Comments on: Summit starts with lessons from Copenhagen http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/10/summit-starts-with-lessons-from-copenhagen-15913 Portland Oregon bicycle news, events, culture, travel and opinion. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:19:16 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Does this Encourage more Bicycling? | m-bike.org http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/10/summit-starts-with-lessons-from-copenhagen-15913#comment-1265659 Does this Encourage more Bicycling? | m-bike.org Mon, 18 May 2009 23:10:50 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=15913#comment-1265659 [...] From Bike Portland: [...] [...] From Bike Portland: [...]

Recommended Thumb up 0

]]> By: Jay’s impressions of the National Bike Summit ‘09 - Bike Gallery Blog http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/10/summit-starts-with-lessons-from-copenhagen-15913#comment-1191140 Jay’s impressions of the National Bike Summit ‘09 - Bike Gallery Blog Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:49:00 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=15913#comment-1191140 [...] For much more in depth information about the National Bike Summit I encourage you to check out Jonathan Maus’ coverage on BikePortland.org. He did an outstanding job of covering all the excitement.  Here is a link to Jonathan’s report of the Copenhagen presentation. [...] [...] For much more in depth information about the National Bike Summit I encourage you to check out Jonathan Maus’ coverage on BikePortland.org. He did an outstanding job of covering all the excitement.  Here is a link to Jonathan’s report of the Copenhagen presentation. [...]

Recommended Thumb up 0

]]> By: atbman http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/10/summit-starts-with-lessons-from-copenhagen-15913#comment-1170675 atbman Sun, 15 Mar 2009 18:16:36 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=15913#comment-1170675 Cycling is a safe, healthy activity. Wear a helmet or you WILL die! Why is it difficult to persuade Americans to cycle to work? Cycling is a safe, healthy activity.

Wear a helmet or you WILL die!

Why is it difficult to persuade Americans to cycle to work?

Recommended Thumb up 0

]]> By: ShawDC http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/10/summit-starts-with-lessons-from-copenhagen-15913#comment-1163683 ShawDC Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:59:10 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=15913#comment-1163683 DC biker here - This post makes me sad; I doubt we'll ever see this in our lifetime. But totally agree with the identifiers comment in your post. I am a "cyclist" and you are a "cyclist" and jim over there "is a (dbag) motorist." too many labels, not enough life and living. I'll tell you what I'm sick of: pedaling my ass off on Pennsylvania Ave at 730 in the morning just to not get run over by some a hole going 40, downtown, in the heart of our nation's capitol. Every morning. and I know what they're thinking too: who is this a hole on a bike? why is he slowing everything down? I know it is so uncool/counterproductive, but DC (to name one city) needs a siginificant uptick in militancy. A few key blocked intersections and solid turnout, some uproarious protest, and the city will stop bending over to suburban commuters and all their glass and steel. For those of you that don't know: there is a four lane highway immediately (like 60 feet) south and north of the capitol. A massive surface parking lot sits adjacent to the train station, a short walk from the capitol. cars as far as the eye can see. Hopefully you guys are faring better out there. we do have a good metro though. No bikes during rush hour. DC biker here -

This post makes me sad; I doubt we'll ever see this in our lifetime. But totally agree with the identifiers comment in your post. I am a "cyclist" and you are a "cyclist" and jim over there "is a (dbag) motorist." too many labels, not enough life and living.

I'll tell you what I'm sick of: pedaling my ass off on Pennsylvania Ave at 730 in the morning just to not get run over by some a hole going 40, downtown, in the heart of our nation's capitol. Every morning. and I know what they're thinking too: who is this a hole on a bike? why is he slowing everything down?

I know it is so uncool/counterproductive, but DC (to name one city) needs a siginificant uptick in militancy. A few key blocked intersections and solid turnout, some uproarious protest, and the city will stop bending over to suburban commuters and all their glass and steel.

For those of you that don't know: there is a four lane highway immediately (like 60 feet) south and north of the capitol. A massive surface parking lot sits adjacent to the train station, a short walk from the capitol. cars as far as the eye can see.

Hopefully you guys are faring better out there. we do have a good metro though. No bikes during rush hour.

Recommended Thumb up 0

]]> By: fredlf http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/10/summit-starts-with-lessons-from-copenhagen-15913#comment-1161467 fredlf Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:59:01 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=15913#comment-1161467 I agree with Dave (#4), but I think he underemphasizes the role liability plays. Those dire warning stickers don't just cover bikes, they're everywhere. By and large, I don't think the stickers are there to actually convey information to the reader. They are there purely to provide legal CYA for the manufacturer. Those stickers are the tip of cultural iceberg that contains ideas about personal responsibility, our legal system, personal greed and self entitlement, and a host of other things. Getting those stickers off is going to require a lot of major social change. I agree with Dave (#4), but I think he underemphasizes the role liability plays. Those dire warning stickers don't just cover bikes, they're everywhere. By and large, I don't think the stickers are there to actually convey information to the reader. They are there purely to provide legal CYA for the manufacturer. Those stickers are the tip of cultural iceberg that contains ideas about personal responsibility, our legal system, personal greed and self entitlement, and a host of other things. Getting those stickers off is going to require a lot of major social change.

