"The most vital element for the future of our cities is that the bicycle is an instrument of experiential understanding."
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
"The Real Reason Why Bicycles are the Key to Better Cities"
(10 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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Huh?
Posted 12 years ago # -
I think I feel a bit queasy. And I didn't even make it to the end of the article. I think I get the point but the delivery makes me want to sell my bikes and get a car..
Posted 12 years ago # -
what's wrong with walking?
Posted 12 years ago # -
"what's wrong with walking?"
You need to ask??
Posted 12 years ago # -
I agree with the premise of the article. The language just turns me off. Walking is also good. The bike is a good way to take you places to walk.
Posted 12 years ago # -
They still have Pseud's Corner in Private Eye don't they?
"The bicycle is new vision for the blind man. It is a thrilling tool of communication, an experiential device for the beauty and the ills of the urban context. One cannot turn a blind eye on a bicycle - they must acknowledge their community, all of it."
Posted 12 years ago # -
@Anth - pretty bad, but isn't this worse?
"On a bicycle, citizens experience their city with deep intimacy"
yuck!
But (annoyingly) the basic point is fairly valid.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"basic point is fairly valid"
Yes, though a bit hidden...
WORSE it's convolutedly preaching to the converted. If they don't relate to it, it's not going to get anywhere with anyone else!
It's useful to have a 'discussion' on the wider benefits of cycling - especially in 'urbanist' terms, but this ain't it.
We've had "The UK's most walkable cities" and "Pedestrians 'put first' in Edinburgh city centre plan" on here - but we are all (especially in the UK) stuck in a 'bigger picture'.
It's easy to dismissively talk about 'car culture', harder to define and address. One interesting thing about this forum is that has attracted 'real people'.
There are some who don't own car (and don't want to) and many who do - but also cycle - not just the 'bung it on the back of the car, drive many miles and cycle fewer at the idyllic destination' sort of people.
But in the 'real world' - even the 'westerner' bits - a lot of people don't have cars - particularly in cities.
But there are still assumptions - which are pretty heavily ingrained in public policies -
Cars are here to stay so we have to 'plan' for them
Cars are good for the economy
People want to drive (to supermarkets etc.)
Even people who don't have cars want them really so we have to grow the economy so that everyone gets rich (enough to buy a car)
Etc.
It's quite hard to challenge any or all of those. At best you'll get planners admitting that 'out of town shopping' has had unexpected side effects. But then you get a shrug of the shoulders and a 'but that's where we are' resignation.
In Edinburgh we perhaps don't even see the effects so much. Whatever you think of the mobile 'phone shops in Princes Street or the charity shop cluster in Morningside, Edinburgh doesn't have too many empty shop units.
There are plenty of towns not so lucky, in Scotland and England. At UK level there is even a feeling of 'something must be done' - "PM calls in Mary 'Queen of Shops' Portas to launch High Street rescue bid".
Bet the 'answers' include more parking, not better public transport; free parking, not bike parking; electric charging points not boris bikes.
'Progress' has to be linear. It's too difficult to pay much attention to 'where we went wrong' or 'where are we really trying to go'.
Cycling is part of the future. Normal isn't really a relevant word, but it would nice to think that one day cyclists (and pedestrians) might get as much attention as cars and their minders.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Something weird is happening," says Phil Goodwin, professor of transport policy at the University of the West of England. "Car use in Britain is on the decline, but no one is exactly sure why." Goodwin says we have reached "peak car". If he is right, this has important implications for how we design our towns and cities, and where public money gets allocated."
Posted 12 years ago #
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