99% Invisible De Fiets Is Niets
9 snips
Apr 4, 2023 
Delaney Hall, a producer with a knack for weaving narratives, joins Marcia van Putten, an activist from the Dutch cycling movement. They dive into the transformative journey of the Netherlands from car-centric chaos in the 70s to a bicycling paradise today. Marcia shares her childhood fears of urban danger, sparking a movement for safer streets. The discussion highlights how passionate activism, including protests after tragic accidents, reshaped urban planning and embedded cycling deeply into Dutch culture.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Amsterdam Traffic Incident
- In the early 1970s, Marcia van Putten witnessed a car hit a child on a busy Amsterdam street.
- An older woman confronted the driver, highlighting rising anger over traffic dangers.
Cycling's Comeback
- The Netherlands' cycling paradise image wasn't inevitable; cars were dominant in the '60s and '70s.
- A pro-cycling movement prevented total car takeover, creating the bike-friendly infrastructure seen today.
Golden Age of Cycling
- Bikes thrived in the Netherlands in the 1920s-1950s, offering children freedom to play in traffic-free streets.
- Marja van Putten recalls a childhood of playing outside and gathering at the only house with a TV.
