Play, Learn & Ride
The Cycling Roundup
Welcome to our first Cycling Roundup - a handpicked selection of insights on cycling, urban planning, and community stories! Leave a comment to share your own experience with each topic ⤵
Can everyday be a play-day on the streets?
By James Bonner, Deirdre Harrington, Marco te Brömmelstroet & Jonne Silonsaari
Following the example of the UN International Day of Play, the Netherlands celebrates every year the ‘Buitenspeeldag’, the national day of outdoor play. In Scotland, a project called ‘Play Streets’ was implemented to challenge the inequalities in our streets. James Bonner and Deirdre Harrington from the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, Scotland) and Marco te Brömmelstroet and Jonne Silonsaari (Urban Cycling Institute) reflect on the concept of play within their ongoing work. Read the full article to explore streets from the perspective of children, while reflecting on questions like “whose narratives dominate our streets today?”
Why do cyclists break the rules?
By Simon Gomez Villa, graduate of Online Tutorial Series
As more and more cyclists are taking up the public space in Paris, conflicts (or interactions) between other users are naturally more evident. Interactions caused by rule-breaking cyclists trigger public opinion, particularly among motorists, and stigmatise them as reckless and dangerous to society. - Read the reflections of Simon Gomez Villa on the state of cycling in the French Capital in his final essay, focused on non-conformist behavior in a cycling city. The author accompanies his reflections with references to related studies, summarizing with important remaining questions that could become a subject to further research.
What can bicycles teach tourists of Amsterdam?
By Edmund Suryadharma, graduate of Spatial Planning from Radboud University
This research explores the role of bicycle tourism in Amsterdam as a catalyst for urban mobility advocacy. Through interviews with international tourists, the study reveals how experiencing Amsterdam's bike-friendly environment can inspire visitors to advocate for improved cycling infrastructure in their own cities. The findings suggest that bicycle tourism not only promotes sustainable travel but also offers a powerful tool for shifting perceptions and encouraging urban policy changes worldwide. Read the full article to explore what role do bike tours play in advocacy.
Stay tuned for more Cycling Roundups coming soon! In the meantime, leave a comment with reflections on your own city!
Lovely stories!
I grew up playing on the street on a daily basis, and it was the place of gathering for all the children in the neighbourhood.
Walking down the same street now, years later, it's full of parked cars from one end to the other, and nobody is playing on the street anymore.
It's crazy to look at such a simple thing and how big of an impact it can have socially.
I love reading from your stories and insights. I cycle in Nakuru streets as if am in the Netherlands streets.