Continuous Sidewalks
There are many ways cities can change their look. One of these ways is to have continuous sidewalks. Continuous sidewalks are sidewalks that continue through the roadway, not going down to the level of the street. This makes it so cars go to the sidewalk level instead of people going to the street level. This makes it so people walking or biking have a priority in intersections. It also has a sociological impact; instead of cars being higher than pedestrians, pedestrians are higher than cars. These impacts can be increased by making the sidewalk on the road the same material as before. This type of sidewalk is restricted to more than just the Netherlands. There are some in other European cities; I have even seen one in Atlanta, where I live. I often use this sidewalk when I am biking to places around the neighborhood, and I find it very enjoyable.
REAL Bicycle Lanes
This one is the most controversial and widespread. In the U.S. and Canada, the government puts down some “magical” paint and assumes it will stop all cars and trucks. It doesn’t. These sidewalks are not enforced and are often used for parking spaces. Also, they are only on one side of the road because they are thin and can only fit one bicycle. This leads to the cyclist on the other side of the road being scared to death, and eventually, he stops cycling and drives a car instead. A good cycling lane is protected by concrete bumps and bollards. It is wide enough for two cyclists, each going differently. However, an excellent cycling path is separated from the road entirely and further protected by trees, with enough room for two cyclists, each going in a different direction. Sadly, These kinds of lanes are almost always found in France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. But I have seen more good cycling lanes in other cities and even one in my neighborhood.
Bicycle Parking
When a city has cycling infrastructure, it needs bicycle parking. In the world, only a few cities have reached this level of cycling. Most Dutch cities and some European cities have had to address this problem. To make a bicycle, you need to learn from car parking. Parking aboveground can waste a lot of space and take many resources to make. Because of the massive space cars take up, a lot of concrete needs to be used. However, bicycles are smaller and need less space and less resources. The Netherlands has solved the space problem by going underground and building colossal parking areas for places like IKEA, transit stations, and apartments. Bikes get in and out of these parking areas by going up and down unique conveyor belts designed for bikes.
Conclusion
As I was writing this, I looked out my window at cars speeding by my house and was inspired to write this. I loved my neighborhood’s cycling lanes and continuous sidewalks and wanted others to love them, too. This post was made in 1 hour, 12:30 p.m. through 1:30 p.m., Thursday, December 22, 2022.
I don’t ride my bike to add days to my life. I ride a bike to add life to my days.
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