Cycling City 2018: Houten [579]

[@cansw81]

This is incredible. A community based on cycling as the main method of transportation and allowing for connections to the rail network. Children grow up in a healthy environment, and are much more connected to their surroundings. An absolute utopia.

[@paolagrando5079]

An utopia that does exist. ☺

[@Jerbod2]

I love these videos. I'm from the Netherlands myself but watching these videos makes you realize how well organized everything is here. We don't have any nature to speak of, even the parts that resemble nature the closest are managed in some ways, the only thing we haven't managed yet are the sea and weather. We like to complain in the Netherlands, but if you look at it from a broader perspective we've got little to complain about, nothing is left to chance.

[@BasBastiaansen]

We've been managing the sea for more than 500 years mate

[@Jerbod2]

Nope, if by sea you mean salt water then no, we do not. It's like saying we control the weather because inside my house it's 20 degrees celsius while outside it's only 5. The ijsselmeer is by definition a lake since it's no longer connected to the north-sea. Thus we do not control the sea.

[@ciscolazcano68]

You know I live in Mexico, and as I would like to live in the Netherlands, I see that it is an educated country, good habits, respect, there is almost no crime, I love the cycle ways, here in Mexico a lot of crime, hellish traffic, I love the Netherlands

[@martijnvv8031]

I get your point, but nobody has control over any sea... But still even the 'polders' you're referring too has to be managed. Take the Flevopolder, every day pumps are working hard to keep the land dry. If it was so easy as you're saying, Bangladesh wouldn't have so much flood problems ! But it's getting a bit off topic here, back to bikes ! ;-)

[@roccpro5021]

Chemtrails

[@reynoutdecourt7983]

Stupendous facilities and video. Congratulations. I am a Dutchman enjoying life in New Zealand but Houten must be the best place on earth to live!

[@holgers.3397]

i went there 3 days ago, just loved it.

[@mippzmi]

I lived there.

[@Aragorn.Strider]

Houten, the role model city for the 22th century.

[@mourlyvold7655]

As an infrastructural template, a big step forward indeed. More sustainable architecture, large scale rain catchment systems, biological waste water treatment and a focus on local regenerative food production (to name just a few) are needed for any development to be called a role model though, in my opinion.

[@redRebelChronicles]

I live in Houten yet I never realized how special it is to others (outside the Netherlands)

[@MatthewWunderlich]

I literally gasped when I saw that shot of the bike parking just steps from the train platform.

[@mourlyvold7655]

That shot is pretty mesmerizing indeed, even for me as a dutchman. It showcases the essence of the whole system.

[@ArinkaLinders]

I live in Houten! ❤

[@lasaventurasdevitoelgatoma3405]

U people live a dream City, i am i bit jealous i must admit... Must be such a joy to live there!

[@mediumrick7667]

Envious in the US.

[@mippzmi]

Houten blijft geweldig. Ik heb er jaren gewoond. Nu woon ik in Zeeland.

[@mathewtownsend4148]

Meanwhile in Brisbane, Australia. City councilors and Lord Mayor kept expanding our freeways and roads to dominate for cars and trucks. Public transport is woeful and cycling only takes 3% of commute. We have cycling facilities but not popular due to poor connectivity and infrastructure isn't well maintained.

[@mrtnsnp]

Nice, well deserved. Especially the transferium is worth copying (of course with the supporting infrastructure). One of my colleagues commutes by train to Houten and then cycles on to De Bilt, even though Utrecht Lunetten and Utrecht Central stations are closer. But while Lunetten is much closer to De Bilt, it doesn't have the bicycle facilities, and for Utrecht Central you have to deal with the city, which he doesn't like. And it gets him the exercise he wants.

[@noeraldinkabam]

Maarten Sneep Houten -De Bilt is a beautiful route to bike and it’s at most 10minutes more then UCS or Lunetten.

[@mrtnsnp]

I'd say it is more than 10 minutes, but more importantly there are some parts in that route where you need to cycle on some less-than-optimal roads, shared with cars and the occasional agricultural vehicle. Especially in dark the latter is not nice. Lunetten De Bilt is completely over separated bike paths, with at least one notorious crossing removed compared to Houten-De Bilt. Utrecht CS is busy enough as-is, and I can fully imagine why someone would avoid it.

[@C345OFR]

The fact that such an award even exists in the Netherlands shows just how far behind we are, in the UK.

[@martijnvv8031]

We also have an award made from old lead and it's for this years worst TV commercial. Maybe you could do the same in the UK, but give it for "the worst example of a cycle path" ;-)

[@C345OFR]

Good idea, though I'm afraid the award ceremony would be the longest in history in order to include the nominations! We have some pretty stupid examples: www.google.co.uk/search?q=shortest+bike+lane+uk&safe=off&client=firefox-b&dcr=0&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiR6fqDgODYAhWEIMAKHW_aD54QsAQISw&biw=1920&bih=965

[@WXGA17]

are you sure that's not a parking spot ?

