Making America into Amsterdam

Interesting article, with data, about how much the Dutch actually ride
their bikes.

https://peopleforbikes.org/blog/best...h-hardly-bike/

Turns out they average, oh, maybe a mile or two per day.

That works for them because their cities are so dense that many
destinations are less than a mile away. That comes from having cities
that were founded in medieval times. When things are more than a couple
miles away, they tend to leave the bike and use other modes.

So we can get Dutch bike mode shares if we start work on our cities
early enough. Like, back in 1400 AD or so.

--
- Frank Krygowski

On Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at 8:57:17 AM UTC-7, Frank Krygowski wrote:
Interesting article, with data, about how much the Dutch actually ride
their bikes.

https://peopleforbikes.org/blog/best...h-hardly-bike/

Turns out they average, oh, maybe a mile or two per day.

That works for them because their cities are so dense that many
destinations are less than a mile away. That comes from having cities
that were founded in medieval times. When things are more than a couple
miles away, they tend to leave the bike and use other modes.

So we can get Dutch bike mode shares if we start work on our cities
early enough. Like, back in 1400 AD or so.

Or the 1960s, as in NL. 25% mode share at five miles is great -- even at 9-12 miles, the percentage of trips by bike is way better than any US city. Portland's city-wide bicycle mode share is 7% -- for all trips.

City density does not explain the relative lack of cyclists in NYC, Boston, Chicago, etc. -- and other places that are flat and that have compact metropolitan areas. There are many other differences.

-- Jay Beattie.

jbeattie wrote:

Or the 1960s, as in NL. 25% mode share at
five miles is great -- even at 9-12 miles,
the percentage of trips by bike is way better
than any US city. Portland's city-wide
bicycle mode share is 7% -- for all trips.

City density does not explain the relative
lack of cyclists in NYC, Boston, Chicago,
etc. -- and other places that are flat and
that have compact metropolitan areas.
There are many other differences.

Are there stats, like a list, so one can
compare countries and cities?

--
underground experts united
http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573

On 6/26/2018 2:14 PM, Emanuel Berg wrote:
jbeattie wrote:

Or the 1960s, as in NL. 25% mode share at
five miles is great -- even at 9-12 miles,
the percentage of trips by bike is way better
than any US city. Portland's city-wide
bicycle mode share is 7% -- for all trips.

City density does not explain the relative
lack of cyclists in NYC, Boston, Chicago,
etc. -- and other places that are flat and
that have compact metropolitan areas.
There are many other differences.

Are there stats, like a list, so one can
compare countries and cities?

I generally start with a search at google.com Or perhaps
www.duckduckgo.com if you value your privacy.

You can try typing "bicycle mode share" in the search box. Or type some
other phrase is it sounds interesting to you.

Here's one result: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modal_share


--
- Frank Krygowski

Frank Krygowski wrote:

Here's one result:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modal_share

My city (Uppsala) isn't on the list but it is
comparable to Malmö which seems to have pretty
good data (25% cycling). Actually I think there
are even more bikes in Uppsala because it is
a University town as well.

--
underground experts united
http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573

On 6/26/2018 11:04 AM, jbeattie wrote:

Or the 1960s, as in NL. 25% mode share at five miles is great -- even at 9-12 miles, the percentage of trips by bike is way better than any US city. Portland's city-wide bicycle mode share is 7% -- for all trips.

City density does not explain the relative lack of cyclists in NYC, Boston, Chicago, etc. -- and other places that are flat and that have compact metropolitan areas. There are many other differences.

Of course the statistic that was quoted is not true, but no surprise there!

https://www.statista.com/statistics/620201/average-biking-distance-per-person-per-day-netherlands-by-age/

There are four things that need to be necessary to increase bike share
in the U.S., and they all need to be present at the same time. You can't
do one and proclaim that it's hopeless.

1. Separated bicycle infrastructure that goes between housing centers
and job centers.

2. Security so there is no danger of theft or vandalism.

3. Financial or other encouragement

4. Shower facilities.

I recently did a bicycle/train combination trip to San Francisco for a
meeting. The meeting was at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission,
which you would think would be very pro-bicycle. In fact they just talk
the talk. Two of us were ready to leave and not attend the meeting
because of a lack of secure parking, which is vitally important in San
Francisco. When I told one of the check-in people that I was turning in
my badge and leaving she suddenly decided that we were worthy of the
lovely, two-level, indoor bicycle parking room.

On 2018-06-26 13:19, sms wrote:
On 6/26/2018 11:04 AM, jbeattie wrote:

Or the 1960s, as in NL. 25% mode share at five miles is great -- even
at 9-12 miles, the percentage of trips by bike is way better than any
US city. Portland's city-wide bicycle mode share is 7% -- for all trips.

City density does not explain the relative lack of cyclists in NYC,
Boston, Chicago, etc. -- and other places that are flat and that have
compact metropolitan areas. There are many other differences.

Of course the statistic that was quoted is not true, but no surprise there!

https://www.statista.com/statistics/620201/average-biking-distance-per-person-per-day-netherlands-by-age/


There are four things that need to be necessary to increase bike share
in the U.S., and they all need to be present at the same time. You can't
do one and proclaim that it's hopeless.

1. Separated bicycle infrastructure that goes between housing centers
and job centers.

2. Security so there is no danger of theft or vandalism.

3. Financial or other encouragement

4. Shower facilities.


5. Brewpub along the bike trail for the way home.


I recently did a bicycle/train combination trip to San Francisco for a
meeting. The meeting was at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission,
which you would think would be very pro-bicycle. In fact they just talk
the talk. Two of us were ready to leave and not attend the meeting
because of a lack of secure parking, which is vitally important in San
Francisco. When I told one of the check-in people that I was turning in
my badge and leaving she suddenly decided that we were worthy of the
lovely, two-level, indoor bicycle parking room.


