Talking to David Hembrow

Visit my bicycle art web site. http://situp-bike-art.com.
Find more comments from David after the movie on my blog. http://situp-cycle.com

David Hembrow is a Brit. who moved to Holland with his family a few years ago for the superb bicycle infrastructure, the best in the world

He now writes one of the most informative blogs on the Dutch cycling success story. His blog, is; A view from the cycle path.

This is one of a series of interviews I hope to carry on my own blog; http://situp-cycle.com . with other prominent bike bloggers.

Before this there are two pieces we did with Mikael Colville-Andersens of Copenhangenize.com and copenhagen cycle chic

In this clip David talks about the sorts of bikes the dutch use as transport and why they use them so much instead of being wedded to cars like the rest of us.

If you w nt to know more about the velomobile in which he commutes, or the baskets he makes for bikes, get in touch with vie his blog. Mike Rubbo

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• dutch bikes
• comfortable bikes
• david hembrow
• cycling in holland
• durable bikes
• sit-up bikes
• health benefits of cycling
• mike rubbo
• violeta brana-lafourcade
• commuting by bike
• velomobiles
• best cycling countries

[downfader2]

Great video (as usual)! Whilst I certainly admire anyone on a sit-up-and-beg I do still think people should ride what they like. If its fun its as good a reason as any :-)

I do wonder if all the sprinting we all see is down to a "must get away from traffic" mentality sometimes. Seems to be the reason some people cite for running reds.

[MikeRubbo]

Of course people should ride what they like. But I do think it sends a message, and a good one, to ride a sit-up bike in places like the US and Aust. for getting around.

There is something about the stately posture which is great advertising for bikes as transport. Moreover in places where there are few bike ways, you immediately have a safety advantage, you see better and are seen better.Mike

[sunnyjoe66]

In Ireland we are the Poor Relation in regards to the US for Cars. But since 1965 there has been a slow but steady Accumulation of Traffic on our Roads. Whereas pre 1965 very little Traffic and a huge amount of Bicycle use,Latter Years now the Roads are choked with Cars and now we have a few Motorways and a consequent huge drop in Cycling. But since 2000 the trend has reversed and more and more People are using Bikes but we still have a bad Infrastructure of Dangerous narrow Cycle Lanes.

[MikeRubbo]

Hi Sunnyjoe66 what can you tell is about the Bike Share scheme which has been recently introduced in Dublin?

[sunnyjoe66]

Terrific Video,why cannot other Countries have a very Safe Cycling Infrastructure like the Netherlands instead of Pandering to the Motoring and big Business Lobby.

Who put Obstacles in the way of improving things for Cyclists and Pedestrians.

[MikeRubbo]

. I suspect, Sunnyjoe, it's because other countries don't as yet, want to give bikes the chance to perform as useful vehicles.

If they did, they'd say to themselves, what do these economical vehicles need to function efficiently and flexibly? Then they'd build accordingly.

That's what they did for cars. Cars would not function well if they were given the infrastructure scraps that bikesnow get.

It's ironic, that the US road system was build originally for bikes, Cars stole it. Mike

[mcvisser1]

Great video! It gives may be a somewhat over positive view of the dutch cycling scene, but nevertheless, if I weren't cycling already myself (on a recumbent daily from Vries to Groningen) I would certainly jump on one and start pedalling! I read your article in the Volkskrant recently, before that I wasn't aware there was such a great promotor of cycling! Keep up the good work and may be one day we'll meet on some cycling path!

M. Visser, vries

[pseudotruth]

Thank-you for this. David comes over as a really nice person and I believe he really is as nice and sensible as he seems. It's a shame he had to leave the UK.

In the UK, our cycling facilities are pretty lousy and the attitude of many motorists to cyclists are appalling.

[mariojragucci2]

I respect you for everything you say, but in present day Seattle a Dutch bike would not negotiate the hills. I heard in Norway there are assists to help help cyclists get up hills. Also, I have cargo capacity on my chinese mountain bike by tying the bags to the handlebars and use a good backpack for big stuff. I wish someone could design a "SEattle bike" that would have the right chain for both hills and speed and shock. Also, dual suspension is a must because cars run wild :-)

[mariojragucci2]

@MikeRubbo Right on Mike. Cars stole bicycle pathways and they keep them!

[mariojragucci2]

This is a great video Mr Hembrow. I feel good inside my heart when i hear the things you say. You enlighten me when you say "Our bike culture is so different.  People who commute consider it like a training session." Yes, this is very important to recognize. Hey - I have a hybridized mountain bike such that I put shoe holders on it and hard city tires. I have a Chinese Giant. Here in SEattle bikes have to be quick and nibble for safety with the cars & hills :-)

[downfader2]

I think there is another disadvantage to racing bikes.. I go too fast on them *blush* Too easy to keep up with traffic in 30 zones here at times, sometimes too easy to go faster, that in itself is a danger as drivers never recognise your speed and we were never meant to be in an "arms race" of speed with drivers LOL!

[sunnyjoe66]

It is very much the same as the Vélib Parisienne and run by the same Company J C Decaux in exchange for putting up Street Advertisements on 4metre High Poles.You Subscribe on Line and get your Card after a week or so and you give a Theoretic Deposit of €150 in case something happens to the Bike. The first half Hour is free. There is only 450 Bikes so far but they are extremely Popular ,more is promised.

[MewFushisDad]

What a great Video. The bicycle facilities here in the States are very slowly getting better in some places and none at all in others. It still is all about the one person one car mentality here in America.

In most places bicycles are still thought of as toys and adults who ride some what strange.

The old adage, to deal with traffic by building more and wider roads is like trying to cure obesity by using a bigger belt.