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0 pointsunglaublich4y ago0 comments

A car in a city center, _that_ is the unnecessary luxury.

> Until then, it's at the expense of general mobility which is a really big downside in cities that are already crowded and transport is slow.

Automobiles are the sole reason why general mobility is so poor in cities that are crowded (with cars) and where transport is slow (due to cars).

Please take a look at cities in Denmark or The Netherlands. Cycling is the primary mode of transportation in their city centers. Not only is it cheap, reliable, healthy and it doesn't take up much space... it's also _faster_ than driving a car.

Yes, cars are practical for rural and long-distance travel, but not for use in city centers.

0 comments

jseban4y ago

> Cycling is the primary mode of transportation in their city centers.

It's not when there's cold rain in the winter, guarantee it.

AlotOfReading4y ago

You should probably tell the Dutch that they don't cycle in the rain. Over 1/3rd of days are rainy in the Netherlands on average and yet they somehow manage to put on their ponchos.

jseban4y ago

I would love to see the difference in bike use in the Netherlands relative to the weather, I bet only a small fraction will use the bike in bad weather conditions and they will need capacity in public transport to cover for these days.

unglaublichOP4y ago

Actually, it is. It often doesn't rain for hours on end, so people work a bit longer or start a bit earlier to avoid the rain. Otherwise, there's umbrellas, ponchos and plain old acceptance of the fact that you will be a bit wet for an hour. My dad used to say when it was pouring: "You're not made out of sugar, are you?" And yes, public transport is busier on some days than on others, is that a problem? How is that any different from motorists on roads?

jseban4y ago

I highly doubt that, it speaks completely against my lifelong experience as a cyclists. The vast majority of all people are fair weathered cyclists and bike lanes are mostly empty half of the year.

You get cold, wet and uncomfortable, and have to be very flexible with time. Even if you can "deal with it", it's still very real negative aspects, and why would you put up with that if you don't have to?

My point is that you have to have full capacity public transport anyway so the bike lanes are really redundant, a "nicety" and as such I think they should have little space and low priority, it makes perfect sense.

Why don't we have skateboarding lanes? Running lanes? Horseback riding lanes? It's fun, it's healthy, it's good for the environment! Because it's impractical, slow and inefficient, just like cycling is.

enriquto4y ago

I think the worse is rain in hot summer. You'll end up soaked whether you cover or not. Winter rain is OK, you just need appropriate clothing. Source: I cycle during the whole year, and sub-zero temperatures are not a problem at all (for a couple of weeks at most in my latitude, but still), even if it rains.

jseban4y ago

I disagree, it's a very real annoying problem to dress your whole body in both warm and waterproof clothes, and even if you like it, most people don't. And it is objectively, relatively, much less convenient and much less comfortable than the alternatives of a bus/subway.

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jseban4y ago

A bike lane that's only used when the weather is nice, when you already have a subway? No _that_ is unnecessary luxury. Take the subway if you hate cars.

unglaublichOP4y ago

Why take the car if you already have a subway? What a strange statement.

> Take the subway if you hate cars.

Why do you think that preferring to ride a bike makes one hate cars?

You can be both a cyclists _and_ a motorist. It's not a competition or a cult!

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0 pointsunglaublich4y ago0 comments

A car in a city center, _that_ is the unnecessary luxury.

> Until then, it's at the expense of general mobility which is a really big downside in cities that are already crowded and transport is slow.

Automobiles are the sole reason why general mobility is so poor in cities that are crowded (with cars) and where transport is slow (due to cars).

Yes, cars are practical for rural and long-distance travel, but not for use in city centers.

0 comments

jseban4y ago

> Cycling is the primary mode of transportation in their city centers.

It's not when there's cold rain in the winter, guarantee it.

AlotOfReading4y ago

You should probably tell the Dutch that they don't cycle in the rain. Over 1/3rd of days are rainy in the Netherlands on average and yet they somehow manage to put on their ponchos.

jseban4y ago

unglaublichOP4y ago

jseban4y ago

I highly doubt that, it speaks completely against my lifelong experience as a cyclists. The vast majority of all people are fair weathered cyclists and bike lanes are mostly empty half of the year.

enriquto4y ago

jseban4y ago

1 more reply

jseban4y ago

A bike lane that's only used when the weather is nice, when you already have a subway? No _that_ is unnecessary luxury. Take the subway if you hate cars.

unglaublichOP4y ago

Why take the car if you already have a subway? What a strange statement.

> Take the subway if you hate cars.

Why do you think that preferring to ride a bike makes one hate cars?

You can be both a cyclists _and_ a motorist. It's not a competition or a cult!

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse