What I learned from a month in Europe
We might make faster progress here if we don’t get so distracted with what they have over there.
Taylor’s 2023 Europe Trip
Riding the bicibús on the streets of Barcelona
This morning in Barcelona, I discovered the joys of the bike bus aren’t limited to northeast Portland.
Carfree bridges, bike lanes, and public spaces in Bilbao
Bilbao’s revitalization came with a hefty investment in public and active transportation.
What Portland could learn from the ‘Bilbao Effect’
Bilbao’s renewal was accompanied by a new public transit networks that spread all around the city as well as a citywide commitment to biking and walking infrastructure.
Biking in Paris: a bumpy road, with an optimistic ending
A crash kept Taylor Griggs from fully immersing herself in the hottest cycling city in the world.
Pondering Amtrak while riding European high-speed trains
After seeing what dignified train travel looks like, my affection for Amtrak has diminished…or at least evolved.
Thoughts and photos from a weekend in Copenhagen
— This post is part of BikePortland Staff Writer Taylor Griggs’ trip through Europe. See previous dispatches here. If there was a World Cup for bike infrastructure, the Dutch and Danish would probably be at the center duking it out for the prize of most renowned capital city. Amsterdam or Copenhagen: which is the better choice … Read more
The nudge of a stranger and coaster brakes: Thoughts on biking in The Netherlands
In Utrecht a man who wanted to pass me on a bike path gently pushed me out of his way without saying a word.
The perils of walking and biking in Amsterdam
They told me they were fining me for riding my bike illegally. People who visit Amsterdam often discuss the dangers people face while attempting to walk on the bike-filled streets. I think this is a bit exaggerated, especially by Americans who are unfazed by masses of cars and not used to seeing so many people … Read more
There’s a good reason why Amsterdam’s public spaces are cleaner than Portland’s
“Amsterdam is a lot like Portland, except for the homeless people.”
Abundance of ‘third places’ make Dutch cities more enjoyable
Yesterday I wrote about Amsterdam’s effort to replace on-street car parking spots with urban greenery and bike parking, an initiative partly meant to create more public spaces in the city for people to enjoy. And as I pointed out in that story, residents of Amsterdam’s city center are not necessarily wanting for urban parks as … Read more
Reimagined curb zones in Amsterdam show Portland’s potential
If Portland planners come at their upcoming pilot project with similar fervor, I think we could see the same kind of results.