There are more bicycles than residents in The Netherlands and in cities
like Amsterdam and The Hague up to 70% of all journeys are made by bike.
The BBC's Hague correspondent, Anna Holligan, who rides an omafiets -
or "granny style" - bike complete with wicker basket and pedal-back
brakes, examines what made everyone get back in the saddle.Even before they can walk, Dutch children are immersed in a world of
cycling. As babies and toddlers they travel in special seats on
"bakfiets", or cargo bikes. These seats are often equipped with canopies
to protect the children from the elements, and some parents have been
known to spend a small fortune doing up their machines. As the children grow up they take to their own bikes, something
made easier and safer by the discreet cycle lanes being wide enough for
children to ride alongside an accompanying adult. And, as the Dutch are
not allowed to drive until 17, cycling offers teenagers an alternative
form of freedom. Cycling is so common that I have been rebuked
for asking people whether they are cyclists or not. "We aren't cyclists,
we're just Dutch," comes the response. The bike is an integral part of everyday life.
Continue reading the main story
No comments:
Post a Comment