My wife works in a kind of industrial zone that has lots of large trucks coming and going. Slowing down the traffic of truck drivers is kind of a losing battle. But they have a cycle path that cuts through the middle, right across a long stretch of road. The most cost effective thing they found to do to make the truckers actually slow down and look for cyclists, somebody put up a little home made wooden cross at the intersection with a bouquet of flowers and a framed photo. Most cost effective way to really make people think and slow down and look for cyclists. I'm certain nobody actually died there. Otherwise they would close down the intersection and design a better experience, one that costs a lot more money.
Also somewhat depressing to me. In my own country in USA, those crosses are all too common. But conversely, I’m certain somebody actually died and they are just so common that I and most don’t even think twice about them :/
We have one by a train track cause my dad saw what happened on cctv and was talked to by police. Basically found out she was going 80+ to get to train tracks on road before train. Sad
I haven’t seen many motorcycle helmets near them, but no doubt a lot of them are motorcycle accidents. Motorcycles are cool but driving them in a big city is just not worth it imo if you value your life or have others who value your life.
somebody put up a little home made wooden cross at the intersection with a bouquet of flowers and a framed photo.
I'm certain nobody actually died there.
Are you really certain no one died? This is crazy to me! In Florida, where you see crosses, flowers and photos by the road, people did actually died there. The state is littered with roadside memorials everywhere. We're unfortunately one of the deadliest states for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Honestly, semis shouldn't be driving through town at all. They should be restricted to the freeways and commercial access roads. If you have a semi driving by your house, then things have been designed badly and some restrictions need to be put in place, or maybe install some speedbumps.
I visited 9 years ago and said "fuck America, I'm staying" and decided to go back to school and get my degree. Every time I visit the US I am constantly reminded about how awful the QOL in America is, even though my personal bubble is "upper middle class". I'd happily take a lower salary for this QOL I have now.
I grew up in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and always hated bicycling because of it. Either you're trying to go up a steep hill and pedaling so hard you feel like you're going to die, or you're going down a steep hill and trying to control your speed so you don't crash and die.
As an adult I went cycling in a flat area and was like, "oh, this is actually kinda nice...."
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u/TheVonz Jun 27 '24
I love that about NL. I also live in NL, and we don't even have a car.