One Street News
Summer 2019
Vol. 12, Issue 3
- Bosnia and Herzegovina Phase II
- September Celebrations
- Colorado’s Harsher Penalties for Injuring Cyclists Not Enough
- Resources – Utrecht’s Disappearing Roadways
- Hot Topics – Some Bad Examples
Bosnia and Herzegovina Phase II
By: Sue Knaup, Executive Director
Phase I of our campaign planning project in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) last year did an excellent job of laying the groundwork for more. The six campaigns we worked with in partnership with our colleagues at the Center for Environment (CfE) set in motion the changes needed to improve the environment in their communities. Four focused on bicycle improvements while the other two took more sweeping actions for their entire communities. You can read more about Phase I here.
I have begun working with our colleagues at CfE for our next phase of the project, which we plan for the fall of 2020 if the funding comes through. Like the first phase, we will seek out the most promising leadership teams throughout BiH who are ready to launch significant campaigns for bicycle and environmental improvements. This time, we will engage the leaders of the Phase I campaigns as mentors to share their experiences through planning then launching their campaigns.
BiH has found a special place in my heart and I am very much looking forward to working with all of these campaign leaders as they work to reengage the spirit of their beautiful country through positive change.
September Celebrations
September offers two international celebrations where advocates can demonstrate the benefits of bicycling. Check your own communities for any plans or perhaps join in the fun by offering your own:
- Sept. 20th Park(ing) Day – turn car parking spaces into public parks. Find ideas here.
- Sept 22nd World Car-free Day – many cities around the world are participating. Here is one example in London.
Colorado’s Harsher Penalties for Injuring Cyclists Not Enough
Colorado’s new law is good, but not great news. Rather, it shows how pathetic the legal system is in the United States (and many other countries) when drivers injure of even kill cyclists or pedestrians. In comparison, the Netherlands has a strict liability law that ensures that motorists who harm cyclists are liable. Read about the complexities of the Dutch law here. Though it is complex, you will see the vast difference compared to the minor change that Colorado just made, and they are now one of the best in the U.S.!
Resources – Utrecht’s Disappearing Roadways
The Netherlands is well known as a paradise for bicycling, and Utrecht is one of its best. Unfortunately, most videos and articles about Dutch cities forget to mention how dangerous cycling once was there, with terrible motorways and city streets clogged with cars. This recent video does a terrific job showing the before and after contrast using some extraordinary new projects in Utrecht that prioritize cycling and walking.
Hot Topics – Some Bad Examples
This newsletter has lots of good examples for providing for cyclists so we thought we’d balance it out with some bad ones. Both of these articles do an excellent job revealing concerns in proper context. Enjoy: