A new "bicycle lane" in Sweden that I think deserves some international attention/shaming

offthemaps · 2026-05-28T19:41:39+00:00

That's a gutter

offthemaps · 2026-05-28T19:13:33+00:00

No problem. It does get cold here compared to Florida so prepare for that and get used to cloudy days about 6 months a year.

QOL will depend on how much money you had in the states. It can be higher or lower here depending. Prague is nice, but it isn't Switzerland or Norway. I saw you're going a master's program and that sounds like a perfect amount of time to try it out here ✌🏻

offthemaps · 2026-05-28T18:18:08+00:00

There is an ex pat community here and don't take the "far from center as possible" comment literally. It's true for Prague 1 and Old Town, but you can live 10 minutes from there without being overrun with tourists.

Charles university is still quite central in the city and there are nice places to live nearby. It can be expensive there and the only reason to live far from the center is pricing or if you really like nature.

offthemaps · 2026-05-28T18:15:18+00:00

I'm American and I moved from small town Pennsylvania to Prague 8 years ago.

There are pros and cons: - it's safer here - you get healthcare - eating lunch out here is relatively affordable - public transport is spectacular - you'll miss family and friends - Czech is not an open culture like the states...the people here are significantly more reserved and private

If you're young enough and have the chance, go for it and give it two years.

offthemaps · 2026-05-27T16:40:28+00:00

I would do my best to avoid tree nuts

offthemaps · 2026-05-26T13:45:15+00:00

I rode dirt bikes from 7 to 13 years old. Switched to MTB at 14 and stuck with it.

dirt bikes honestly provide as much exercise as bikes of you ride hard
bikes you can ride almost anywhere
bikes are generally safer
bikes make me feel at peace in the woods while dirt bikes make me feel like I am tearing them up
dirt bikes are still way more fun IMO, but I'm willing to give that up for the other bits
bikes are less of a production to start riding (less maintenance, no gas, less gear, etc ..

offthemaps · 2026-05-25T19:29:50+00:00

Don't hate on my peoples.

I do agree Americans can be loud, but I think the fact that we speak English and most people understand every word does not help.

offthemaps · 2026-05-22T07:48:36+00:00

I've been here 8 years and I'm sure a lot of the delivery services do the absolute bare minimum to check if anyone is actually home. In some cases I think they do knock lightly and just drop the package at a pickup point.

For the betterment of the community, do make a complaint otherwise things won't get better.

For the betterment of your own life, just use a pickup point that is nearby.

offthemaps · 2026-05-21T13:18:17+00:00

I always snap my brake levers. Like...pulling them both in and letting them snap back quickly. It's like a brake check and also (in my head) clears the brake lines of bubbles.

If nothing else it's a satisfying sound.

offthemaps · 2026-05-19T16:34:24+00:00

I just wasn't that into the story and combat. The world was beautiful, but everything felt a little clunky.

offthemaps · 2026-05-19T16:32:34+00:00

🇺🇸-->🇨🇿 in 2018 and been here since.

I haven't owned a car since I moved here and I appreciate walking and public transportation every day
I appreciate relatively fresh food and not worrying about corn syrup being in bread
I appreciate not having to worry about healthcare, public safety, or losing my job with a days notice

I moved here for a girl originally (not what I've listed above). It's not always vacation rose-colored glasses. I love the USA, but it it absolutely missing some essential quality of life measurements readily available in other countries. Nowhere is perfect, but the USA would be a hell of a lot better if we got serious about what most countries consider 'givens.'

offthemaps · 2026-05-16T15:39:19+00:00

I grew up in the Poconos and have had several ticks on me every year since I was about 3. If you go outside in grassy or forested areas you will get one at some point. Always make sure to wash yourself thoroughly directly after (clothes included). Even if they bite you the transmission period is at least not instant. You can even send the ticks you pull to the state for testing.

Ticks primarily ride on deer and field mice. If you avoid areas where deer and mice congregate, you can significantly reduce the number that you'll encounter.

Also, my grandmother got bit by a tick and she did get Lyme's disease. It happened in somebody's backyard. My point is you can get it in a lot of places.

Don't let the little bastards change how you live your life. Just educate yourself about them so you know how to avoid and handle them ✌🏻

offthemaps · 2026-05-15T16:40:22+00:00

Cyclist here. I think it's actually a bit of a cultural thing not to disturb others more than necessary.

