In this episode, we head to Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, for a conversation about the efforts underway there to normalize …
14 Comments
In a discussion about helmets being strongly encouraged in the USA and mandated in Australia, here is what has been bothering me lately. Helmets are designed for one impact and then should be discarded. Helmets should be replaced every 3 to 5 years do to degradation. Helmets should be destroyed at the end of their useful life to protect others from using a helmet that may not be safe anymore. From a sustainability point, that is a lot of resources (plastic and styrofoam) going into the landfills. Has anyone come up with a sustainable plan to keep the old helmets out of the landfill? Just some food for thought. Thanks for this conversation, John and Chris.
Cyclists desperately want to crack the mystery of why people hate cyclists and how these people can be influenced for peace. It might help to learn from an expert in something similar, how to stop racism, at least until we figure out how to stop looking like insects. 🙂
Daryl Davis is interviewed by Chris Voss and Derek Gaunt in a Youtube video on the channel Black Swan Group. It's called
Legacy of Daryl Davis | Chris Voss w/ Derek Gaunt
Daryl has influenced over 300 members of the KKK, many of them top leaders in this group, and convinced them to leave and make peace with him. It's really worth watching.
It's been calculated/researched that ever $/€ 1 invested in bicycle infrastructure results $/€ 7 of social value. It's such a no brainer for governments but clearly that still too high a bar for many governments.
I lived in Holland for 15 years and in Vancouver Canada for 29 years. I have not received either a helmet or bell infraction in either location at all even though bells required by law in Holland. The city does not care. They are provincial/federal laws in both countries.
I think "break the shackles of car dependancy" is the wrong way of putting it. I think a natural reaction to such a statement by a lot of people would be : "Hey! I like my car! Who are you to criticize me?" I get the idea that seems to be the case a lot in North America, a sort of "us vs them" thing. While in reality its not about taking something away, its about adding something to your life.
"Maybe you want to do some exercise? Have you tried doing that in combination with your transportation and save money to boot with our new and safe cycling lanes?" , "Are you annoyed with traffic jams all day? What if I tell you, you could spend that time in nature while having a bit of a work out?" "Want to do some work during your commute? Try the WIFI enabled commuter train so you can actually do something useful in the time you spend getting to work?"
Just a few generic examples, but it shows stuff people get, stuff they can do, an extra choice thats offered, in short something positive! Think of it as food: You can tell somebody "Its bad to only eat hamburgers and chips. It makes you fat, doesnt have a lot of nutricion." Or you could say: "Hey I like burgers too, but this salad is really good, want a bite?" He is not losing a burger, he is gaining a salad! 😀
As a fellow Brisbanite, it's been great getting Chris's videos. While the overseas videos are great, our roads being a weird mix of both American and European ideas makes something local a necessary and relatable part of the conversation!
I've heard so many horror stories of car drivers trying to run cyclists off the road, or slamming open their car doors with the intent to clothesline passing cyclists, and one even of someone taking out a metal bat from their car and trying to chase down a nearby cyclist. I have absolutely no idea how these people function in society when something as minor as a choice in vehicle can send them into such a murderous rage.
It's been getting better in recent years, but I have no sympathy for car drivers in basically any situation anymore.
zoom out for our international viewers. You mean Americans 😂😂 In countries where the infrastructure is terrible and dangerous, because they are designed for amound of cars and not for safety and efficiencie, they hate bikes. Simple reason is lack of knowleds. Changing what they know is bad and bikes don't belong on the streets because they are only ad only extra traffic according them. As Austrilia wants to get more cyclists, they also need to ditch the incredibly dumb helmet rule. They are a joke in cycling and not in infrastructure, but because their lack of knowledge.
I'm in SWFL. The advice for cyclists is to "Be predictable". How am I to be "predictable" to drivers who haven't ridden a bicycle since they got their Learner's Permit at age 16?
Cycling is growing hugely in Alberta adults, and there is helmet laws only for people under 18 yo. And vast majority wear a helmet, w/o law requiring it.
People who hate bicyclists are similar to those who hate motorcyclists. It's jealousy of freedom! Of being constrained it a tub of steel or aluminum. The freedom of the bicyclist and the motorcyclist make the drivers aware of their constraint. Constrained to the width of a lane, constrained to the cost of the vehicle and constrained to having to listen to backseat drivers. I found out just how dangerous car drivers were (and still are) when I had a motorcycle. And many were very angry at the motorcyclist ability to get around obstacles that impeded the car. It was the first time that I had experienced road rage. And it was done when I was not in any manor impeding or blocking a car.
