Over the past two weeks, I’ve had the good fortune to travel through some great European cities: Freiburg and Cologne, Germany; Brussels, Brugge, Ghent, Leuven, and Antwerp, Belgium; and Amsterdam, Holland. In addition to sampling the local food and taking in the sights, I wanted to see firsthand why certain European cities have a reputation for being cycling-friendly and perhaps see if there were any lessons that we could easily apply to improving transportation in Salt Lake City. Given this region's enthusiasm for cycling, my expectations were high.
Salt Lake City has made great strides in recent years to make its streets and neighborhoods more bike-friendly, but there’s always room for improvement. Based on my observations of Europe and my conversations with local cyclists there, Salt Lake doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to creating a more pedal-powered future. Let’s first take a look at the local flavor of each region and then turn our attention towards some more general lessons which could serve us well.
Germany
"There are more bicycles in Freiburg than in Beijing," said our tour guide.
Whether it was true or not, it certainly felt true when I wandered the streets of this small, university city on the edge of the Black Forest. Despite the hazards associated with cobbled streets, light-rail trains, and light-rail tracks, I have never seen so many bicycles in one place in my life. Although cyclists in Frieburg come from all different walks of life, university students are clearly the driving force behind the city’s cycling culture. It seemed as though the biggest concern in Freiburg might have been finding your own bike parked among the masses of cruisers, townies, beaters, and road bikes.
Bicycle parking in Freiburg.
Belgium
Color-coordinated cycling in Antwerp.
The Netherlands
Upon arriving in Amsterdam, the first thing I noticed was cargo bikes. Within my first 10 minutes in Amsterdam, I had seen more cargo bikes than in all my years prior. In my two days there, almost every block that I walked had at least one Bakfiet or trike parked somewhere. Despite the large number of cyclists, I saw quite a few close calls between cyclists and pedestrians and numerous riding infractions that had the potential to cause injury. Many of these cyclist-pedestrian problems seemed to be due to the crisscrossing of biking and walking paths as well as the higher density of pedestrians in the downtown area.
Bicycle parking at the Amsterdam train station.
Lessons Learned
Although each of these cities are unique, I noticed some common themes that contributed to the mainstreaming of cycling as a viable form of transportation.
Reasonably-priced, well-equipped bikes. Most of the new bikes I saw in shops were in the range of 200-400 Euros ($250-$515). The majority of bikes used in these cities are not what would be considered high-end. However, these bikes are perfectly suitable for everyday use and designed to meet the needs of most people. In addition, the majority of bikes come already-equipped with racks, fenders, chainguards, and lights. For beginners who are just starting or on a budget, it's necessary to make access to cycling equipment as easy and inexpensive as possible.
A lack of the "serious cyclist" mentality. At its core, cycling is simply what people do to get around in this part of the world. Rather than self-identifying as or being identified by others as a ‘cyclist,’ I encountered few people claiming that you must be a serious cyclist in order to make commuting by bike an integral part of your life. The lesson for us in Salt Lake City is simply to get anyone and everyone on bikes. If we consciously create a community and culture in which we embrace all people riding all kinds of bikes for all types of reasons, the end result will be, yes, more butts in seats, but more importantly, a destigmatizing of the bicycle as something ‘alternative.’ The first step is to get already-existing bikes (used or new) under anyone who shows the smallest amount of interest. The second step is to dispel the myth that you need the latest and greatest gear in order to be mobile.
More car-free/separated thoroughfares. There are three benefits that result from the separation of cars from cycling and walking infrastructure. First, when car-free areas are created, it gives biking (and walking) the upper hand. Driving is often a preferred mode of transportation in the US because it's perceived as faster and more convenient, despite its obvious drawbacks in terms of cost and safety. However, when bikes are given preferential routes and cyclists find ample parking in prime locations, it tips the balance towards cycling and away from car use. In most of the European cities I visited, cycling is simply a faster, more convenient mode of travel thanks to some thoughtful advances in cycling infrastructure. Second, this separation creates a heightened level of safety for cyclists who are primarily interested in a safe journey from A to B. Given that there are preferred routes and parking for cyclists, it makes the trip faster and allows for riding at a speed more conducive to integration with pedestrians. The infrastructure in these cities is set up for cycling and walking to coexist relatively peacefully. Integrating these two facets together in Salt Lake City would require some research, planning, and infrastructure development, but such investments are clearly possible, and I would argue, worthwhile. Third, car-free areas invigorate urban areas and make them more livable. Without cars constantly whizzing by, I witnessed people visiting, eating at streetside cafes, and generally more likely to be interacting with their surroundings. In a city that has more than its fair share of streets, some type of car-free thoroughfares could yield similar results in Salt Lake City and would likely further invigorate the downtown area.
Respectful riding. In most of the cities I visited, cyclists bridged the transportation gap between cars and pedestrians. Whether they were sharing sidewalks and pedestrian areas or riding along on-street bike lanes, there were frequent opportunities for positive interactions between cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers. The most noticeable behavior I observed while in Europe was general respect for all road users, and this seemed to be partially facilitated by cyclists. In cyclist/pedestrian areas, most cyclists engaged in cautious and restrained riding. Rather than bobbing and weaving at high-speed, there was a much slower pace, making it safer for both user groups. Any minor conflicts I observed were solved by an amicable ring of a handlebar bell. When bicycle infrastructure coincided more closely with cars, I saw almost no instances of cyclists breaking the law. Because many cyclists rode in good faith, it didn't seem like a coincidence that vehicles were more apt to stop for cyclists and pedestrians crossing streets, even when no traffic light was present.
Salt Lake City has a long way to go before we are biking at the same rate as these European cities (30% of the trips in The Netherlands are by bike). However, by learning what has worked in other locations and engaging in collective efforts to advance cycling, we can improve upon the growth we have seen in the past few years. In a city where citizens routinely suffer from air pollution, excessive or dangerous traffic, and high rates of obesity, it's crucial for the cycling community in Salt Lake City to become more engaged in promoting cycling and to find ways to reach out to those who have not yet discovered its benefits.
If I were to advocate four actions to help advance cycling in Salt Lake City, based on my experiences in Europe, they would be as follows:
1) Donate your old, unused bike to a friend, family member, or the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective - Get bikes into the hands of people who can use them.
2) Have fun while you ride and engage others in conversation when stopped at a traffic light - The more fun we have out there, the more people will want to be a part of it. Let's face it, driving isn't that much fun.
3) Practice a random act of courtesy to a vehicle driver while biking - Regardless of some entitlement issues, we all have to share the road. The more the tension can be eased, the safer we will be while riding.
4) Contact local government officials (the Mayor, City Council Members, the Transportation Division) and decision makers (UTA) - When working on such a small scale, even a small number of people advocating a certain position can make a difference. Take five minutes to make suggestions for improvements or offer support for a decision that supports cycling.
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