I just returned from once-beautiful Amsterdam, which has been overwhelmed by bicycles. The Dutch state and local governments have spent a fortune on encouraging everyone to ride bicycles and funding bicycle infrastructure (like bicycle parking garages). Consequently, Amsterdam and other Dutch cities are a mess, bicycles, bicycles, bicycles. Oh, Dutch bicyclists generally don't wear helmets and obeying traffic signs is pretty casual. Stay tuned for a big bicycle mess in Arlington by 2020.
Terri, 22204
32 comments:
FYI - Last year the Arlington County Board approved the construction of more than 3,000 new vehicle parking spaces via site plan approvals and $3 million trying to persuade Arlingtonians to go on a car-free diet.
Guess where the $30 million for extensive new bicycle infrastructure in the County will come from? Yup, the street paving fund.
Google 'bicycle mess Amsterdam'. Bicycle mess isn't somewhere in Amsterdam, it's everywhere in Amsterdam.
Gridlock 2020
Another special interest that the County Board can't do enough for....using our tax dollars.
Old Town Alexandria in 2020?
We are already seeing signs of it happening here...bicycles left chained to trees, traffic signs, light poles, at Metro stations, and so on for days, weeks, months.
Oh no...they're going to pimp the street paving fund again?
I would like to know how much "Giveaway Jay" Fisette has bestowed on Capital Bikeshare.
Capital Bikeshare is operated by an ACDC Good Old Boy. So Capital Bikeshare has a direct deposit account from the street paving fund.
Another activity that tax dollars can be wasted on...thanks to 30 years of Yuppies and their New Urbanism.
It gets worse...check out the cargo bikes in Portland.
Another transportation charade like the streetcars that the streetcar promoters will never ride...Jay Fisette drives a Prius everywhere. Audrey Clement is always begging rides for herself and her bicycle from fellow Greens.
I Googled 'bicycle mess Amsterdam'. Disgusting.
In 40 years Arlington has "progressed" from being a diverse (social, economic, and demographic) suburb to an upscale elitist urban enclave where growth is based on massive gentrification. Things will only get worse.
Chain or cable your bike to a street tree in Zimmy's or Fi$ette's neighborhood and catch a Metrobus to work or shop. See if your bike is where you left it when you return.
Once again, the people who are making the New Urbanism / Smart Growth decisions are over 55, not Arlington residents, or both.
Our suburban quality of life inside the beltway is being ruined by competing economic development agencies.
Amsterdam's streets, sidewalks, public open space...unbelievable
Nice to see Jay Fisette is giving Capital Bikeshare $50,000 bikeshare stations while Arlington's streets and sidewalks around the bikeshare stations are crumbling.
Neverland on the Potomac 2020, Giveaway Jay, aka Gourmet Jay, aka Gentrification Jay Fisette, Entertainment and Recreation Director.
I wonder if Gurus of New Urbanism aka Smart Growth Peter Katz and Stewart Schwartz have visited Amsterdam recently?
Death defying act ---- Audrey Clement behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.
Amsterdam, Arlington's next Sister City?
Amsterdam is a disaster...800,000 residents, an estimated 900.000 bicycles. Few wear helmets, many streetcar tracks / bicyclist accidents, few reported except for serious accidents. This is supposed to be an example for Arlington to follow?
Get used to deaths and injuries from bicycle accidents...about 6 deaths per year and about 5,000 injuries in Amsterdam.
Many, many injuries from bicycles and streetcar tracks in Amsterdam.
Walkable Amsterdam? Pedestrians risk their lives crossing the street
What would you prefer as a scene in Amsterdam? Cars clogging the streets, the lively street life sucked behind windows while our cars belch pollution? I also take offense at the suggestion that biking is somehow new, or changed in Amsterdam. The Dutch have biked for generations as a primary means of transportation. It's faster than walking, and simply more feasible than driving.
I applaud Arlington for moving more toward the Dutch model. I think it benefits health, traffic congestion, and if I may, "gezelligheid" (Google it).
Rik the Dutchman on the Pike
Dutch model sucks, everyone ride a bicycle....Arlington model sucks too, everyone ride a bicycle and drive a vehicle while Arlington is spending a fortune creating walkable communities.
Next big biketard thing(s)...cargo bikes, electric bikes, electric cargo bikes.
Zimmerman just voted to put 885 vehicle parking spaces and several hundred bicycle storage spaces under one monster in-fill building. Yuptard Dumbgrowth values in action.
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