Medium Rick

Well HELLO!

Pedal through any Dutch city, and it feels like it’s always been filled with red cycle paths. But the fact is urban cycling infrastructure didn’t exist anywhere until 1975, when a trial project in Tilburg laid the basis of a national standard for legibility, comfort, and status for people on bikes.🧵

The Free Rider Myth – Who Really Pays for the Roads? momentummag.com/free-rider-m...

“Helsinki has not recorded a single traffic fatality in the past 12 months, city and police officials confirmed this week.” City engineer credits lower speed limits and smart design. I agree. #Helsinki #VisionZero

Trees do more than beautify our neighborhoods—they cool our cities, clean our air, and bring communities together. This week, volunteers are planting trees across the state to create healthier, more resilient communities. 🌱 #CaliforniaArborWeek youtube.com/shorts/XLmKB...

If you think Amsterdam managed to avoid being overrun by cars, you’re wrong. They too surrendered their streets to cars for many decades. But the people fought back, and forced leaders to see their mistake. There's nothing magical about #Amsterdam. They just saw their mistake, and changed it.

Denmark to buy California 😎 www.yahoo.com/news/thousan...

ICYMI — actual facts …

Ride in Peace, Jimmy Carter #RIPJimmyCarter

18-Year Study Of 82,297 Adults Finds Cycle Commuting Halves Chance Of Early Death www.forbes.com/sites/carlto...

Remember this classic? Disney understood almost 75 years ago what too much driving (and bad suburban sprawl creating car dependancy specifically) can do to any of us. Watch “Motor Mania” from 1950, and ask yourself, are you a Mr. Walker or a Mr. Wheeler? #CarDependency #RoadRage youtu.be/mwPSIb3kt_4

“The phenomenon is known as #InducedDemand. The result is an endless cycle in which congestion leads to highway expansion, which invites more trips, which brings back traffic…The pattern is so inevitable that economists have dubbed it the iron law of congestion.” slate.com/business/202...

Last weekend, the 8th Dutch Headwind Cycling Championships were held at the Oosterscheldekering Storm Surge Barrier. Going up against force 7 winds, more than 300 competitors rode the 8.5 km course on upright single-speed bikes. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9htI...

California can be cold too.

This year’s #TreeByBike—our family’s 11th in a row—is made possible by Delft’s amazing network and @CargorooBike electric cargo bike sharing. A critical reminder that it’s not a lack of carrying capacity that stops people from cycling in your city, it’s a lack of infrastructure.

Me IRL 😀

Remember this picture every time you hear someone in your city say "we're not Amsterdam." This was #Amsterdam in the 1970s. Many of the cities we admire made better choices regarding cars in the past. and are still making better choices today. Better choices instead of excuses.