Rethinking Our Cities With Jason Slaughter of Not Just Bikes 

A Dutch petrolhead here; I have two cars, motorcycle, scooter and four bicycles. How do I go to work? Bicycle! Faster, cheaper and healthier.

Funfact: Amsterdam doesn’t have minimum parking places but maximum. Office won’t get permits to provide parking for all employees.

My opinion: we need more parks that include equipment for adults - I like exercise & getting out, but don't want a gym membership. We need more community spaces. We need animal friendly roads, ie overpasses or tunnels underneath so they can safely cross. And we need better repairs. I'm always seeing the same spots torn up and patched. Why don't road repairs last for more than a year?

Yea Philly! I've been living here 20 years car free. This past weekend I road all across town with a friend to a food fest and then an art market in the park. Passed by 2 other street festivals on the way. Would have been sitting in traffic and struggling with parking if we had to drive. Admittedly the crime can be intimidating, but still, most people don't have a clue what a luxury it is to be able to live in the US without a car. I feel like I've found the secret level to living in America, and the best part is, with the money I've saved from not owning a car, I was able to buy my own house.

Huge fan of both of your channels and always great to be enlightened with the knowledge you both provide.

Great conversation. Thanks for introducing us to Jason and his awesome channel.

Fact that these two channels meet is brilliant

I started taking transit because my car broke down at one point. I honestly really enjoyed taking transit, and kept doing it after my car was fixed. Unfortunately, I changed jobs and there's no good transit route to the new office. I miss it so much. I hate that I'm back to sitting in traffic

I like that he makes a distinction between being (geographically) isolated and being (culturally) insular. Australia is very geographically isolated but I've found most Australians know more about the wider world than most Americans I know.

You're the first of the podcasters I watch to get this guy on. Wish this guy got more attention. Thank you Joe, I hope your podcast channel gets more attention soon.

NJB ! Awesome. I loved when they were on ‘Well There’s Your Problem’! (Huge recommend, that channel is very nearly my favorite, engineering disaster podcast with smart, funny, leftie hosts)

Love both your channels and there was a huge smile on my face as soon as I saw this video in my Sub feed, the conversation was great and definitely worth the time. Thanks Joe & Jason ❤️

Wow how did I miss this 😢. Definitely looking forward for next episode with Jason 🥹.

About the fact that it costs more to replace infrastructure; in the netherlands they say (with a sigh) "they're always doing maintenance somewhere" but that's actually awesome

Awesome! Two of my favorite RU-vidrs. The possibility of this ever happening never even crossed my mind! 😀 I love watching Not Just Bikes videos cause I was born in Amsterdam and worked in Utrecht, the places in The Netherlands where most of his videos take place.

One of my favourite videos, I love both channels.

I went to high-school in Indonesia for one year. It was an extremely valuable experience!

Stoked for this

The way to change peoples behavior is to make the thing you don't want them to do inconvenient. Like instead of adding another lane to a freeway or road. Remove a lane and add a light rail. Make it less painful to take a train versus driving. People will either suffer, change their habit, or move.

It would be great if joe could also dive into the concept of degrowth

0:00: 🌍 Jason Slaughter, creator of the Not Just Bikes RU-vid channel, discusses the need for better urban planning and transportation systems in cities. 8:23: 🌍 The RU-vidr discusses how his channel has opened people's eyes to the benefits of walkable cities and the differences between Canada and the US. 16:35: 🚶 The United States was built on walkable cities, but many were destroyed by urban freeways. 25:09: 🚗 The car-centric development in American cities was a result of various factors including the dismantling of public transit systems and the promotion of cars as the future of transportation. 33:57: 🚗 The Netherlands implemented measures to reduce car usage and make roads safer, leading to an increase in cycling and walking. 42:30: 🎥 The speaker discusses their experience as a RU-vidr, their video schedule, and the challenge of balancing quality content with algorithmic demands. 50:23: 🌍 The speaker wants to promote other urban planning channels and encourages creators to share their own experiences and perspectives. 1:04:07: 🚌 The perception that taking public transit is only for poor people is prevalent in car-dependent places in the US, but this is not the case in other countries like London. 1:07:03: 🚌 The perception that only poor people take public transit is not true and is influenced by car-centric policies in the United States. 1:15:40: 💡 The lack of investment in public transportation and the high cost of car infrastructure are major issues in the US. 1:23:48: 🏢 Transit is often applied as an overlay to car-centric planning, resulting in ineffective transportation solutions. 1:31:55: 📺 The interview discusses the fascination with niche RU-vid channels and the impact of the pandemic on urban living. 1:40:11: 🎙 Joe Scott thanks Jason for coming on the show and promotes his merchandise. Recap by Tammy AI

