FORGET TULIPS, LETS RIDE AT HOLLAND

Forget about tulips, forget about wind mill that is resemblances with the great name of the Netherlands or often called as Holland, there is better view to see in the fascinating country, that is the local cycling customary.

A man parks her bicycle at a bicycle parking lot near a station in the Netherlands

Unlike most of the countries in the world, Holland is one really friendly for cyclists, especially by the supporting infrastructure and regulation that allows cyclists travels along with other transportations mode such as cars, bus and trains.

Cycling in Holland is a common and popular method of both transport and also recreation, the country is well equipped with cycle-paths and other segregated cycle facilities were the network reaches all parts of the nation and into the bordering nations of Belgium and Germany.

The cycling surface quality is good and the routing tends to be direct with gentle turns making it possible to cycle at speed for considerable distances. Cycleways come with their own sets of rules and systems – including traffic signals/lights, tunnels and lanes.

From a number of cyclists found on the cycle path, it’s a wonder that almost nobody wears bicycle helmets or perhaps they just don’t feel like needing it because of the other transportation drivers are very obedience of the local law and respects each others.

The majorities of car drivers are also cyclists, and thus understand how vulnerable a cyclist can feel.

The bicycle high safety reasons enable people to cary their family members in a single bike ride

“Strict liability”, supported in law in the Netherlands, leads to driver’s insurance being deemed to be responsible in a collision between a car and a cyclist, and may be this makes car drivers very wary of bicycles.

Finally, towns have been designed with limited access by cars and limited (decreasing over time) car parking. The heavy traffic and very limited car parking also tends to make car use unattractive in towns.

There is a continuous network of cycle paths, clearly signposted, well maintained and well lit, with road/cycle path junctions that often give priority to cyclists. This makes cycling itself convenient, pleasant, and safe.

The local people’s culture of cycling has been a nature and common where no branded of specific types of bicycles are needed, people mostly uses the utility bikes that are cheap and maintenance free not to mention durability.

Cycling as a transportation and lifestyle is now also becomes a self trend among a developing country such as Indonesia with the rising of bike to work community in the past 8 years.

Unlike Holland, there are not so many cycle paths across its cities that lie in an archipelagic geographical contour.

At least the spirit of Indonesians to ride bicycles is building up along with the concerns of the global warming threats and might become a common custom for transportation in Indonesia just in near future due to the raising of people’s awareness of green lifestyle.

So now, as for the tourists who visits Holland might as well forget about those tulips and windmill, lets get riding and enjoy every inch of the country”s great cycling experience.