EP 252 MADDY NOVICH: A NYC-based mom of three who thrives on thinking outside the box

[@bertoverweel6588]

The roads in NYC are wide enough for separate bike lanes, so what are they waiting for. I am 71 and happy living in the Netherlands cicle almost every day. Greetings from the Netherlands.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yes, the roads are wide enough pretty much everywhere in North America. Unfortunately, nearly 100 years of car-brain mentality creates a mentality of driving everywhere for everything all the time, but as we discussed, this is starting to change thanks in part to the inspiration and guidance from The Netherlands. Thanks so much for watching and for commenting. I really appreciate it, and I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@colleenharrison2942]

Maddy is an inspiration and a joy to listen to. Great podcast!

[@ActiveTowns]

She sure is! Thanks so much for tuning in and for commenting. Cheers! John

[@cargobikemomma]

Thank you!

[@reneolthof6811]

I can only agree - although I never use instagram. Nor Facebook for that matter...

[@knarf_on_a_bike]

What an amazing, inspirational person! Thanks for introducing us to Maddy. 😀

[@ActiveTowns]

Indeed! You are quite welcome. Cheers! 😀

[@bobbieboothroyd8531]

I first sow Maddy on Propel in COVID I think it was and I think it was one of my faverete episodes. I enjoyed seeing Maddy riding around Chatting to Chris. And yes Maddy should start up a you Tube channel. And I will be looking to get a news letter now you have mentioned it in the podcast great video John keep up the good work

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks so much, Bobbie! 😀

[@cargobikemomma]

Thank you ❤

[@Bramfly]

Most mothers with small children have a cargo bike, see literally dozens and dozens each day 😊🇾🇪

[@ActiveTowns]

Yep! The Netherlands 🇳🇱 plays a starring role in this mother’s cargo bike story.

[@Nico-uit-brabant]

@@ActiveTowns No Babboe cargo bikes in this episode I hope? E few months ago some serious issues came to light concerning most of the frame types of the Babboe cargo bikes.. A lot of customers had a broken frame or a frame with welds that are about to break. There is now a recall for a lot of these bikes were frames will be swapped or the entire bike is swapped.

[@ActiveTowns]

@@Nico-uit-brabant Correct, no Babboes. That's rather unfortunate.

[@reneolthof6811]

@@Nico-uit-brabant Yes, this is a typical case of a next-level problem. Another example: our infrastructure is for the most part that good (ther is always room for improvement!) that we now have the problem of induced demand which is known from the car. We absolutely need to deal with this, but literally ALL other coutries would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to have this problem. They are still stuck in not having any infrastructure at all!

[@TheBob877]

Dads too!!! I love taking my kids around in our Urban Arrow!

[@LarsvanderHeide]

Cargo bikes have been around almost as long as the regular bicycle. I have a photo of my great-grandfather on a cargo bike with merchandise for sale!

[@ActiveTowns]

Yes! Great point. If anything, we are seeing a resurgence in the popularity of these practical types of bikes. There are some wonderful examples of the early versions in the bicycle museum in Nijmegen. Thanks so much for tuning in and for commenting. I really appreciate it. Cheers! John

[@theurbanspokesman]

Love love love Maddy!!! She’s such an amazing person if you ever get the privilege to meet her in person. Maddy if you are seeing this… You have inspired me to also be going to The Netherlands in a few weeks.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yay! I'll be there in The Netherlands in a few weeks. Be sure to say, Hi, if you see me riding by. Cheers! John

[@theurbanspokesman]

@@ActiveTowns Totally John!!! ❤🎉😊

[@j.vanderson6239]

Beautiful lady with a great lifestyle. Greetings from Delft

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks so much for tuning in! I am looking forward to visiting friends in Delft soon. Cheers! John

[@markcramer14]

Love the testimony about how a profound cultural transformation takes place. So we need a foundation that offers scholarships to Dutch cities for people (potential influencers) who have not been bicycle users. ps. Great idea about using a motorcycle cover.

[@ActiveTowns]

Great idea, Mark!

[@reneolthof6811]

Lance Armstrong or Greg Lemond is a cyclist, we are fietsers! As Jason Slaughter correctly preaches: there is virtually no cycling people and we should basically steer away from them. Fietsen means using a bike to get from A to B. That’s the key matter.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yes, precisely, this urban context. Although I will point out that elite-level Dutch sport cyclists are truly world-class, which shouldn't be surprising given the early age that Dutch children start riding, some of them might be inspired to excel on one of the many different types of racing bikes.

