Hear from a Houten resident what life is like there

[@kylievandam3723]

Wow! Loved that. Thanks so much for the opportunity to rant and rave John!! And thanks for the lovely comments viewers. I know there are so many people around the world for whom none of this is rocket science, but the more voices speaking, the more chance we have of supporting those who might be in a position to make change. Keep up the fantastic work and come for tea next time!

[@ActiveTowns]

Yay! So glad you enjoyed it. Please pop in here from time to time to peruse the Comments. I'll be sure to let you know if any specific questions arise that would warrant your attention. Cheers! John

[@bryanhall1388]

Kylie, you were absolutely fabulous. Thank you.

[@jameshansenbc]

Thank you Nic Laporte for pointing me here from his own video visiting Houten! Fascinating hearing Kylie's perspective on a new place that could be a model for how we build sustainably. After doing some research of my own I found that Kylie has a fundraiser to translate Robert Derks' book on Houten "The Green Embraced" / "Het Groen Omarmd" - her fundraiser is called "Cycling City Houten says Hello World!" - I hope one day the translation gets a large financial backer so we can share the mindset behind this project internationally.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yay! Welcome to the Channel. Thanks so much for tuning in and for this comment. Kylie is Houten's biggest cheerleader for sure and here is the link to her fundraiser for the book: www.gofundme.com/f/cycling-city-Houten-says-hello-world

[@bryanhall1388]

What a fabulous speaker! As a mum of 2 small children living in the UK I get so cross when people talk about the reasons why women don't cycle, suggesting that we are all 'risk averse', nearly every journey for me involves transporting 2 children. Without safe infrastructure this enormously impacts care-givers. Hearing you both describe how this particularly disadvantages parents was extremely refreshing. (reading Chris and Melissa's Curbing Traffic also was such a great moment).

[@ActiveTowns]

Yay! So glad you enjoyed it. Really is such powerful stuff. Thanks so much for watching, and please feel free to share with others who might benefit from this content. Cheers! John

[@BicycleDutch]

A pity I couldn't join you live but this is great. That's the passionate Kylie I know and love! Thanks to the both of you for having this inspiring conversation. Years ago, Kylie and I were planning a collaboration of some sort, but then came COVID and my heart condition, (sorry to hear about the long Covid, Kylie!) but I do hope to pick that plan up again some day soon!

[@ActiveTowns]

Yay! I'm glad you were able to watch it. I have included your blog post from a few years ago in the video description below and in the show notes for the audio only version.Cheers! John

[@Why-D]

We live in a small town in Germany, and of course I only use the car, if I had to go away far. On a daily basis the kids walk to school or go by bike and we walk through the city and even to the grocery store. And with the handcart, there is no problem to buy even 20l or 5 gallones of lemonade or juice or a 25 kg / 55 pound bag of potatoes. It is so nice and calm and healthy to walk and ride a bike instead of driving a car. And with this driving sometimes, when we go on a trip for 100 or more kilometers (60 miles), driving in a car makes fun as it is unusual. I would love it, if the bike lanes would be like in Houten. Wonderful!

[@ActiveTowns]

Yay! That's fabulous to hear and, as it should be. I think it is healthy that a road trip in a car is something that is fun and exciting because of its novelty. btw Have you watched my episode with Aston and Jonathan - The Black Forest Family yet? kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5OpZnWVorWbh7c Thanks so much for watching and for your contribution to the discussion. I really appreciate it, and I hope you are enjoying the Active Towns Channel. Cheers! John

[@Why-D]

@@ActiveTowns of course, yesterday. May be that is why this video was brought to me. I always love their videos and I always wonder how few protection laws exist in the US for the employees.

[@ActiveTowns]

@@Why-D Yay! Yeah, that and many other mind-boggling issues and challenges with our "young" democracy. Hehe 🤣

[@saranbhatia8809]

Fantastic conversation....we need Walking Cities all across!!!

[@ActiveTowns]

Agreed! 😀 Thanks so much for watching. Cheers! John

[@saranbhatia8809]

@@ActiveTowns Pleasure!

