Thomas van Laake
@tvlaake.bsky.social
Cities, infrastructure, cycling
CDMX/Manchester/Toronto
Doctoral researcher at the University of Manchester
CDMX/Manchester/Toronto
Doctoral researcher at the University of Manchester
Capping off 4 years of work in 2 hours is always a challenge, but I thoroughly enjoyed discussing my thesis with Paola Jirón and @natemillington.bsky.social today.
Many thanks to all those who made this research project possible - supervisors, interlocutors, and interviewees!
Many thanks to all those who made this research project possible - supervisors, interlocutors, and interviewees!
Proud supervisor alert! Congratulations Dr. @tvlaake.bsky.social who defended his thesis: Between processes and instances: comparing the intra-urban differentiation of cycling policy & infrastructure provision in Greater Manchester, Mexico City, and Toronto.
October 2, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Capping off 4 years of work in 2 hours is always a challenge, but I thoroughly enjoyed discussing my thesis with Paola Jirón and @natemillington.bsky.social today.
Many thanks to all those who made this research project possible - supervisors, interlocutors, and interviewees!
Many thanks to all those who made this research project possible - supervisors, interlocutors, and interviewees!
Reposted by Thomas van Laake
NEW: Looks like CycleToronto won in court. Justice Schabas finds Ontario's law (AND version 2) to remove bike lanes infringe S7 of the Charter and is not saved by S1, in large part because the govt had no evidence to back up its claims.
July 30, 2025 at 4:50 PM
NEW: Looks like CycleToronto won in court. Justice Schabas finds Ontario's law (AND version 2) to remove bike lanes infringe S7 of the Charter and is not saved by S1, in large part because the govt had no evidence to back up its claims.
Reposted by Thomas van Laake
From @alexsammon.bsky.social an acerbic takedown of the Hummer EV, Detroit's stupidest electric vehicle.
Me, on the Hummer EV's superfluous acceleration:
“Why an SUV needs to get zero to 60 under three seconds is a question with no answer."
Me, on the Hummer EV's superfluous acceleration:
“Why an SUV needs to get zero to 60 under three seconds is a question with no answer."
It’s the Car That Explains Everything About America Right Now. Elon Musk Only Wishes He Made It.
In Florida, on the country’s most dangerous roads, I had a 9,500-pound revelation.
slate.com
June 23, 2025 at 7:53 PM
From @alexsammon.bsky.social an acerbic takedown of the Hummer EV, Detroit's stupidest electric vehicle.
Me, on the Hummer EV's superfluous acceleration:
“Why an SUV needs to get zero to 60 under three seconds is a question with no answer."
Me, on the Hummer EV's superfluous acceleration:
“Why an SUV needs to get zero to 60 under three seconds is a question with no answer."
Reposted by Thomas van Laake
Reposted by Thomas van Laake
A long long time ago, in a far away galaxy... the US used to tax the rich
May 23, 2025 at 8:19 PM
A long long time ago, in a far away galaxy... the US used to tax the rich
Reposted by Thomas van Laake
Leeds and Lancaster have several funded PhD places going in mobility, car ownership, etc. Great opportunities in-fuze.org.uk/research-at-...
February 4, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Leeds and Lancaster have several funded PhD places going in mobility, car ownership, etc. Great opportunities in-fuze.org.uk/research-at-...
Voor het eerst in het Nederlands geschreven over fietsen, en over Bogotá.
Met @henk-jandekker.bsky.social nagedacht over wat de Ciclovía van Bogotá Nederland kan leren over fietsbeleid:
www.trouw.nl/opinie/opini...
Met @henk-jandekker.bsky.social nagedacht over wat de Ciclovía van Bogotá Nederland kan leren over fietsbeleid:
www.trouw.nl/opinie/opini...
Opinie: Laat het radicale fietsactivisme terugkeren
De Colombiaanse hoofdstad Bogotá stelt al vijftig jaar elke zondag 120 kilometer aan wegen open voor de fiets. Een voorbeeld voor Nederland, betogen Henk-Jan Dekker en Thomas van Laake.
www.trouw.nl
January 30, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Voor het eerst in het Nederlands geschreven over fietsen, en over Bogotá.
Met @henk-jandekker.bsky.social nagedacht over wat de Ciclovía van Bogotá Nederland kan leren over fietsbeleid:
www.trouw.nl/opinie/opini...
