“When you cycle you can see people’s faces, people having coffee, people playing ball. You feel part of the city in a completely different way than when you drive. It’s an aspect that is often overlooked, but it’s what makes Utrecht a friendly city.” Dutch Cycling Embassy.
What makes a city seem a friendly place? My job brings me in contact with people from different countries, and some of those interactions make me think of the different ways a city makes an impression. A young Puerto Rican woman once told me that she hated Lincoln because no one was outside. In her country people lingered outdoors, greeted and chatted to their neighbors and passersby. I did tell her that people tend not to linger outdoors too much in cold weather, but that I understood her point. Another, a visitor to Lincoln from China, said that he didn’t see anyone outside of a car while driving for miles in Lincoln, and that was in the summer. We were driving on arterials at that time, but still. We were all happier when we could get out of the car and on our bikes.
I think it’s true that a person’s impression of a city is shaped by the distance and glass separating people. Even in the winter it’s important to get out and experience your community by walking and biking. Remember, there is no bad weather, only bad clothing. The biggest barrier to enjoying being outside is your mindset. If you can find community outdoors, the city is a friendlier place.
Continuing from the Dutch Cycling Embassy post: “To find inspiration to take Linköping – Sweden’s cycling city – to the next level, reporter Åke Alvin of the Swedish media agency Corren visits the world’s cycling city to learn about the keys to Utrecht’s success, and what Linköping can do to reach global cycling city status. Featuring interviews with Herbert Tiemens of Gemeente Utrecht, and the Dutch Cycling Embassy‘s own Shelley Bontje.”
Read the full piece (in Swedish) here: https://www.corren.se/…/linkoping-bast-i…/jp218n7r