GRΔΠDΔLҒ Nov 13, 2022
Brent Toderian
They say “We can’t do that. We’re not #Amsterdam.” You respond “Amsterdam wasn’t always like that either,” showing before & after transformations illustrating that the cities we admire made CHOICES. And they’re still making choices TODAY. They make more tired excuses. You don’t accept them either. (1e van der Helststraat, 1978 & 2005) #Dutch #Cityplanning #urbanplanning #streets #urbandesign #cities #streetsforpeople
Nov 13, 2022 at 4:27amWeb
Show threadLee 🌏Nov 13, 2022
@BrentToderian This is great. How different cities transition to more transport diversity will vary depending on their layouts and density but it's always possible.
Show threadPhil (ascentale)Nov 13, 2022
@BrentToderian I love how there’s such a stark difference that it looks like one of those Betterstreets AI renderings.
Show threadReno 👾Nov 13, 2022
@BrentToderian Do you have a sense of the problems that needed to be solved in order to make this happen and how the various stakeholders (who presumably held a wide gamut of divergent opinions) were brought on board?
Show threadindriNov 13, 2022
@BrentToderian
Completely different vibe, but I like the area developed in Vienna in the last 10 years together with the new Central Station.
Show threadSanneNov 13, 2022
@BrentToderian I wish my city Malmö dared to be as bold as this example
Show threadAdam BissetNov 13, 2022
@BrentToderian That's only half the battle. Much of the city centre where I live has been pedestrianised for decades, and there is public art and green street furniture but the shops and whatever just aren't interesting enough to give rise to that street culture you see elsewhere. Too many tax-dodge, here-today-gone-next-week American candy shops, vape outlets, £1-stores etc.
Show threadShawn NelsonNov 13, 2022
@BrentToderian This is just my opinion but in the US. It will take several paradigm shifts to accomplish. First of which would shift away from capitalism and put an actual value on societal contribution. The second would be to value people over profit. Which relates to the first, but is very important. The third would be to shift city planning away from car culture. If i wanted to go buy fresh produce on foot it would take me up to 30 minutes just to get to the store.
Show threadIron Curtain (Chiptunes)Nov 21, 2022

@krnlkule @BrentToderian

You obviously have not been to NYC, where even though we have cars, we have vastly increased our bike lanes and pedestrian walkways.

Show threadShawn NelsonNov 21, 2022
@IronCurtain @BrentToderian That’s very nice. Most places in America outside of very large cities do not have public transportation. Driving is required to do most activities. Walking cities in the US don’t exist for the vast majority of us. And if you find one that meets your walkability criteria it is out of your price range and still dangerous to walk in anyway. Once vibrant town squares are virtual ghost towns.
Show threadHans-Günter BrünkerNov 13, 2022

@BrentToderian
That is really a good one :)

#Amsterdam #Verkehrswende #Fahrrad #Bicycle

Show threadSqueeNov 13, 2022
@BrentToderian genuine question, what about people with disabilities who can't cycle, run or even walk long distances? Some of us rely on cars to get around because we have no other choice!
Show threadSami SundellNov 20, 2022
@squee @BrentToderian You'll still be able to rely on cars. Advocating for improved bicycling and walking conditions and mass transit doesn't mean banishing cars completely, it just means making other modes of transportation easier.

At the same time, reducing the number of cars makes it easier for them who actually need cars. Netherlands is often mentioned as a haven for cyclists, but from what I've heard, it's also a nice place to drive.
Show threadSqueeNov 20, 2022
@ssundell @BrentToderian of course, you are right. I had a bit of a knee-jerk reaction based on the photos in the original toot because in the "after" there was no room for cars. So it looked like they were advocating for no cars. But that's just 1 photo of one street. I do want less reliance on cars!
Show threadMobilityMaineNov 20, 2022
@squee @BrentToderian In addition to the multiple mobility options in the car-free street (wheelchair, electric trike, mobility scooter), there is this from Mark Wagenbuur: https://mastodon.social/@BicycleDutch/109365203750716584
Show threadIan MoranNov 13, 2022
@BrentToderian wish Belfast looked like this
Show threadHans GerwitzNov 13, 2022
@BrentToderian I will never get tired of this message. When I learned the history of Amsterdam I wanted to ask my mother where she was when our US city was being made dangerous and unusable for children.
Show threadSteven 🇱🇺Nov 13, 2022
@BrentToderian same here in #Luxembourg -City with the tramway. Overstated we were somehow told that we‘re all gonna die! 😱 Nowadays we‘re happy to have it. 🤗
Show threadTicktokNov 14, 2022
@BrentToderian I have never enjoyed being in a city as much as I enjoyed amsterdam. The public transit was fantastic and just walking around the city was amazing.
Apparently the netherlands has 1.3 bicycles per person.
I also found out that the netherlands made a mandate of road types so that roads are consistent and you don't get the weird half highway half not roads with 6 lanes but full of people turning in and out of driveways while everyone's trying to go 65.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORzNZUeUHAM
Stroads are Ugly, Expensive, and Dangerous (and they're everywhere) [ST05]

YouTube
Show threadDreNov 14, 2022

@BrentToderian I recently discovered Not Just Bikes on YouTube and I'm obsessed.

