Bicycling culture in the Netherlands

One of my graduate professors in the Netherlands was fond of pointing out to visiting students that bicycle infrastructure didn't precede mass bicycling in the Netherlands. It was the other way around. While we often think that bicycle infrastructure is critical to bicycle growth, that's not the route the Netherlands took. It had mass bicycling and then it had great bicycle infrastructure.

I do think that good, protected bike lanes are critical. But I also think that a motivated citizenry that wants to take back its streets can do so without the infrastructure coming first. There are many ways to build a culture of bicycling in your community, and through that you can drive the expansion of bicycle infrastructure.

And one key to that, in my opinion, is making bicycling something that you do without any special clothing or style. Biking should be like walking, something you do in your normal work clothes, dress clothes, or casual wear.

Many people think that Holland has always been covered in bike lanes. It hasn't, but that never stop the masses from bicycling.

1950 Holland, before its cities were lined with bike lanes (Treehugger)