Bikes Are Everywhere In The Netherlands

Hey Fitfam,

The amount of bikes here is insane! I know I mentioned it in my video earlier this week, but it is very incredible just how many bikes I have crossed paths with. Before landing in The Netherlands, my view of bikes was essentially leisure and adventure. Here, it is clearly for transportation.

I have viewed dozens of kids casually biking to school. I have passed a huge amount of businessmen in expensive suits riding bikes. The craziest bikers I have witnessed so far are people with two kids on the front and one on the back. I have passed so many parents like that. It is pretty impressive, to say the least. The double bike ride game is strong here too. It is incredible just how practical it is to have a bike here.

Bikes in Amsterdam

One of the reasons I feel it is easy is because of just how committed the population is to it. There are more bike roads than real roads I feel. There are traffic lights designed for bikes. Everyone knows his or her signals. There are bike racks everywhere to secure them when parked. Even two level bike racks. The cycling infrastructure is like nothing I have experienced before.

Another reason bikes are more practical for the average person is because of the small streets. People are much more efficient on bikes here because they can ride on the bike roads, paths, or cut over grass when necessary.

Also, I believe it is more socially acceptable to have a bike here. Not that it is not at home, but I think it is just the norm here. Biking with your friend to a café seems a lot more regular here than at home.

Bartering the fare for a bike taxi is very normal here

People of all ages ride bikes here. I have watched very little children ride, to people very old. I think if you ride life-long, you are probably healthier and therefore able to ride right into your old age.

I think that the average person here is a lot more mobile day to day than at home. I think this could also contribute to my overall impression of the average physical build here. Even if somebody does not work out, they are still biking – which is definitely a form of physical activity.

This is not just an Amsterdam thing either. I drove two hours north today into more rural parts, and the same still remained, #bikesonbikesonbikes.

Even in the smaller cities, bikes are what is up

There are more bikes here than people.

Maybe I should buy a bike?

On a side note, zero rollerblades. I guess the Dutch do not like rollerblades.