Dutch Paid to Cycle on Congested Routes / The School Run in Japan

[John the Monkey]

Not much on the story at the link, beyond that, really.

http://www.24oranges.nl/2008/09/09/bucks-for-biking/

A scheme whereby commuters eschewing their cars for bicycles on certain busy routes get 5 euros a day for doing so.

The organizers, local and national governments and cyclists’ unions, hope to call attention to the use of bicycles as a means to reduce the rampant traffic jam problem.

Also, did anyone else know it's illegal to drop your kids off at school or nursery using a car in Japan?

http://www.copenhagenize.com/2008/08/bikes-we-like-meet-frackers.html

 

[Origamist]

John, I'm glad to see you have become a fan of Copenhaganize!

 

[John the Monkey]

John, I'm glad to see you have become a fan of Copenhaganize!

It's a really, really good read, I think, and quite inspiring (although I think that like a lot of "utility" cycling sites, they make too much of the difference between "sport" bikes and town bikes).

 

[sheddy]

IKEA not so bad - http://www.copenhagenize.com/2008/06/ikea-idea-with-velorbis-bikes.html

 

[Haitch]

Not much on the story at the link, beyond that, really.

http://www.24oranges.nl/2008/09/09/bucks-for-biking/

A scheme whereby commuters eschewing their cars for bicycles on certain busy routes get 5 euros a day for doing so.

If you click through to the Dutch site, it explains that cyclists qualify for five euros a day between 22 and 26 September only (a maximum of 25 euros) provided they submit a lot of personal information, cycle on one particular route, have a bar code scanned when taking a ferry crossing and complete a questionnaire at the end of the week. A maximum is also set on the number of participants/qualifying days.

Sounds like a clever marketing campaign that's been slightly misunderstood or spun in the link you give.