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Unraveling the Cycling City
  • Level Professional
  • Duration 23 hours
  • Course by University of Amsterdam
  • Offered by

About

Obscured by its apparent simplicity, cycling is a complex phenomenon. Being an almost perfect human-machine hybrid, cycling is deeply rooted in a plethora of socio-technological systems. Around the world cycling is embraced as an important ingredient to tackle a wide variety of individual and societal challenges. The Netherlands is often seen as an ideal living lab, because cycling has retained its significant share of mobility throughout the country. At the same time, there are large differences in developments across time and space, that allows for a better understanding of potential causal relations. This is also increasingly recognized by (inter)national top tier researchers from many different academic fields. They are uncovering reciprocal relations of cycling with spatial, ecological, historical, social, cultural, economic, biological and political structures. Unraveling the Cycling City bundles the state-of-the-art knowledge that emerges from research and practice on the Dutch cycling system. As such, it provides an easily accessible platform to learn about important causes and effects, to open minds for the complexity of the entire system and to support group deliberations around the world.

Modules

Course Introduction

    • 1 Videos
    • 4 Readings
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1 Videos

  • Introduction by Marco te Brömmelstroet

4 Readings

  • Meet the team
  • Keep notes to prepare for your final assignment!
  • Ace academic reading and note-taking
  • Content of Unraveling the Cycling City

Course Community

    • 2 Readings
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2 Readings

  • Spanish course track
  • Support and feedback

Week 1 Intro: Historical perspective: Is cycling in the Dutch genes?

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Is cycling in the Dutch genes?

1 Videos

  • Week 1 Intro: A Historical Perspective - Is cycling in the Dutch genes?

1.1 How the Dutch Got their Cycle Paths

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • How the Dutch got their cycle paths
  • How Amsterdam became the bicycle capital of the world

1 Discussions

  • Was cycling once mainstream in your city?

1 Videos

  • How the Dutch got their cycle paths

2 Readings

  • First, a bit of history...
  • How Amsterdam became the bicycle capital of the world

1.2 Why and for whom were bicycle paths built?

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Contested Spaces: Bicycle Lanes in Urban Europe, 1900-1995

1 Discussions

  • Quote from literature: Bicycle Lanes in Urban Europe, 1900-1995

1 Videos

  • Paper discussion with Marco te Brömmelstroet

1 Readings

  • Contested Spaces: Bicycle Lanes in Urban Europe, 1900-1995

1.3 The Prime Minister Bikes to Work

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Why We Cycle: Egalitarian Society
  • The Prime Minister bikes to work

1 Discussions

  • How do public figures influence you?

1 Videos

  • Why We Cycle: Egalitarian Society

2 Readings

  • Top down or bottom up?
  • The Prime Minister bikes to work

1.4 A Dutch Cycling Culture?

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The rise and decline of national habitus: Dutch cycling culture and the shaping of national similarity

1 Discussions

  • Quote from literature: Dutch cycling culture

1 Videos

  • Paper discussion with Marco te Brömmelstroet

1 Readings

  • The rise and decline of national habitus: Dutch cycling culture and the shaping of national similarity

Week 1 wrap-up: The Historical perspective: Is Cycling in the Dutch genes?

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Quiz
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1 Videos

  • Week 1 wrap-up with Pascal Boontje

1 Quiz

  • The Historical Perspective

Week 2 Intro: How does environment shape mobility behavior and vice-versa?

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • How do you move?

1 Videos

  • Week 2 Intro with Meredith Glaser

2.1 The Netherlands and Europe in Context

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Why the Dutch ride bikes
  • Comparing Cycling in European Countries

1 Discussions

  • Why is cycling NOT popular?

1 Videos

  • Why the Dutch ride bikes

2 Readings

  • Cycling by the numbers
  • Comparing Cycling in European Countries

2.2 The relationship between land use and transport

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Urban development without more mobility by car – Lessons from Amsterdam, a multimodal urban region

1 Discussions

  • Quote from literature: Urban development without more mobility by car?

1 Videos

  • Paper discussion with Luca Bertolini

1 Readings

  • Urban development without more mobility by car – Lessons from Amsterdam, a multimodal urban region

2.3 Making cycling (and transit) the default choice

    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Synergies from Improved Cycling-Transit Integration
  • As Easy As Riding A Bike: The Dutch supermarket

1 Discussions

  • Where are the small wins for cycling?