[@victotronics]

Just like Jason pushes the term "bakfiets" we should also adopt "fietser" to distinguish from cyclist. English doesn't have enough "loan words" from Dutch.

[@frankwilson2607]

Hey wait a minute... I am both a fietser and a cyclist. Why discriminate against cyclists who recreate on two wheels???

[@reneolthof6811]

@@frankwilson2607 Excellent, nothing wrong with cyclists. But not if you refer to someone getting from A to B. Cyclist has a certain 'sporty' connotation (lycra and such). It's basically the difference between a car driver and the pilot in a F1 or NASCAR vehicle. Two incomparable units.

[@rjdverbeek]

We had our first cargo bike already in 2003. No electric assistance back then. In 2003 the number of cargo bikes in Amsterdam were still limited. It was so novel that our picture would be taken frequently by tourists in the city centre.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yeah, I can imagine. It's so wonderful to see the resurgence of these practical bikes. Hey, thanks so very much for tuning in and for commenting. I really do appreciate it, and I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@DougWedel-wj2jl]

24:30 “People are so friendly.” How often does that happen when you drive an SUV?

[@ActiveTowns]

Precisely!

[@unionmoon]

Dutchie here, i have an Urban Arrow. Even use it to go to work (30km a day). Almost never use the car.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yay! I always love seeing the UAs. Thank you so much for watching and commenting. Cheers! John

[@Gee_Jay]

Please promote these as "Box-bikes" - Not cargo-bikes - just like dropping "The" from "The face-book" helped that book get so big ! -- And Box-bikes move more than cargo !

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks for tuning in and contributing to the conversation.

[@dimrrider9133]

John jij bent een geweldige vent maar ik kijk toch veel liever naar Maddy ;p Cheers mate :) Oeps Dutch directness 😆

[@ActiveTowns]

That's understandable. Thanks so much for tuning in!

[@remc0s]

Ironic how a car is a symbol of freedom, yet American car culture makes people totally dependent on cars, which is the opposite of freedom. My uncle's mom had re-married an American airline pilot. When they first visited the Netherlands back in the '90s, he was amazed about the amount of adults riding bikes. He thought it was weird and was like "Why don't they just drive cars? Bikes are for kids." How about NO, American imperialist! I own a state-of-the-art heavy duty urban transport bike which i use to travel to and from work. It has a rack on the front to secure your load, such as groceries or a gym bag. I use a big stainless steel Nite Ize slide lock to secure the bag handles to the rack. Perfect 👌🏻 Greetings from the Netherlands 🇳🇱🧀🌷

[@ActiveTowns]

Love this so much! Thanks for watching and sharing! 🙌

[@frankwilson2607]

Because fossil-fuel based capital, that's why US is stuck.

[@DougGrinbergs]

Think outside the box? Maybe there is no box 😉😆

[@ActiveTowns]

Maybe...

[@StreetfilmsCommunity]

I know her! LOL!

[@ActiveTowns]

Yes, we give you a shoutout in the episode!

[@StreetfilmsCommunity]

@@ActiveTowns Nice job! Just watched the first 1/2!

[@ActiveTowns]

@@StreetfilmsCommunity Yay! 😀

[@reneolthof6811]

Yo, The Netherlands. Yet another example of us being a showcase model by simply acting normal!

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks y'all for being such great role models in this regard. Cheers! John

[@Gee_Jay]

Oh, and tho I don't know about your performance on the Podcast platforms - on YT, your growth is not stellar ... I think the channel name could be better - Americans are among the most hard-working, active people on earth, and getting MORE Active is the Last thing that appeals - How about "Healthy Towns" ?

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks for the compliment.

[@the_real_Wieniet]

Hope she has a tracker and extra theft slot.

[@ActiveTowns]

She does indeed

[@remc0s]

So she has become an average Dutch mom? Got it 👌🏻

[@ActiveTowns]

Yep. Pretty much. lol 😂

[@felicetanka]

Jessica fletcher

[@ActiveTowns]

😀

[@jos_t_band3912]

The infrastructure is not cheap.

[@ActiveTowns]

Active transportation infrastructure (safe walking and cycling facilities) is literally "pennies on the dollar," as they say, compared to automobile infrastructure. It's simply a matter of priorities. If you build for cars, you get cars, a failing economy, and places where nobody wants to linger. If you build for people, you get people, a thriving economy, and places where folks will go out of their way to visit and stay. Fortunately, we are building many good examples right here in North America now, so we don't have to go to The Netherlands to witness successful models. Thanks for tuning in and commenting. I really appreciate it and I hope you are enjoying the channel. Cheers! John