3 Urbanist Lessons from the Netherlands

[@bintisf]

3:00 not a terrier but a wirehaired dachshund 😃

[@cut_and_cover]

Thank you for the correction.

[@Wayclarke]

No need to call the dog names!

[@NotJustBikes]

Wow the weather was a lot nicer when you were there. That business park looks really great when it's sunny!

[@cut_and_cover]

Yeah, if anything, you undersold this place. Still can't believe that this office block Eden is somewhere people GET paid to visit.

[@nfboogaard]

Hi there Jason! Watching this video I knew you had something to do with it. Then I saw that business district from your video, and then Alex dropped your name hahah! I hope change is coming to North American car culture. I will be watching your other videos Alex.

[@annekekramer3835]

Really, now I get YT recommendations just because Jason watched it too?

[@hendman4083]

@@annekekramer3835 It is more likely because your viewing histories share similar topics.

[@ConsciousAtoms]

As a Dutchman I never cease to be amazed by how enthusiastic US and Canadian youtubers are about our infrastructure. For me it's everyday life, and I hope it can be for you as well, some day.

[@vali20vali20vali20]

Please keep your crap there, no need to infest the world. Thanks.

[@mandan8945]

Maybe, we as Dutch citizens should start appreciating what a fucking great country we live in. I certainly don't hope that they start taking this for granted.

[@Siranoxz]

@@mandan8945 Yes we should appreciate it indeed.

[@floris-janvandermeulen8054]

@@mandan8945 I guess that's what the prime minister means when he mentions "dit is gewoon een waanzinnig gaaf land". Infrastructurewise he's right.

[@dutchman7623]

Strangely enough 90% of the Dutch population lives within a distance of less than two miles away from a highway. Highways do not have traffic lights, nor level crossings, and are ONLY for high speed travel of above at least 70 km/h. So all speed reduced travel concerns only the first or last maximum distance of two miles. Most factories, big box trade, offices, and other places where people work are next to an exit of the highway, so a commute consists of house - max two miles reduced speed - highway - short road - work. The Netherlands have one of the best highway systems in the world. And the safest, because of extremely well route indication which makes last second decisions almost not existing. Even the trade park shown in this video has a highway immediately next to it, and good public transit, plus a separated bicycle infra. But those three systems do not cross each other at the same level, so there are no conflict areas. Even the landing strips of the airport are, of course, crossing highways, railroads, public transit and bicycle infra. But all split leveled. Good infra for one mode never blocks good infra for the other, and that's the big difference. And I didn't even mention the dense waterway network.

[@cut_and_cover]

I've also noticed that when you get off a Dutch highway, the infrastructure communicates "Okay, chill out. You're off the highway.". In the states, it's like"Keep speeding! It's basically still a highway.

[@therealdutchidiot]

@@cut_and_cover True. Dutch roads (well most of them anyway) communicate the expected speed by using design limits. I'm sure you've seen this already, but in case you haven't here's a gem on systematic/sustainable safety (known in some countries as vision zero): kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5KxpaaNq7OMgac

[@cut_and_cover]

Yes, that is a great video.

[@robinwolferink7315]

@@cut_and_cover France has in that regard also good road design with the design matching the speed limit.

[@evo3s75]

highways (Autosnelweg) are actually for vehicles which can go a minimum of 60kph. (autoweg is minimum of 50kph)

[@marcelmoulin3335]

Well done, Alex. Albeit a Dutchman, I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area in the '60s and '70s. I left the US in 1986 for the UK. I retired in 2018, and I then realised my dream of 50 years to return to the fatherland. I now live in paradise... Middelburg, Zeeland. I no longer have a car. I walk, cycle or take the train/tram/bus everywhere. I feel liberated after living in car-centric places. In fact, I feel euphoric!

[@peterkeijsers489]

There's at least 1 major problem, when implementing Dutch road culture into the USA. The Dutch infrastructure is connected to (urban) neighbourhood planning, meaning that there are shops just around the corner where you can buy your daily groceries just around the corner. In the USA, one has to travel several miles to the nearest supermarket in order to buy your daily groceries. That has to change as well, in order to have functioning different types of modal transportation functioning in the USA.

[@michaeldyblie5500]

This land use adjustments must be made before significant shift in the culture, but the culture must start to shift for these land use changes to even happen in the first place

[@crytocc]

That's still a regulatory rather than a practical problem, though; it's certainly possible to repurpose previously residential plots as local shops, for example.

