Aspirations for the Class

My aspirations for this class are ultimately to take what I learn, see, and experience in each of the cities and bring those ideas to the US to contribute to successful cycle infrastructure here in some way. I would love to eventually use what I learn as a transportation planner to help bring more sustainable and safe transportation options the US in the future, and I think getting to experience the infrastructure and learn about it in person is going to help me understand how this can happen. I am studying Environmental Science and Policy, so looking at what I learn through that lens would allow me to take a different approach to viewing the sustainable bicycle infrastructure and its contribution to the wellbeing of not only the people, but the environment surrounding them, and the policies that make this possible.

I am also generally excited to feel safe and connected while biking places, which is a luxury we don’t often have in the US. It will be nice to not feel like I can’t ride my bike to get someplace because it is too unsafe. Additionally, I hope to learn more about traveling alone and abroad, as I’ve never been out of the country before and don’t get the chance to travel often. Going to a new country and being immersed in a different culture is going to be an interesting learning experience, from the bike culture to other things that I wouldn’t be used to coming from the US. I think it will be especially interesting to learn about the history of the bike culture in these places and how connected that is to other differences from the US.

The one place that I’m the most excited about going is Houten, because the reason that I discovered this program was originally from finding a youtube video about Houten and its design, which caused me to dive deeper into the cycling infrastructure of the Netherlands. As I continued to learn about it, one website led to another and eventually I found out about this study abroad, so it will be cool to go to the place that got me interested in bike infrastructure in the first place.

Overall, I think this study abroad is going to be a huge learning experience for me with lessons that will be applicable once I arrive back in the US, and I’m very excited for the learning to begin!

- Lauren