Hackney Cyclist

The top half is a black-and-white photo showing parked cars and a motorcycle on the sidewalk. The bottom half is a modern color photo of the same location, now greener and cleaner, with leafy trees, bicycles everywhere, a cargo bike, improved paving, and updated buildings.

Frans Halsstraat, Amsterdam in 1992 and today

People will continue to cycle in the rain if you provide the infrastructure to make it safe and comfortable for them to do so. The greenery alongside cuts the risk of flooding, as well as improving the look of the street.

Two roads meet at a junction. In 1969 cars are parked on both roads and also on the section between the two roads close to where they meet, with long distances for pedestrians to cross. Today there are no parked cars and the space in the middle has been replaced by outdoor dining

Tweede Weteringdwarsstraat, Amsterdam in 1969 and today. Urban space is finite. When cities prioritize people over car storage, streets can support local businesses, active transport, and community life.

Set of traffic lights destroyed by a motor vehicle alongside a floating bus stop

The only danger to pedestrians at floating bus stops are motor vehicles

Set of traffic lights destroyed by a motor vehicle alongside a floating bus stop

The only danger to pedestrians at floating bus stops are motor vehicles

Two roads meet at a junction. In 1969 cars are parked on both roads and also on the section between the two roads close to where they meet, with long distances for pedestrians to cross. Today there are no parked cars and the space in the middle has been replaced by outdoor dining

Tweede Weteringdwarsstraat, Amsterdam in 1969 and today. Urban space is finite. When cities prioritize people over car storage, streets can support local businesses, active transport, and community life.

This Dutch hospital integrates active transportation into healthcare access, offering two large dedicated bicycle parking areas for patients traveling to appointments

and this is the kind of shite that anti cycle lane councils like Hackney Council will install everywhere, claiming they are following guidance

Hi everyone - it seems there’s been a targeted campaign against this plan for protected cycle lanes on Bayswater Road. If you look back through the consultation it had 400 negative responses in 24 hours 😨

Londoners on bikes, we’d love to hear from you in this. Please take a moment … 1/2

Split image showing Halvemaansteeg, Amsterdam, then and now. Top: black-and-white photo from 1979 with cars and a taxi dominating a narrow street, people squeezed onto small pavements. Bottom: modern color photo of the same street, now car-free, with a cycleway, café seating, and a calmer, people-focused atmosphere.

Halvemaansteeg, Amsterdam in 1979 and today.

From being dominated by cars with barely any space for people to a car-free area with cafés and cycleways.

Nothing natural about car dominance - it was a choice, and so was undoing it

They have no interest in anything at all, except anti cycling campaigns. It's the only thing they ever campaign on. Not a serious organisation and should be ignored.

Split “then and now” photo of Eerste Sweelinckstraat in Amsterdam. Top: black-and-white 1986 view with parked cars lining a narrow street. Bottom: present-day scene with trees, bike parking, people, and children playing, showing a shift from car-dominated to people-friendly street design.

Eerste Sweelinckstraat, Amsterdam in 1986 and today. From a car park to a street with seating, bike parking, trees, and space for kids to play. Same street, different priorities. Proof that cities can change and that when politicians choose people over cars, streets become communities.

Split image showing Halvemaansteeg, Amsterdam, then and now. Top: black-and-white photo from 1979 with cars and a taxi dominating a narrow street, people squeezed onto small pavements. Bottom: modern color photo of the same street, now car-free, with a cycleway, café seating, and a calmer, people-focused atmosphere.

Halvemaansteeg, Amsterdam in 1979 and today.

From being dominated by cars with barely any space for people to a car-free area with cafés and cycleways.

Nothing natural about car dominance - it was a choice, and so was undoing it

Exactly.

Haarlem, NL.

When they built an underground bike parking garage by the station they turned the old bike parking into a new public square. Then they removed motor traffic from the main road & made it a cycleway, with a bus-only road alongside.

Cities get nicer when you design for people, not cars.

In 1972 a line of cars wait at a traffic signal with a pedestrian crossing. Today the square is pedestrianised, with stairs leading into a bike parking garage in the background

Entrance to the underground bike parking facility in Leidseplein, Amsterdam with steps and ramps for bikes

Underground bike parking facility in Leidseplein, Amsterdam

Leidseplein, Amsterdam in 1972 and today. The entire area has been cleared of motor traffic, now only accessible to pedestrians, trams and bikes. Underneath the square a large bike parking garage has been constructed

Split “then and now” photo of Eerste Sweelinckstraat in Amsterdam. Top: black-and-white 1986 view with parked cars lining a narrow street. Bottom: present-day scene with trees, bike parking, people, and children playing, showing a shift from car-dominated to people-friendly street design.

Eerste Sweelinckstraat, Amsterdam in 1986 and today. From a car park to a street with seating, bike parking, trees, and space for kids to play. Same street, different priorities. Proof that cities can change and that when politicians choose people over cars, streets become communities.

This shouldn’t be remarkable.

Protected cycle tracks let primary school age children cycle safely on main roads - on their own.

Every city can do this.

Listen to Derek Clifford, 50 year longstanding resident of Bethnal Green, talk about the transformative effect of the LTN residents just saved from being ripped out. #LTNs #StreetsForPeople

Typical Amsterdam recently upgraded street, with paving, bike parking and greenery

Typical Amsterdam recently upgraded street, with paving, bike parking and greenery

Judging by watching many, many Amsterdam street upgrades first hand over the last decade, expect paving, more space for bike parking and a lot of greenery

Worth noting that whilst the changes here are great, the "today" layout, using asphalt on the roadway is now outdated and all these streets will be upgraded over the next two years

Low traffic Neighbourhood

Consultations show time and time again, people like LTNs, they like cycle lanes, they want their local streets to be pleasant and safe places. Unfortunately journalists all too often pick up their public perceptions from cabbies, Clair, Vinnie Stops and all the other cranks on Elons nazi playground

BBC London evening need bulletin subtitles "Across London LTNs have been hugely unpopular"

Tower Hamlets LTN consultations result with 70% approval

Tower Hamlets LTN consultations result with 68% approval

BBC London TV report on @saveoursaferstreets.org historic victory last night, stating that "LTNs have been hugely unpopular" whilst interviewing local residents who love them and failing to mention these LTNs received over two thirds approval in the original consultation.

1988: A junction where the roads splits in a Y shape into two roads, with cars parked on all 4 sides of the street. Today All car parking removed from the junction, replaced by bike parking, flowers and outdoor dining.

Gerard Doustraat, Amsterdam in 1988 and today

I know it is, I filmed it

😢

This shouldn’t be remarkable.

Protected cycle tracks let primary school age children cycle safely on main roads - on their own.

Every city can do this.

Court of Appeal just ruled Tower Hamlets DECISION to remove the Bethnal Green LTN is UNLAWFUL.

Councils can't remove without going through proper process & getting Mayor of London's approval.

This is a MASSIVE precedent for London. Years of work vindicated.
#SaveOurSaferStreets
#LTN

When Space Runs Out: Rethinking the Role of the Car in Dutch Cities Dutch cities are changing rapidly. One of the aims of this blog is to document that change, and there is plenty of work ahead. Much of what I record involves changes to streets: a before-and-after of a reconstructed street is relatively easy to capture in images. Shiny new cycling bridges can steal the show, and a new continuous-cycle route perhaps even more so.

As Dutch cities continue to grow, space is being reallocated to walking, cycling and public transport. Across the Netherlands, the role of the private car is being reconsidered. New blog post and video.