Recommended Thumb up 0

]]> By: Dave http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/10/summit-starts-with-lessons-from-copenhagen-15913#comment-1161375 Dave Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:09:24 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=15913#comment-1161375 I think another important thing about looking at other places where cycling is a common thing, is to note not only that many people ride to <i>work</i> on a bike, but many people do <i>all</i> their traveling around the city by bike - grocery shopping, taking kids to school, taking mail to the post office, shopping for clothes, whatever. When you need to go anywhere at all, the natural reaction is to hop on your bike. That takes a bit of a different mindset than just getting to work and back. I think another important thing about looking at other places where cycling is a common thing, is to note not only that many people ride to work on a bike, but many people do all their traveling around the city by bike - grocery shopping, taking kids to school, taking mail to the post office, shopping for clothes, whatever. When you need to go anywhere at all, the natural reaction is to hop on your bike. That takes a bit of a different mindset than just getting to work and back.

Recommended Thumb up 0

]]> By: Paulo http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/10/summit-starts-with-lessons-from-copenhagen-15913#comment-1161202 Paulo Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:02:28 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=15913#comment-1161202 @old&slow: He's talking about their metro system which is used for longer distances, not going 2 blocks, and they don't run in the streets. There are no streetcars (trams) in Copenhagen that I'm aware of. Bicycles and rails mix just fine if you don't ride on them and cross them appropriately! There are times when it's appropriate to ride a train, and there are times when it's appropriate to bike. @old&slow: He's talking about their metro system which is used for longer distances, not going 2 blocks, and they don't run in the streets. There are no streetcars (trams) in Copenhagen that I'm aware of. Bicycles and rails mix just fine if you don't ride on them and cross them appropriately! There are times when it's appropriate to ride a train, and there are times when it's appropriate to bike.

Recommended Thumb up 0

]]> By: Dave http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/10/summit-starts-with-lessons-from-copenhagen-15913#comment-1161153 Dave Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:59:01 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=15913#comment-1161153 <blockquote> His point was that if advocates and planners are always talking about safety (which the U.S. is very guilty of) than people — especially the ones advocates are trying to attract — will assume it’s a dangerous activity. </blockquote> I think this is one of the most important points in the whole thing - we in the US make bicycling out to be this dangerous thing that you have to be talented and experienced and ready for danger to participate in, and people are really, honestly scared of something that has such a low danger rate compared to that of driving. I think a lot of it here has to do with liability (for instance, companies putting big WARNING stickers on their bikes and making their owners' manuals just long strings of WARNING paragraphs about how if you don't do everything just right, you could crash and hurt yourself). But the reality is, if we encourage more people to ride bicycles, we will have a much safer society. Cycling is not inherently dangerous. http://www.portlandize.com/2009/03/are-you-afraid-of-your-bicycle.html http://www.portlandize.com/2009/03/are-you-still-scared-of-your-bicycle.html

His point was that if advocates and planners are always talking about safety (which the U.S. is very guilty of) than people — especially the ones advocates are trying to attract — will assume it’s a dangerous activity.

I think this is one of the most important points in the whole thing - we in the US make bicycling out to be this dangerous thing that you have to be talented and experienced and ready for danger to participate in, and people are really, honestly scared of something that has such a low danger rate compared to that of driving. I think a lot of it here has to do with liability (for instance, companies putting big WARNING stickers on their bikes and making their owners' manuals just long strings of WARNING paragraphs about how if you don't do everything just right, you could crash and hurt yourself). But the reality is, if we encourage more people to ride bicycles, we will have a much safer society. Cycling is not inherently dangerous.

http://www.portlandize.com/2009/03/are-you-afraid-of-your-bicycle.html

http://www.portlandize.com/2009/03/are-you-still-scared-of-your-bicycle.html

Recommended Thumb up 0

]]> By: Lance P. http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/10/summit-starts-with-lessons-from-copenhagen-15913#comment-1161087 Lance P. Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:41:42 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=15913#comment-1161087 ... SW 3rd ... SW 3rd

Recommended Thumb up 0

]]> By: KWW http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/10/summit-starts-with-lessons-from-copenhagen-15913#comment-1160347 KWW Wed, 11 Mar 2009 09:07:54 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=15913#comment-1160347 Actually, there are a couple of streets in downtown Portland with a 'green wave' for bicyclists, even though it isn't recognised as such: SW Main and SW Madison in relation to Hawthorne bridge and SW 4th to Chinatown. Actually, there are a couple of streets in downtown Portland with a 'green wave' for bicyclists, even though it isn't recognised as such:
SW Main and SW Madison in relation to Hawthorne bridge and SW 4th to Chinatown.

Recommended Thumb up 0

]]>