Spring has
come at last! If we look outside the window many of us would just want to get out,
do something active and lose that additional weight that we gained during the winter.
As one of the most popular summer ways
of spending time actively is cycling. I would like to go one step further and write
about using bikes as a way of transportation (and not just as a thing that we
do from time to time).
The city
that is probably the most famous for the amount of people using bikes as a
primary way of getting around is Amsterdam in the Netherlands. I remember my
shock when I visited this city for the first time and saw myriads of people
riding their bikes – old, young, from serious looking businessmen wearing suits
to old ladies carrying baskets full of groceries. This made me wonder, why is this not so
popular in Warsaw?
If you didn’t
visit Amsterdam before, you may look at the following video to have some
insight about what I’m writing about:
A year back
I went to visit my friend, who lives in Paris. When I asked her how she gets around
in the city she replied: “by bike”. Again I was quite moved by this response,
especially when she told me that she uses the bike to get to most places,
including tango evenings (called milongas).
Imagining her wearing a fancy looking dress and riding a bike brought a
smile to my face. She saw my look and pointed out that it’s something normal
for people living there.
About that
time I heard that a project “Veturilo” was starting in Warsaw. This initiative was about allowing people to borrow
bikes and use them to get around the city. There were quite a lot of places
where you could pick up (or park) the bikes and the prices for using them were not
high. I was curious how this will get
on.
Recently I’ve
heard that this had become a major success and that so many people are using it
that the company has decided to extend the numbers of bikes and stations so that
it could meet the ever-growing demand. Here’s a promotional video:
One more
example of a city friendly to this way of transportation is Copenhagen. I have never
been to this city but looking at the following video I am impressed by the
infrastructure and the approach the authorities have to make this a more safe,
and accessible way of getting around:
What is
your approach to this? Do you think that seeing a man wearing a suit and riding
a bike is something that will be seen in the near future in Poland? Have you ever been in a place where cars were
not the primary source of transportation? What future do you see for unconventional
means of transport?
I have never been to a place where bicycles are the main mean of transportation. I think it is a nice perspective and I would honestly love to see it in Warsaw, however I personally don't use my bicycle very often to get "from place A to place B" in my neighbourhood (only if I have to do it to get to a more friendly environment). From my experience I would say that riding a bicycle on a large busy street, among lots of cars (each one in a great hurry) could sometimes be considered an extreme sport... So until there is enough cycle paths I prefer a nice old-fashioned walk :) (or run, if I'm really late...)
ReplyDeleteThat is true. A nice bikes fleet is only a part of story. You need long distance good quality roads prepared for a dedicated bicycle traffic. It is something that could be a biggest show stopper.
DeleteOn the other hand I've noticed that there is improvement regarding bicycle paths existence comparing with the past.
Similarly to tiia I also have never been in place like described.
ReplyDeletePersonally I often use my bike to go to work and I also see some disadvantages for using it:
1. Using bike for transportation may be pleasant during a good weather. Did you see a bad weather during presented films?.
2. I live in a quite mountainous place. In such place using bikes is more tiring than in presented Amsterdam or even Warsaw.
3. Riding on bike is faster way of transportation than car only if you meet a traffic jams on your road. In my case I have similar times for travelling to my work when I use bike or car (I ride in sporty way without suit).
4. I don’t see in my case any economical reason for using a bike instead of a car because I have to spend saved on petrol money for eating.
So I am waiting for spring (I see 20 cm of snow outside the window now) and I am waiting for infrastructure for biking as shown on films (bicycle paths, parking, easy possibility for renting not damaged bikes everywhere). I don’t think that riding in suit will be normal in my city in the nearest future.
And I am proud that when I use my bike instead of my car I save whales. Although I probably save at most a quarter of one very small whale.
To be honest, I do have some experience in riding a bicycle while it's raining cats and dogs and after passing a critical point when you are so wet and dirty that it technically can't get worse, you don't bother anymore. However I can't imagine arriving at work in such a miserable state ;) .
DeleteI absolutely agree with you. Additionally I want to say that I don't like to eat wet rolls. But if somebody likes then using bike as a main way of transportation is possible.
DeleteI had a chance once to ride a bike during cloudburst and that is true - there is really a point when you so wet that it stops bothering you.
DeleteI also unfortunately never was in that place. In the near future I’m going to Copenhagen, so maybe I will have chance to see it.