[@veziculorile]

This is my kind of place. I hope I can move there too.

[@ActiveTowns]

It is definitely pretty darn cool. Thanks for watching. Cheers! John

[@oneofthesedays582]

Enjoyed this discussion immensely. Thank you, Kylie for being so well versed in this area. Indeed the car dependent model IS NOT working. This should be evident since in the USA where I live( but will finally leave next month for the UK then hopefully Netherlands or other cycle/pedestrian friendly small city/ town!! ) obesity is very high, depression, anxiety, low life satisfaction have been linked with the sedentary lifestyle/car centric culture.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yay! So delighted to hear that you enjoyed the chat and excited for your future adventures. Thank you so much for watching my content here on the Active Towns Channel. Cheers! John

[@personligassistent4308]

I shared this with a friend thank you ❤

[@ActiveTowns]

Yay! This makes my day. Thank you so much for watching, sharing, and letting me know. Cheers! John

[@Snowshowslow]

Such infectious enthusiasm 😁

[@ActiveTowns]

Absolutely! Energy that lights up the room and now the screens of all who watch this episode - I hope it travels far and wide. Cheers! John

[@colleenharrison2942]

Interesting and enjoyable podcast.

[@ActiveTowns]

So glad that you enjoyed it. 😀

[@e-BikeLife]

Such a great discussion! Cul de Sac Tempe is as close as we come in the US, to my knowledge, to the Houten model. But, do I want to live in AZ... No. We need more communities like this! All over the US! Oh... this summer we will be in the Netherlands for a month and plan on riding out to Houten when we are in Utrecht.

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks! So glad you enjoyed it. We are seeing a growing number of communities emerging that may not be to scale and scope of Houten but are approaching impressive levels of reduced car dependency, like Mueller here in Austin kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3yxk42Pbr2kd8k and Wheeler in OKC kzbin.info/www/bejne/oH3ToYClnNKMjqs Cheers! John

[@falsificationism]

Woah...incredibly inspiring message. Wonderful discussion!

[@ActiveTowns]

yay! So happy that you liked it, and I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@reneolthof6811]

Of course this is key. Don’t be anti-car, be pro-bike.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yes. Exactly... and even better, pro-people - promoting safe and inviting environments for everyone, all ages and abilities across all mobility modes

[@knarf_on_a_bike]

Bikes are so social! Even here in car-centric Toronto, there's not a weekend that goes by that I don't hear someone call out my name as I ride by. And I'm constantly saying hello ("hoi-hoi!" 😀) to pedestrians and cyclists as we pass. It must be wonderful in a place like Houten where ~everyone~ is cycling and walking!

[@ActiveTowns]

Yeah, it's truly a beautiful thing. I just spent the morning remembering my first visit there in June of 2018 and the relaxed joy of the faces of everyone rolling and strolling through the car-free space. Cheers! John

[@mariadebake5483]

The thing is, to us Dutch it isn't wonderful at all. It's normal, everyday.

[@ActiveTowns]

@@mariadebake5483 Yep. Exactly the point I was making with Kylie, she knew how special it is because she had lived out here in the wider car dependent world. Y'all are an inspiration for a higher quality of life for the rest of us. We just need to figure out how to take these learnings, share them within our communities, and hopefully inspire enough people to work towards a transformation into more people-oriented designs. Thank so very much for watching. I really appreciate it and I hope you enjoy the Channel. Cheers! John

[@reneolthof6811]

There is a zangfietspad in between ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Rosmalen as well!!

[@ActiveTowns]

Oh, that's right... I think Mark mentioned that.

[@hendman4083]

Een zangfietspad? Klinkt gezellig. 🤗

[@ActiveTowns]

@@hendman4083 Yes, indeed! 🙂

[@M3CHR0M4NC3R]

It must be weird to be in the Netherlands and walk/cycle everywhere, and then return to America. I imagine it would feel like your car is a ball and chain. Did anyone have that experience?

