Speaking as someone with first-hand experience of this topic, I can verify that the safety record in the Netherlands is a combination of the outstanding bicycle infrastructure, strict adherence to bicycle-awareness "laws" (it's really more of collective the state of mind of motorists, rather than the result of any particular law) and the sheer number of bicyclists on the roads that makes them impossible to "overlook". When I received my Dutch driving permit, it was STRONGLY stressed: Pas op voor de fietsers!! (Watch out for the cyclists)
During my residence in the Netherlands, the only bicycle accident I witnessed was a rider unable to balance his bike after his (presumably) 15th shot of Jeneever. After an unsuccessful attempt at re-mounting, he wisely opted for the wandelpad instead of the fietspad. Anyway, the safety record for cyclists in the Netherlands certainly seems in contradiction with their complete lack of interest in wearing helmets. I guess this means that Wisconsin will have an even BETTER safety record when my mission to create an equivalent bicycle infrastructure here is "finished", because we'll still be wearing our helmets while riding on that amazing bicycle infrastructure. Thanks for the link to the Dutch cycling website. Rest assured, there WILL be things like this coming out of Bike Fed in the near future. The ideas are flowing and great things are happening! I can only ask for your patience, as there are only so many hours in a week! Tot ziens! -- David Vogt Deputy Director Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin (608) 251-4456 (Office) (414) 426-0424 (Mobile) [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---- Cathy Van Maren <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Off topic but I have to clarify. I am a Van by half for sure but my Dutch ancestors moved to Pella, Iowa more than 100 years ago. My dad's a stubborn IOWA Dutchman and it is my great fortune to have friends who live in Amsterdam so I've been able to "return" to the home country several times and bike the wonderful wonderful wonderful way they do it there. I DO think the car laws make a diff. It's true that people drive like maniacs there BUT the expense and trouble for hitting a bicyclist or pedestrian are much more than they are here. Of course in Netherlands the separate bike highways make a huge difference, and separate and separated lanes (and stop lights) in cities. That just didn't happen by itself. Bicycle activists got out there and agitated for them - and still do - including painting their own d*** lanes on the roads. But I don't think that would work nationally here (maybe city by city if lots of people are willing to be arrested over it.) If you can get through the Dutch, a great online mag about what's happening with biking the Netherlands is at http://www.vogelvrijefietser.nl/ Makes me wish there were something similar (maybe quarterly) through BFW. At least a web site. - cathy in la crosse _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
