The weather was promised to be a glorious one this weekend. After a couple of weekdays in the high 16 to 18 degrees C, Saturday morning was quite a disappointment. There were light showers in early morning when we sent our niece and her friends to Schiphol for them to hop back to UK. The temperature by then had already plummeted down to single digit.Faris however was insistent that we do outside activity. So there we were cycling a distance of 15 km in the afternoon.
Holland is a very bicycle-friendly country. The way that cycling is included in the traffic systems and the flat terrain all contribute greatly in providing the perfect conditions for a stress-free cycle ride. In all there are about 20,000 kilometres of specially designated cycling lanes and paths in the whole country.
Special cycling paths are very much in use to separate bicycle traffic from motorised traffic. As many people are cycling here, evidently there is a need for such appropriate infrastructure. Thus cycling is accepted as an important mode of transportation and not simply as either a kid's game or a professional sport. This makes the cycling community very diverse - children riding to school, people commuting to work, couples on holiday, people on a leisurely weekend ride, racing professionals - they all share the same network.
Special cycling paths are very much in use to separate bicycle traffic from motorised traffic. As many people are cycling here, evidently there is a need for such appropriate infrastructure. Thus cycling is accepted as an important mode of transportation and not simply as either a kid's game or a professional sport. This makes the cycling community very diverse - children riding to school, people commuting to work, couples on holiday, people on a leisurely weekend ride, racing professionals - they all share the same network. The other side to this is that it can get a bit crowded on the cycling lanes, where so many people often riding with different attitudes and at significantly different speeds come together. The large use of bicycles does lead to the wide availability of diverse facilities, like proper route signs, dedicated traffic light and so on.
However, bike theft does become a real problem. Annually some 750,000 bikes are reported stolen, which is about 5% of all bikes in Holland! As a result of the risk of bike theft, many city dwellers, especially students go around on very bad bikes . They are in such a bad state that it may astonish you that people are still using them. This is a very common practice, not only to limit the loss of value at theft, but also as a kind of insurance by reducing the appeal to theft. These bikes are used only for 'high-risk' areas in town like the railway stations, or for going to the university. Many people, however, have fairly good bikes, esp. for daily commuting.
Today we went on a nice path from home to the kid's school, about 30 minutes ride from home. Then we went off in the direction of Wassenaar before heading back home. All in all, with breaks in between, we spent one and half hours riding over a distance of 15 km. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon out in the open.
However, bike theft does become a real problem. Annually some 750,000 bikes are reported stolen, which is about 5% of all bikes in Holland! As a result of the risk of bike theft, many city dwellers, especially students go around on very bad bikes . They are in such a bad state that it may astonish you that people are still using them. This is a very common practice, not only to limit the loss of value at theft, but also as a kind of insurance by reducing the appeal to theft. These bikes are used only for 'high-risk' areas in town like the railway stations, or for going to the university. Many people, however, have fairly good bikes, esp. for daily commuting. 
Today we went on a nice path from home to the kid's school, about 30 minutes ride from home. Then we went off in the direction of Wassenaar before heading back home. All in all, with breaks in between, we spent one and half hours riding over a distance of 15 km. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon out in the open. 
3 comments:
Salam. Maybe Brunei can learn from Holland. If there are very good infrastructure for cyclists in Brunei, I am sure the idea of cycling to work, to school or even to The Mall will catch on. It will help to achieve the drive to lessen the carbon footprint, yes?
It's too hot in Brunei. Here the weather is just nice. Plus I dont wear tie to work - does look strange to see people wearing tie cycling to work.
True Senor. The Brunei Government is now inviting consultants to upgrade Gadong area. The plan is to build a garden in a city so hopefully there would be shaded areas with lush trees, etc...Lets see...
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