What I Learned From Staring at 106,000 Cyclists

Mikael highlights one aspect of his work in bicycle urbanism, pioneering behavioural observations of urban cycling through comprehensive studies of intersections in Copenhagen and Amsterdam and other cities. In short, what has he learned from staring at 106,000 bicycle users in great observational detail. Using direct human observation and revealed preferences as well as mapping out Desire Lines through the intersections with his Desire Line Analyses.

Infrastructure improves behaviour and having a uniform network of Best Practice infrastructure is key to designing a city for bicycle traffic. You can’t chastise cyclists for their perceived behaviour unless you have designed the city for them and given them the infrastructure they deserve. Mikael compares his finding about how many cyclists break a Danish traffic law and the number will surprise. He also compares that from his studies in Amsterdam and shows the difference between uniform infrastructure and chaotic planning.

More about this and other work and philosophy by Mikael in his book “Copenhagenize - the definitive guide to global bicycle urbanism”, available in three languages so far.

Book links

[avryptickle]

Momentumists is a great word to explain that behavior. I commuted 17 miles to work here in LA, and the dead stops are what really kill you and kill your commute times. Keeping a little momentum going is really helpful.

[skyearthocean]

I think my willingness to obey traffic laws is directly proportional to the equability of the urban design. I think the only place I've ever ridden where I really felt I was given fair access to the roads was Amsterdam, so I followed the rules there. I've not been to your fair city yet, and it looks nice, but not quite a nice as Amsterdam.

[johnson]

As a bicycle commuter and nothing else regarding urban planning, I think I am most likely to stick to the rules if I feel like my mode of transport is considered.
I regularly ride on what starts as a big road for cars with two two-way bike paths on either side, separated by the road by a lot of greenery.
Then, the bike paths meet the road, starts to run along side it, but then with only one-way on either side. Still, at this point, the road is a typical 1960's "let's revolutionise traffic with a two-lane road that is twice the width of the cars going on it" with nice wide strips of grass that separates the wide bike lanes.
After a while like this, the road enters the city centre and the bike lanes start running side by side with the road, which have narrowed significantly. It's still a fine road if you're cycling, though.
Then the last part of the road, which is in the densest part of the city, comes, and here, the bike lanes just randomly stop, annoyingly just as the road becomes the busiest. There is nothing but two narrow car lanes, where the drivers drive way too fast and there is no room for bicycles.
Here, I, and many other local cyclists, usually start riding so far out on the road, that cars can't safely overtake us, so they have to drive behind the cyclists the entire time. That part is in my eyes a failure regarding traffic safety for cars, but especially for bicycles. It seems so irresponsible to just drop everyone into a narrow street with no regard to how they are going to come out of it.
I think it is especially annoying since the road has been so bike friendly all the way into the city before that.

[elcarrerdelsgaivots]

19:40 Maybe it's not because you think "nobody is watching" but because you feel safer with potentially harmful actions in an empty street rather than a street where you have to keep an eye on tens of cars, pedestrians and bikes moving around.
Something like crossing an empty street at night outside of a pedestrian crossing vs doing so in a bussy time of the day.

[michaelzariczniak]

Mikael, I don't comment often, but when I do, its pure love.
I've watched your entire "Life Sized City" series. I've been enjoying #NotJustBikes lately, and I really enjoyed your rebuttal to the "best cycling city" debate. Since then, I've learned the difference between commercial extremism and democratic social development. Your insightful and evidence-based productions keep me informed and motivated. Thank you for what you do. Transferability!

[freudsigmund]

Kopenhagen The worlds safest cycling city as voted by the people from Kopenhagen.

The intersections shown would never fly in the Netherlands. They simply haven’t followed the rules for safe cycling infrastructure.

[geertbuis]

Those box turns make me really uncomfortable... My city has a system where cyclists all get a green light at the same time - giving the whole intersection away for cyclists, and you're allowed to make any kind of turn you want. It's a bit messy, but I've never seen anything go wrong, as everyone is aware of the situation and considerate of other cyclists.

[moladiver]

English speaking countries have a legal structure based on personal accountability and the system tends to be entirely ignored. If an accident happens in a Dutch city there's a full blown investigation and the people or person involved are not the default focus. How and why did it happen, and how can it be prevented in the future? Those are the right questions authorities should ask. Then any necessary changes to the infrastructure are made.