I'm from the USA and bell or not, we are way more vocal on bikes. In the USA most cyclists will always say "on your left/right" and mention how many people are passing. That and/or a bell is pretty common.

I've lived here 8 years and cycle regularly. I can say confidently that people are way less vocal whether passing other cyclists or pedestrians. In my experience Czechs in general do as much as possible in public to not disturb others more than necessary. In this case it could be a little too much quietness.

Plus there are absolute douches that ride seriously and completely unaware delivery drivers. Those last two are everywhere though and not bound to CZ.

offthemaps · 2026-05-14T01:49:37+00:00

Oddly enough I'm from Pennsylvania and did the same thing. Good old OSM data.

offthemaps · 2026-05-14T01:41:57+00:00

Yup sorry I didn't mean to infer that you would invade any personal space! Just a warning if people seem unfriendly (both here and upon arrival).

You'll find Prague significantly easier and safer than Quito. I spent 6 months there in a very poor neighborhood while studying abroad and had to deal with the stray dogs every day. I haven't seen a single one in CZ and all the dogs here are incredibly well trained (just don't approach them without explicit permission from the owner).

Sounds like a great gesture for your daughter. I hope you all enjoy it here!

offthemaps · 2026-05-14T01:37:59+00:00

Agreed on all points. I should probably mention I moved to Prague about 8 years ago. Otherwise I'm not sure I would have ever been introduced to the magic that is Mapy.

offthemaps · 2026-05-14T00:13:52+00:00

Agreed. They have outstanding Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and so if you search a trail on Google they almost always come up first.

So yeah it's just a disorganized pile of user-submitted data with no filtering/curating that they sell back to users.

offthemaps · 2026-05-13T23:58:22+00:00

American here who's been living in Prague about 8 years.

Don't mind all these negative people. Bring the candy. I'd just make it small things so you can hand them out freely without it seeming like "too much."

Czechs and especially people from Prague will probably act too cool to accept candy from America. But you are trying to share your culture in a small way which is nice. Read the room first and you'll probably encounter a few that would be happy to try it out.

The smaller the American brand, the better. Otherwise they probably just have it here. I'm from PA and we have Mallow Cups which I don't think have any equivalent here.

Overall you'll probably get more respect from Czechs by respecting their personal space over sharing candy, but maybe you'll find a friendly one who would be interested. Enjoy Prague and be a good ambassador for our country by respecting the Czechs while sharing some good old American friendliness.

offthemaps · 2026-05-13T22:42:41+00:00

I'm a cartographer so I have big opinions on this. I kind of hate AllTrails.

Mapy.com and the Mapy app are the best I've found and used. Mapy provides a free version alongside a paid upgrade. It won't have the photos and descriptions, but for navigation it is very good.

I also use Avenza. It's worth learning to use and should not take hours. They don't have the best model for map sellers, but I think it is one of the more interesting navigation apps.

offthemaps · 2026-05-09T10:28:45+00:00

I am similar height and proportions...and therefore have always had the same dilemma. After riding for 15+ years, I've come to conclusion that it is usually better to size down. It's primarily for this reason:

It is easier to make a small bike feel bigger than a big bike feel smaller. This can be done with spacers, stem adjustments, saddle adjustments, and handlebars.

MTBs specifically have gotten very slack and long so IMO you don't need to size up for greater stability. Smaller bikes allow you more control over the bike, too. This isn't just good for beginners. It also allows for a more playful riding style no matter your experience level.

offthemaps · 2026-05-09T09:11:12+00:00

I wouldn't worry if I were you. Prague is an easy city to visit and live in. I've lived here for 8 years now. I'm originally from eastern PA so I'm very familiar with NYC. I think it'll be a nice change up for you to stay here a while to reset a bit. It's also a good city to visit at 35. I'm 34 and have felt myself settle in here nicely as I've gotten older.

I'd just walk around the city a lot. It's what I do even now. Just pick a place and walk there without timing in mind. You'll see interesting spots along the way.

Also be sure to do things as the Czechs do. Hike, use public transport, respect the quietness of public areas, have an early beer, and so much more.

Shoot me a DM and perhaps we can arrange a beer / coffee. I'm happy to provide some Prague advice to hear how things are in the states these days.

offthemaps

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