Human Power Around The World 11
A Venetian gondola being paddled through the waterways of Venice – Photo by James Schwartz / The Urban Country All around the world, humans rely on machines that require non-renewable resources to power them. In this article, we look at parts of the world where human power reigns. In three weeks I will be returning ...
10 Observations About Bicycling in Amsterdam 43
Bicycles in Amsterdam – photo by James Schwartz / The Urban Country While visiting Amsterdam on my recent trip to Europe, I made some observations about cycling around the Dutch capital. Here are my top ten observations: 10. The locals have little patience for tourists walking on the cycle path Bicycles in Amsterdam – photo ...
When School’s Out in Amsterdam 36
Amsterdam school pick-ups – Photo by James Schwartz / The Urban Country While strolling around Amsterdam on Friday afternoon shortly after arriving in the Dutch capital, I happened upon a school just as the kids were being let out for the weekend. The scene was nothing short of fascinating for a Canadian who is accustomed ...
Rural Bike Infrastructure in the Netherlands 23
Bicycle traffic signal in Amsterdam – Photo by James Schwartz / The Urban Country It is 1:00PM and the train is stopped at a station in a northern Belgian town. The train will be leaving one minute later than its scheduled departure time so that the passengers can have a minute of silence to pay ...
Brussels: Narrow Lanes & Neon Vests 27
Grand Place – Brussels, Belgium – Photo by James Schwartz / The Urban Country The distinct two-tone siren from a Belgium ambulance echoes fourteen floors below the perch where we have set up camp on day one of our two-week trip to Europe. It is 6:30AM and we have just arrived after a 19-hour journey ...
EU, CA and Australia dominate quality of living
A recent survey by Mercer (www.mercer.com) (A Human Resource Consulting firm) has rated Zurich Switzerland and Geneva Switzerland as first and second place in the world for cities with the top quality of living. Vancouver rolled in at third place behind the Switzerland cities with a ranking of 107.7. Toronto ranked 15th this year, up ...
Netherlands road design 4
In this overpopulated world of ours, everything we do is guided by rules and laws. Signage on our streets would appear to maintain control and reduce traffic collisions. But do the plethora of signs and traffic lights on our streets really reduce collisions and maintain order? Or do they simply make us unattentive and distract ...