When cyclists matter

In the Netherlands cyclists are not only protected by Dutch law but they also matter in the eyes of the general public. The reaction to a road incident in 's-Hertogenbosch (a.k.a. Den Bosch) makes this very clear. Drivers misbehaving and endangering cyclists or pedestrians are considered road-pirates and such behaviour is not tolerated.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• road
• incident
• cyclists
• bicycle
• bicycling
• road-pirate
• protected
• Netherlands
• 's-Hertogenbosch
• Den
• Bosch
• Dutch
• Holland

[downfader2]

Great film! Really inciteful as to how another country see's its road infrastructure. I'm absolutely amazed at how low the injury rate is. Is it a national figure or a local one?

Nationally here we have 17,000 injuries a year, nearly 1000 serious, 120 average deaths and approx 5 million cyclists out of a 70m population. I'm just in awe at how good your figures are.

[markenlei]

@downfader2 the figures are only for the municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch, which has a population of 137,777 right now.

[nitramluap]

Great coverage, Mark. I don't think the public reaction was over the top at all. I think that we have come to accept this sort of sociopathic, murderous behaviour as somehow acceptable in Australia.

'Trucks' like that are all too common here and few are used for rural work - they are badges of honour for people with small brains. I note that the vehicle in the incident had bullbars - what on earth is a 'car' like that doing in The Netherlands!? Scary.

[markenlei]

@nitramluap these trucks are very uncommon. Wikipedia reports there is 'no market' for them in the Netherlands. Only a handful were sold. For all we know this might be the only one with a bullbar.

[WestLABoy]

How big a factor was the size of the pick-up in the community's outrage? If the driver had been in a smaller car, do you think the comments would have changed at all?

[markenlei]

@WestLABoy In a smaller car it wouldn't have happened in the first place. That is indeed what made people so angry. The size and type of car provoked this kind of driving.

[gordonthegopher666]

Ah, so that's what it's like to live in a civilised country.

[KrunchyJD]

Outrage against a motorist with a big pickup for hitting cyclists. Thats not over the top, that is how it should be. Instead, here in Australia, we blame cyclists, its crap.

[stopglobalswarming]

@markenlei I drive a pickup truck and am not an aggressive driver. I am very thoughful and watch for cyclists (motored and not). Perhaps it is because I was raised this way, and grew up riding bicycles as transportation.

[Cliffjumper24]

@kentcyclist Glad your comment is a joke..... it's amazing how many UK motorists actually think in those terms.

There's an amusing irony in the road tax (which most people think is for road repairs) is that council tax pays for road repairs, so a cyclist (who doesn't also driver a car) is effectively subsidising motorists.

[allgoo19]

@ArpTubes " If this happened in the US it probably wouldn't make the news at all, and a lot of people would figure out a way to blame the cyclists somehow."

==

This already happened.

Two joggers on street shoulder got hit by an intoxicated driver on the 2 lane street with no side walk. I think 1 died an another paralyzed for life.

Do you know how city responded to it?

They closed the street for the foot traffic and bicycles.

[autofixation]

@markenlei Even here in the states where we make them people drive them just to drive them. Even when they have no purpose for driving them. Many of them feel that it brings a degree of masculinity. They then abuse their size to drive like complete idiots. I am perfectly happy with my Subaru Legacy.

[paulnrswain]

God I wish it were like that in the UK

[ArpTubes]

Wow, videos like this really make me wish I lived in the Netherlands. If this happened in the US it probably wouldn't make the news at all, and a lot of people would figure out a way to blame the cyclists somehow.

[fuddyboi]

maybe he was trying to impress the pretty girl with his big engine and tiny penis

[TheObelix876]

@kentcyclist in the netherlands they do not pay road taxes neither

[kentcyclist]

In the UK cyclists pay no road tax or insurance. Its very wrong and they should subsadize the cost o petrol paricularly for owners of large vehicles. Signed Lord Fonzby Blitheringidiot

[flyerholland]

@WestLABoy people that drive these pickups in the netherlands often tend to be sketchy and drive like retards owning the road because of the size of their truck ( and probaly small dicks) , nowadays its less then before. ofcourse u still have them. but ive seen many newer model rams here and less aggressive driving by them. u can clearly tell if its an american car lover or just some sketchy ass redneck ( some sort of redneck lol)