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THREAD: The task of ending car dominance in London can feel overwhelming -- luckily, we can cheat!
Cities around the world have already started on projects we can just copy.
Here are some examples of the ways our European neighbours are reclaiming their cities from cars.
Cities around the world have already started on projects we can just copy.
Here are some examples of the ways our European neighbours are reclaiming their cities from cars.
First up: Oslo!
It's not all fjords, forests and lutefisk in Norway's capital.
They're also great at another thing: not allowing loads of cars to wreck their city.
Here's how they did it...
It's not all fjords, forests and lutefisk in Norway's capital.
They're also great at another thing: not allowing loads of cars to wreck their city.
Here's how they did it...
BAN ON STREET PARKING
Cars once dominated Oslo's streets. But all that changed when they removed on-street car parking for all but emergency vehciles, trade vehicles and disabled people.
Now the city is full of parklets, bike lanes and event spaces instead of parked cars.
Cars once dominated Oslo's streets. But all that changed when they removed on-street car parking for all but emergency vehciles, trade vehicles and disabled people.
Now the city is full of parklets, bike lanes and event spaces instead of parked cars.
INVEST IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Without anywhere to park their private vehicles, critics may think Oslovins simply stay inside their homes forever. Not so!
Thanks to investment in buses, trains and, best of all, TRAMS! the people of Oslo continue to get around the city
Without anywhere to park their private vehicles, critics may think Oslovins simply stay inside their homes forever. Not so!
Thanks to investment in buses, trains and, best of all, TRAMS! the people of Oslo continue to get around the city
So that's all well and good for a city like Oslo, but what about a REAL city. One that loves CARS like a VOLVO.
Alright then, let's visit the home of the Volvo -- Goethenburg
(The left volvo not the right volvo)
Alright then, let's visit the home of the Volvo -- Goethenburg
(The left volvo not the right volvo)
It's true -- Goethenburg does love its cars. But do you know what it loves even more than cars?
Saunas.
Saunas.
THE RIVERCITY VISION
Goethenburg is investing in the RiverCity Vision -- an urban development programme to house people on both sides of the riverbank that runs through the centre of the city.
And how will they entice people there? With a free sauna and swimming pool of course
Goethenburg is investing in the RiverCity Vision -- an urban development programme to house people on both sides of the riverbank that runs through the centre of the city.
And how will they entice people there? With a free sauna and swimming pool of course
LAST MILE BIKE DELIVERY
But yes -- Goethenburg! Cars! Volvo!
Speaking of Volvo, did you know they've partnered with local cargo bike delivery services to design a system that will get delivery vehicles out of the city centre? Yep! Even the car companies are at it in Sweden.
But yes -- Goethenburg! Cars! Volvo!
Speaking of Volvo, did you know they've partnered with local cargo bike delivery services to design a system that will get delivery vehicles out of the city centre? Yep! Even the car companies are at it in Sweden.
Okay so Sweden isn't car-y enough for you? FINE -- we'll go to Germany. Hamburg to be exact.
And what do we find when we get there...
And what do we find when we get there...
OTTENSEN MACHT PLATZ
That's Ottensen Makes Space for those who haven't read any German since their A-Levels exam.
And it's a scheme in the Hamburg district of Ottensen where they...banned cars.
That's Ottensen Makes Space for those who haven't read any German since their A-Levels exam.
And it's a scheme in the Hamburg district of Ottensen where they...banned cars.
The scheme ran for 6 months in 2019 and transformed Ottensen from a district that looked like this...
...to one that looked like this.
Now which would you prefer?
Now which would you prefer?
How did the scheme go down?
At first, folks were MAD. Shopkeepers were worried (and stop me if you've heard this one before) that if folks couldn't drive there, no one would come.
In fact folks were so mad they went to court and made them put the district back the way it was.
At first, folks were MAD. Shopkeepers were worried (and stop me if you've heard this one before) that if folks couldn't drive there, no one would come.
In fact folks were so mad they went to court and made them put the district back the way it was.
It's a shame, really. Because when the district evaluated the program once it was taken out they found that the majority of residents and visitors approved of the scheme.
Guess it pays to ignore the shouters and stick things out, right?
Guess it pays to ignore the shouters and stick things out, right?
Since the car lovers picked our last two destination, we'll leave the next choice to the cyclists:
That's right, we're headed to Denmark and the Netherlands.