Met @henk-jandekker.bsky.social nagedacht over wat de Ciclovía van Bogotá Nederland kan leren over fietsbeleid:
www.trouw.nl/opinie/opini...
Reposted by Thomas van Laake
Vandaag in Trouw een reflectie van @tvlaake.bsky.social en mij over wat Nederland als fietsland kan leren van Ciclovía in Colombia: www.trouw.nl/opinie/opini...
Opinie: Laat het radicale fietsactivisme terugkeren
De Colombiaanse hoofdstad Bogotá stelt al vijftig jaar elke zondag 120 kilometer aan wegen open voor de fiets. Een voorbeeld voor Nederland, betogen Henk-Jan Dekker en Thomas van Laake.
www.trouw.nl
January 30, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Vandaag in Trouw een reflectie van @tvlaake.bsky.social en mij over wat Nederland als fietsland kan leren van Ciclovía in Colombia: www.trouw.nl/opinie/opini...
A brief and intriguing history of the Netherlands' first urban cycling path, designed 50 years ago!
With all the attention for our Dutch cycling infrastructure because of climate change I decided to finally share the story (sorry its a longread) about why the first red cycling path was built in Tilburg and how it became red.
#sustainability #climatechange
#sustainability #climatechange
The story of the first Dutch red cycling path
The story of the first Dutch red bike lane
Last december Vienna's very first red cycling street was opened. With the help of a Dutch cycling consultant (yes we have those). An article about the Vie...
www.karenromme.nl
January 14, 2025 at 4:16 PM
A brief and intriguing history of the Netherlands' first urban cycling path, designed 50 years ago!
Reposted by Thomas van Laake
50 years ago, Tilburg initiated the Netherlands' first high-quality demonstration cycle route.
The 10 kilometre project proved to be a pivotal moment in Dutch street design, introducing many engineering elements used today—including the now-ubiquitous red asphalt.
www.karenromme.nl/the-story-of...
The 10 kilometre project proved to be a pivotal moment in Dutch street design, introducing many engineering elements used today—including the now-ubiquitous red asphalt.
www.karenromme.nl/the-story-of...
January 14, 2025 at 1:04 PM
50 years ago, Tilburg initiated the Netherlands' first high-quality demonstration cycle route.
The 10 kilometre project proved to be a pivotal moment in Dutch street design, introducing many engineering elements used today—including the now-ubiquitous red asphalt.
www.karenromme.nl/the-story-of...
The 10 kilometre project proved to be a pivotal moment in Dutch street design, introducing many engineering elements used today—including the now-ubiquitous red asphalt.
www.karenromme.nl/the-story-of...
Earlier this month, Bogotá's Ciclovía marked it's 50th anniversary.
In this @urbancyclinginstitute.org blog, @henk-jandekker.bsky.social and I reflect on what Bogotá tells us about cycling histories and futures: urbancyclinginstitute.org/ciclovia-at-...
In this @urbancyclinginstitute.org blog, @henk-jandekker.bsky.social and I reflect on what Bogotá tells us about cycling histories and futures: urbancyclinginstitute.org/ciclovia-at-...
Ciclovía at 50: Thinking cycling histories from Bogotá - Urban Cycling Institute
Written by guest authors:Thomas van Laake, doctoral researcher at the University of ManchesterHenk-Jan Dekker, post-doctoral researcher at CIRED The early 1970’s marked a critical juncture in the hist...
urbancyclinginstitute.org
December 26, 2024 at 2:31 PM
Earlier this month, Bogotá's Ciclovía marked it's 50th anniversary.
In this @urbancyclinginstitute.org blog, @henk-jandekker.bsky.social and I reflect on what Bogotá tells us about cycling histories and futures: urbancyclinginstitute.org/ciclovia-at-...
In this @urbancyclinginstitute.org blog, @henk-jandekker.bsky.social and I reflect on what Bogotá tells us about cycling histories and futures: urbancyclinginstitute.org/ciclovia-at-...
Out now in @rtpiplanners.bsky.social North West review: an article with my reflections on cycling policy in Greater Manchester.
I position the city region as a 'model' of pro-cycling reforms across heterogeneous urban agglomerations.
Find the article here: www.rtpi.org.uk/find-your-rt...
I position the city region as a 'model' of pro-cycling reforms across heterogeneous urban agglomerations.
Find the article here: www.rtpi.org.uk/find-your-rt...
www.rtpi.org.uk
December 17, 2024 at 4:25 PM
Out now in @rtpiplanners.bsky.social North West review: an article with my reflections on cycling policy in Greater Manchester.