3 Readings

  • Cycling, the long and short of it
  • Synergies from Improved Cycling-Transit Integration
  • As Easy As Riding A Bike: The Dutch supermarket

2.4 Connecting Social and Spatial Environments

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Spatial and social variations in cycling patterns in a mature cycling country exploring differences and trends

1 Discussions

  • Quote from literature: Spatial and social variations...

1 Videos

  • Paper discussion with Lucas Harms

1 Readings

  • Spatial and social variations in cycling patterns in a mature cycling country exploring differences and trends

Week 2 wrap-up: How does environment shape mobility behavior and vice-versa?

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Quiz
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1 Videos

  • Week 2 wrap-up with Marco te Brömmelstroet

1 Quiz

  • The urban environment

Week 3 Intro: Can we reimagine the street?

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Week 3 Intro by Marco te Brömmelstroet

3.1 Understanding Cyclists' Behaviour

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • World's biggest bicycle study: The Bike Study Week in Amsterdam Region
  • What happens if you turn off the traffic lights?

1 Discussions

  • How do you cycle?

1 Videos

  • World's biggest bicycle study: The Bike Study Week in Amsterdam Region

2 Readings

  • Behaviour on routes and at intersections
  • What happens if you turn off the traffic lights?

3.2 Slow Car or a Fast Pedestrian?

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Urban Design: Is there a Distinctive View from the Bicycle?

1 Discussions

  • Quote from literature: Urban Design: Is there a Distinctive View...

1 Videos

  • Paper Discussion with George Liu

1 Readings

  • Urban Design: Is there a Distinctive View from the Bicycle?

3.3 Is there such a thing as a 'just' street?

    • 4 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Is there such a thing as a ‘fair’ distribution of road space?

1 Discussions

  • How would you measure "fairness"?

4 Readings

  • Space, speed, and fairness
  • Arrogance of Space
  • Is there such a thing as a ‘fair’ distribution of road space?
  • Street design compared (optional)

3.4 What are bicycle highways?

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Practitioners' perspective on user experience and design of cycle highways

1 Discussions

  • Quote from literature: Practitioners' perspective on user experience...

1 Videos

  • Presentation by George Liu

1 Readings

  • Practitioners' perspective on user experience and design of cycle highways

Week 3 wrap-up: How can we reimagine the street?

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Quiz
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1 Videos

  • Week 3 wrap-up by Meredith Glaser

1 Quiz

  • The street within a network

Week 4 Intro: How do we design around cycling behaviour?

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Week 4 Intro by Meredith Glaser

4.1 Why do cyclists break rules?

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Cyclists behaving badly - Understanding cyclist disobedience in Amsterdam
  • Giving way to deviant behavior

1 Discussions

  • Is rule breaking tolerated in your culture?

1 Videos

  • Cyclists behaving badly - Understanding cyclist disobedience in Amsterdam

2 Readings

  • Thinking critically about cyclist behavior and traffic rules
  • Giving way to deviant behaviour

4.2 Scofflaw cycling

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Quiz
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1 Discussions

  • Quote from literature: Scofflaw bicycling...

1 Videos

  • Paper Discussion with George Liu

1 Readings

  • Scofflaw bicycling: Illegal but rational

1 Quiz

  • Scofflaw bicycling: Illegal but rational

4.3 Swarm behavior

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Why We Cycle excerpt: Interaction
  • The Handicap of a Head Start

1 Videos

  • Why We Cycle excerpt: Interaction

2 Readings

  • What is Social Capital?
  • The Handicap of a Head Start

4.4 Pattern Language

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Towards a pattern language for cycling environments

1 Discussions

  • Quote from literature: Towards a pattern language...

1 Videos

  • Paper Discussion with Marco te Brömmelstroet

1 Readings

  • Towards a pattern language for cycling environments: merging variables and narratives

Week 4 wrap-up: How do we design around cycling behaviour?

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Quiz
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1 Videos

  • Wrapping up Chapter 4

1 Quiz

  • The co-evolution of design and behaviour

Course wrap-up by Marco te Brömmelstroet

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Conclusion

Final Assignment

    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Final Essay: Key Takeaways

Auto Summary

Discover the complexities of cycling in "Unraveling the Cycling City," a professional-level course focused on the socio-technological systems of cycling. Led by Coursera, it explores the Dutch cycling system, examining its spatial, ecological, historical, and cultural impacts. Ideal for those interested in personal development, the course spans 1380 minutes and offers Starter and Professional subscription options. Perfect for anyone looking to understand the intricate dynamics of cycling in society.

Marco te Brömmelstroet
Instructors

Marco te Brömmelstroet

George Liu
Instructors

George Liu

Meredith Glaser
Instructors

Meredith Glaser