Author Russell Shorto claims that "the willingness of Europeans to follow top-down social planning" makes public transit and bicycling more feasible in European cities than they are in the States where people don't always agree with technocrats.
According to Shorto, factors like geography, public policy, and the collective mindset of people in society contribute to the resounding success of the Amsterdam model.
On the first point, "America is spread out, while European cities predate the car," writes Shorto in The New York Times Op-Ed. Secondly, Dutch laws mandate that children pass the bicycle safety exam, make it costly for people to obtain a driver's license, and deliberately keep cab fares high. "[A] trip from the airport may cost $80 [on a taxi], while a 20-minute bus ride sets you back about $3.50," he points out. Then there's the general perception of cars. Buses in Holland aren't the last resort for mobility just as cycling isn't a green alternative to cars. "[I]t's a way to get around," Shorto says.
His conclusion? "For American cities to think outside the car would seem to require a mental sea change."
Russell Shorto is the author of "The Island at the Center of the World."
FULL STORY: The Dutch Way: Bicycles and Fresh Bread
Open Letter to D.C. Mayor Calls for End to Traffic Violence
After a driver fatally struck a toddler, D.C.-area pedestrian and cycling advocates ask the District to take stronger action to prevent traffic fatalities.
This is How the British Started Cycling More
Cycling has never felt more relevant or encouraged in the UK. Since May, the London Councils have upgraded 60 km of bike lanes in the capital city, added 20,000 square metres of extra pavement space, and installed 1,500+ additional cycle parking.
The Dutch Touch
Leah Shahum returns to San Francisco from a 7-month sabbatical in Amsterdam with a new perspective on making cities bike-friendly the Dutch way.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
Can We Please Give Communities the Design They Deserve?
Often an afterthought, graphic design impacts everything from how we navigate a city to how we feel about it. One designer argues: the people deserve better.
The EV “Charging Divide” Plaguing Rural America
With “the deck stacked” against rural areas, will the great electric American road trip ever be a reality?
Judge Halts Brooklyn Bike Lane Removal
Lawyers must prove the city was not acting “arbitrarily, capriciously, and illegally” in ordering the hasty removal.
Engineers Gave America's Roads an Almost Failing Grade — Why Aren't We Fixing Them?
With over a trillion dollars spent on roads that are still falling apart, advocates propose a new “fix it first” framework.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)