Comments on: Cycling in Hanoi – a symphony of bicycles & scooters

By: Nadine

Nadine — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:31:45 +0000

That’s really something. Wow! *going to have to watch that again*

I’m trying to picture myself making a left turn – it wouldn’t be pretty!

By: Les Faber

Les Faber — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:10:24 +0000

Ya she was neat. I couldn’t believe my good fortune when I found the video. I get a kick out of all the surgical masks too.

I was on Marie’s site this morning and noted the great “blue routes”.

Can you believe how they just “flow”? and the horns…. And nobody seems stressed at all. Just part of everyday life. My Step-Mom told me that it was like that throughout Asia.

Hanoi is special as they are still in the 1940s – somewhat like Cuba.

By: amsterdamize

amsterdamize — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:00:32 +0000

First, I love the sight of that Cycle Chic lady with the hat up front. Second, thanks for posting this, love it! I’ve seen similar videos of Bangkok traffic, where you think at one point somebody is going to get killed, but no. It’s organic. I’m 100% for it.

It reminds me of what Marie from copenhagencyclechic said when she visited: far less traffic lights for cyclists in Amsterdam, although it’s at least as busy as Copenhagen. She loved the ‘intermingling’ dynamics. I said, yeah, why install them when people show they don’t need them, just go with the flow. So this video hits home more than you’d expect. (Don’t worry, Les, Amsterdam is much more mellow)

There’s also this internationally acclaimed Dutch city planner (forgot his name) who focusses on the total absence of traffic lights or signs, just giving room to people. The cities that asked for his help have faired pretty well so far.

Not a template for all cultures, but certainly interesting as a ‘less is more’ concept.