1:00pm Monday 8th March 2010
YOU cannot turn an English city into a continental one simply by changing the appearance of the road.
In Holland cyclists and pedestrians are robustly protected by the law.
If you cycle through the centre of any Dutch city on a cycle lane, traffic will give way to you, even on a busy roundabout. The reason is simple: if a car hits you, the driver will go to jail.
As a result, families take their small children cycling through the city, kids cycle safely to school and people actually enjoy their city streets.
Idyllic urban environments can only exist where pedestrians and cyclists are given their own space and absolute priority.
Unfortunately it’s not road design alone that makes great cities. Peoplefriendly legislation is needed to ensure that any “continental” system actually works.
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