[@peterkeijsers489]

@@crytocc I would advocate exactly that! And yeah, maybe it's more of a regulatory problem, but it's quite deeply rooted in the American system (alas).

[@jannetteberends8730]

And schools.

[@robertheinrichvonseyfenste267]

just around the corner there are no shops where I live... and I' m not the only one, the whole rural part of this country is practically without shops..

[@k20nutz]

I moved to the Netherlands 4 months ago and I agree 100%. I have no need for a car anymore and I live in a suburb not even a major city. I'm very interested to see what your generation does with the US in upcoming decades. Best of luck, I'm cheering you on from the sidelines.

[@cut_and_cover]

Okay, I'll let you know when we've got everything fixed!

[@dd-uy5lx]

they are also 1000 years old nation and roads. Compare to USA cities. Compare new york to Amsterdam, about the same, small and mass transit works. Small and compact cities are mass transit cities. Same time, Los Angeles county is huge about half of the Netherlands with more population. Let's see Amsterdam is about 800 years old almost, streets are the size of my bathroom, Jesus everyone is comparing apples and oranges

[@k20nutz]

@@dd-uy5lx that's why changes need to be made. This video is showing what's good about apples and why it is wise to try and change oranges into apples.

[@JaapGinder]

@@dd-uy5lx Amsterdam in this is a bad example. But take the cities Almere or Lelystad. Both can be compared to an American city, though you'll find the same infrastructure, road design and bike lanes as in Amsterdam, except the narrow streets. Public transport in the Netherlands is good, mostly on time and frequent (with a few exceptions when you live in a small village).

[@dd-uy5lx]

@@JaapGinder which city are you comparing to? Almere got fewer people than two suburban cities in Los Angeles. Which American cities are you comparing to? both of the towns (200k is considered village almost) you mention are smaller than most USA cities and your cities have 200k pop the most. Take millions in population and sq, I have seen the Netherlands and most of Europe, its old and not that populated.

[@cheddaz86]

Warms my heart to hear a younger voice in the urban infrastructure field - us 30 pluses have good ideas but need to connect with the next generations enthusiasm! Keep up the good work :)

[@blackman7437]

6:20 One of the differences between Canadian and American transit culture is that in a lot of suburbs in Canada, kids do take transit to go to school. Translink gets kids to school in all of Metro Vancouver, and that's also the case in some suburbs around Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and a couple other cities. Canadian transit ridership in suburbs is also generally a lot higher than it is in the US. Like, there are several busses in the Vancouver suburbs that move more people than the busiest urban SEPTA routes. The bus service is more well frequent and better funded, so there's kind of a chicken or the egg scenario going on. Pretty much every suburb in the US would need to greatly improve their bus service if they wanted to do this. It's something that could easily be done, but it would require political will.

[@cut_and_cover]

Wow, if I knew about this, I would have included it in the video. That's an excellent talking point. Thanks for telling me.

[@Lawman212]

@@cut_and_cover Also, maybe this is outside the scope of your video, but NYC kids take transit to school every day. So there's a bright spot for you.

[@allws9683]

I thought there was a whole fuzz with letting children (not) taking transit to school. A single dad sued the city/province for the right to have his children go on transit (on their own) ... He got targeted by child protection agencies for 'neglect' ..

[@SwagFlap]

However let your kids cycle to school, and you will have child protective services at your door in Canada too lol....

[@Colonies_Dev]

i hate living here, and i hate the enormous oversize of all windows, lack of airconditionings

[@jonahwillis2781]

Dang. I'm 17 and I've been deciding between jumping ship and moving from California to the Netherlands, or sticking it out here to become some type of urban planner/humanitarian. Your line about not losing hope and choosing to come back to the States in order to continue your education as well as to educate others with videos like these is honestly really inspiring. P.S. your script was perfectly paced and concise! Even bringing up how some companies are moving in the right direction with travel pass and bike delivery incentives was a really great way to show how there is SOME improvement occurring around the world(as slow as it is).

[@cut_and_cover]

Yeah, we need people here trying to fix the problem. But if you hate the place you live, no sense staying there. Instead of moving to the Netherlands, you could try moving to a place where change is happening in the US. The San Francisco yimby movement is picking up steam. People in Los Angeles have made huge progress fighting to rebuild the city's transit network. Portland is implementing transit oriented development so competently, it's downright un-American. Unless you're living in Phoenix or Anchorage, your city has a walkable future worth fighting for. That's where my optimism comes from.

[@jonahwillis2781]

@@cut_and_cover I do actually live in the suburbs of LA, and my area has steadily been improving bike infrastructure. Now I'm adamant about working together to improve these types of things for everyone.

