• leave_it_blank@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    In Germany the streets are far too often a fight for survival. I miss the Netherlands, driving there, bike or car, was so much more relaxing.

    But, you know, Germans and their cars…

    • txmyx@feddit.de
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      1 year ago

      In my experience the bike infrastructure was great, but riding the bike in the city was more stressful than in Germany.

    • KptnAutismus@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      as a car driver, i have no problems with bike drivers themselves. i hate whoever thought 1 lane and a thin sidewalk was enough road.

      • Anti-Antidote@lemmy.zip
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        1 year ago

        Gets you to slow down and pay attention to your surroundings, doesn’t it? That’s the point, if you build roads that feel cramped to drivers they’ll naturally drive slower (i.e. actually the speed limit). Building all streets like they’re highways is a good way to get people going 50-60 mph on roads with houses directly on them.

        • TeckFire@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          So, there’s a balance. If you don’t build enough room to do anything but drive slow to be safe, the moment someone is fast, the chances of a crash are very high.

          If you build a road that has too much clearance, you end up with people driving faster, which is okay because there’s more room for people to be out of the way, likely reducing the amount of crashes. The drawback to this is, if people drive faster, the fewer crashes that do occur are at higher speeds, which are more deadly.

          So the ratio of number of crashes to severity of crashes is what the end result is.

          Granted, I live in the US where single lane country back-roads will have people in trucks going down at 50MPH randomly, so I don’t know if Europeans drive more cautiously. I know their driving tests are more comprehensive for sure.

        • KptnAutismus@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          it’s also a great way to put people’s lives at risk. i don’t think anyone thought of what you’re describing.

          • AMuscelid@lemm.ee
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            1 year ago

            No, that’s explicitly the reason for it, and it’s been shown to reduce the severity of crashes because people drive the speed limit when they feel it’s risky to go faster.

            • KptnAutismus@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              so swerving into oncoming traffic is safe? i had numerous near crashes because people overtook a bike driver coming my way. the netherlands do it better, the bikes have their own separated lane.

        • KptnAutismus@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          11:17 is the timestamp that is most relevant here, separated bike paths should be the norm. and not the shitty “fahrradschutzsstreifen” bullshit they are pulling in germany. i have to swerve around people going not even 20km/h when i’m going 50. there’s no way that reduces accidents. the netherlands rock. i went on a vacation there a few years ago. public transport is so much better there. (key phrase “viable alternative”)

      • 6daemonbag@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 year ago

        My gramps used to think even looking at his cars was asking permission to drive or touch them. “Nein!”

        He was gregarious at all other times, but “don’t go in my fucking garage”