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but if you did a calculation like this with the inhabitants of Paris (the inner city), you'd probably get a similar result (or at least, you'd see a heavy domination of metro and bus trips over car trips). The problem is that most of the cars driven in and around Paris come from the suburbs, where people do not benefit from the density of public transport in the inner center. THe same remains true in Amsterdam.

That said, Amsterdam has certainly been a lot more consistent in promoting bike use than other places, including Paris.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Tue Jun 23rd, 2009 at 06:05:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]
While not the total bicycle ridership in Paris, here's some numbers on the Vélib bicycle-sharing program.

With some 20,000 bicycles available free for short trips in the city, and another 3,000 being stationed in the suburbs, the Paris program is one of the most ambitious of its kind.

The chunky bicycles have become part of the city landscape, with nearly 1,000 bicycle stations servicing most neighbourhoods and an average of 78,000 trips taken each day. Nearly a quarter of a million people have subscribed to the program, meaning they can unlock a bike using their public transit pass, rather using a credit card for a deposit.

However, the article in Canada's Globe and Mail focuses on the theft and vandalism that hurts the program, Paris's pedal power sets free uncivilized behaviour. Sigh.

by Magnifico on Tue Jun 23rd, 2009 at 06:38:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I'm gonna go with culture! The first thing you aspire for when you're a toddler in the Netherlands is learning how to cycle. Seriously.

I'm not too sure if this is true:

most of the cars driven in and around Paris come from the suburbs, where people do not benefit from the density of public transport in the inner center. THe same remains true in Amsterdam.

Define suburbs for Amsterdam... Anything outside the ring road?

by Nomad on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 04:32:33 AM EST
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