Great bike cities feel like they have a "culture" of cycling. But I've often wondered if it's culture or opportunity that creates this urban vibe — can you have a great bike city with terrible bike infrastructure, or is the infrastructure that creates a great bike city and its culture? Let's dive in.
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In the video: Shifter presents the argument that in cities where bicycling is normalised, there isn’t as much of a visible “cycling culture” because people are able to use bikes as an everyday utilitarian method of getting around (much like a parent driving a depreciating Hyundai minivan to cart their kids and stuff around).
I’ve heard this sentiment before with other content creators (NotJustBikes and BicycleDutch, for example) who have experienced what bicycling is like when it’s normalised.
Is there a specific “cycling culture” where you live?
(Edit: Routed the video through Invidious for privacy reasons.)