Like Swiss watches, Italian shoes, and Belgian beers, some countries are renowned for their exports. Say the word ‘Dutch’ and a number of things spring to mind; windmills, clogs, tulips, cheese, canals, and, of course, bicycles!
With more bicycles than people, and as many as 59% of urban journeys made using pedal power, it is safe to say that the Netherlands is home to a mature cycling culture. What is noteworthy about this culture is the fact that, by and large, people tend to ride the same sort of bikes. And what sort of bikes do they ride? Well, Dutch bikes of course!
Dutch bikes are synonymous with an upright, comfortable and casual riding style, as well as with the low-maintenance simplicity that gives them tremendous utilitarian appeal. Practical features like mudguards, lights, locks, and racks are all incorporated into the bike’s design, and because of this their overall cost is kept to a minimum. To help highlight their benefits, we’ve compiled a list of our top ten reasons to go for a Dutch bike – enjoy!
[1] The study conducted by In-Car Cleverness concluded that the average driving speed within 1 mile of London city centre was just 5.13mph, and within 5 miles of the city centre still only 8.34mph. Even a loaded Dutch omafiets can maintain a higher average speed than this in an urban environment.
[2] The study can be found on the Cyclelogistics website (http://cyclelogistics.eu/), but a more interesting analysis of the data was done by the Copenhagenize team (http://www.copenhagenize.com/2013/10/the-massive-potential-of-shifting-trips.html).