Automatic big thumbs up for having "not just bikes" on... Wait, did I already listen to this on the podcast? 🤔

Great talk. 👍

Thank you Joe, he's always a great guest with a great channel. And yes, I might be bias, I'm Dutch

1:14:11 'Wielrenners' we have those in the Netherlands to. Many of them don't use the cycle paths on crossings, because is holds them back. They swerve onto car lanes, go the wrong way around a roundabout just to knock a few seconds of their time.

Another one to add to my NJB interviews list

Nebraska is more bike friendly than many American cities, Lincoln in particular. I used to travel copious amounts through America, like Jason used to, and resonated with his Houston video when I first found his channel.

31:13 That's why Rotterdam is so vastly different from every other city in The Netherlands. It was bombed so heavily during WW2 not a single building was left standing, like Hiroshima but without the nuclear fallout. There have been attempts at making it more walkable, friendly for bicycles and public transportation but it is obvious that it was designed for cars when reconstruction began post-WW2.

I always forget about this channel. I gotta subscribe.

Fantastic interview. I think you should add links to all the youtubers mentioned in this podcast ;)

@1:04:17 in many cities here in Austria I can say "I get chauffeured in a Mercedes" when I take the bus (the Citaro line is very popular over here).

While you're right that most UK city space by area is not that old, it's also not been planned for with transit in mind. A great example was when we went into Oxford a few week back. We decided to try the park and ride since they stopped charging extortionate prices for it. As soon as the bus got inside the ring road, we came to a grinding halt as there were no bus lanes. The trouble is, there's no space for bus lanes for a good couple of miles between the ring road and the centre. You'd either have to ban cars entirely, or start demolishing housing. I can't see either being workable.

I really love to see the acknowledgement of USA being very isolated and Canada not being a very pleasant place to live compared to many other countries... AND how Canadians like to think they are different from USians, but really they're not...

8:10 lol but Joe! You already have a pill! The wonderful Cankerboy supplement. I take it every day and it has been life-changing. Thanks again for all you do.

watched this video while driving to office and stuck in Jakarta's traffic was not a good combination.... hahaha. But I enjoyed the talk anyway. you guys are my favorite RU-vid channels.

Hoof GP?! 1:31:00 I got hooked on hoof trimming (starting with his channel) a couple months ago.

I realized how much of a petrolhead I am through NJB videos. I used to think I have to use car for half of my trips in Helsinki, but then realized a few couples of MDs and Ms.Eng. just don't own a car, despite easily affording several.

I just do not understand how CITY and TOWN officials do not get how great TROLLEYS would be for locals getting around and basic tourism..... Too much money going into pockets who are skimming of the current system, like the guys ( private companies ) who have the road paving contract.

Love NJB!!!

Great conversation, guys.👍 I wonder what you think about the ideal city design of the Edenicity channel ? 🤔

If you want a good essay that describes the design philosophy that has gotten us into this mess, read "Designing the fabulous nightmare" by Dr. J.C.T. Voorthuis

Not Just Bikes is great

I love The Hoof GP too

Joe may suggest an interview with Stewart Hicks? Insightful architecture prof with a nice approach.

Thank you guys! A joy to watch and listen to.

From Jason's description of youtube channels he enjoys, I think he'd also love Huygens Optics, which posts longish videos quite infrequently.

I did a double take when 30 year lifespan was mentioned for asphalt, I40 through the area gets redone every 5 years minimum... or, depending on the contractor, as soon as the old crew get done.

Changing culture is the hardest thing humans can do, but also very impactful. It's one of the first lessons they teach you in business school.

It's orange pill because orange is the color of the Netherlands. Not because of the flag, but because of the name of the Royal family: Van Oranje-Nassau. The name comes from the German-born prince Wilhelm of Orange (in France) and Nassau (in Germany). That's why you'll find Orange Street and Nassau Street in New York (once New Amsterdam).

