Just to compare, this is the utopian dream for Toronto:
There are approx. 18 cars and trucks in that image.
They are taking up SIGNIFICANTLY more space, and are causing traffic.
Still, we keep saying, “give us more of this, please!”.
Insanity or stupidity?
Look we all want to be a pothead cyclist sex worker in the paradise of Amsterdam, but they can’t fit us all.
They have entire fried fish fillets being sold on the street for like 2€ it’s stupid bro it’s fucking stupid how good they got it.
I blame the civil engineers.
Edit: I visited Amsterdam during a work trip. They have a tram system that stops at every other street and goes up every other spoke of their bike wheel city. It’s cheap and it runs almost all night. I was sharing a jazz cigarette (Marijuana joint) with a local after drinking many fine Belgian beers and remarking about this in a broken German the local was ever so polite to entertain and they laughed at me, telling me the tram was slow, hardly stopped anywhere and cost too much, next time I should just rent a bike.
They don’t even know how good they fucking got it.
I’ll just drop this here
That’s because this way of city planning is normal there. You wouldn’t think that making streets and sidewalks safe for human beings would be such a big deal, but to us it’s unheard of!
When we put a pedestrian crossing with gasp, a signal, motorists around here lose their minds! Not really, they just ignore them. /s
It’s normal because people in the 70s put in a lot of effort and protesting to make it normal. I thank them every day for that.
It has nothing to do with protected historic buildings and a sweeping canal system squeezing the roads making them much too narrow for modern cars…
Thank the architects that made such a beautiful city.
You’re right, it has nothing to do with both of those things. Almost all canals are accessible by (modern) car.
Maybe do some reading before trying to be a know-it-all without knowing anything about the subject:
https://onsamsterdam.nl/artikelen/4-juni-1977-fietsdemonstratie-op-het-museumplein
https://www.amsterdam.nl/nieuws/achtergrond/strijd-tussen-auto-fiets/
Edit: just checked this guy’s post history and already regret biting
Other dutch cities, like Groningen, without so many canals, went through the same process, cars everywhere in the 70s, but a return to cyclable/walkable cities ever since. It’s a matter of voting for the right municipal politicians.
If we’re allowed to factor in “normality” here, it’s a good idea to add some context to what’s got you so ornery…
It sucks that America’s urban development came alongside the commercialization of cars, but here we are.
Yes Amsterdam is great, it’s a beautiful city with great public transportation. It tracks that a city founded in the 13th century would be designed for a population that walks everywhere.
It’s a strange comparison to make.
Perhaps in 500 years Americas infrastructure will suit whatever social transportation trend people will be arguing about online. Until then I’ll just do my best to minimize my impact and try not to be a cock.
So what is stopping america from building its new neighbourhoods in denser and more compact design like new neighbourhoods in the netherlands? Its not 1350 anymore yet they still seem to be able to build density and walkability.
Many American cities were founded before the car existed, why aren’t those neighbourhoods walkable and cycleable?
America has a big conservative streak. That’s typically why we can’t have nice things.
Conservative in both the sense of “don’t want change” and also “don’t want outgroups to have nice things”.
You might be interested in this recent video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uqbsueNvag
Change can happen very quickly, both good and bad.
There’s no reason why cities in North America have to throw up their hands and say “we can’t do anything about this.”
Plenty of places have already returned cities back to people, and many are still trying. Some seem to have given up, and others don’t want to quit their car addiction.
This is why you vote/advocate for bike friendly infrastructure to exist where you currently live.
Buddy this is suburbia that shit ain’t even on the ticket in the primary
Hence why I also said advocate.
If there are no relevant ballot issues, you will need to find like minded people to create petitions. Start small: Painted bike lanes, reduce speeds in neighborhoods, signage, etc
The other option is be angry and bitter on the Internet. 🤷♀️
I ain’t bitter or angry, like I said, this is suburbia, we just talk like that.
Things can change it just gonna take a generation or two. It took NL 40-50 years of development to achieve these efficiencies
I visited there once and dear god having public transportation was awesome.