There's nationwide regulation for street layouts with enough safe space for all modes of transport that have made my country the cycling world champion. I grew up there not noticing anything special about being able to safely cycle by myself from the age of 8 to school, my aunt, my friends, or wherever I wanted to go. This was normal and widely accepted and we all took it for granted. Decades later and living abroad I now know how special that is.

Thankfully the world is now slowly catching up. YouTube is exploding with channels about the common sense of cycling. Cycling is the best thing you can have anywhere if you want to create a more liveable area. Once people realize cycling isn't a sport but a serious mode of transportation then great things can happen.

[geertbuis]

How do you feel about the Amsterdam approach of creating seperate 'hoofdnetten' for cars and bycicles, which are a 'soft' way of guiding the two types of traffic to use seperate streets? The YouTube channel 'Not Just Bikes' did a wonderful video on this.

[cubeofcheese]

Interesting that he thinks Amsterdam planning is lazy. I'd like to hear more because thus far I've mostly heard that Amsterdam infrastructure is more cyclist centric than Copenhagen

[klausbrinck]

In Germany there is an unwritten law, that if you disrespect a regulation while cycling at "walking speed" (5km/h or less), the police may not mind, since at less than 5km/h, you are about as dangerous as a pedestrian, and so, essentialy considered a pedestrian for that moment. That is very logical, cause if you are as fast as a pedestrian, why should the hell matter, that you use wheels instead of feet to move??? So, under the line, it´s all about high and low speeds, and not about using feet or wheels to move ... So, simply stop discriminating wheels (vs. feet ;-), and let some logic come into play, finally ! In crowded pedestrian zones, where the lenght of a bicycle becomes a problem, hindering pedestians from moving in dense crowds, the police, of course, wll not keep an eye closed...

[MeepMu]

This is really interesting, it's kind of crazy to me that something like this hasn't been done before. Great that you are getting it started!

[DJG]

HAHA! This is so spot on! I live in Copenhagen and have done almost exactly the same "momentumist"-deviations at the same spots, even with the same posture you are describing (standig up on the bicycle, while having a goofy expression). Definitely, going to buy your book!

[Schindlabua]

Cyclists deviating less in crowds is not due to being ashamed I reckon. Rather, following the herd is easier -- with many eyes on the road the individual has to pay less attention and needs to make fewer decisions. However if you're alone and you have to put in a lot of conscious effort to keep track of all the surrounding traffic you might aswell take the shortcut if you deem it safe. That shortcut might not even enter your stream of consciousness if you're on autopilot in a crowd, because you're thinking about what to eat for dinner and not about optimal pathing. The herd does that for you.

When I'm crossing a crosswalk and ten other people are crossing I have to admit I'll only quickly glance at oncoming car traffic. But of course I'm paying full attention if I'm the only one crossing because I don't want to be run over.

[strangebird]

Hey, Danish person here. I find your videos fascinating. They remind me of the kind of behavioral studies that Pelle Guldborg Hansen is a proponent of. Using direct observation of how people act in their environment to gain clues as to how to improve the environment for safety and overall benefit. I hope you have the ear of city planners to keep making Copenhagen and other cities safer.

[gwarlow]

I was quite surprised at the result. Fascinating study of social behaviour. Thanks for sharing.

[emielep]

It us clear that he doesn't understand where bikes rule the road and where not. In Copenhagen they follow more the rules, because braking the rules makes it very dangerous by how the road is designed. In Amsterdam you can do wat you want, because bikes rule the road and not the cars like in Copenhagen. This makes it a lot safer and therefor people take way more risks. He didn't noticed that! But that is because he has limited info.

[Merrinen]

For the question of when cyclists deviate I would've answered night time. There are so many reasons to not follow the rules.

Here is one typical: no cars, red lights, you gotta stop and push that button? Meh, I'm gonna go. Preferably right through the middle of the car designed intersection, because I can, and it is free of snow and slush, too.

[TdaKraakGaming]

Copenhagen is one of the worst cities to observe. You should go to the Netherlands where cyclists cycle all over the country. Amsterdam isn’t recommended but the rest of the country is very good. Copenhagen is in development and not nearly as safe the Netherlands is.

[klausbrinck]

19:20 This has also another explanation than yours: During congestion, deviating adds a bit of chaos that nobody can bear at that moment. You´ll not reach your time-saving-aim, while hindering innocent others to reach theirs, at the same time. It´s a netto-loss, for you AND for the herd. Deviating at low-traffic hours means, that the behaviour has almost next to zero negative consequences...