I think the author's point is lost because she's trying to convey some points that requires a lot of nuance and subtlety, but English is not her first language.

Her point is that the hogging of public space by bicyclists is a problem, and that the cause is bicyclists ignoring rules and not thinking about others. That is a universal problem. Here in Seattle, bicyclists think they're beyond reproach. You can't run red lights and hit pedestrians without backlash.

> Her point is that the hogging of public space by bicyclists is a problem, and that the cause is bicyclists ignoring rules and not thinking about others.

That is not my takeaway at all. And I feel like the only way you could think that were if you were already predisposed against bicyclists.

The problem the author is talking about is that there is mostly no problem at all, and therefore many people don’t think about how they can share space (because they generally don’t have to).

I had the same reading as you. I think this paragraph makes it clearer:

> All these conversations abroad made people reinterpret the street for what it truly is: the remaining space between houses, with all sorts of uses and purposes worthy of discussion. Public space does not necessarily exist to facilitate fast traffic.

The author is basically saying that drivers get angry because bikes are slower than cars, and that separating bike and car infrastructure 90% of the time makes drivers see bikes as an intrusion in the shared 10% of the infrastructure, because they're used to their particular speed profile being catered to.

Yep agreed, I didn't think the author's point got lost at all - just that the title didn't match it.

I for one see cars run red lights as often as bicycles in seatte, ad trying to cross the road on foot feels like the cars are actively trying to hit you

I see this claim whenever "Cars vs Bicycle" discussions happen, but have rarely seen this happen in any city I've visited or lived in.

I'd think the reason is simple - car runs red light, you risk getting a ticket and fine and increases to your insurance premium. Hit someone while you're doing it? Now you're guilty of manslaughter.

Bike runs a red light? No one (including cops) cares enough to do anything aside from people swearing at you or giving you the finger. A car hits you while you're running the red light? Odds are it's still more likely to be considered the car driver's fault, and many cyclists seem to think they are invincible until they actually get injured so they don't think twice about the risk.

I will admit I am guilty of intentionally running red lights on a bicycle. But I've never intentionally run a red light while driving - again, because of the aforementioned disincentives.

I was thinking the same as I read the article ... "This actually sounds pretty fucking fantastic"

It's a bit of a weird title because it implies the article is going to be a rebuttal against how great the cycling is, but at the same time the phrase "it's not that fantastic" implies the cycling is still a little fantastic as well.

Not sure but it looks like a case of bad translation. The whole thing - title and content.

Reads as clickbait blogspam for an author promoting their forthcoming book.

Question: at what age does a normal Netherlands person stop biking?

I love biking now - but I'm just wondering at what age a normal biker gets too old to bike everywhere daily.

Just some anecdotes from an expat: My landlord is 80+ and cycles everywhere. My parents in law are 75+ and are about to get rid of their car altogether since they either cycle or take public transport. My aunt in law is close to 80 and changed from manual to electric bike a few years ago after a stroke.

yea. plenty of places in the world where people don't have cars in general and afaik old people get by just fine. Japan does not have good bike infra like the netherlands but the majority of people don't use a car much either

Italy: can't believe how many 'old' people are still cycling. Do it until you can't! I got overtaken going up a particularly famous and very steep mountain climb - the cyclist said he was 86. Oh, and he loves his electric bike.

Only if they cannot cycle anymore.

Elderly cyclists are a point of concern because three quarters of the cyclists dying in traffic accidents are over 60 years old, a quarter over 80 (https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/11/elderly-cyclists-more-...)

That partly is because of the huge success in making cycling safer for kids and partly because of population aging, but also is seen as not catering enough for this group. Many of bicycle accidents involving the elderly are one-sided.

IIRC part of the reason was also the emergence of the electric bicycle, allowing elderly people to cycle for longer and at higher speeds. And I think they expected this to go down some more now that both their riders and the other participants in traffic get used to that.

I'll answer for Switzerland which also has a strong bicycling culture. People cycle while they're physically able. I have a neighbour couple who are around 70 and cycle everywhere in the city limits.

My grandfather had 4 hip replacements. Only after the last one (at 85 maybe?) did he become unable to ride a bike. My grandmother at the same age still does. They’ve never even owned a car or license.

Generally around when you're too frail to safely stop unexpectedly. Or probably a little after that, just like how people keep driving their cars a bit too long.

As an anecdote, my father has trouble walking nowadays - I think getting him to walk one km is ambitious. He does still use an electric bicycle though.

They don’t. You see elderly people on bikes all the time here. They just happen to have fewer places to go after retirement.

Of course many people get too old to bike. My grandmother is 97 and it's probably been over a decade.

Sure, some people get too frail, but in general being in physical shape is NOT a requirement to cycling as a means of transport (as opposed to a sport) in the Netherlands. Especially e-bikes are helping out a lot in that regard.

The question is a little ridiculous to me to begin with: you are too old once you can’t get the pedals round. If you can move a bike forwards you can participate in Dutch cycling traffic. There is no distinction between the two.

EDIT - But just to clarify: many people cycle well into retirement. We’re talking 60-70+ stopping ages over here, easily.

EDIT 2 - Here, have some governmental data: https://www.government.nl/binaries/government/documents/repo.... It doesn’t say anything on bicycle use in older age, but it does show you that average speed goes down by age. Average trip length does not however. In general it’s just an interesting read though.