[@cut_and_cover]

@@jonahwillis2781 Irvine has really made progress on bike safety.

[@Zoza15]

In the summers when the grass is overgrown, we use cows and sheeps to let them graze on the grass to reduce cost or eliminate costs altogether. So we don't need to use grass mower machines. You can see groups of sheeps in huge parks or places where there's a lot grass in neighborhoods. As they do the job of eating the grass and fertilize the soil to support the eco system, hence why its better for us and the environment.

[@dimmerridder7377]

We only have to clea. The shit of thd sheep 😂

[@imrebarten6115]

I think one of the things that ads to our 'respecting bike infrastructure' culture is that a lot of us grew up on bikes. I feel like USians have this hard line between 'driver' and 'cyclist', whereas here your mode of transportation does not define you that much. We all ride bikes, take public transit or grab the car, so most people driving a car recognize the disadvantaged position you can be in while riding a bike, so are more likely to be mindfull of their driving while around others sharing the road.

[@cooldudemcgeexl]

Dude I just got back from Chicago (Cincinnatian here) and I totally agree with the cultural portion. Obviously it’s not the Netherlands, but seeing more than just the absolutely desperate use transit was an eye opener not only for me but for the rest of my friends that aren’t as urbanism obsessed. Sick vid

[@b_lee2003]

Cincinnati used to be a transit hub, but when the passenger trains stopped running through Union Terminal as often, the area lost its hunger for train transit. I live in Erlanger, and there’s a train depot museum there, they made a big deal earlier this year or the year before about the mural in the underpass on Dixie Highway paying tribute to Erlanger’s train history, and I’m like “…who under 40 has ridden a train that stopped in Erlanger?”

[@cut_and_cover]

If Ohio ever gets the 3C train running, Kentucky could extend the service to Louisville. Erlanger could be a stop on the way. That's where I see a potential corridor.

[@b_lee2003]

@@cut_and_cover but that would take focus off of arguing who’s going to pay for correcting the issues with the Brent Spence Bridge! 😱

[@jorrittimmers8066]

Excellent work Alex. The script for this video was well researched and well written and your delivery even better. I am Dutch and I really hope the rest of the world sees the benefits of our sustainable safety approach. Thank you for helping spread the word

[@vipersuit2652]

ive also been in the Netherlands last week, stayed in Zaandam and we did some nice extensive bike tours. loved it so much

[@StefanRink]

Zaandam isn't even the best when it comes to bike lanes but I'm glad you liked it here!

[@andybaker4861]

Wow! I moved here 18 years ago, and this helped me realize how great it is here. Just feels normal now.

[@forsyth5793]

Great analysis on the cultural aspect of transit usage here in North America, it’s a hurdle not talked about enough.

[@tatuncanara5934]

cultural transit = infrastructure, if you do a good infrastructure the users hava no choice and should follow the rules, ether they do or they won't be able to continue their route

[@livablecity]

Thank you for making this great video! My favorite lesson is at 00:26 - continuity is more important than uniformity. It's good to have a variety of standards for bike infrastructure to choose from, because then you can apply different standards in different environments. Here in Israel we have the exact same problem you mentioned in Pennsylvania: the metro area bike network is supposed to look uniform and is hardly ever using existing streets, and as a result it will probably take over a decade to build 8 metropolitan bike routes, including new bridges just like you mentioned, which is insane. I want to say that I don't fully agree with what you said about culture. I believe infrastructure creates culture. Dutch people respect bike riders because the infrastructure requires them to slow down. People take the bus that goes once an hour because this bus is reliable, probably uses separated bus lanes if it passes through a city, and connects directly to a railway station where a train goes every 15 minutes to every other city in the Netherlands (am I right? I don't know this specific bus route, but this describes pretty much any bus route in the Netherlands). These things are hard to find outside Europe. So culture can be changed, and the only way to change it is to revolutionize the infrastructure.

[@cut_and_cover]

This bus doesn't use separate bus lanes, but you are right. It is more reliable than most American buses. I probably should have expanded on the culture section. It's a chicken and egg problem. Car infrastructure resists culture change, but car culture resists infrastructure change. So you have to try and change both at once.

[@cut_and_cover]

Also, I love your channel.

[@livablecity]

Thank you!