Cars are actually outplaying ships with being bad for environment, by ligjtning them on fire. Absolutely phenominal

Ya know the difference between Kansas and Texas? No... we're both flat......... Our wind turbines work.

18:00 I was having a sip of juice there and it went down my windpipe cause of the great joke 😂

Citynerd has the best deadpan delivery

Great intervieuw. Greetz from Amsrerdam,the Netherlands.

Can you please do a video about The Kozyrev Mirror.

No you are correct. Nebraska does not in fact have everything about Nebraska. (In fact we get really excited when we are noticed at all). I think the rest of the U.S. finds Texas a little odd and self absorbed.

Completely off topic, but I've just noticed how much Jason's eyes and lips resemble Liam Neeson's and now I can't unsee it haha. Love that channel!

26:14 ineffective, but true!😂

Funny I look at NYC now and think how clean and safe it is. But hey I was a teenager when the 90s started.

1:00:47 I like calm people. Doesn't mean they're on drugs. You can speed up people's videos on yt. You're kind of calm yourself. 1:02:03 Those people with cars or big cars calling cyclists a wimp, that's all in their head that a car means they're tough or always means progress. Cars are just a status or wealth symbol for many of those people. 1:15:14 That's classist prejudice against poor people; and induced demand. 1:15:47 Yes, there's double standards of car centric people being ok of getting very expensive tax funding to what they want too, forcing their way on everyone when not everyone wants it, and when their singular way restricts freedom of other choices. 1:33:11 Yes, I like that yt and the internet shows niche things, especially in comparison to mainstream media and entertainment. Niche right now includes pushing for noncar infrastructure. Check out Yet Another Urbanist, About Here, Propel, Shifter, Peter Davies,Tim Traveller, and NHK Japan on trains.

46:35 Jason's cup: "If you can't walk to a taco shop, it's time to move."

I think this is happening now in north America, 2023 2024, because the cost of living is astronomically higher now than it was back then in the 60s 70s 80s.

If you do go to the Netherlands, make sure that you visit one of the other cities, especially Utrecht, and rent a bike and go exploring (or have a local show you the good routes). Utrecht is even better for cycling than Amsterdam. Or.... heck..... and I know this is a crazy suggestion.... rent a bike in Amsterdam and take it on the train to Utrecht! :D

Orange pilled. Nice, because also orange is the Dutch national color (because of the royal family "Van Oranje" (Of Orange).

I don't live in the city. I would be car dependent and do not mind. I enjoy the freedom of driving anything. But my two cents, should be out lying parking lots, with shuttles into the city then on the point, on foot or certain personal scooters or small golf carts.... like vacation spots....

I live in the Netherlands aswell, and 2 weeks ago I would have taken the train if it were not 2,5 times more expensive. And that's with a diesel car, not electric. If public transport is well utilized it should be much more efficient and thus cheaper to operate, and price should be an incentive to take it instead of the other way around

Hang on, do those blogs still exist?

My guy has the most epic name

Orange pill refers to the dutch national color being orange.. hence why his channel is orange also.

Joe, you know you and your wife could still live abroad if you want. I know she's a teacher, so she could probably get work almost anywhere. And your job is 100 percent portable. Just sayin'!

Jason is a cool cat. You're a cool cat too, Joe

34:08 No. First of all, Dutch society and Dutch politics are primarily focused on cooperation and compromise to get things done. Dutch governments are, and always have been, coalitions between parties forging a parliamentary majority to implement some of what each party aims to achieve, often in close agreement with labor unions, employers and other organised civil stakeholders. No party can hold another hostage, because others will form a majority coalition government if they tried. There are over 20 political parties.

Nice video. Americans have their present transit problems due to lack of accountability and indolent graft. Remember the system when it was more compact and had more real car alternatives. Father too k me out ride on the first 🥇 interstate. limited access. in 1960. We were supposed to get the yank equivalent on the Autobahn. Urban planning does not work in th UU. People have to become involved. One good thing he about a car dependent society is that apartments without parking spaces are cheaper.

Jason and I have the same watch history. Hahaha.

listen to citynerd at 1.5x...

No, it's called orange pilled because orange is seen as a symbol of the Netherlands. Mostly due to the historical figure of William of Orange.