[@ActiveTowns]

For me, I am fortunate enough to live in a very bike-friendly area of Austin, TX so I rarely drive for any reason. But yes, it is a shock for most. Thanks so much for watching and for this contribution to the conversation. I really appreciate it, and I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@een_schildpad]

Let's build it here in the US! I'm not saying all the US has to be that way, but what an opportunity there is to build this! We need housing, and I can't point to a single place in the US comparable to a Houten (if I could, I'd start making plans to move there this afternoon :⁠-⁠)). Even our most "bike friendly" places are still dominated by the auto currently.

[@ActiveTowns]

I hear you! We are starting to see more and more neighborhoods and communities being developed to minimize the negative impacts of motor vehicles. Not quiet to the extent of Houten yet. But they are coming, see culdesac.com/ I've profiled a few here on the Channel kzbin.info/www/bejne/oH3ToYClnNKMjqs and it is the goal that CNU is working toward and I discuss this with President Mallory Baches kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoGlc5Rvd9aFj8U Thanks so much for watching. Cheers! John

[@Anonymous-sb9rr]

The reason that the 15 minute city is so scary, is that the Oxford city council proposed a plan to divide the city up into districts. People would be allowed to drive within the district that they live in as often as they want, they'd be allowed to drive outside the city as often as they want, but they would only be allowed to drive to other districts 2 times per week. At first I thought this was some kind of strawman made up by scaremongering car lovers, but they actually proposed that.

[@Hugo-in9jt]

That is not the concept of the 15 minute city entails, the 15 minute city just means that the amenities needed for daily live can be found within a 15 minute walk or bike ride from everywhere in the city. Dividing the city in district is an idea to discourage car traffic within a city, but does not have much to do with the concept of 15 minute cities.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yeah, they sort of walked right into it with their approach and delivery. Even they are admitting it could have been structured and communicated better, but it just fed into the narrative the status quo (Motordom) needed to make it sound a lot scarier.

[@ActiveTowns]

Correct, Hugo. They were conflating a traffic congestion issue with the concept of a complete walkable community

[@C0deH0wler]

@@ActiveTowns You sure it wasn't '2 times per week directly through the modal filters/etc.'? That is much different compared to getting to another via a ring road or something. If so, don't tell me they didn't even bother to bring this at least to attention...? When politicians lead on a design, but then go populist, immediately ignoring/deemphasizing some of it & important foundations of it, it is shooting yourself in the foot 20 times.

[@rangersmith4652]

Political polarization is working hard to stop us from having walkable/bikeable cities. A lot of "conservatives" in the US are railing against the "15-minute city," calling it a "pod city" or "open air prison" and claiming that it is a way of locking people in as during COVID. Well, it could be abused in that way, but it doesn't have to be. I'm politicially conservative, but I'm also an advocate of shifting the focus of our cities from cars to people -- the two are not mutually exclusive.

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks so much for watching and for contributing to the conversation. It's really unfortunate* when creating livable communities gets wrapped in various conspiracy theories and, as you say, become polarized. I have always said that Active Towns are beloved places across the political spectrum because they are good for everyone, the individual, society, and the earth while providing an excellent return on investment, thus proving to be fiscally conservative, lessening our dependence on subsidies to prop up a system that is bankrupting our communities. Ultimately Active Towns are vibrant, healthy, and prosperous places where we have more freedom and choice not less. * I say unfortunate, and it is, but ultimately I realize these are predictable responses for two reasons, the first being human nature, change is hard and can be fear inducing, the second is that elements in the status quo with a vested interest in resisting change will spin things up to take advantage of point one as it helps to protect their position. Hence, I do what I do to keep profiling the people, places, and programs around the globe that are helping to promote a culture of activity, community vibrancy, and economic prosperity here on the Channel and I really appreciate you tuning in, and hope you are enjoying the content and finding valuable and helpful. Cheers! John

[@rangersmith4652]

@ActiveTowns They key to quelling the conservative fear that walkable / bikeable cities are some sort of prison is to demonstrate that the governments who are helping create them are NOT locking people in and WILL NOT do so going forward. If you know that's their fear, address it up front and show evidence to the contrary. Without that, the conservative view will always be that the goal of such places is to rob people of freedom to move about. If there IS NO evidence to the contrary, given the recent history of governments' tendency to restrict, then the conservative view appears justified. I am a Conservative, and while I support the concept, I'd like to see such evidence myself.

