Cycling is convenient, healthy, environmentally friendly, climate-friendly, cheaper than alternative forms of transport and benefits society in so many ways. Just imagine for a moment: City-centres dedicated for pedestrians and cyclists - what an improvement that would be not only for the traffic conditions including parking but also for the air we breathe - an added bonus to help fight climate change and protect public health at the same time! Join us on a tour to Amsterdam, where cycling is “in” for quite some time now.
The Dutch capital Amsterdam is both the most bicycle-friendly capital city in the world and, with an urban area population of over 1.1 million people, it is also the most bicycle-friendly city in the world. In Amsterdam, over 60% of trips are made by bike in the inner city and 40% of trips are made by bike overall in the greater city area.
However, most visitors are still shocked by the vast numbers of bicycles and the wide variety of cyclists. From students to police officers and from bank staff to couriers, cycling is the most egalitarian mode of transport. Despite the high rate of people cycling, cars are still parked in the small streets of the city. Supporting cycling does not mean banishing the vehicle outright; access for cars is permitted and tolerated at a much slower speed for safety of the cyclists and in support of business, cafes and shops throughout the city centre.
Amsterdam even has the only museum in the world that can be cycled through.
Truly! It’s called the Rijksmuseum (National Museum).
There are more than 881,000 bicycles in Amsterdam. That’s four times the number of cars. The total length of bike paths in Amsterdam is about 400 kilometers. The city has 7,800 official bike parking places near Amsterdam Central Station, but more than 8,200 bicycles are typically parked there.
But Amsterdam wasn’t always a model cycling city.
Public outrage at rising traffic casualties in the seventies caused city planners to rethink their approach to urban design. The following video clip portrays this remarkable change in direction.
🎥 (3:57) How Amsterdam Became a Bicycle Paradise
This demonstrates other cities around the world can achieve a high cycling rate while still accommodating the automobile.
Surely there is a lot to gain from the Netherlands’ innovations not only about riding bikes but also the effort of sustainable development and achieving a green, less polluted environment. Cycling along with walking represent two major non-fuel-consuming, non-polluting forms of transportation in the whole world.
Recent research (https://www.dutchcycling.nl/) conducted on cycling found a strong link with both environmental and health benefits, with strong correlations to increased life expectancy. Improved perception of personal empowerment and social connection were also found. By using less motor vehicles society is enabled to reduce consumption of fossil fuels that the world has become addicted to.
Therefore the associated pollution and environmental damage is dramatically reduced for a happier and healthier “ride” in our life.
REFERENCE
Awesome Amsterdam 2018 (viewed 27.11.2018)
Huffpost 2018 (viewed 27.11.2018)
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