You are correct...I used to work down the road near Tillsonburg (well,
insofar that anywhere is "just down the road" in North America...it's a bit
big, particularly if you're on a bike!
Cheers
John
-----Original Message-----
From: Cycling and Society Research Group discussion list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Oddy, Nicholas
Sent: 29 January 2012 22:13
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A request for help[Scanned-Clean]
Not that I can be certain, but I suspect Kira is in London, Ontario, rather
than London, England.
Nicholas
________________________________
From: Cycling and Society Research Group discussion list on behalf of John
Meudell
Sent: Sun 29/01/2012 18:10
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A request for help[Scanned-Clean]
Guys
A précis of my response to Kira.
"""
Kira
I don't know if you've seen Nicholas Oddy's contribution but I tend to
agree....comparing Canada and Denmark is probably too narrow.
I've worked in Canada (in fact not far from where you are)and cycled across
the US some years ago (New York to San Francisco). I also lived and worked
in Holland on and off for many years (since the late 70's) and cycled
extensively in Northern Europe and Scandinavia. Based on those experiences
I'd suggest that, on this subject, the geographical reasons drive history
and culture...and not the other way around.
Basically, distances are so huge in North America that, even in the more
populated coastal states, cycling on a daily basis is limited to
leisure/sport and, to a lesser extent, utility.
In contrast distances between population centres, villages and the like in
Europe are so small as to ensure leisure/day touring is both feasible and
attractive. Roads are winding, often sheltered by trees and hedges, there's
variety in the scenery and topography....which, although it exists to an
extent in the coastal and eastern mountain states of North America, the
distances preclude day touring.
I think cycling research has missed a trick in not identifying the role of
day touring in the development and support for utility and sport cycling (in
Europe), it maintains ownership of cycling in the minds of many people,
creating a tacit base on which to maintain interest in the high profile
sporting side.
That situation can't really exist in North America, at least outside of the
large urban conurbations and aforementioned states, so the sporting side is
equally poorly recognised.
This bigness has inhibited the wider importation of the bicycle culture. In
North America, outside of the big urban conurbations cycling is very easy
and very safe (well, ignoring cattle truck drivers in Wyoming!). Traffic
densities are low on most county highways, likewise the old US Highways,
with their wide hard shoulder. Furthermore the construction of tarmac paved
roads is still considerably less than in Europe, particularly through the
Mid-West, even today.
Cyclists are seen as unusual and non-threatening....I and many US
side-to-side cyclists find themselves invited for coffee and to stay. A
couple of places I was chased by local small town reporters for a story (I
was riding a recumbent tricycle, not exactly the usual human powered
machinery seen around small towns!). The kids all have bikes but, even if
they get into serious mountain biking, the focus is on the first car which
is (has to be) an important mode of transport to get around. Again, outside
of the urban conurbations there's little in the way of public transport,
apart for the school bus system, so a car is essential to everyone. On the
whole motorists drive slower (than the UK) though, admittedly don't take
prisoners...but at least they don't deliberately try to run you off the road
like they do in the UK. So, unlike the UK, it's actually a very benign
environment for cycling....it's just not very practical!
On that particular point, I'd suggest making a clear distinction between the
UK and Europe. My experience is that, if you can cycle confidently cycle
around London without getting intimidated, run off the road or killed, you
can survive anywhere!
That said I'd suggest that your question "Why it's so hard to incorporate
bicycles in Canadian traffic?" is a bit general. I'm told by a Canadian
friend that places like Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver and Victoria have good
cycling routes and infrastructure networks. San Francisco, which I have
cycled around, has an established set of bike routes and is real easy to
cycle around....and traffic is often much less of a problem than in London
(UK). The authorities have thought about the problems of getting around the
Bay, so bikes are carried on the ferries and there used to be a bus-trailer
to take cyclists across the bridges. So I cycled around Oakland, Berkeley
and Richmond, across the Bay and there's not really much of a problem.
So I'm not sure the position is as clear cut as your first thoughts.
Cheers
John Meudell
C.Eng, MIMechE
Research Associate, Swansea University
From: Cycling and Society Research Group discussion list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: 27 January 2012 15:34
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: A request for help
This was forwarded from the ICHC. If anybody wishes to respond, bear in mind
she may not be on this list.
----- Forwarded message -----
From: "Renate Franz" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, Jan 27, 2012 14:57
Subject: Another question for help :)
To: "Renate Franz" <[log in to unmask]>
selectName: Ms.
Last Name: Falsing
First Name: Kira
Street: 308 Wharncliffe
Zip: N6G 1E2
Town: London
Country: Canada
Email: [log in to unmask]
Relationship: I'm writing an article about the main differences between
North America (Canada) and Europe (Copenhagen), when it comes to bicycling.
Why it's so hard to incorporate bicycles in Canadian traffic, and the
historical and geographical reasons for this.
So I have some questions, that I was hoping you could help me with.
Is the reasons to be found in the geographical background, like North
America is a much 'newer' world than Europe, so they just builds roads
immediately, beause of the invension of the automobile at that time, or is
it rather a cultural thing like a fascination in cars and big machines?
Hope to hear from you and that you can enlighten me or suggest some articles
or websites to look at. the article will also include the the history of the
bicycle as transportation.
Best
Kira Falsing
University of Western Ontario
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