Re:Copenhagenizing Paris
by crocal on Friday November 20, 2015 @05:41AM
(#10600587)
FWIW, when you are a Parisian and you know what "copenhagenize" means, someone claiming to "copenhagenize Paris" is not welcomed these days, considering the attacks we just suffered.
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You've lost me. Can you explain what encouraging safe cycling spaces has to do with the recent attacks, and why the former is considered unwelcome?
Copenhagenize is a term that was coined after the second battle of Copenhagen in 1807. During this battle, the British fleet surrounded the city and massively bombarded it to submission. The entire Danish fleet was seized or destroyed. The destruction was so complete that a new word was invented: to "copenhagenize" a city is NOT a nice thing to say.
I think you've got your facts a bit wrong:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagenization_(naval)
"Copenhagenization refers to the practice of confiscating the warships of a defeated enemy."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycling_advocacy#Copenhageniza...
"Copenhagenization is a design strategy in which urban planning and design are centered on making a city more accessible to bicyclists and pedestrians, and less car dependent"
I think we can be sensible and infer that they mean the latter, and not some obscure 19th century naval terminology for confiscating ships, and therefore no offence intended.
I knew that. The sensible thing to do is not to use a term that has a very violent historical meaning for an unrelated topic. Depending on who you talk to and when, you may not get a positive feedback. That was my point.
Would you mind elaborating a little?
I did just above. You can also read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Copenhagen_(1807)