[@PaulvdP]

Amazing video. I think your point about culture is perhaps the most important factor in whether or not a community or country will have good, non-car centric infrastructure. Growing up in the Netherlands in the 90's and 00's has shaped my perspective on transport to be vastly different from Americans. I grew up in a country where bicycle infrastructure is safe and trains, trams, and busses are reliable and frequent. Due to that I have always seen all the different types of transport available to me as equal. Public transit does not feel like a mode of transport that you are relegated to because you can't afford a car, rather it is just a different way of getting around. It is easy to feel like America would have to be redesigned from the ground up to make good transit make sense, but that is not the case. Every bus route, or cycling path, or tram line that is installed improves a communities livability. The small town I grew up in had 2 bus routes, both going to medium towns with better (train) connections to bigger cities. Because of these routes I was able to live in a small town while being in college. Now that I live in a major city I certainly don't own a car, but Dutch cities have obviously had a long time to get good at transit. Even in a small town, however, sometimes all it takes is a couple of safe cycling routes and a decent bus connection to enable people to live without cars.

[@cut_and_cover]

When it comes to small towns, frequent transit usually isn't viable, so the town must include everything someone needs on a daily basis. That's almost always true in Europe. What's happened to a lot of American small towns is that practical businesses have left, leaving only boutiques. So if you want to go to a grocery or hardware store, you have to drive, despite living in a dense, mixed use neighborhood. So much lost potential.

[@MrGurbel]

Hi I’m from the Netherlands. And in my opinion this is excellent content please continue.

[@_DeathDreams_]

About your last point: I find myself pretty fond of public transport and willing to go when it's an option, and that definitely isn't a coincidence, because back in elementary school, my teachers would often have us do field trips on public buses and trains (there was a bus stop next to the elementary school), and at a pretty good cost too. I definitely remember the back of the bus being pretty packed with us schoolchildren (lol), but they did try to teach us proper transit etiquette. I have the feeling that, because of those experiences, I'm more willing to consider public transit because of my initial exposure showing me that it's actually pretty cool and not a weird, foreign concept. Even in junior high, I saw plenty of people taking public buses to go to school, which definitely helped normalize it. Though, that being said, cycling where I live could use some work, because even though our urban bones are pretty good and most people are cycling distance from school, the roads are still very car-oriented, and there's always a traffic jam of stressed and aggravated parents dropping off their kids before school.

[@k20nutz]

Also the script, timing, and editing was excellent!

[@Doodloper]

Excellent vid by the already legendary Alex "Snacks" Davis

[@DenUitvreter]

Good video, but there's a deeper cultural layer too it. Relatively small houses that keep distances short, small fridges and frequent 10 minute grocery shopping, lively inner cities and big box stores only at city's edges, general safety not just traffic safety, not being comfort craving whimps, egalitarianism and not giving a **** about not showing off wealth, even drinking culture.

[@HowtoBuildtheWorld]

I am so happy for you to go see top-tier world class urbanism :D and I also see some strong parallels to notjustbikes :) but you are coming in very well on your own style and show ;) I cant wait to see what you do next :3

[@georgekarnezis4311]

You have a great style too. And I like your comics

[@cut_and_cover]

^^^ Yeah, the comics are really good.

[@HowtoBuildtheWorld]

@@georgekarnezis4311 That's so cool thanks! :D

[@jaaput]

Just beware that you don't use the words "car infested" every 2 minutes or so.

[@cut_and_cover]

@@jaaput Make sure to use the words "car infested" even more.

[@toadscoper4575]

YES! Thank you SO much for pointing out how bad isolated bike paths are the US. America is obsessed with building “rail trails”, which more often than not pave over former rail transit ROWs that had long been overtaken by cars. The issue with rail trails (at least in New England) is that they are not built for the sake of transit; rather, they are built for suburbanites to simply ride on. There are often no destinations or residential connections on these trails. This isn’t to say all rail trails are like that, but there are absolutely more than a few that are.

[@CasGroenigen]

It's so interesting to me to see how you are so excited about locations I pass on my commute (by train) every day without giving them much thought.

[@elitejv]

Haha, you're recording from the office park where I work, and the bus stop I use almost every day. Feels weird to have someone raving about the infrastructure you use every day, and are completely accustomed to. It feels like you went there during the weekend? To see no one at the stop towards Haarlem is pretty rare.

[@cut_and_cover]

Yes, it was a Sunday afternoon.