That's right, we're headed to Denmark and the Netherlands.
Denmark and the Netherlands are undoubtedly the cycle capitals of the world.
How did they do it? Here's 10 top tips (if you would like you can sing these to the tune of the 10 Duel Commandments from Hamilton -- it might be fun!)
How did they do it? Here's 10 top tips (if you would like you can sing these to the tune of the 10 Duel Commandments from Hamilton -- it might be fun!)
NUMBER 1 -- SEPARATE CYCLE LANES FROM CARS
Sharing is caring in nearly all situations but not when there's a high likelihood that a cyclist could die if a driver isn't in the mood to share.
(So none of this bullshit please:) https://twitter.com/roadcc/status/1349741113741959170
Sharing is caring in nearly all situations but not when there's a high likelihood that a cyclist could die if a driver isn't in the mood to share.
(So none of this bullshit please:) https://twitter.com/roadcc/status/1349741113741959170
NUMBER 2: TURN THOSE CYCLE PATHS INTO A NETWORK THAT CONNECTS CITIES,
TOWNS AND NEIGHBOURHOODS
It's all well and good to be able to cycle from Iceland Brixton to the Effra Social, but what if I then want to cycle to Bristol?
We deserve that choice.
TOWNS AND NEIGHBOURHOODS
It's all well and good to be able to cycle from Iceland Brixton to the Effra Social, but what if I then want to cycle to Bristol?
We deserve that choice.
NUMBER 3: EMBRACE CYCLE STREETS ON QUIET STREETS
On cycling streets, cars are guests and are expected to act that way -- that means they can't go faster than 20mph and, most importantly, aren't allowed to overtake.
On cycling streets, cars are guests and are expected to act that way -- that means they can't go faster than 20mph and, most importantly, aren't allowed to overtake.
NUMBER 4: REDESIGN INTERSECTIONS FOR CYCLISTS'
SAFETY
The philosophy is simple really: at no point on your bike ride should you have to fear for your life.
SAFETY
The philosophy is simple really: at no point on your bike ride should you have to fear for your life.
FIVE: MAKE CYCLING THE MOST CONVENIENT OPTION
How many more people do you think would cycle in London if we, say, had double the number of cycling bridges as we had driving bridges over the Thames, for instance?
How many more people do you think would cycle in London if we, say, had double the number of cycling bridges as we had driving bridges over the Thames, for instance?
NUMBER 6: TEACH THEM WHILE THEY ARE YOUNG
Get them on a bike before they can even walk and delay when kids are allowed to get their driver's license until they turn 18.
Get them on a bike before they can even walk and delay when kids are allowed to get their driver's license until they turn 18.
SEVEN: ACCOMMODATE SAFE, INDEPENDENT AND ACTIVE TRAVEL
TO SCHOOL
Repeat after me: I am too busy and important to drive my child to and from school every damn day.
It needs to be safe enough for them to get there on their own.
TO SCHOOL
Repeat after me: I am too busy and important to drive my child to and from school every damn day.
It needs to be safe enough for them to get there on their own.
NUMBER 8: PROVIDE GOOD QUALITY AND ACCESSIBLE CYCLE PARKING
The bike lanes are only as strong as the bike parking waiting at the other end.
The bike lanes are only as strong as the bike parking waiting at the other end.
NUMBER 9: MAKE CYCLES MORE ASSESSIBLE
You shouldn't be able to walk more than a few metres without coming across a bike you could hire and ride off on if you wanted to.
You shouldn't be able to walk more than a few metres without coming across a bike you could hire and ride off on if you wanted to.
NUMBER 10 PACES FIRE: WHEN YOU'VE MASTERED THE BASICS, GO THE EXTRA MILE
I shit you not, The Netherlands literally has horizontal bins so they cyclists can get rid of their rubbish more easily.
I shit you not, The Netherlands literally has horizontal bins so they cyclists can get rid of their rubbish more easily.
How do we know all of this? Because the wonderful @e_hookham cycled all the way from Bergen to London to find out, and @wcmtuk supported her to do it.
You can read all about her journey and her findings here: https://www.wcmt.org.uk/sites/default/files/report-documents/Hookham%20E%202019%20Final.pdf
You can read all about her journey and her findings here: https://www.wcmt.org.uk/sites/default/files/report-documents/Hookham%20E%202019%20Final.pdf
