Video: Groningen - The World's Cycling City from Streetfilms

You only really need to watch the first couple of minutes to take away the importany lesson. There's a guy who says that he cycles because its far easier than using any other form of transport and that's it in a nutshell.

We should keep dreaming of we think that we will see this sort of political attitute and intent in the UK anytime soon though.

Ooh, those meddlesome left wingers, with their utopia ideals. Surely it is my individual right to drive an extra wide Merc 4x4 down your narrow medieval city streets. The Mail will be hearing about this, this, dutchness.

Really interesting documentary and a really great way to bring about an everyday bike culture by simply making it more efficient to bike than drive

Not sure I want the UK to be like Denmark or Holland, my commute is not a couple of miles from one side of town to another. I was in York the other weekend and the amount of poor cycling I saw was a shock to the system, they mostly rode wearing normal clothes with no helmets.

We could though use the best bits of Holland.

Has anyone on here been to Groningen? Its an absolute nightmare to drive/walk around, the quality of cycling and the behaviour of cyclist is deplorable, they'll ride 2-3 on a bike, 2 cyclists side by side holding hands, they (I presume!) have the right to ride the wrong way down a one way street - 3 abreast is generally common, very rarely have lights on their bikes and if they are are frequent old style dynamo's with filament lamps, i have spent close to 5 months there and - twice have I come across serious accidents in the city centre where cyclist have been killed or serious injured (but i think they were both the former) and also seen several cyclists run into pedestrians.....

apart from the commendable number of cyclists the only real positive was seeing the number of ladies cycling in short skirts and heels!!!

Talking of embedded car culture, I was lucky enough to get a day cycling in the Austin, Texas area in February and there I didn't have a single problem with anyone driving too close. Most of the route was on what we'd call dual carriage way and so you'd be cycling on the hard shoulder but you'd still be given room - I had to make a left turn across 3 lanes at one point which I was dreading but the traffic behind waited about 2 or 3 car lengths back and gave me plenty of room.

I expect over in the US of A it's got more to do with the litigation culture and a driver being scared of losing everything if they knock a cyclist or pedestrian over.

What ever the reason it was pleasantly surprising.

That's it I'm moving out of the UK ....

Car Culture is embedded in Italy but as a previous poster said they give space. In this country it is not car culture thats the problem it is the angry bigotted attitude of Brits. This attitude reflects in the driving.
i went to Northern Ireland for a cycling holiday 2 years on the run, around Belfast and Donegal (so city and countryside) and all the drivers were polite -no beeping of horns , giving plenty of space. If I'm not mistaken Northern Ireland is the UK. But the irish laid back mentality even though it is NI seperates them from the angry mainland brit driver. and the same applies to many european places i have ridden.they are more chilled and it shows in their attitude to fellow road users.

"A few thirty kilometre zones and the odd cycle path is not going to lead to a revolution"

Are you listening Boris?

Excellent film, all town planners and councillors should watch it.

Also note the complete absence of Helmets & Hi-Viz. In the UK we have developed an attitude that cycling is 'dangerous' and needs protection when the reality is it is no more risky than walking.

I was in Italy recently and saw similar behaviour. Car driving in Italy is a little bit manic, but cars always gave space and time for people on bikes.

Maybe a few towns or cities in the uK can adopt this approach, but car culture is now so deeply embedded it will be hard to change attitudes in the majority of the population.

I like that road block idea. Not sure cabbies in London would agree, nless they turned their hand to pedicabs of course!