One of our guest presenters in Amsterdam is a professor of urban planning at the University of Amsterdam. Her insights proved invaluable during my time in the city, with particularly poignant reflections on what biking feels like in cities designed for it. She discussed the idea of reaching a biking flow state, in which the cyclist dips into a state of movement that feels natural and seamless. I have been ruminating on this idea ever since she introduced it, and I would like to share some of my own reflections on it here.
In the United States, urban biking forces cyclists to be in a constant state of hyper-awareness. Several planning factors contribute to this feeling of uneasiness, and I firmly believe that this is a significant obstacle to convincing more Americans to adopt cycling. In Amsterdam’s case, any such feelings are sufficiently addressed through infrastructure and urban landscapes intentionally designed for cyclists, as well as a broader culture that understands the needs of cyclists and their vulnerability amongst cars. The combined effect of these two aspects of Amsterdam’s bicycle planning creates an environment in which cyclists do not need to operate with the same caution that American cyclists (unfortunately) must. In such conditions, cyclists can reach a flow state, where they can move throughout the city with ease, comfort, and even confidence.
The stressors of biking in America can be addressed by designing urban spaces that cyclists feel welcomed in, and that is a choice that most planning agencies have yet to make. But if we move forward with cyclists’ needs in mind, we can move towards a more bike-friendly urban environment in cities across the United States.
