Before departing, I observed a series of biking videos in Denmark and the Netherlands. I noticed that the street layout is drastically different than in the U.S. The street design promotes and encourages safe biking. People of all different ages, backgrounds, incomes, and professions bike. The roads are wide and there are designated and distinct biking lanes. In some areas, there are strips of paint on the streets which signifies the cycling lane. It is common for car parking lanes to separate driving lanes from biking lanes. This helps ensure bikers’ protection from traffic. There are also a lot of infrastructures for biking and protection against traffic. There are cycling bridges, dedicated traffic lights, direction signs, and cycle tracks. In some locations, there are bike footrests and armrests near traffic lights. These allow bikers to rest before continuing on their route. There are also bicycle tracking devices at various locations, which notify bikers how many other bikers are on the road. They show the date, time, and temperature but can sometimes be inaccurate. There are some double-stacked bike racks, which save space and allow for more bike parking. There is also some indoor bike parking, which is helpful in rainy weather. At night, most bikes have flashing lights on them to alert drivers and other pedestrians.
Despite the positive aspects of street layout, there are still a few risks that put bikers in danger. Some intersections lack proper protection which is intimidating and scary for bikers. If bikers want to make a left turn, they sometimes have to wait in an unprotected corner until the light changes. This makes some bikers wait in pedestrian crosswalks for protection. There are almost no dropped curves which are inconvenient and difficult to bike over. Sometimes, bikers have to avoid biking over these areas entirely. Some bridges have warning signs on them to mark where a biker should not go. Although this may seem helpful at first, if a bridge has a lot of warning signs, it means that it was not designed well. Bikers should easily be able to see where it is safe for them to be biking without warning signs. Sharp angles must be marked because they make it difficult to make quick and unexpected turns. Instead, curved angles are preferable so bikers can anticipate their next move. Parking can be another weak point. Since biking is so common in these locations, bikes are commonly parked all over the street. Bikes line businesses which crowd entrances, exits, and sidewalk walking room for pedestrians.
The high number of bikers in these countries reveals effective street layout. Most people do not have to worry about wearing helmets because they know that their safety is not a major risk. The flat landscapes, cycling infrastructure, and short distance to services make biking a convenient option. Busy cities in the U.S. can gain inspiration from these countries. We must incorporate bike safety to encourage people to choose biking. Biking is a norm and part of so many people’s daily lives in these countries. I hope that one day, the U.S. incorporates this lifestyle. Although these countries have high of bikers, there is always room for improvement demonstrated by the quantity of motor vehicles still crowding roads.