ReplyDeleteIt’s quite good idea if we take care of the environment but I can imagine that e.g Warsaw will be next Amsterdam or Copenhagen in next few years, maybe if gasoline jump to 10 or 20 zl the liter some of us quickly change car for a bike or even public transport.
Warsow lacks dedicate bike lanes which make impossible to implement more intensive bicycle traffic.
Dedicated bikes lanes are crucial. A friend of mine that uses bike heavily has had an accident a few years ago. Only a good quality helmet saved his head from serious injuries.
DeleteBTW - helmet can save you only if you use one :)
I'll be riding my bike for recreational purposes as soon as the weather improves, but I wouldn't like to depend on a bicycle for transportation even in the best of times, let alone when it's wet and cold like now. It's just not practical, public transport is probably a better option if you care about the environment. What I'd really like to see is more electric vehicles such as this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEwv7Z4SSQQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jICGl9jmulc
Regarding public transport the first thought I have in my mind is regarding dedicated bus only lanes in Warsaw. In general a dedicated bus lane is a good idea but as many things in Poland the execution is very very poor. Bus lanes were cut out of standard lanes invalidating them for ordinary traffic. It only made congestion worse.
DeleteCycling is a very good option to relieve traffic congestion.
ReplyDeleteIt is also a good way to lead a healthy lifestyle. Coming in your bike to work,
school or church, we can get some fresh air, so much needed for
healthy thinking.
Netherlands prepared for very good conditions cyclists. Created a lot of paths
cycle leading to any location. I was impressed with the situation where the cyclist
shall be treated with great respect, in more situations cyclist has priority.
Countries such as India and China, despite the very large numbers of people are able to control the chaos reigning in the streets, carefully separating
of bicycle traffic.
The problem is not just the lack of infrastructure, but also on the side of of mutual lack of courtesy on the side of car drivers and cyclists.
Personally, I'm behind the way of movement. It is not none shame to go
Cycling in a suit and white socks. Poland is a little tolerant country
because not everyone can be convinced and break down for the cycling
I know what it means to me a lot of running and at first I was not be treated seriously
After a few months it has been accepting and adopted by society. It could
to convince more people to spend time in this way. I think that with bicycles
should be the same. You need to have the time and a group of people who will promote becycle fashion. In this way, cycling should be
very popular as in other countries. Who knows, maybe too not long for the other the Netherlands!
Agree with 'mutual lack of courtesy' - it is a must to get beyond the point we are now. Car drives need to respect cycling traffic but we still have a big distance in front of us.
DeleteThis is something worth spreading across whole country.
ReplyDeleteI think that there could be several reasons why city bikes could get attention.
Here are just three I could think of quickly.
Heavy traffic.
This is something that is getting me upset more and more. I live approx. 25 kilometres from my work and I use car to get there every working day. If I start my ride at the 7-9 am, then there is huge chance I get stuck wasting more than 70 minutes or more and it is only one way. After work the situation is similar and only the direction of the journey is opposite. Monday is the worst.
For people that have shorter distance cycling could be a true relief and time saver.
Fitness fashion.
Bikes can make and keep you fit.
Green power fashion.
Using bikes saves environment from the fumes pollution.
The real problem might be weather at winter. It invalidates the idea of cycling and all the bike enthusiasts need to wait for acceptable temperatures.
By accident I have posted to wrong topic... you can find my post here:
ReplyDeletehttp://konwersatorium2-ms-pjwstk.blogspot.com/2013/04/week-2-personal-time-management-tips.html?showComment=1365976356014#c3146867081386270722
I think that seeing a man wearing a suit and riding a bike is something is something realy rare in Poland due to several reasons:
ReplyDeletePolish roads are not prepared for bicycle traffic.
Car drivers do not respect areas designate for bikers.
Weather is unpredictable in Poland (wearing suits when can be raining is quite risky)
Usually people do not have proper secure place to store a bike while they are in the office.
I've been testing this “Veturilo” rental service several times and I assumed that idea is great but implementation is not intuitive at all. Even those who know how to rent or just give back bike have to wait until others end with rental to registration process.
I have an idea. Let's assume that high rank officials would be obliged to use bikes to get to their work. The higher the rank the more time would be assigned to one.
ReplyDeleteYou can't imagine how fast there would be proper bikes lanes infrastructure prepared :)