[@WegmisbruikersOpYoutube]

I live in a village in the netherlands and have to say biking here isn't really the way to go in the countrysides of the netherlands. Of course, there are many more bicycles than in america here even where you have to ride pretty far when you want to go to another village nearby, but even more people are using scooters (often tuned from 30km/h to maybe 90-100km/h) which can be very dangerous. At the night, almost everyone is driving around 150 (90 mp/h) with cars. This gets very very annoying when your riding a bike at those narrow streets and is very stressful. I bought a scooter myself and it is so much more comfortable than riding a bike, and many more people are planning to buy one too.

[@mardiffv.8775]

You are right, cycling is limited to cities and towns. 10 km/ 6 miles one way trip is the limit of a bike and 25 km/ 15 miles for an E-bike.

[@Deckzwabber]

I have to give you many compliments on not just visiting the standard tourist attractions like Amsterdam centre and Giethoorn, but some unusual locations too. This way of thinking makes traveling a much richer experience for everyone, not just for city planners. You learn about a country and the culture by going to the places where regular people spend their daily lives.

[@Roman500]

Wow this looked so professional and smooth. Very entertaining!

[@henrimessinghausen5185]

Damn clever guy you are....I like your analysing bike-infrastructure-culture. With peopel like you the US will improve a lot.

[@Sir_Rots]

A lot of footage was actually in Hoofddorp, my hometown. And the 'Zuid agent' bus is fantastic! Stop 5 min from my home, every 10-15 min. I take it to go to Haarlem (20 min), and it stop in the centre of the city. You drink as much as you like and just step on the bus again. 😵🥘🍷🍹🍾

[@JamesTsividis]

You've got a great channel! Very inspiring.

[@koffiegast]

Dutchie here. I think the problem with America is their car-centric culture. Everything derives from it with the abrasive regulations and so on. "The country is too big for cycling" and Im thinking.. it is actually what would make it sooooo easy to implement. Youve so much space to work with, you can have separate roads pretty much everywhere if you so wish and with electric bikes it'd be a breeze to get everywhere. Amsterdam is in places very crammed and it diminishes safety/overview IMO, in USA those scenarios would be rare. Heck, I don't understand why New York isn't a total bike city... the cars always feel crammed and jams everywhere.

[@peskypigeonx]

We in NYC are slowly trying to build really good biking infrastructure (Randall’s Island as an example), but there are so much problems that we have barely addressed (And I live in basically the worst area for cycling in NYC, the Bronx)

[@nock3893]

Wow great video! I was completely shocked when I looked at your sub count to see that it was only ~6,000. You seriously deserve more attention

[@Thim22Z7]

Nice hearing your insights on this place! I also find it really fun to see how excited you are seeing the Netherlands, for what is pretty trivial for me and other people living here. Greetings from Drenthe, aka Dutch Wyoming :)

[@EKsUrbanTracks]

I love your style!

[@islandletters]

A very charming video.

[@lolololol7573]

Great video! It's wonderful to see how our little country inspires people across the world about something that has become so normal to us, but should be treasured. I hope you are successful in making your city and maybe the country safer for everyone :)

[@halleradam]

Cheers to an A+ video project! You are the future. May you achieve your dream. I’m in. Tot Ziens.

[@BenjaminD84]

It's great to see that we in the Netherlands inspire you guys across the pond to make cities more about people than about cars. Very curious to see if that will shift your policies the coming decades. Unfortunately travel to the US has become insanely expensive, but I hope to see it with my own eyes someday.

[@cut_and_cover]

Yeah, big trips like that can get expensive. If you want to see a lot of the country, a great way to do that is to get an American rail pass. 500 US$ lets you ride 10 segments on Amtrak, as long as you want. No booking ahead of time. I hope to do it summer 2024.

[@bryanhall1388]

What a great video, clear commentary and excellent footage. Changing people's inner values is the best and most effective lever for change (see the iceberg model). This only happens when we work together with communities, rather than imposing interventions on them.

[@bertkassing8541]

Hahaha, you're quoting Jason from Not Just Bikes. You were in Hoofddorp (just outside Amsterdam). I live in Hoofddorp so recognize everything I saw on your video. Very good video by the way. Keep doing this! Compliment!

[@dpstq2]

As a urban planner fan and student, I have read many books and watch many videos about the topic of "urban planning", and I love to come across videos that expand on the details of how a nation crafts it's city planning. I would like to highlight some insight on this video too. After hearing your statements, I have notice a core idea in the dutch "crafting" of bike systems. I would call it "low-tech compact dynamics". The Dutch will mold the raw land to create "compact sized areas" that makes streets and neighborhoods have a "small village" feeling to them. No need to set up stop signs or traffic lights, because the guidelines of the "micro sized" streets and mother nature's raw land, dictate what you can do and not do on the street. Everyone has to negotiate when using this type of street. Traffic lights have there place in "corridors & downtown environments", places where big numbers of people will cross paths with each other and with too many people interacting in a big area, the almighty traffic light has to manage the negotiates. Thanks for your insight and video work. keep it going.

