Cycling in the US from a Dutch perspective

[marni]

having ridden in the Netherlands in the "dutch style" with an oma fiets and ordinary street clothes, I thought this dutch take on US cycling was very interesting but I think the writer also missed a couple of crucial differences. In the Netherlands, the children start riding at a very early age because the infrastructure of bike paths, driver awareness , and general cultural necessity and availability. The distances arevery much compressed in the Netherlands with the total land area being equivalent to roughly the size of New England. In the US a casual ride to do errands ( unless you live in the very core of the city or very near a shopping area) can add up to 10 miles, while in the Netherlands,that distance would takeyou to the next town or village. For many years many Netherlanders did not need to own cars to get from A to B. Since everything is so compact, walking or riding a bike was common. In addition, there is a highly developed intercity bus and train system as well as and a highly developed bus and tram system within each city. Car insurance is high, the driving licence is very difficult to get and the cost of gasoline was also very high.( over 5 dollars a liter when we left in 2005) I got the feeling that the general opinion was that most people had better things to spend their money on. The uncrowded streets except in the very center of the city, were an added inducement to ride or take public transport. Most people grow up on a bike and are so used to riding balanceing and carrying loads, taking off their jackets, riding in herds,riding one and no handed, helping someone a long with a hand on the shoulder and generally being totally at home and secure on a bike that it is totally second nature to them.

It will take a while before the same condition can if ever occur here, but each little step is a good step. And another perspective is always excellent learning material.