[@C345OFR]

Which one? Those are multiple entries!

[@davehorne7207]

I live in the Netherlands and have been on vacation several times in the UK. What I find amusing, there'll be a bike path, rather a marking for a bike path, leading to an intersection. You go through the intersection and the path ends 10 meters later.

[@srinip]

What a beautiful town!

[@finnzts8617]

Wel mooi als je dit zien en in Houten woont 😜

[@ИванСухов-ю6и]

Да, это моё!!! Велосипеды, чистота и порядок. Я бы хотел здесь жить... ...но, настораживает. Всё хорошо - не бывает. Наверно есть какой то "минус".!? Иначе бы у всех так было...

[@SimonMurgelj]

Stop it! You're making me move there :P

[@MsSilentH]

That is such a cool infrastructure. Something I think you would never see in America. I'm new to the Netherlands, been here with the intent of staying for a little over a month now, and just got a bicycle for my birthday. I think I still have a lot to get used to since cycling where I'm from consists of either cycling around a neighborhood or driving to a cycling path, cycling for a bit, then driving back home. But I'm excited to eventually travel to the next town over for better grocery shopping. I'm curious if anyone has any tips for getting used to the cycling lifestyle in the Netherlands. I've seen a couple videos about signs and traffic, but I don't feel totally comfortable yet.

[@taerial879]

+MsSilentH. Visit also: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rl7Gio2latCHpa8

[@KittyK.]

Just check all the videos of BicycleDutch

[@martijnvv8031]

This video can help you a lot ! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rl7Gio2latCHpa8 But why do you want to go to another town for grocery shopping ? (what town are you in?)

[@franslaan4495]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXayf2NumZxppac This video gives an easy instruction

[@mourlyvold7655]

@EnigmaDrath 'Cycling master' 😁

[@AnandNL]

i'm missing the speedbumps on the cycle path in houten

[@keremmoral6913]

Nice...Best wishes from Izmit-TURKEI

[@dutchpublictransport6304]

Houten is such a smart city!

[@ch300fnqi]

Ok I'm moving from Ottawa, CAN to Houten, NL

[@allardfreichmann3733]

Better get organized political on all levels of society to stand for the interests and rights of all citizens.

[@patrickthewelder3598]

You`re welcome!

[@Earth098]

For us who live outside Europe, this looks like paradise.

[@deniz7110]

For us who live in Germany, this looks like paradise.

[@hendman4083]

For us, who live in the Netherlands, this looks like home. 😏

[@noeraldinkabam]

Houten is beautiful! If only Jutphaas and Vreeswijk had been that lucky in ‘71...

[@t1y3ler]

Great.

[@Housestationlive]

paradise on earth. should be bigger.

[@bikelanez7376]

I hope this can be brought to LOS ÁNGELES

[@JustClaude13]

If the railroad tracks are elevated, the railway company should develop the area under the tracks as a commercial area with shops and offices. It's valuable real estate. It shouldn't go to waste.

[@markovermeer1394]

Most modernized Dutch railway stations (they are continuously working on a few dozen in parallel) have three levels: rails on the top, a bunch of shops on the middle level, and huge bike-park facilities below that. The car parking is usually within hundred meter. Especially in rural areas, there are larger car-parks so people can easily stop up on the trains. At least 4 trains per hour in either direction.

[@gerbenbootsma3394]

I Live There! OMG

[@majorskies7091]

Heaven. Fucking heaven.

[@ekpennock]

Houten will be hard to beat!

[@veganryan]

3:27 snotrocket

[@driewiel]

Houten is the Siberia for bicycle haters.

[@taerial879]

"Collateral damage": kids, who have grown-up in Houten, are in danger when they cycle in other cities, as they aren't used to traffic with cars, busses, etc.

[@inepthabit]

@Taerial Highly doubt it, it's not like they don't encounter any car traffic whatsoever in Houten, or never leave Houten for that matter. Other Dutch cities just don't have cycling prioritised as much, which often simply means having to wait at cycling traffic lights when crossing roads and things like that. They'll still never cycle inbetween fast car traffic in other cities either, cars are slowed on roads where cycling isn't segregated in the whole country. A kid who grows up cycling daily in a place like Houten will be fine anywhere in the Netherlands. However, for anyone from a smaller town a big busy city can be overwhelming at first, but that has little to do with Houten specifically in my opinion.

[@Barutokun]

Even if that's true, it's parents who should be held responsible for not teaching their kids to cycle safely in busier traffic; don't blame good urban design. I did grow up in Houten and my mom took me and my sister cycling to Utrecht every once in a while. I certainly learned that way.

[@mumblic]

@Taerial The kids that never learned to cycle when they were young because it's was just to dangerous in their neighborhood are the one at risk ..!!

[@Maxime_K-G]

I love that they removed the bollards. I really hate those and the fences you sometimes see are even worse. Drivers should instead learn to respect traffic signs, and if they don't, increase the fines!