[@Nitzpitz]

Great video! You captured the essence of Dutch bike culture

[@stekra3159]

Fighting for cultural improvements America needs takes will convention patience and courage. I am so glad you have that.

[@bobarros]

Just a comment for the algo, man. Your video is great and deserves it!

[@Walt1119]

Absolutely correct in ALL points! I’ve been there, it’s pretty incredible..

[@literallyjudas2157]

Incredible video, great scripting, great presentation, great points, and great communication. Can't wait to see you in the recs alongside NJB, City Beautiful, Eco Gecko, and the rest of the best.

[@vrrrrrr-uwu]

but he’s already in the recs next to those sub-standard sellout content creators you mention. how do you think i got here? this kid’s videos are just better

[@literallyjudas2157]

@@vrrrrrr-uwu I think you should be very quiet for a long time.

[@cut_and_cover]

Yeah, I'd maybe take a sponsorship if I didn't disagree with the company.

[@fohward]

A worthwhile addition to the other videos out there on this topic 👍

[@vanhetgoor]

Long way to go!

[@kailahmann1823]

About school busses and public transit: My (German) region doesn't really differentiate between them - because a bus into the city in the morning is perfect for commuters too. The village where I grew up has barely 500 residents and has a regular bus service about every two hours daily ("on call" on weekends). During school days however, there is one bus every hours at least and sometimes every 15 (!) minutes.

[@bebobism]

The biggest difference I think is , the fact that we Dutch start of cycling from like 6 years old and we use them for about a decade to get around ( school,friends etc.). So the idea of cycling/cyclists is embedded in our thinking pattern , we don't magically forget about cyclist when we get in a car.

[@Furstcreation]

Amazing video. Can't wait for more to come!

[@Redisia]

Mandatory professional driving lessons also helps set in the basic theory on rules and respect

[@trainluvr]

I like that the video does not cut off at the last spoken syllable. Enjoy your productive youth. The car brains will not be vanquished until a permanent energy crisis is apparent to all.

[@skyfeelan]

0:01 at this point I totally expected Martin Garrix's Animals to start playing

[@mariusfacktor3597]

Dude your videos are fucking excellent. You've made Amsterdam look gorgeous and alive, which probably isn't hard to do, but you definitely did it right.

[@michaelkruck-weimuller31]

You give me hope for the future 😊

[@maxjaramillo3873]

Perhaps you will be the new Robert Moses for alternative transit we've been waiting for? Good luck.

[@ReplyMNO]

Really good video. Thanks

[@TakanashiYuuji]

This is a really good video! Would love to see you make more :)

[@davidhamilton6001]

Love the video! Thank you for saying "US and Canada" instead of "North America". It's a small but important difference and we notice!

[@cut_and_cover]

Mexico and Greenland are like "No, leave us out of this."

[@m8852]

Superb job! Although I haven't been to Amsterdam, I can imagine how sad you are to be leaving. I'm sure I would feel the same way.

[@juanperz5715]

Nice information!

[@TheColehabo]

5:55 In america it sounds like traffic laws only is for cars. But here in the netherlands if a car meets a bike the same law counts if the person it doesnt matter what the person is in or on u get the right off way.

[@EC4U2C_Studioz]

In the Netherlands whenever bike and pedestrian traffic get the green signal, the traffic turning into them gets a red arrow traffic light assuming there is a separate turn lane. Turns on red are never allowed in the Netherlands.

[@0x0079]

I can vouch for using public transit for field trips. A lot of my schools' field trips were done on public busses and that played a large part in my happiness to use them myself now.

[@Random.ChanneI]

I cycle through this business park almost everyday! Specifically where those cows are as well ;) When the westher is good, there are so many people around. And the terrace of the Novotel is always jam packed.

[@cut_and_cover]

Wow, and with that username! I'm glad the business park is well loved.

[@Random.ChanneI]

@@cut_and_cover Haha i’m a huge fan of cars and a very proud car owner as well, but especially now with these gas prices i’d rather see it parked on my driveway!

[@guitardude412]

Seriously excellent work in this video!Where are you getting your MUP in Philly? I’ve been considering a couple of their programs

[@cut_and_cover]

Rutgers, so not in Philly. Also, I'm undergrad.

