The Dutch consider cycling to be second nature. This film explores how it came to be and what happens when a city embraces cycling as a legitimate form of transportation.
We’re sponsoring a screening of “Why We Cycle” at the Northeast Branch of the DC Public Library from 1PM-3PM on December 14th, 2019.
Film screening followed by a panel discussion.
Want to know more or participate in the panel? Let us know via email! We would love to have a variety of different panelists who can share their experiences with cycling in DC.
Our intrepid yogi and shop salesperson Brittany took a trip to Amsterdam this past weekend. Find some of her bikey photos at our account @thedailyriderdc .
class=”aligncenter is-resized”>Pick up your own copy from our friends at Solid State Books
Cycling in Washington, DC is much better now than it was even ten years ago. The city has installed bike lanes, paths, and other infrastructure to make it easier to get around by bicycle. Yet, we’re still at only about 5% of modeshare, or the percentage of people using bikes to commute. How do we grow this? How can we become a great cycling city?
Why can’t we be like Europe?
Like Amsterdam?
Dutch canal bike parking
In The City of Bikes by Pete Jordan describes how the Dutch became a country of cyclists all while the United States grew its automobile infrastructure.
You don’t become the cycling capital of the world by accident.
It takes a concerted effort from policy makers and road users alike.
The movement called Stop de Kindermoord (literally, Stop the Child Murder) formed following a rise in road casualties in Amsterdam. These protests bought about changes in road design and an emphasis on prioritizing “people-focused” streets. Parking laws had been in place since the advent of the automobile, prohibiting the parking of private vehicles on public space.
A train station’s bike parking facility
Pete Jordan takes a journey through Amsterdam from one side to the other in search of cycling nuns and a stolen bike, while telling the history of bicycles and cycling culture. He shares his admiration for the Dutch determination to keep riding on wheels without tires during the occupation. He keeps notes on numbers of bikes passing his windows, split into categories like:
Cycling with an open umbrella
Cycling while on a cell phone
Cycling with dogs as passengers
Dogs like bikes as well!
Pete doesn’t lay out a plan for how to build a cycling city, but he does show how the Dutch got there. What does this mean for Washington, DC? Can we become a cycling capitol? Just looking at the bikes in the shop this week (Yuba Mundos, electric assist Gazelles) I think we can. Fully 80% of the bikes in for repair have some sort of rack or basket, indicating their utility.
We’re not quite Portland or Amsterdam yet, but our numbers keep growing.
Pick up a copy of this book from our neighbors at Solid State Books , and let them know Loren sent you.
About The Daily Rider
The Daily Rider is a Washington, DC bicycle shop for every rider, with useful bicycles & essential accessories.
When Tern introduced their compact cargo bike, the HSD quickly became a customer and shop favorite. The all new HSD Gen. 2 improves on and delivers all the familiar features of the original. The small but strong Tern HSD carries 180 kg (397 lb). A full compliment of Tern accessories are available for passenger or […]
