Comments on: Vélib’ http://www.streetfilms.org/velib%e2%80%99/ Documenting Livable Streets Worldwide Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:03:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Adam http://www.streetfilms.org/velib%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-17772 Adam Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:24:17 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/velib%e2%80%99/#comment-17772 While I feel a bit safer wearing a helmet I know it won't save me if a truck runs me over. Helmets provide minimal protection in minor incidents. Most cyclist ending up in ERs have broken spines, necks, crushed bones, burst internal organs. The problem in USA is not "not wearing a helmet" but it's "not having safe space for cycling" and "not enough punishment for drivers for hurting cyclists and pedestrians". A. While I feel a bit safer wearing a helmet I know it won't save me if a truck runs me over. Helmets provide minimal protection in minor incidents. Most cyclist ending up in ERs have broken spines, necks, crushed bones, burst internal organs. The problem in USA is not "not wearing a helmet" but it's "not having safe space for cycling" and "not enough punishment for drivers for hurting cyclists and pedestrians".

A.

]]> By: amsterdamize http://www.streetfilms.org/velib%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-17442 amsterdamize Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:46:35 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/velib%e2%80%99/#comment-17442 I'm sure people will take offense, but I'm getting extremely tired of the helmet issue. Stop mirroring the US situation to bicycle friendly countries and cities elsewhere, educate yourself (thanks Elizabeth, now I don't have to post that link) and try to liberate yourself from the 'cycling is dangerous' mindset. It's really remarkable what the Velib' program has accomplished in just one year. And really, Parisiens were hardly overall friendly to the idea of giving up space to the bicycle. Anything is possible if there's will and sustained policy/planning. I'd know, I'm from Amsterdam. cheers I'm sure people will take offense, but I'm getting extremely tired of the helmet issue. Stop mirroring the US situation to bicycle friendly countries and cities elsewhere, educate yourself (thanks Elizabeth, now I don't have to post that link) and try to liberate yourself from the 'cycling is dangerous' mindset.

It's really remarkable what the Velib' program has accomplished in just one year. And really, Parisiens were hardly overall friendly to the idea of giving up space to the bicycle. Anything is possible if there's will and sustained policy/planning. I'd know, I'm from Amsterdam.

cheers

]]> By: Richard Evans http://www.streetfilms.org/velib%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-17440 Richard Evans Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:24:28 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/velib%e2%80%99/#comment-17440 Great video, will circulate. As for helmets, just take a look at http://www.cyclehelmets.org/ then make your own mind up! Great video, will circulate. As for helmets, just take a look at http://www.cyclehelmets.org/ then make your own mind up!

]]> By: Elizabeth Press http://www.streetfilms.org/velib%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-17438 Elizabeth Press Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:13:23 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/velib%e2%80%99/#comment-17438 Well Clarence, velib comes directly from the words velo (Bicycle) + liberte (Freedom). I tried to show this in the intro of the video. As for the helmet question lrask - maybe this is just something you want to work on inventing? Self-service bikes might work well with self-service helmets...whatever it is, I really hope those cities who are considering public bike programs get creative with the helmet question instead of using it as an easy excuse. Well Clarence, velib comes directly from the words velo (Bicycle) + liberte (Freedom). I tried to show this in the intro of the video. As for the helmet question lrask - maybe this is just something you want to work on inventing? Self-service bikes might work well with self-service helmets...whatever it is, I really hope those cities who are considering public bike programs get creative with the helmet question instead of using it as an easy excuse.

]]> By: Eric Mankin http://www.streetfilms.org/velib%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-17434 Eric Mankin Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:48:44 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/velib%e2%80%99/#comment-17434 What a great video! I tried bike sharing in Vienna, which is a much smaller system, but it seems great. Looking forward to using it in the USA! What a great video! I tried bike sharing in Vienna, which is a much smaller system, but it seems great. Looking forward to using it in the USA!

]]> By: Jared Burke http://www.streetfilms.org/velib%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-17430 Jared Burke Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:39:35 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/velib%e2%80%99/#comment-17430 Great video. I'm a huge fan of the helmet cam. I think you should produce a bicycle version of C'était un Rendez-vous next time you're in Paris. :) Great video. I'm a huge fan of the helmet cam. I think you should produce a bicycle version of C'était un Rendez-vous next time you're in Paris. :)

]]> By: Fritz http://www.streetfilms.org/velib%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-17426 Fritz Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:28:02 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/velib%e2%80%99/#comment-17426 No helmets with the bikes--bring your own if you want. But, I can say that riding Velib in Prais I felt far safer than riding in Philly or Baltimore... except for when I decided to circle the Place de la Concorde with the cars (imagine Philly City Hall without traffic lanes). I lived in the far north of Paris and there was a protected bike lane all the way to the center of Paris where there is good protected bike coverage too. I rode during the day and at night. Even in Montmartre where there weren't many bike lanes I felt safe because traffic was relatively low. I think Paris has done a good job of putting in separated lanes where there is traffic making the 'need' for helmets much less. But, I fall firmly on the side of "wear a helmet if you want to, but a mass biking system will only happen when people don't feel they need to wear helmets." Also, for statistics, I know that France as a whole has far fewer bike accidents per ride than the U.S. Not sure I can compare Paris to any other city. I know John Pucher (http://policy.rutgers.edu/faculty/pucher/) had some statistics about it. No helmets with the bikes--bring your own if you want. But, I can say that riding Velib in Prais I felt far safer than riding in Philly or Baltimore... except for when I decided to circle the Place de la Concorde with the cars (imagine Philly City Hall without traffic lanes). I lived in the far north of Paris and there was a protected bike lane all the way to the center of Paris where there is good protected bike coverage too. I rode during the day and at night. Even in Montmartre where there weren't many bike lanes I felt safe because traffic was relatively low. I think Paris has done a good job of putting in separated lanes where there is traffic making the 'need' for helmets much less. But, I fall firmly on the side of "wear a helmet if you want to, but a mass biking system will only happen when people don't feel they need to wear helmets." Also, for statistics, I know that France as a whole has far fewer bike accidents per ride than the U.S. Not sure I can compare Paris to any other city. I know John Pucher (http://policy.rutgers.edu/faculty/pucher/) had some statistics about it.

]]> By: Clarence Eckerson Jr. http://www.streetfilms.org/velib%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-17425 Clarence Eckerson Jr. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:01:33 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/velib%e2%80%99/#comment-17425 Call me a dope, but now I know the origin of the word Velib. Call me a dope, but now I know the origin of the word Velib.

]]> By: lrask http://www.streetfilms.org/velib%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-17423 lrask Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:13:24 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/velib%e2%80%99/#comment-17423 what about helmets? how many ghost bikes are there in paris? what about helmets? how many ghost bikes are there in paris?

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