tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post2039687795819745888..comments2024-03-18T08:51:07.314+00:00Comments on i b i k e l o n d o n: Why Leicester could be the next Copenhagen... if it wants to beibikelondonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-47230609329327343272011-09-29T16:23:35.548+01:002011-09-29T16:23:35.548+01:00Figuring out how to integrate bikes into city life...Figuring out how to integrate bikes into city life is so important - for me, everything clicked when I got myself a <a href="http://www.montaguebikes.com" title="Montague Folding Bikes" rel="nofollow">folding bike</a>. I can ride if I want, but I have the flexibility to take other forms of transportation as well, all without having to lock up the bike and leave it behind.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13180322956429047153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-65337505903163735592011-09-27T15:47:37.351+01:002011-09-27T15:47:37.351+01:00Thanks @WORKBIKE for the positive feedback, it'...Thanks @WORKBIKE for the positive feedback, it's much appreciated. And I agree re pedestrian streets - they're just fantastic (especially ones like this where cycling is allowed)<br /><br />Regarding Hull I'm afraid I don't have any contacts up that way (bit far out of Zone 2 for my liking!), have you tried contacting the local cycling group?ibikelondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-47323535835704307952011-09-27T11:14:40.977+01:002011-09-27T11:14:40.977+01:00When I look at the pictures I fin it asonishing th...When I look at the pictures I fin it asonishing that people fight pedestrianising streets. Why would people want a noisy smelly town centre full of shunting cars?<br /><br />Yes, yes, I know we do love to transport ourselves in cars, but if this is so wonderful why do we spend so much money going on holiday to places where cars are banned?<br /><br />Keep uo the good work. BTW Do you know any cycling contacts in Hull? I may have to cycle through there next year and if Google Earth is anything to go by I'll need a guide.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-51158605167623903592011-09-26T15:48:10.197+01:002011-09-26T15:48:10.197+01:00@Anonymous Thanks for such a constructive comment(...@Anonymous Thanks for such a constructive comment(!) If you watch the presentation you'll see I'm not afraid to criticize the Council. <br /><br />Furthermore there is, of course, only so much one can fit in to a 24 hour tour of a city. A mass bicycle ride, a film screening, a tour of the newly pedestrianised city centre, an interview with the local press, watching the Leciester Forest Time Trials and of course actually giving the talk seemed like a pretty full itinerary to me.<br /><br />Of course, if these long established bike projects should like to invite me themselves, and guarantee an audience, and arrange for my accommodation and travel I'd be thrilled to return what I generally found to be a very welcoming and positive city....ibikelondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-80725386288992879572011-09-26T15:43:00.660+01:002011-09-26T15:43:00.660+01:00Perhaps next time you could visit the long establi...Perhaps next time you could visit the long established bike projects that have contributed so much to Leicester over the last few years and not just the current council favourites?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-26362944530415420032011-09-26T12:49:59.555+01:002011-09-26T12:49:59.555+01:00Thanks for your kind words Philip, I wondered if y...Thanks for your kind words Philip, I wondered if you'd pick up on the Buchanan Report reference. I guess the point there is that - as I touched on in my talk - the two reccomendations that were taken up with great gusto from the report were the wrong two!<br /><br />I also agree with you that there is a risk that as with so many of these cycling-orientated events there is an element of "preaching to the converted", although as I also briefly touched on we can sometimes be our own worse enemies with our different advocacy agendas ("We need more bike lanes / bike training / commuters / sports cycling") when in truth what we of course need is all of these things. I tried to highlight this by showing what all 3 cities are doing the same, and what the city with the highest cycling rate is doing differently.<br /><br />With regards to Oz, sadly I have no plans to be out there any time soon. Email me and let me know where you are based during your work there and I'll think up some must visit places to go or even some people it might be worth hooking up with if you have any spare time. <br /><br />I love "the monster we love so dearly" quote! An interview with Prof B looking back on lessons learnt by Traffic in Towns would be a very interesting thing indeed!ibikelondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-12809888551305144412011-09-26T12:24:45.049+01:002011-09-26T12:24:45.049+01:00Hi Mark
I like how you've developed the presen...Hi Mark<br />I like how you've developed the presentation for Leicester, some great points/ graphics in there.<br />My worry is though, is that there's a tendency to make these presentations to the initiated, and worse to try and establish a position amongst differing viewpoints within the cycling community.<br />I truly hope you get to present to politicians, and in fact anyone who's views count, who don't really know much about cycling, except perhaps that it's a vaguely worthwhile thing.<br />And in fact, this is just the kind of thing that LCC need for their Going Dutch initiative. I will make that point elsewhere.<br />Remind me if/ when you might be down under. I'm currently here but it would be great to see you here too! Though I'm heading back to the UK soon, but likely be out here again.<br />[Oh, and Traffic in Towns - Prof Buchanan was quite clear on the negative consequences of promoting the car - the monster we love so dearly he called it.]<br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_in_TownsPhilip Loyhttp://twitter.com/#!/philiploynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-9153262909392332102011-09-26T12:12:54.381+01:002011-09-26T12:12:54.381+01:00It would be interesting to see a study on how meas...It would be interesting to see a study on how measures adopted in NY and Paris influenced the traffic share.ndruhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15324118775089929952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-7627333660976735122011-09-26T11:35:33.616+01:002011-09-26T11:35:33.616+01:00Thanks @Ndru it's important to get out of Zone...Thanks @Ndru it's important to get out of Zone 2 sometimes and remember that what is happening in London is certainly a damn site better than many other UK cities. The point is, of course, that doesn't mean what is happening in London is good enough. One only needs to look over the water to break-neck speed at which New York is embracing it's cycle revolution to realise that much much more needs to be done.ibikelondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-58939107797946459112011-09-26T09:43:45.897+01:002011-09-26T09:43:45.897+01:00Nice one Mark!
What a weird feeling when you show ...Nice one Mark!<br />What a weird feeling when you show London as an example of a city that does good things for cycling... :) Perhaps us Londoners are being to critical? Maybe - since I started cycling to SOHO I see massive crowds of cyclists on my way. Could be that that cycling is gathering momentum and fast!ndruhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15324118775089929952noreply@blogger.com