[@luuk6858]

Quite interesting that people are now going to visit my home town (Hoofddorp) after a not just bikes video.

[@cut_and_cover]

I just had to ride the Zuidtangent. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best bus rapid transit I've ever been on.

[@Iggy89]

It's impossible to change the whole layout of a city but changing from cars to motorcycles and scooters reduces traffic by 80% without the need for new infrastructure. You can see this work in busy cities all over Asia.

[@mardiffv.8775]

Yes, you are right, but Americans do not like motorcycles and moped scooters (a scooter is a step in Dutch). Too dangerous in an accidents and Chicago and New York gets too cold and rainy in the winter for motorcycles.

[@Iggy89]

@@mardiffv.8775 Wind and rain is not an excuse when you talk to the Dutch lol. Dangerous ? Yes , Way more fun and efficient ? Double yes.

[@mardiffv.8775]

@@Iggy89 I agree with you. I just stated American opinions. I am also Dutch, like you. Also a moped is considered inferior to the car in the USA.

[@13ccasto]

I was just reading about a town in Spain called Ponteverde where cars are banned from the medieval town center and it got me wondering how many residents of the town center are still noticeably salty, years on, that if they have a car, they have to walk further to get from their parking place to their home. That got me thinking of the fantastic super-narrow streets in Philly, where cars can barely or not at all fit, as wondering how people living on those streets feel about the tradeoff of not being able to park in front of their home versus having a street that is friendlier to people. Anyway, that could be a cool video to see!

[@cut_and_cover]

Look at the Zillow prices of homes on alley streets, and you'll get your answer.

[@Kram1032]

Been to the Netherlands twice thus far. Both times was really lovely FWIW bike infrastructure in a lot of places is really seeing quite some improvements lately, but just about the entire world lags behind the Netherlands in this regard.

[@snowstrobe]

Way to get the most out of a trip, brilliant assessment.

[@XDXD-vu3mp]

How was your visit to giethoorn i Just took that bus lol

[@cut_and_cover]

It's the tourist attraction so touristy even the Dutch have to visit. I'm glad to say, it lives up to the hype.

[@lexburen5932]

@@cut_and_cover yeah from a dutch guy i wish it wasnt. It is a mess there with all those tourists. In amsterdam. Most locals are not to happy about it.

[@zakbarbezat]

excellent video. so cool to see the areas I grew up in and live in around southeast Pennsylvania be used as an example

[@Hollandstation]

Thank you! This is a very good video!

[@steffanaarts-greven1352]

In the US people say they can't transition because it already is geared towards cars. But look at Amsterdam in the 60 and 70s. It was completely car focused. Streets were basically highways that were constantly jammed. Something needed to change and instead of adding more asphalt, they took a concious decision to do away with that car focus and give room to bikes. Basically make the car the least desirable option instead of the standard. This made the flow of the city much better with higher traffic flows and made the city liveable again. I'm from outside the city and need my car (village with bad bus connection) but when visiting Amsterdam I park at a Park and Ride on the outskirts and use the subway, train or tram to get into the city itself.

[@erikzurcher5528]

Keep spreading the word, Alex!

[@denali637]

Insightful and succinct. Well done.

[@danbrooks5060]

8:35 "...if I did [believe that], I wouldn't be going back (*ding ding*)" HOLY SHIT. HAS ANYONE CALLED OUT NOTJUSTBIKES FOR THIS BEFORE? BRO THAT WAS SAVAGE

[@cut_and_cover]

Yeah, it wasn't really a call out. He's talked about it before. I don't really blame him for leaving, and he's helped out a lot more than most of the people still stuck in North America.

[@dimrrider9133]

I heard the name Jason 😉

[@hendman4083]

Maybe having kids changes perspective too on where you would want to live.

[@cut_and_cover]

Yeah, we'll see how much of a warrior I am when my kids can't walk to school.

[@michaelvickers4437]

Alex. Your videos are already top-tier urbanist quality. You need a Patreon!

[@floris3239]

Sorry you had to go back. But it's great that you, as an urban planning student, visited. I hope that more of your fellow students will visit the Netherlands. 😊 That would save me, as a Dutch person, a lot of frustration when traveling abroad with all the shitty infrastructure in the rest of the world. 😂

[@michaelvickers4437]

Alex. Please tell me you got to meet up with Jason when you were there. 🙏

[@jannetteberends8730]

About culture: I watched several videos from the USA where parents organised a bike bus. It’s children coming together at a point to bike together to school. There’s a lot of creativity in Canada and the USA to change things. So maybe within 10 years the Dutch go to North America for ideas. The cows are used for maintenance of the grass that isn’t a lawn. In my neighbourhood they use sheep. My dog is terrified of them.

