam are fearless - may be safer, too" en Sun, 31 May 2026 14:39:31 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3284#post-34489 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:06:37 +0000 wingpig 34489@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>They should send him to India or China so he can be ASTOUNDED at people cycling wearing only flip-flops or sandals (or even nowt) on their feet. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3284#post-34485 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:56:53 +0000 Min 34485@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ah right. It is these bits:</p> <p><em>Then look, in amazement, at the kit they wear (or rather, the kit they don't wear). No lurid jackets or (etc)</em></p> <p>Would you really be AMAZED?</p> <p>And this after talking about the design and culture that make cycling safe there:</p> <p><em>Yet still the lack of protective kit is amazing.</em></p> <p>No. No it isn't. Why should it be? :-/ </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3284#post-34480 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:28:27 +0000 cb 34480@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hmm, probably didin't quote you very well.</p> <p><em>"his utter astonishment at how anyone could ever venture near a bike without protective clothing"</em> didn't come across for me.</p> <p>And also didin't get the impression that he was <em>"unable to comprehend going out without it"</em></p> <p>Maybe just me though...</p> <p>When I originally read the article the first thing I looked at before anything else was the caption under the photo. That gave me a different impression to what the article was actually about. Perhaps that was the fault of the caption editor. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3284#post-34476 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:12:24 +0000 Min 34476@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You mean he thinks everyone should be wearing safety gear even when they don't need to as it is already safe? Could be. I'm not sure. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3284#post-34474 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:07:32 +0000 cb 34474@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"And his utter astonishment at how anyone could ever venture near a bike without protective clothing, even in a bike friendly culture. I mean, really? He seems to be railing against safety gear for cycling but at the same time unable to comprehend going out without it"</em></p> <p>I really didn't get that impression at all from the article, in fact I think I got the opposite impression! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3284#post-34393 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:15:59 +0000 LaidBack 34393@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Min <em>his utter astonishment at how anyone could ever venture near a bike without protective clothing, </em></p> <p>Listen to Edi Stark talking to writer Bella Bathurst about her new 'Bicycle' book and the same 'do you realise the risks?' attitude is on display. Bella has to spend the first few minutes discussing this rather than her book.<br /> <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3282" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3282</a></p> <p><em>No I'm not on commission but am looking forward to reading it!<br /> </em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3284#post-34390 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:17:18 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 34390@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You're a much kinder person than most SRD. :)</p> <p>On the difference in styles (and to hit a tangent) I find so much proper 'news' is being written in an awful bloggy style these days. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3284#post-34388 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:07:05 +0000 SRD 34388@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Seems to me he is trying to work through his ideas and convey his observations. at times a little cryptically. its not an 'easy' read. An editor might have said 'be clear about your message'. But not sure anyone edits the (former) editor. goes back to question of difference in writing columns/blogs etc versus 'news'. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3284#post-34387 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:50:30 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 34387@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nope, it's not just you. As I say, sounds like there was no actual cycling done by the writer, but merely watching (presumably open-mouthed in amazement) at those riding by.</p> <p>And if they <em>are</em> safer then there's no need to be fearless.</p> <p>There's no getting away from the fact that it's trying to be a pro-cycling article, but written from a British 'but cycling is dangerous isn't it' startign point. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3284#post-34386 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:46:48 +0000 Min 34386@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Seems to be just me but I find the whole wording of this article quite bizarre. Firstly the whole "fearless but MAY be safer? Fearless suggests being unafraid in the face of danger, not that there is no reason to be afraid in the first place. Mind you he doesn't seem to know about coaster brakes since he thinks the Dutch all ride about without any. And his utter astonishment at how anyone could ever venture near a bike without protective clothing, even in a bike friendly culture. I mean, really? He seems to be railing against safety gear for cycling but at the same time unable to comprehend going out without it. :-/ </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3284#post-34382 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:12:58 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 34382@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yep, exactly - they may be the <em>craaaaazy</em> Dutch, but they 'aint stoopid.</p> <p>I'm not sure where this view of Amsterdam being utterly littered with bike lanes comes from either. Sure there are more than here, and a few segregated as well, but they're by no means universal, and it really can take time to adjust to cycling in the city. <a href="http://www.citycycling.co.uk/Issue2/Anthsterdam1.html">As I found out</a>.</p> <p>I suspect the writer of the article didn't actually hop on a bike while in the city.</p> <p>And yep, I've hda the 'brave' comment as well. For riding on the road? Really? It's as if no-one ever dies in a car or on a train or on a plane or while walking... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3284#post-34368 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:25:32 +0000 recombodna 34368@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"The mums winding along Prinsengracht, one baby strapped into a chair on the handlebars, another squashed in behind, has no helmet (and no brakes either). "</p> <p>...... Most bikes have coaster brakes that make it look like they have no brakes to the untrained eye. I very much doubt they are cycling bikes with no brakes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3284#post-34363 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:04:24 +0000 crowriver 34363@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I hear you, SRD. Was booking a campsite over the phone for our sojourn in East Anglia later this week. Once the woman on the other end realised we were travelling with young children on bicycles, again the comment "That's brave!"</p> <p>I suppose it shows how unusual it is in this country, if people feel the need to comment. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3284#post-34357 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:00:40 +0000 SRD 34357@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>good article. will it reach the non-cycling obsessed? maybe.</p> <p>had a colleague do that 'oh you're brave to cycle (with kids) thing the other day. soooo annoying. it always comes across like 'you;re too cheap to buy a car to protect your kids' and hence 'bad parent. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3284#post-34351 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:50:32 +0000 chdot 34351@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Cyclists in Amsterdam are fearless: no helmets, no protective kit. Yet they may be safer, too"</p> <p><a href="http://guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jun/26/road-safety-cyclists-helmet" rel="nofollow">http://guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jun/26/road-safety-cyclists-helmet</a> </p>