We must recognise that in low cycling countries our fears have a large impact on our cycling behaviour and our instincts (feelings) are poorly tuned to the real risk of cycling. A positive experience (enjoyment) makes it more likely that we will cycle again. A mishap in the early stages will discourage further cycling. This is why good cycle infrastructure makes a difference, as it creates a forgiving environment to cycle.
Tag Archives: culture change
Humanscale accessibility
Human-scale accessibility is about building cities, so that we can get around them easily by walking, with a wheelchair, or a walking frame. Everybody should be able to do it, young or old. It does not involve a lot of expenses, acquiring a driver’s licence, or wealth to afford a car. Human-scale accessibility is the expression of mobility as a human right. Cycling is a good example of Human-scale accessibility with a long history. Micromobility adds many new ways for people to get around, including skateboards, e-scooters, and hoverboards. Streets need to be built in a way that make them safe for human-scale accessibility.
Section 7.4 Change management: welcome back the lily pond!
We live in a car culture. The fact that Canberra was built for cars is displayed in our public funding, road duplications, and many other cultural artefacts.
Changing laws will not fix the car culture
The issues with the Standing Committee on Planning, Transport and City Services approach to the Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Amendment Bill 2021 (No 2).
Communicating change: advertisements
Reacting to climate change, giving up smoking, aids prevention, it is all the same really. We want people to change their behaviour to protect themselves. But habits, hard to change. Government messaging needs to be effective. Advertising dollars can be easily wasted. The discussion around COVID-19 advertising makes clear, what does and does not work. With driver behaviour a major factor in the safety of vulnerable road users, we must change the car culture so that drivers are protective of vulnerable road users.
Culture evolution: Rite of passage
Active travel means changing culture. You need to address cultural icons of which the strongest are a “rite of passage”. Traditionally in Australia, getting your drivers licence has been one of those rites.
Section 1: Breaking the car habit
This section outlines a two-pillar strategy to get the flywheel moving. Strategies are long term and this one is no exception. The first pillar involves changes to the planning system to permit cycling corridors to be reserved and preserved for the future construction of cycle highways. The second pillar is the culture change required for cycling to succeed in a deeply engrained car culture.
Black is black: Spot the human being on 2 wheels!
No matter what you might think – or tell yourself and others – you wear black, dark navy blue or dark grey and you will be very, very had to see! And, no, this is absolutely not about victim blaming! That would be much too easy. This is about many years of studying physiology, psychology, human factors, and neuropsychology.
Riding to school in the snow
It is not the cold that stops kids from riding to school but the lack of safe infrastructure. All parents are concerned about their children’s safety. In Finland, children will ride to school on snow in subzero all year round. Clearly, the cold does not hold them back. Without a separated bike path and swept bike paths, it would not happen.
canberra.bike 