In a discussion about helmets being strongly encouraged in the USA and mandated in Australia, here is what has been bothering me lately. Helmets are designed for one impact and then should be discarded. Helmets should be replaced every 3 to 5 years do to degradation. Helmets should be destroyed at the end of their useful life to protect others from using a helmet that may not be safe anymore. From a sustainability point, that is a lot of resources (plastic and styrofoam) going into the landfills. Has anyone come up with a sustainable plan to keep the old helmets out of the landfill? Just some food for thought. Thanks for this conversation, John and Chris.
Cyclists desperately want to crack the mystery of why people hate cyclists and how these people can be influenced for peace. It might help to learn from an expert in something similar, how to stop racism, at least until we figure out how to stop looking like insects. 🙂
Daryl Davis is interviewed by Chris Voss and Derek Gaunt in a Youtube video on the channel Black Swan Group. It's called
Legacy of Daryl Davis | Chris Voss w/ Derek Gaunt
Daryl has influenced over 300 members of the KKK, many of them top leaders in this group, and convinced them to leave and make peace with him. It's really worth watching.
It's been calculated/researched that ever $/€ 1 invested in bicycle infrastructure results $/€ 7 of social value. It's such a no brainer for governments but clearly that still too high a bar for many governments.
I lived in Holland for 15 years and in Vancouver Canada for 29 years. I have not received either a helmet or bell infraction in either location at all even though bells required by law in Holland. The city does not care. They are provincial/federal laws in both countries.
I think "break the shackles of car dependancy" is the wrong way of putting it. I think a natural reaction to such a statement by a lot of people would be : "Hey! I like my car! Who are you to criticize me?" I get the idea that seems to be the case a lot in North America, a sort of "us vs them" thing. While in reality its not about taking something away, its about adding something to your life.
"Maybe you want to do some exercise? Have you tried doing that in combination with your transportation and save money to boot with our new and safe cycling lanes?" , "Are you annoyed with traffic jams all day? What if I tell you, you could spend that time in nature while having a bit of a work out?" "Want to do some work during your commute? Try the WIFI enabled commuter train so you can actually do something useful in the time you spend getting to work?"
Just a few generic examples, but it shows stuff people get, stuff they can do, an extra choice thats offered, in short something positive! Think of it as food: You can tell somebody "Its bad to only eat hamburgers and chips. It makes you fat, doesnt have a lot of nutricion." Or you could say: "Hey I like burgers too, but this salad is really good, want a bite?" He is not losing a burger, he is gaining a salad! 😀
Another good and interesting podcast. Thanks John and Chris.
As a fellow Brisbanite, it's been great getting Chris's videos. While the overseas videos are great, our roads being a weird mix of both American and European ideas makes something local a necessary and relatable part of the conversation!
I've heard so many horror stories of car drivers trying to run cyclists off the road, or slamming open their car doors with the intent to clothesline passing cyclists, and one even of someone taking out a metal bat from their car and trying to chase down a nearby cyclist. I have absolutely no idea how these people function in society when something as minor as a choice in vehicle can send them into such a murderous rage.
It's been getting better in recent years, but I have no sympathy for car drivers in basically any situation anymore.
zoom out for our international viewers. You mean Americans 😂😂
In countries where the infrastructure is terrible and dangerous, because they are designed for amound of cars and not for safety and efficiencie, they hate bikes. Simple reason is lack of knowleds. Changing what they know is bad and bikes don't belong on the streets because they are only ad only extra traffic according them.
As Austrilia wants to get more cyclists, they also need to ditch the incredibly dumb helmet rule.
They are a joke in cycling and not in infrastructure, but because their lack of knowledge.
I'm in SWFL. The advice for cyclists is to "Be predictable". How am I to be "predictable" to drivers who haven't ridden a bicycle since they got their Learner's Permit at age 16?
Just imagine where having that extra surplus from not having to pay for car payments, repairs, maintenance, insurance, tolls, taxes and fuel.
I have a bell & an electric high decibel buzzer to spook people who don’t listen for bell.
Cycling is growing hugely in Alberta adults, and there is helmet laws only for people under 18 yo. And vast majority wear a helmet, w/o law requiring it.
People who hate bicyclists are similar to those who hate motorcyclists. It's jealousy of freedom! Of being constrained it a tub of steel or aluminum. The freedom of the bicyclist and the motorcyclist make the drivers aware of their constraint. Constrained to the width of a lane, constrained to the cost of the vehicle and constrained to having to listen to backseat drivers.
I found out just how dangerous car drivers were (and still are) when I had a motorcycle. And many were very angry at the motorcyclist ability to get around obstacles that impeded the car. It was the first time that I had experienced road rage. And it was done when I was not in any manor impeding or blocking a car.