[@dimrrider9133]

Hahaha i dont think so we fought for our safety in the 7ies we never going back to what you guys have never. We come to your country to save you from flooting, building greenhouses (i did it in Ohio an long Island) and show you to build infra for people not for cars 😘😘

[@jannetteberends8730]

@@dimrrider9133 I’m Dutch, and was active member of Oranje Vrijstaat. I participated in protests to get the city centre free of cars. 10 years before ‘stop de kindermoord’

[@FalconsEye58094]

I'm debating whether I want to go back to school for the kind of degree you're doing. I didn't realize until I was almost done with college that this was the kind of thing that really fascinates me

[@cut_and_cover]

Well, what kind of job are you looking for with the degree?

[@FalconsEye58094]

@@cut_and_cover a reverse Robert Moses I guess. I’m from Long Island, the exact place he’s most known for. I wanna reinvent the urban environment in a way like exists over there in Amsterdam or elsewhere in EU. Especially since we have not much space to work with as is

[@cut_and_cover]

@@FalconsEye58094 Well that position of power doesn't exist anymore, and he's part of the reason why. Do you live in a Nassau town?

[@FalconsEye58094]

@@cut_and_cover yes

[@cut_and_cover]

If you want to work with zoning variance applications, building permits, traffic studies, infrastructure planning, etc, then the urban planning degree might be for you. I did it so I can move more freely within the transit industry and not have to worry about which jobs I need a college degree for. But if you just want to make change, get on your municipality's local planning board. Don't reveal you're a yimby urbanist until you get on. But once you're on, you'll be reviewing variance applications. You can make a huge impact. It's the boomers' best kept secret.

[@BicycleFunk]

Nice little video :)

[@ppleater]

This is a really great video and i hope you keep making content.

[@vanderquast]

Great Vlog 👍😎 greetings from The Netherlands 🌷

[@magska]

You would be happy to know that my school district offers free yearly ctran passes and I am in the one who gives the cards out, great vid, welcome home

[@nicholascampbell2824]

I though I had tinnitus but it turned out it was the near constant traffic noise of the "street" that I live on

[@jk34695]

Since America politicians are basically bribed by special interest, many do not work for what it is best for the people but for what checks can they get for their next campaign. Great analysis, if the youth are smart like you then there might be some hope

[@cut_and_cover]

I think it definitely helped the Netherlands to not have a powerful car manufacturing lobby inside the country.

[@therealdutchidiot]

@@cut_and_cover Maybe, though there are a couple. Campaign laws are most useful in this case: quid pro quo is strictly illegal.

[@cut_and_cover]

@@therealdutchidiot Yeah, same here, but...

[@therealdutchidiot]

@@cut_and_cover But not enforced, yeah, I kinda figured, sadly.

[@frankdehobbit8989]

9:00 If it's out of focus, it needs an 'adjustment'

[@PhilipSalen]

Your videos are amazing; different in style than Miles in Transit, but still amazing.

[@cut_and_cover]

Glad to hear you're holding me to a high bar.

[@PhilipSalen]

@@cut_and_cover Will you be at the SEPTA race to Germantown on Friday?

[@cut_and_cover]

@@PhilipSalen I can't, I have work with NJ Transit. But hey, at least it's transit related.

[@PhilipSalen]

@@cut_and_cover Do you have a Patreon? Your videos remind me more of the Armchair Urbanist or Not Just Bikes than Miles in Transit

[@cut_and_cover]

I have this: ko-fi.com/newbrunswickbuses You can give me money and know that it goes to improving public transportation.

[@piethein4355]

On the cultural change issue, you possitive ideas are nice, but the reality is that you will need to also, rightfully i might add, fearmonger about traffic deaths caused by cars. One of the major turning points for the netherlands involved activism around the epidemic of dying children caused by the widespreat adoption of cars.

[@Lawman212]

Nice. A Jason shoutout. You should see Fake London sometime.

[@letheas6175]

The enthusiasm for the Thalys was super cute haha In general, great video. Great you enjoyed your time in our lovely little country:)

[@jamirograntsaan2124]

2:50 okay so that road near Steenwijk.. everyone speeds on those types of roads, because there's the room to do so. They're not safe at all

[@cut_and_cover]

That's interesting. Which rural roads would you consider the safest?