My pre-Assignment was the analysis and reflection of videos by a Canadian living in the Netherlands. He explores Dutch bicycle infrastructure through the eyes of someone new to the country. I think his perspective is very similar to mine and others on the trip because Canada has similar levels of infrastructure to the US. Key infrastructure he focused on, and that spoke to me, were parking, Ontvlechten, and overall seamless design.
Parking infrastructure is rather complicated, I discovered. The main goal of parking infrastructure is to safely store the bike and be convenient. Some Dutch cities have run into issues with convenience due to the sheer number of riders. This has led to the construction of large biking garages, which can be inconvenient. I hope during this trip we can explore various parking methods.
Ontvlechten is the Dutch word for unraveling and describes the process of decoupling bicycle routes and car routes. This is an important aspect of Dutch design and I am excited to see it in person. Preventing interactions between automobiles and cyclists is the main goal of this design. This creates more efficient transit for cyclists and is safer for them as well. It is done through completely limiting cars from some routes or giving cyclists and public transit priority. Some examples of Ontvlechten infrastructure include, bicycle only streets, underground tunnels, separate lanes for transit, prioritizing bicyclists at intersections, and creating direct bicycle routes between common locations.
My pre-Assignment highlighted the various forms of diverse bicycle infrastructure and how incorporating multiple design methods and technologies can create an interconnected and permeable bicycle transit network. The content in the videos highlighted that the cornerstone of Dutch bicycle infrastructure are Safety, aesthetic, and efficiency. Understanding how these are created and why they are important is key to understanding sustainable bicycle transit and infrastructure.
I am a huge fan of solo travel and typically travel by myself or with my family or a small group of friends. I’ve enjoyed traveling with our large group but it’s been an adjustment and it’s been helpful to take time for myself and take solo adventures. While in Copenhagen I visited the Jewish Museum and Glyptoteket by myself and used my bicycle as a means of transportation. Solo bicycling in a city where I was unfamiliar helped me adjust quickly to the customs and the routes in the areas I was in. Both museums had a very in-depth architectural history. The attention to architecture, both interior and exterior in Denmark seemed significantly more than in the US. I noticed similar architectural patterns in Amsterdam, where my solo museum journey via bike continued. I went to the Anne Frank House with a group and the Van Gogh, the Portuguese Synagogue, and the Jewish Museum by myself. The architecture in Amsterdam is much more influenced by its medieval roots and existing infrastructure, ...
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