Most of what he said about the NYC subways was correct, except they don't have any graffiti. That's been mostly solved since the 90s.

Orange pill is great

18:50 I'm certain that's just normal in the South LOL 🙂

26:55 Now his living in Taiwan makes sense to me! The semi-conductor capital of Asia. Surprised he doesn't live in Eindhoven! The semi-conductor capital of Europe 😉(but for a different reason).

Jason needs to go NYC again. There is no graffiti in or on the trains. Some stations have graffiti and are grimy but some are genuine works of art. I rode a brand new R211 subway train today with it swanking new digital goodness. MTA just opened a brand new LIRR station at Grand Central for billions. Everyone takes transit in NYC, all the buses and trains go to all the rich surrounding suburbs

37:00 I believe it was Eindhoven which was the first city to fully implement bicycle-safety all over the city.

@1:04:00 the comment gets made again about the view in the USA the people who ride public transport are poor, for a dutch person this is sounds so insane, if you go by train in the Netherlands you see people with suits worth multiple 1000 dollars working on their laptop on their way to the office.

Soviet microdistrict vs USA suburb

1:11:05 probably the same rule applies to smaller more efficient vehicles which don't run on diesel or gasoline. See Norway. They spent a lot of the money from their oil-drilling profits fund on making EV's affordable, and now there's no combustion engine anywhere.

Do a talk with Mythbuster Tori Belachi. He has a pretty recent youtube channel that has basically no following called The Truth About Tech

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WuRP8f4hmgI.html In this Ted Talk, CityNerd sounds a lot less stoned.

If you listen carefully you can detect the Canadian accent. When he says "about", "Las Vegas" and a few other words - it's very noticeable.

48:00 rather that Hbomberguy, my anti-Wendover example would be CGPGrey.

Timestamps?

Hey, Joe, is it fine to post future guest suggestions?

I loved the lockdowns. But then I am a introvert with ADHD and Autism, so people (especially crowds) make me very uncomfortable. When I get groceries it's always at 7:00 in the morning.

I thought the orange in his channel's colour was because so many of his videos take place in The Netherlands 😆

31:44 That's because they were better back then. Small engines, small frames. Even cargo-trucks were nowhere near the size they are today. That's another problem NA has. NA cars are enormous compared to European ones, nevermind Asian ones (which are tiny compared to European ones). There is like one person in the city I live in with an American pick-up truck who occasionally drives into the city center. It's such a dumb vehicle to own in The Netherlands. It takes up two parking spaces, can't see cyclists because of the enormous hood and you can hear it coming from a mile away. They must be rich, cause gasoline and roadtaxes are not cheap here, like they are in NA. Edit: I ran into the idiot in his giant 'Murican pick-up truck this afternoon! Guess what. He was being an idiot. Driving onto a roundabout shared with cyclists and pedestrians while apping on his phone with his 5-7 year old son in the passenger seat. What a freakin' idiot!!!

"this movement" - for a few decades now academics have been pushing urban planning not built around the automobile, but Americans (and for that matter, Canadians and Australians) continue developing car-dependent suburbs. Yes, American life has been designed around the automobile since WWII and yes, that means towns/cities are not walkable unless one lives in a town which was built out before WWII. But all the advocacy/activism in the world does not curtail the basic human need to want land. Most people will choose a house over an apartment. Not all people, but most people, if they have a choice. While I lament the lack of walkability, the anti-human design of shopping centers, etc., I know that I too still prefer to have a house over living in an apartment. So in the end we now will continue with our society and try to make do. Electric cars are part of that process - it's still an automobile even if the engine does not roar.

:)

The first time I learned North-Americans are isolated and know very little about the rest of the world was when I learned that President George W. Bush had never left the U.S. before he became President. That really surprised me. I guess he did have to leave Texas for campaigning though 😆

We call cankersores, aphthous ulcers

Israel is also very similar to the USA and Canada despite not speaking English

Dutch bike enthusiast here. How do I go to work? By car. Public transport will take around 2 hours. Bike will take 90 minutes, but then I'm depending on a ferry. Yes, they are making a tunnel, but it will be toll and NOT for bikes!! By car is less than 45 minutes. Tell me something about Dutch transport networks....