His videos are both hopeful and maddening for me.

This one about how much different (and better) business parks are in the Netherlands is fascinating:
https://youtu.be/SDXB0CY2tSQ

Business Parks Suck (but they don't have to)

YouTube
Show threadNisa (she/her) Nov 14, 2022
@BrentToderian I dream of this for NYC. I enjoyed the brief period albeit during the pandemic where the roads were clear and Manhattan was a bike haven.
Show threadIron Curtain (Chiptunes)Nov 21, 2022

@nisadani @BrentToderian

We have made significant progress, though:

Show threadJuggling With EggsNov 14, 2022
@BrentToderian I love Amsterdam! But then I love Delft, Leiden, Utrecht, Den Hague and Den Bosch too...I’ve yet to find a Dutch city that I haven’t daydreamed about living in. Bikes and proper affordable, well maintained public transport just improve quality of life for everyone in a way I don’t think most Tories can comprehend.
Show threadGary James #cyclingtweepsNov 15, 2022
@BrentToderian Amsterdam wasn't always Amsterdam.
Show threadM0KHR HakanNov 15, 2022
@BrentToderian That Granada looks so nice but yeah, I want this too.
Show threadJames BoagNov 15, 2022
@BrentToderian having spent some time living in Amsterdam. Our local councils need to realise a wee bit at the side of the road is not a cycle lane. They need proper junctions, lights, etc.
Show threadDaniël Franke 🏳️‍🌈Nov 17, 2022
@BrentToderian Can vouch for this, when I was a kid, Amsterdam wasn't even close to as people friendly as it is now. Cars everywhere, and the Museumplein was a highway.
Show threadHans GerwitzNov 20, 2022
@BrentToderian then they just start ignoring you until you vote the bastards out.
Show threadrpetrasNov 20, 2022
@BrentToderian The thing about Amsterdam is that it wasn't just a past decision - it is a decision they continue to make every day, every year, collectively.
I live part-time in central Amsterdam, and every time I return, I am amazed at the continued progression toward fewer cars in central and the continued improvements (fixing canal walls, bridges, etc). There is a long-term plan to eliminate cars in the central - and they progress toward it every year. The involvement of residents (we get to vote about improvements and are always informed of any construction) is paramount. And the public will - and continuation from one mayor to the next - never seems to waver.
Show threadGladwyn d’SouzaNov 20, 2022
@BrentToderian to accept is to accept numerous negative health impacts, including lung disease, stroke, and premature birth, affluenza diseases of heart, blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes, and killer streets that imprison us in our homes.
Show threadNathalie M.L. Römer Nov 21, 2022

@BrentToderian Amsterdam was my old stomping grounds as a kid. I recall cycling there as a 9, 10, 11-year-old in the late seventies. I'm glad that the place has become foot traffic friendly. You need to check out the Not Just Bikes channel on YouTube who discusses this topic extensively.

Also, welcome to my humour when I suggest why zombie apocalypse movies are always set in the USA. The people would take hours to get to the nearest disused shop for food, and are out in the open where zombies could attack, whereas Amsterdam offers two benefits - you can travel over the roofs (often) to the food source and the food source is just minutes away. More local shops nearby besides people being able to walk and cycle helps things.

Show threadPhil AllsoppNov 21, 2022
@BrentToderian YES! Have you checked out the “Not Just Bikes” YouTube Channel? Well worth it if you haven’t already.
Show threadAlexander HanffNov 21, 2022
@BrentToderian you can see a similar "project" in Copenhagen as they make more and more of the city bikes and pedestrians only.
Show threadIron Curtain (Chiptunes)Nov 21, 2022
@BrentToderian Even New Amsterdam has gotten more Bike-Friendly (to a degree):
Show threadDoug Baker - Elbows Up! 🇨🇦Nov 21, 2022
@BrentToderian Cities evolve much faster than other levels of gov't and are therefore more flexible: THEY will lead in any environmental progress we make.
Show threadA Devon based Red Green HybridNov 22, 2022
@BrentToderian and electric bikes turn hillier cities into possible Amsterdams but leveling those hills
Show threadcatraxxDec 22, 2022
@BrentToderian I can only agree. This is what we should strife for.
Show threadJuan FranciscoApr 16, 2023
@BrentToderian #LargaVidaAMastodon