15 November 2010

Behold Canberra - Beacon of Driver-Cyclist harmony to all the world

| johnboy
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Steve’s Cycling Blog has an interesting review of Canberra as a cycling destination through American eyes.

Unlike Robert Fisk Steve seemed to like our cycling culture and the easy tempered harmony of cyclists and motorists:

It was great to see a place where cyclists are woven into the traffic environment, with wide streets, bicycle lanes, drivers who acknowledge the existence of cyclists and pedestrians, and ample amounts of mixed-use pathways. Cyclists are hardly the novelty they are on America’s roads. The mountain bike and hybrid communities are doing quite well, though I wonder about the road cyclists. On the whole, I was very impressed and American city planners could do a lot worse than copying the Canberra model.

Something to bear in mind before we torch off the next flame war.

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SteveTheCyclist2:08 pm 15 Nov 10

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I had a great (albeit short) visit to Canberra and was delighted to have an opportunity to cycle around Lake Burley Griffin, get lost in Kingston, and climb a small hill to a scenic overlook at RMC Duntroon. I also enjoyed several short walks around City Centre, Canberra Centre, and the War Memorial. I found the city to be clean and the people to be courteous. Drivers respected pedestrians in crosswalks (in America, crosswalks can be dicey things) and they were very patient with this Yank as he spazed about on Ipswich and Newcastle Streets, trying to find his way home! I have no doubt that things could be improved upon, but that is true with most things, isn’t it?

Enjoy the Spring. It’s getting cold here in America and the days are getting short – it’s harder to get the miles (kilometers!) in.

Steve

georgesgenitals1:00 pm 15 Nov 10

GardeningGirl said :

If only all cyclists, drivers and pedestrians showed such consideration for each other.

+1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

la mente torbida12:44 pm 15 Nov 10

Ringing bell on Monday to Friday … no problems
Ringing bell Saturday and Sunday … no reaction (apart from abuse)

My nose is still dribbling the tea I was drinking when I read the OP…

thy_dungeonman11:42 am 15 Nov 10

Of course compared to cities like new york (I assume that’s one of his comparison models) where bicycles weaving and out of traffic on the roads we are doing a bit better.

GardeningGirl said :

We went for a walk along the lake at Yarralumla recently and unlike the previous time a few years ago, which discouraged me from wanting to return for a long time, this time we were passed by quite a few cyclists all but one of whom rang their bells or called out in plenty of time to alert us to their approach. An encouraging sign rather than a fluke I hope. If only all cyclists, drivers and pedestrians showed such consideration for each other.

Of course, usually when you ring a bell at pedestrians they:

a. ignore you because they are listening to their mp3

b. jump into your way out of fright that you are coming up right behind them and want them to move; or

c. glare at you for ringing your bell when they werent doing anything wrong and think you are criticising them.

(that said, please please ring your bell if you are coming up behind kids who are under about 10, otherwise they WILL wander right in front of you without paying attention)

GardeningGirl11:13 am 15 Nov 10

We went for a walk along the lake at Yarralumla recently and unlike the previous time a few years ago, which discouraged me from wanting to return for a long time, this time we were passed by quite a few cyclists all but one of whom rang their bells or called out in plenty of time to alert us to their approach. An encouraging sign rather than a fluke I hope. If only all cyclists, drivers and pedestrians showed such consideration for each other.

Holden Caulfield10:49 am 15 Nov 10

That’s brilliant!

Wow, we really fooled him! No “honking horns, curses, or gesticulating arms”?! Where was wildturkeycanoe that day?

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