[@Maxallegri167]

In Italy you risk your life while cycling!!!!!

[@EugeneAyindolmah]

What if the city has a million people, then wouldn't the ring road have to be 30 miles in diameter or something like that

[@napoleon950]

if a city like this would have a million people it would have multiple ringroads connected to eachother with a highway around it

[@electricboi9319]

napoleon950 accurate

[@mourlyvold7655]

@@napoleon950 exactly.

[@jmb1805]

Fan-Flipping-Tastic!!! 😊

[@madelieflammerz4378]

jmb180 exactly

[@xchopp]

Can you take your bike on the train so you have it at the other end? I'm guessing yes. Also: 4:49 Cannondale!

[@GulliNL]

only outside of rush hour i believe (maybe that's just in the subways, not sure). Most trains have one or two spaces for bikes per main door.

[@xchopp]

Thank you!

[@napoleon950]

@@xchopp normal(big) bikes outside rush hour, and u need a special ticket for it. Folding bikes you can always take with you and for free

[@mourlyvold7655]

many people keep a cheapy second bike by the station in the town they work in.

[@Republic1642]

Are most people who cycle in the Netherlands also motorists or just cyclists?

[@mourlyvold7655]

Most people get their licence, many own cars but use them only when needed. Which isn't very often since our zoning laws actually do allow for shops and facilities in town centres. Like most civilisations throughout history had, actually. Next step would be larger scale local food production in the outskirts, wich is growing steadily...

[@pramonoy8797]

is this heaven? i wanna go there ^_^

[@laurapower]

ik woon in Houten!!!

[@jeffmcilroy7081]

Beautiful city and such a great cycling layout.. here in canada if you cycle your basically going to die at some point by automotive accident.. I cycle on the sidewalks which is illegal but I don't feel safe at all on the roads here

[@BicyclesMayUseFullLane]

I mean, cycling on sidewalk would place you in an even more disadvantaged position (as motor vehicle drivers will now have an even harder time to see you), but I understand the sentiment.

[@toshkebgd]

DZONIIIIIII

[@BlueBetaPro]

That is so impressive. It makes me want to move there, if only The Netherlands wasn't doomed to be underwater.

[@RDJ2]

If that was left to nature it would already be underwater. In fact it's always been under water.

[@gerarddekoe4358]

Then we will use waterbikes

[@The112sven]

Living in Houten, the biggest problem with these nice bicycle pathways are scooters/moped speeding past cyclists.

[@Maxime_K-G]

Especially today with cheap electric bikes being sold everywhere there's no need for scooters anymore.

[@andrewbicyclist4654]

It will never happen in putins Russia(

[@bg_ergen]

when Putin is not watching, you can try build bike paths kzbin.info/www/bejne/bImzloWjlJKgeMk

[@aucourant9998]

Very ugly architecturally, the only nice bit is the old town, the rest is depressing to look at.

[@uuaschbaer6131]

Yeah, not a fan of the oversized-lego style myself. Thankfully nice houses are still being built as well.

[@Cl0ckcl0ck]

It's a social device. We use towns like these to mix up the Dutch population. It's much more difficult to dislike some group when your nephew's adopted daughter or your friend's friend's new husband is from that group. Also people outside of their own bigger social group are more likeable 100% of the time. That's why we build, demolish and rebuild whole neighborhoods. It prevents ghettos and no-go-zones that could fester a disruptive group-mentality. We do ofc don't do this to the great bits of town (or just the very peaceful and liked bits) where we think group mentality is beneficial. Only some places that got build too big like the Bijlmer (or the L-flat in Zeist) are problematic but Amsterdam South is eating that up slowly.

[@mourlyvold7655]

I agree. Just plant climbing vines against them or so.

[@aucourant9998]

@@Cl0ckcl0ck 'A social device'; make everyone the same and everything ugly. I presume you are a Socialist.

[@utopistmsoc]

Imagine calling something in the NL ugly. The NL is decades ahead of your capitalist dystopia.

[@baronjutter]

Every dutch person I know says this is one of the worst cities for cycling in NL, why did it win #1?

[@inepthabit]

Because it has brilliant cycling infra, prioritising cyclists throughout, as the video shows. It's actually great to get around there as a local cyclist, it just isn't the most exciting place to visit as a tourist perhaps, unless you're an infra nerd. So I don't know exactly what the Dutch people you spoke to mean with that, I'm Dutch too and think it has some of the best cycling infra in the country, but it's also just a small town and most parts are quite new, so not as nice and historic as some other places.

[@martijnvv8031]

I guess those persons never been to Amsterdam.... that's the worst place to cycle !

[@edwardschwenk3100]

If this is the WORST Holland has to offer, I'll gladly take it. Tell them to try downtown Toronto, or Calgary over here in Canada sometime!

[@patrickthewelder3598]

It`s number 1 for sure, and I know it because I live there

[@Whistler4u]

Never heard any Dutch person say that.