Jean (not his real name) uses the Twitter handle #Luxembourgize to advocate for the rights of cyclists in Luxembourg and Tweet about relevant news and information. Jean said:
“The City is not a highway: it is your right to be on the street. Riding in the plain middle of the lane is recommended for cyclists. Car drivers have to adapt their speed and respect your presence. In this context it may sound strange, but lack of confidence of a cyclist has similar effect as the smell of fear to dogs: car drivers will start to disrespect you. So, be assertive but do not put yourself in danger. It is fair to state that riding a bicycle in city is probably safer than countryside. If you avoid dangerous situations at crossings, you will be fine.”
Kasia Krzyzanowski helps run Cycle Luxembourg, a community of cyclists in Luxembourg which organises group events and has a presence on Facebook and Twitter. Kasia’s tip:
“I would recommend that everyone has very bright lights and a reflective vest on hand in case they end up riding in the dark. We don't realise it when we're on the bike, but without lights we are essentially invisible to cars and we need to take responsibility ourselves for being noticed when riding on the road. I would make sure kids and teens have front and back lights fitted as well, just in case they end up riding home after dark.”
American in Luxembourg Mike McQuaide is a keen road cyclist and mountain biker, about which he writes and Tweets regularly. Mike’s advice:
“Always be completely aware of your surroundings, and what's going on around you. If you're in the city, there could be cars, trucks, Segways, hoverboards, those one-wheel thingees people ride these days--coming at you from all directions. Grow eyes on the back and sides of your head if you have to.”
Gosia Lawer is part of B:Loft, a group promoting the use of cycling in Luxembourg through awareness-raising and events. Gosia’s tip:
“I would simply advise cycling as often as possible. By doing so, you can learn quick reflexes when facing tricky situations. You get more watchful and aware of difficult spots on your route. Also, over time you gain self-confidence and get better at handling your bicycle in urban space.”
Pascal Schumacher is a Luxembourg jazz musician, composer and percussionist who also enjoys cycling. During an interview in May, Pascal shared this advice:
“One tip to be safer is to have larger wheels to give more grip because it rains and can start raining at any time. If you only cycle because you like cycling and it’s not to get from a to b, I suggest you look at the sky before setting out. If there’s a black thing coming towards you, turn back. If it starts raining and didn’t rain for a while, it gets quite slippery. Look at the sky and adapt your plans. If it’s just for fun and you don’t need to be somewhere.”
Giacomo Piovan, designer and former student in the Netherlands, cycles to work from the city centre to Beggen daily, rain or shine.
"Cycling in the city is probably the best moment of my day. It's great for the mind and your body. Cycling also saves time. During rush hour I am quicker by bike than by car because I can avoid traffic jams. If you are considering cycling to work, buy an e-bike. Luxembourg is not the Netherlands: it has many steep uphills and you don't want to arrive to your appointment sweating. Unfortunately, there are still many routes not covered by cycling paths such as the last part of my journey from Eich to Beggen. Cycling on this busy road is dangerous because cars and trucks pass very close to you. In my opinion cyclists needs to be aware of the risk, but also know their rights and responsibilities. I often encounter cyclists biking on the pavement and this is not safe at all for pedestrians.
Got a hack?
This is part of a series of articles called “Lux Hacks”, where experts share their tips on a range of topics to help make people’s lives easier.
Got a hack you want to share? Let us know by emailing [email protected] marking “Lux Hacks” in the subject line.