I position the city region as a 'model' of pro-cycling reforms across heterogeneous urban agglomerations.
Find the article here: www.rtpi.org.uk/find-your-rt...
I position the city region as a 'model' of pro-cycling reforms across heterogeneous urban agglomerations.
Find the article here: www.rtpi.org.uk/find-your-rt...
Cycling infrastructures and their (informal) uses in the southwestern peripheries of Bogotá
December 17, 2024 at 12:52 AM
Cycling infrastructures and their (informal) uses in the southwestern peripheries of Bogotá
Reposted by Thomas van Laake
A note of appreciation regarding the Bogotá Ciclovía, this year celebrating its 50th birthday!
thebogotapost.com/celebrating-...
thebogotapost.com/celebrating-...
Celebrating the Ciclovía: Bogotá’s Weekly Miracle Turns 50
Bogotá's Ciclovía is about to celebrate its 50th birthday. Find out
thebogotapost.com
December 10, 2024 at 12:01 PM
A note of appreciation regarding the Bogotá Ciclovía, this year celebrating its 50th birthday!
thebogotapost.com/celebrating-...
thebogotapost.com/celebrating-...
Reposted by Thomas van Laake
Reposted by Thomas van Laake
Manchester is ~10 years behind Vancouver. I lived it there and it feels like dejavú here. MCR hasn’t gotten over it’s 2nd city syndrome and has embraced the ‘any development is good development ethos.’ There’s still a chance to actually do things differently 1/2
Copies of this poster appearing in Manchester this weekend.
Worth a read.
Applicable also to other British cities I am sure.
Too many vested interests have talked up the emerging urban model.
Worth a read.
Applicable also to other British cities I am sure.
Too many vested interests have talked up the emerging urban model.
November 17, 2024 at 10:59 AM
Manchester is ~10 years behind Vancouver. I lived it there and it feels like dejavú here. MCR hasn’t gotten over it’s 2nd city syndrome and has embraced the ‘any development is good development ethos.’ There’s still a chance to actually do things differently 1/2
On cycling, Greater Manchester hasn't been held back by a lack of ambition.
In a second blog about last month's conference on cycling policy organised by @walkridegm.org.uk, Dr. Graeme Sherriff and I reflect on challenges of turning plans into reality:
blogs.manchester.ac.uk/mui/2024/11/...
In a second blog about last month's conference on cycling policy organised by @walkridegm.org.uk, Dr. Graeme Sherriff and I reflect on challenges of turning plans into reality:
blogs.manchester.ac.uk/mui/2024/11/...
Cycling policy and practice in Greater Manchester: Between ambitious plans and the realities of delivery
blogs.manchester.ac.uk
November 15, 2024 at 3:21 PM
On cycling, Greater Manchester hasn't been held back by a lack of ambition.
In a second blog about last month's conference on cycling policy organised by @walkridegm.org.uk, Dr. Graeme Sherriff and I reflect on challenges of turning plans into reality:
blogs.manchester.ac.uk/mui/2024/11/...
In a second blog about last month's conference on cycling policy organised by @walkridegm.org.uk, Dr. Graeme Sherriff and I reflect on challenges of turning plans into reality:
blogs.manchester.ac.uk/mui/2024/11/...
Bus stop in Valveralla, Catalonia
November 13, 2024 at 7:38 PM
Bus stop in Valveralla, Catalonia
Last month, @walkridegm.org.uk co-organized a conference on cycling policy in Greater Manchester with local researchers.
In this blog, we recap the day's discussions and lessons learned: www.walkridegm.org.uk/2024/11/08/r...
In this blog, we recap the day's discussions and lessons learned: www.walkridegm.org.uk/2024/11/08/r...
Recapping our mini conference
A guest blog by Thomas van Laake, Graeme Sherriff and Harry Gray. We asked them to share their reflections on our recent conference, which focussed on cycling advocacy and policymaking in Greater M…
www.walkridegm.org.uk
November 8, 2024 at 2:15 PM
Last month, @walkridegm.org.uk co-organized a conference on cycling policy in Greater Manchester with local researchers.
In this blog, we recap the day's discussions and lessons learned: www.walkridegm.org.uk/2024/11/08/r...
In this blog, we recap the day's discussions and lessons learned: www.walkridegm.org.uk/2024/11/08/r...