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Amsterdamize
100% Lycra-Free, Guaranteed
10.27.2009
NL In Teh 50’s
Categories: Amsterdamize, Video

Enjoy this video. As David Hembrow noted:

“The remarkable thing about it is how familiar all of it looks. There’s exactly the same level of cycle helmet wearing as in the country now, roughly the same number of people riding on back carriers, children on bikes, “ordinary clothes”, practical bikes and smiling faces.”

You think these people were talking about ‘going green’ or ’saving the planet’? Nah…so, what other reasons could there be? :-p.

Found through NewAmsterdamize, via David Hembrow.

  • This is so great.
    Utopia starts there...
    Thank you for sharing!
  • happy to, macfred! And uhm, Utopia starts anywhere, right?
  • Frits
    "so, what other reasons could there be?" Easy, there was no choice. The essential difference between then and now is that in the fifties people dreamed of cars but couldn't afford them yet. Given the chance, they would all happily ditch their bikes and start washing their cars on Saturdays. I know, I grew up in those days and have seen it happen. Nowadays, people return to using their bikes as there are too many cars around for the space available.
  • now now, Frits, that's a bit cynical isn't it? I know post-war economic growth has eluded us on many fronts. And sure, the last few decades people's decision-making process has been steered by policy measures that range from economic ones to urban design, but shouldn't we applaud the fact that we've come to a place where nobody thinks less of it, people actually enjoy riding and that this is still growing? Last year 12,5% more people cycled to the train station and since 2007 there have been more bike than car movements in the Amsterdam.
  • Wilma
    Fabulous! I love all the beautiful dresses, and the suits and ties. I wonder how many of those bikes are still in use today!
  • I think you'd be surprised how many, Wilma, I would too :)
  • Txarli
    Gotta love the empty, perfect road with the "Cyclists must use the cycle path" sign. It is worth remembering that, just as this document was being filmed, the bicycle ridership in the Netherlands was starting its free fall that didn't pick up (a little) until the first oil crisis in the seventies.
  • The current cycling rates in NL still haven't reached pre-decline periods.
    See Making Cycling Irresistible: http://policy.rutgers.edu/faculty/pucher/Irresi...
  • When I saw these pics in the early morning today i had to share them too ...
    Have a look at this : http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=597920
  • thanks for that macfred, I noticed your plug in my stats early on, so much traffic! :)
  • ToniRose
    EVERYBODY cycled chic in those days!
  • and we (Dutch) still do, Toni :), it's just that 'Cycle Chic' isn't about 'chic', it's about just hopping on, whatever you're wearing, as cycling is not complicated, far far less than it's made out to be by the industry that tries to sell you stuff ('gear'). A lot of countries have lost touch with the normalcy in cycling along the way.
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