Time-Lapse Video Of Rush Hour In Holland: Safe, Clean And Packed With Bicycles (VIDEO)

This cool time-lapse video shows rush hour in Utrecht, Holland. Unlike rush hour in America, the situation is pretty serene and clean, with people smoothly getting to where they need to be.

The lesson here is more bikes, less cars.

WATCH:

Comments

[ilovecandy]

02:23 PM on 05/13/2010

Cool, I'm saving up for a new bike in September, unfortunately I can't bike to school it being about 62 miles away. But instead of driving I use the bus and Bart.

[CallMeIsmael]

01:55 PM on 05/13/2010

Nice! Where there's a will there's a way.

[Agata Kaczmarska]

01:37 PM on 05/13/2010

I would like to point out, aside from the obvious "look at all the people actually biking" - LOOK AT THE GREAT BIKE PATHS!!! If I would feel safe biking to work, I would definitely do it! But as it is, I'd have to pray for my life on the side of a busy expressway with cars rushing past at 50mph. We need to invest in infrastructure too!

[slevydc]

06:47 AM on 05/13/2010

Amazing and inspiring. Something tells me obesity is not epidemic in the Netherlands!...biking is becoming more common in Washington, D.C. but still there is too much automobile traffic because of suburban commuting culture (as far as I can tell it's the only culture that exists in the suburbs...)

[netzwerg]

06:04 AM on 05/13/2010

Check out this video of bicycling in Amsterdam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk6YxhKH590

[netzwerg]

05:54 AM on 05/13/2010

I had 3 bikes stolen in the last year here in Maastricht. I always buy those old used 30EUR granny bikes because its not so bad when they get stolen. I think bike stealing is no1 crime in the netherlands, apart from that its super safe here, we were even closing prisons due to lack of criminals: http://www.nrc.nl/international/article2246821.ece/Netherlands_to_close_prisons_for_lack_of_criminals

[wm1066]

02:19 PM on 05/13/2010

The last bike I bought I painted to look mud spattered and dirty, and I took off the brand of the bike, just so thieves wouldn't want to steal it.

[Wisdo]

05:37 AM on 05/13/2010

In one of the world most densely populated countries it makes sense to place the emphasis on bikes.

But note: Utrecht is part of the Randstadt and people who bike live quite close to work. Also Holland is as flat as a pancake, making bicycling a breeze, apart from the fact that it rains almost every single day.

US cities like new york would benefit greatly from a systemic bike lane culture however its a complicated scenario: people generally have to drive to work because its more than 10 miles - which is too far to cycle in a short time. Property prices near large business are sky high so people cant aford to do that - thus necessitating the car and all the infrastructure that comes with it.

Having a bike culture would really require a change in the way US cities are planned, built and zoned, with middle income affordable housing being built in large numbers and in very close proximity to working areas. Essentially you would have to demolish the whole Urban/suburban dichotomy and replace it with high density living/working space

[RubalKhali]

05:33 AM on 05/13/2010

Looks like the peleton in the Tour de France

[RubalKhali]

05:25 AM on 05/13/2010

There is a huge bicycle parking structure just outside the main trainstation in Amsterdam. Amazing how many bikes you can fit in such a space.

[fiorastar]

01:56 AM on 05/13/2010

I think there were about 3 passenger cars in that entire segment...bikes, buses, light rail...and generally happy looking people.

[karen1p]

01:44 AM on 05/13/2010

I miss Amsterdam!!! Loved biking the canals...

[JScott]

01:43 AM on 05/13/2010

Notice no one was talking on their cellphone.

[Soulmentor]

11:35 PM on 05/12/2010

Public transit and bicycles. My eyes caught only two cars.An eye opener to actually see it. And they're all probably healthier than we are.

[Robert Nix]

10:58 PM on 05/12/2010

How do they handle foul weather like snow and heavy rains?

[fiorastar]

01:59 AM on 05/13/2010

I live in the Pacific Northwest...I don't know about snow, but heavy rains are a regular thing here and guess what? People bike and don't melt! Rain gear to wear, rain protectors--like fenders over the wheels, and plastic bags over the leather seats--for bikes, and rain proof carrying bags for your stuff!

[netzwerg]

05:59 AM on 05/13/2010

snow or rain does not stop us from bicycling. There is no bad weather, only bad clothes.

[Marc NL]

10:16 PM on 05/12/2010

Seeing this makes me a little home sick! I wish I could drive my bike in the U.S more but it's just not practical. In holland it's a mode of transport In the U.S it's a hobby at best. (atleast where I am living in the south)

I also just wanted to point out that people in the U.S are not overweight because they are lazy (in general) but because you need a car to get anywhere! the country is just so much bigger.

I do hope that someday they will add some bicycle lanes here.

[fiorastar]

02:05 AM on 05/13/2010

I hope so, too. Having bike lanes everywhere makes a city so friendly.