An article close to my heart, since I spent around two years in the Twin Cities using only a bicycle as transport in all kinds of weather. Apparently things have gotten better for cyclists since I was there. Could such improvements also be made in Bratislava? Should they? What have your biking experiences (or experiences with cyclists) been like here? In what circumstances is it realistic to live without a car?
I am really surprised that Minneapolis was able to claim the top spot in the race for the title of best bike city in America. I am saying that because I lived in Winnipeg, which is just north of Minneapolis, for some time in the past, and I know what winter is like there. People were not willing even to go outside, not to speak of biking. However, I was shocked anyway how often people used to drive in general, even in summertime. Apparently, bikers in Minneapolis do not mind using bicycles all year long. I believe in certain circumstances it is quite realistic to live without a car. The point is to build infrastructure and create good conditions for bikers. In my opinion, the most crucial thing is to ensure safety during cold months. If city officials are able to guarantee clean bikeways after snowstorm, then people will be more likely to ride a bike and keep the car in the garage. Moreover, it is just a question of being dressed and equipped appropriately. Minneapolis is great example of this idea. If you spend most of the time in bike friendly city, nothing should keep you from using bicycle instead of car.
ReplyDeleteI am very disappointed about Bratislava’s attitude towards bikers, since they seem to care less about their needs. Nowadays, it is rather dangerous and insufficient to ride a bike in the town, because it lacks even the most essential infrastructure. From my own experience, when I wanted to carry a bike along with me on the bus, I would not be allowed to (on weekends only). However, it is almost impossible to get to some parts of Bratislava using a bike, since there are almost no bikeways. So if you don’t have a car to carry a bike on...As I noticed in the video included, they have already figured this out in Minneapolis, having installed bike stands in public transportation vehicles. Quite frankly, it is more less an utopia that the change is going to come sooner or later in Bratislava. The improvements would not be that easy to make, since the space is probably more limited than in cities in America. Still, if the city officials managed to build at least some bikeways and infrastructure, people would be more willing to take a ride in town, not worrying about the danger and insufficiency.
Simon Stastny
Comment on Rasťo’s comment
ReplyDeleteI see that we both have a common interest in biking. Cycling is also my hobby.
I strongly agree with Rasťo’s opinion dealing with cyclist in Bratislava. The bike traffic is not developed enough in the whole Slovakia. I can say, since I come from Prievidza that there are also problems with this kind of traffic.
In my opinion there should be made more lines for cyclist on the roads. It’s one of the first steps to develop cycling traffic. Nowadays, lots of people are scared of riding a bike on a road, because of rushing cars. These new lines would completely resolve this problem. Rasťo said that these lines would cause more traffic jams. However, these traffic jams wouldn’t remain for the long time. People would be more fed up with them, so they would rather choose bicycle instead of car.
I don’t think the bicycle sharing system would be inapplicable in Bratislava. Rasťo said that bicycles would be stolen, sold or damaged. I think there is lot of measures which could resolve these problems.
The little “bike stations,” consist of six or seven bicycles, would be spread out over the city. The bicycles would be locked, so no one could take them freely. Only people with authorized card would be able to take one of the bicycles. People could get these cards in authorized offices. The cards would be issued on the basis of identity. So if the bicycle would get lost, the police are able to find the malefactor and he/she would have to pay a fine. I am aware that somebody can say papers can be counterfeit. But who would commit such a big crime only because of the bicycles?
Bicycle sharing system has a big use. Traffic jams wouldn’t be so frequent. There wouldn’t be so overcrowded public transportation. Needless to say that cycling is much healthier than driving a car. There’s also lot of environmental advantages. For instance, bicyclist on these special bicycles would make energy for the public lightening. Also, the pollution of the cities would decrease.
The mankind has lots of problems and challenges. The mental problems are affecting our current world. Also the character of people is rapidly changing in an ill way.
In my opinion, cycling would partly help to resolve these problems.
Comment on Rasto’s post:
ReplyDeleteAlthough I enjoy cycling like you, I have to say that I don’t share and opinion with you regarding the cycling tracks. I live in Ruzinov and I have to say that I see a lot people cycling every day. Next to my house there is this cycling path which stretches from the center of Ruzinov up to Aupark in Petrzalka, which is a pretty long distance; it also includes a separate path on the Apollo Bridge. If you are heading towards the Apollo Bridge from Ruzinov you would have notice the separate bicycle lane throughout the whole Kosicka Street. That to be said, I really think it depends on what part of Bratislava you are referring to.
To the issue concerning the bicycle sharing system I would have to disagree again. I find it quite plausible. Most developed countries in Europe have already employed a similar system. I have noticed that Austria does implement it in a broad spectrum by creating stations which vary in bicycle models and colors. You now must be thinking that Austria is a noticeably more developed country than Slovakia, that is true and it’s a fact, but does a country really need to be that developed in order to create a system of renting bicycles? It’s a matter of correct positioning of the stations in the areas with highest population density. I don’t think it’s that much of a “budget crusher”, I mean our government does spend tons more finances on countless amounts of useless stuff.
Yet, I have to agree with you on the matter that the weather in Slovakia is indeed different than the one in the US, it is doubtlessly hard to cycle through a 10 centimeter layer of snow during the winters, not to mention the risk of injury. In my opinion, that would be the main drawback which is holding down a greater development of cycling in Bratislava.