How did the Dutch get this network of bicycle paths

[Shebeen]

Fietspad moet blijven!

 

My cousin picked me up from the train station with her bakfiets, it is just the culture that bikes rule. The cities are tiny in comparison, we need integrated transport in this country.

[lloydkayak]

I reckon we are already on the way...

Don't ride in lycra, that's my motto... well that's always my motto anyway

[BlinkFan]

http://jhb.criticalmass.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/318012_10151207916666437_376618191_n.jpg

 

Critical mass JHB

 

http://bicycledutch.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/protest1979.jpg

 

 

Cycling protest tour 1979, Amsterdam

 

There is a substantive difference between the Netherlands and South Africa with respect to cycling. This difference is in the pictures.In the Netherlands cycling was never the exclusive domain of a tribe wearing funny clothes helmets, riding racing and/or specialised bicycles, stressing speed, weight, fitness.This tribe branding of cycling is unfortunately now the case. Governments and general public think and discuss cycling mainly using this tribal paradigm. Substantive changes in political will require a view of cycling as a normal day-to-day activity. Any efforts that counter the tribe view should be supported. So on the next critical mass we must not dress in our funny cloves. We must look like the Dutch in the second photo.

 

Also, convincing government to build cycle path for recreational/training will be difficult. But convincing them to build paths for commuting might be easier. So Critical Mass and Moonlight Mass should not just be a social gathering of fashion/hippie/hipster/ultrarich people, or a place to show of how many lumens you can pump out. But should be a gathering of the people that actually need these paths. People that rely on them to get from point A to B for 90% of their travel. And yes I am referring to the low income portion of the population. The people that barely have a road to ride on. They are the ones that need these paths more than us. But we will all benefit at the end of the day.

[GoLefty!!]

Don't just blame the government, the majority of the citizens of South Africa thinks only poor people ride bicycles, the more affluent one ride taxi's, we will not progress until we can remove the stigma.

Umongst the white population only fitness freaks in Lycra ride bicycles, normal people use cars.

 

South Africa is one of the leaders in obesity, one wonders why?

 

 

A South African Lady colleague in the Hague would not be caught dead on a bicycle so she bought a LAnd Rover DIscovery.

She could nopt understand why;

- the vehicle licensing department gave her a hard time

- the tyres on her car were flat every morning

- she had no friends

 

She left Holland complaining about how rude the Dutch are. Problem was her..Souf Effrikeeness. She also got the shock of her life when she moved into a furnished apartment that came with a Dutch maid.

 

not sure if she expecting th landlord to import her a domestic maintenance implementer from Africa or hat went through her mind. She simply didn;t fit in