maanantai 2. kesäkuuta 2008

Raison d'être

Does the world need another blog? Perhaps not, but I think that the world could use with a view of how cycling works in my hometown of Oulu, Finland. I have recently moved back here after spending a few years at our capital, and one of the things that frustrated me the most about Helsinki was the poor atmosphere in which to bike.

This blog will be a space for me to voice my appreciation and understanding of how cycling works here in Oulu.

At the moment themes I’m planning for the blog include:

- a presentation of the (cycling) map of Oulu

- what I view as the central features of a truly cycling-friendly city

- how do people cycle here in the winter

Welcome back soon!

3 kommenttia:

Paavo kirjoitti...

it's an honor to be the first commenter.
I like your blog humongously.( i probably mispelled that one) but my opinion is probably biased due to my personal feelings towards you.

I'm looking forward to your insights on ouluese cycling.

I agree that oulu is a cycling friendly city. partly is because of it's geography. Oulu is very flat, and thus more cycling friendly than hilly kuopio. no one wants to cycle to neulamäki in Kuopio. (or maybe spinning enthusiasts find that appealing)

So why is helsinki so anti-bicycling-city. it may be due the fact that the people that are prone to cycling (those who cannot afford a car) students and such live so far from the city centre and their work and study places that cycling would take too much time.

I understand that there is a lot of cycling-roads in oulu in proportion to it's populace. I even feel, that there are too much pyöräteitä in Oulu. during my cycling experiences in oulu i've sensed an irrational abundance of cycleroads. we could achieve the same advantages with less cycling-roads.

building cycling routes requires resources. few years ago i read an artcile in which the writer claimed, that due to the low usage of cycle-roads the enviromental harmful effects of cycling were greater than of driving a car. cycle-roads are heavily underused.

so i hope that your blog will make people enthusiastic about cycling so that less cars are used.

I'm especially looking forward to the cycling map of oulu. I don't really know the cycling ways of city centre so i just use streets or kävelyteitä.

I also hope that maybe i or someone else can provide through your site some less ugly cycling helmets. and maybe even some hair products so one can get rid of his/her helmet-hairstyle when arrived.

eipä muuta. i hope to see you soon.

i understand if you find my commen offensive and therefore decide to remoce it. i won't be offended. i can't afford because i alwys offed everyone.

Paavo kirjoitti...

lisäähän vielä kuvia, ja ainakin sitemeter. tai googlen vastaava. ja mainoksia toki, jotta saat ainakin sen 5 senttiä vuodessa.

marjariitta kirjoitti...

We should go on a biking trip together and take some nice pictures for your blog! And maybe try the sports tracker also.. I'm happy you decided to start this blog! looking forward to reading it :) have a great day -MR