That is also a major problem at large shopping areas. It is the reason
why I shop less at Walmart, they don't let me take in the bike. I shop a
lot more at Lowe's and Trader Joe's because they are smart enough to let
me take the bike in. Of course, I make sure not to show up with my MTB
dripping mud.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

On 6/26/2018 2:04 PM, jbeattie wrote:
On Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at 8:57:17 AM UTC-7, Frank Krygowski wrote:
Interesting article, with data, about how much the Dutch actually ride
their bikes.

https://peopleforbikes.org/blog/best...h-hardly-bike/

Turns out they average, oh, maybe a mile or two per day.

That works for them because their cities are so dense that many
destinations are less than a mile away. That comes from having cities
that were founded in medieval times. When things are more than a couple
miles away, they tend to leave the bike and use other modes.

So we can get Dutch bike mode shares if we start work on our cities
early enough. Like, back in 1400 AD or so.

Or the 1960s, as in NL. 25% mode share at five miles is great -- even at 9-12 miles, the percentage of trips by bike is way better than any US city. Portland's city-wide bicycle mode share is 7% -- for all trips.

City density does not explain the relative lack of cyclists in NYC, Boston, Chicago, etc. -- and other places that are flat and that have compact metropolitan areas. There are many other differences.

Indeed, there are many other differences. And a look at the cities
listed at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modal_share shows that any city
over 7% is an extreme outlier.

I notice, though, that it lists Portland as just 3%. I don't know the
details on that survey, but IIRC the one that claimed 7% for Portland
really meant 7% of the city's legal residents said they traveled by
bike. That does not mean that 7% of the travel within city limits was by
bike. The hoards entering from the suburbs are almost all in cars.

Differences? We've been through this before, but I do think average trip
length must be important, along with terrain, weather, history, culture
and perhaps most important, local fashion.

--
- Frank Krygowski

On 6/26/2018 3:48 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 6/26/2018 2:04 PM, jbeattie wrote:
On Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at 8:57:17 AM UTC-7, Frank
Krygowski wrote:
Interesting article, with data, about how much the Dutch
actually ride
their bikes.

https://peopleforbikes.org/blog/best...h-hardly-bike/


Turns out they average, oh, maybe a mile or two per day.

That works for them because their cities are so dense
that many
destinations are less than a mile away. That comes from
having cities
that were founded in medieval times. When things are more
than a couple
miles away, they tend to leave the bike and use other modes.

So we can get Dutch bike mode shares if we start work on
our cities
early enough. Like, back in 1400 AD or so.

Or the 1960s, as in NL. 25% mode share at five miles is
great -- even at 9-12 miles, the percentage of trips by
bike is way better than any US city. Portland's city-wide
bicycle mode share is 7% -- for all trips.

City density does not explain the relative lack of
cyclists in NYC, Boston, Chicago, etc. -- and other places
that are flat and that have compact metropolitan areas.
There are many other differences.

Indeed, there are many other differences. And a look at the
cities listed at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modal_share
shows that any city over 7% is an extreme outlier.

I notice, though, that it lists Portland as just 3%. I don't
know the details on that survey, but IIRC the one that
claimed 7% for Portland really meant 7% of the city's legal
residents said they traveled by bike. That does not mean
that 7% of the travel within city limits was by bike. The
hoards entering from the suburbs are almost all in cars.

Differences? We've been through this before, but I do think
average trip length must be important, along with terrain,
weather, history, culture and perhaps most important, local
fashion.



Probably just needs more friendly kiddie paths:

https://host.madison.com/wsj/news/lo...7b5df427c.html

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at 1:48:18 PM UTC-7, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 6/26/2018 2:04 PM, jbeattie wrote:
On Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at 8:57:17 AM UTC-7, Frank Krygowski wrote:
Interesting article, with data, about how much the Dutch actually ride
their bikes.

https://peopleforbikes.org/blog/best...h-hardly-bike/

Turns out they average, oh, maybe a mile or two per day.

That works for them because their cities are so dense that many
destinations are less than a mile away. That comes from having cities
that were founded in medieval times. When things are more than a couple
miles away, they tend to leave the bike and use other modes.

So we can get Dutch bike mode shares if we start work on our cities
early enough. Like, back in 1400 AD or so.

Or the 1960s, as in NL. 25% mode share at five miles is great -- even at 9-12 miles, the percentage of trips by bike is way better than any US city. Portland's city-wide bicycle mode share is 7% -- for all trips.

City density does not explain the relative lack of cyclists in NYC, Boston, Chicago, etc. -- and other places that are flat and that have compact metropolitan areas. There are many other differences.

Indeed, there are many other differences. And a look at the cities
listed at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modal_share shows that any city
over 7% is an extreme outlier.

I notice, though, that it lists Portland as just 3%. I don't know the
details on that survey, but IIRC the one that claimed 7% for Portland
really meant 7% of the city's legal residents said they traveled by
bike. That does not mean that 7% of the travel within city limits was by
bike. The hoards entering from the suburbs are almost all in cars.

Differences? We've been through this before, but I do think average trip
length must be important, along with terrain, weather, history, culture
and perhaps most important, local fashion.

Portland claims 7% of trips in the city are by bike, at least that's how I understand the stat -- it is mode share. That number is zero in places and over 20% in places, and those high percentage places are exactly what you would expect -- flat, high density, close-in and very Bohemian with (believe it or not) modest bike facilities, mostly bike lanes and some traffic calmed streets.

-- Jay Beattie.