In The City of Bikes

 

The American author of the book In The City of Bikes, Pete Jordan tries to explain the culture and experience he got from  Amsterdam, Netherlands on cycling.  Pete visits Amsterdam with the aim of staying for only one semester, but he is enticed by the city so quickly and soon he together with his wife decides to explore the city on two wheels.  The author tries to unfold the story of the cycling history in the town which he says it dates from the 1890’s. The bike centric-culture in the Dutch society and across the world today has its details of origin from the city 

The story revolves around the unique biking history and brings out the idea of having an alternative to dependence on cars and other forms of transport. When the author reaches Amsterdam, he and his new wife struggle to ensure they acquire bikes to join the others in what he called “fan and culture.”  In the 1970’s all types of visitors including students, nomads, exiles among others flocked to the city to be associated with the cycle-culture. Amsterdam is described using the best form of words that shows the fun that is being experienced by those visiting the place. The largest group of visitors consist of young people from countries like America where they describe the atmosphere of the city to be ‘relaxed and with much freedom.' In chapter 19 of his book, Pete describes on the conflicts between citizens and some of the government officials on whether to eliminate cycling for cars1. There comes a time when there are demonstrations on the elimination of cycling for car-service. However, most citizens are up for cycling hence in they hold demonstrations to denying admittance to cars to specific areas of Amsterdam.

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1Jordan, (2013) chapter 19: death of the car; In The City of Bikes: the story of the Amsterdam cyclist. New York: HarperPerennial.

In 1977 there is a protest by the cyclist to commemorate on the many deaths caused by traffic. The statistic is estimated to be around 3,000 annually.  Due to this, the council comes up with a scheme that aims at reducing cases of traffic as well as consideration for pedestrians and cyclists. Sidewalk bike racks are introduced across the city to ensure a reduction in accidents. In the recent years, there are some challenges like cases of stolen bikes among others that the government of Holland has been dealing with about the cycling culture. Pete says that “the fight against bike thievery is to attempt to make a change on the issue of social acceptance.” To deter thefts, punishments for those caught stealing were increased.

99% of the Danish population viewed themselves as cyclists ? many without actually cycling daily. Jonathan Maus/BikePortland( 2012). 

Fast-forward to the recent years, the cycling tradition in Amsterdam has come a long way. As a form of transport and being opposed to other means, cycling still holds a position in the country. The infrastructure has been modified to favor the cyclist and also provision of bike-parking spaces. Today, cycling has even been adopted by some nations to be part of their Olympic games. This helps hold the cycling culture as well as retaining the rights of cyclists from the 19th century.

  

 Questions:

What is the world today doin to ensure the cycling culture is mainatained while at the same time embracing technological advancements?

Between the car and bike transport, which is the most adopted from the 19^th century?