The Myth of the Open Road
I bike pretty much everywhere in the city these days. But I also have a driver’s license and 16 years of driving experience. And occasionally I still drive. Like the other day I ended up driving across town to run an errand. Now, if you live anywhere near a city, you know that the driving experience is not exactly as advertised:
It’s a little bit more like this:
Which is not a good advertisement for cars. But this is exactly what I found myself driving in.
After my errand, I decided I wanted to stay out. I was hungry and there are great restaurants downtown. And some shops too. (I know, because I discovered them all by bike.) But in a car, I realized that I couldn’t casually go to any of them. I was trapped…
…and had to pass them by. It was like I was carrying the weight of the car rather than it carrying me. And I was tired. So I went straight home instead. Cars are useful, but driving in a city is kind of like trying to thread a needle while wearing a boxing glove.
However easy parking for bicycles only works if not everyone is doing it. Once “everbody” cycles even cycle parking can become scarce. Of course it is still a lot less of a problem (you can fit a lot more cycles in the same space than cars), but if everyone is doing it it does actually become a problem.
There are quite a few towns in Germany now with “bycycles will be towed” zones (they really do it – you have to pay a hefty fee to get it back *and* they will have broken your expensive lock too – happened o my brother in Freiburg city center). I got a “ticket” for my bike too at the train station, however it was only a gentle reminder not to park my bike where I did but somewhere over at the designated parking area for bikes (it was only there for a few minutes, but hey, I got a ticket nevertheless – they would have removed my bike after a certain time).
Also see this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/world/europe/a-sea-of-bikes-swamps-amsterdam-a-city-fond-of-pedaling.html?hp&_r=0&pagewanted=all
However, you are still far away from that situation so enjoy it while you can.
> Once “everbody” cycles even cycle parking can become scarce.
Nice problem to have, as the saying goes.
You say “enjoy it while you can”?
I would much rather “enjoy” having somewhere I could safely cycle with my kids on board without worrying they might get killed any minute, and have fewer convenient places to lock my bike up. I guess it depends on your priorities. Although, as you say yourself, you can fit a lot more bikes than you can cars in the same space.