[@graemetunbridge1738]

Kylie has come a long way from bike homicidal Sydney.

[@ActiveTowns]

Hehe 🤣Yes, she has. Thanks so much for watching. Cheers! John

[@Vromiaris778]

I’d love to live no a people centric area - without a doubt!

[@ActiveTowns]

It takes a lot of work, but it can be done. Where are you based out of?

[@Vromiaris778]

@@ActiveTowns Minneapolis, Minnesota.

[@ActiveTowns]

@@Vromiaris778 Ah yes, it's been a few years since I've been there and explored the city. When I was there, I did find a few pretty amazing neighborhoods that had good connectivity and the off-street network is quite impressive although undersized for peak summertime utilization. Although, one of my most memorable experiences there was riding in a bus/bike lane where I kept playing leapfrog with a massive bus... I eventually went one block over to a quiet and delightful residential street, much as I mention in this episode talking about Vamos Bike Streets in Denver: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6urqn2afKmXjNU

[@petersteinmeijer519]

Perhaps the Netherlands ought to send missionaries to the far corners of the world to spread the good word.

[@ActiveTowns]

Absolutely! 💯 This is the role being played by the Dutch Cycling Embassy: dutchcycling.nl/expertises/cycling-infrastructure/

[@SEPedersen]

"Niet van suiker gemaakt" doesn't mean anything like you say. It only means you won't melt from a little rain. So, effectively, it means not to be a softie and stop complaining about a little water.

[@ActiveTowns]

That works for me too. "Don't be a softie and stop complaining about a little water" Thanks so much for watching. Cheers! John

[@petersteinmeijer519]

Frankly, I've never heard anyone ever use that 'sugar..' expression. And I'm Dutch.

[@bikeericaustin1541]

Houten = erg gezelig

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks for tuning in, Eric!

[@Schachtschabel]

Giving what Kylie told about starting cycling after giving birth and the changes it created, should we not more focus on woman to create change? A lot of changes in society are created by woman.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yes! And in some places, this is precisely what is happening. Cheers! John

[@kingfish99]

You will own nothing and be Happy.

[@ActiveTowns]

Hehe, not sure about "owning nothing"... but the happy part rings true

[@hendman4083]

It is a shame that the "...and you will rent what you need." part is always left out of that quote.

[@kingfish99]

@@hendman4083 Makes it worse?

[@mourlyvold64]

Yawn, boring.

[@oneofthesedays582]

Yup the WEF and Jesuit Klaus Schwab have agendas that are not good for us but for the rulers. But they mix good and concerning ( bad and even evil ) agendas together so we must make sure we don't dismiss the good ones like living spaces made for people/community interaction and not vehicles as the prime mode which is counter to high quality of life and quiet, peaceful neighborhoods and commerce areas that people can reach without a vehicle.

[@Schachtschabel]

Do you know the Deming-cycle? Plan-Do-Check-Action (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Edwards_Deming ). You plan, execute your plans, check it an correct it if necessary? Basically our methods in the NL are based on his theory.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yes! Very familiar with it - it was a big part of my early career 30 years ago. Even presented TQM and benchmarking at a national conference in a past life. Thanks so much for tuning in today. It was wonderful having you participate in the Premiere chat. Cheers! John

[@hendman4083]

How does this method avoid mistakes when your initial plan is at fault? Plan: Create a highspeed car connection into the city centre. Do: Level some neigbourhoods and build a 2x2 highway. Check: The highspeed connection is too succesfull and congestion increases the travel time. Action: Add another lane. Before you know it, you will be looking at another Katy Freeway. 🤔

[@ActiveTowns]

@@hendman4083 True, at some point there has to actually be an honest reflection during the check phase that the wrong initial plan was followed and exercise the political will to do the right thing, the action (and remove the highway and re-establish the canal)