Know how you get a real high from a good physical workout? And how that high energetically courses its way out as boundless aliveness and creativity? Imagine naturally getting those pick-me-ups twice or even more times a day? Well, that’s the order of the day for bicyclists in the Netherlands.

From a previous post, we learned that the bicycle has been pretty much part of the Dutch landscape and culture for decades. By necessity, public outcry, government policy and investments, it has evolved to become what it is today – a key transport mode that works socially, economically and environmentally.

Regardless of educational or age levels

bicycling “reflects a sporty, environmentally aware lifestyle” as cited in their Cycling in the Netherlands 2009 report. This transport mode is enjoyed by 30 – 50% of its cities’ population, including their 75 and older citizens who make 25% of their trips on bikes and 24% by walking. Contrast this with the 6% of our American elderly aged 65 or older, who either bike or walk. Talk about inspiration and possibilities.

Other interesting trivia are Dutch children usually receive their first bike by age four; bikes outnumber their population by 11% or 1.11 bikes per person and although it leads with the highest bike usage percentage in Europe, its bike fatality incidence is by far, the lowest.

How national policies facilitate their healthful transport mode

In their in-depth study, Purcher and Dijkstra list the six categories of national policy in The Netherlands and Germany that have turned cycling and walking into viable, safe and attractive driving alternatives:

• better facilities for walking and cycling e.g. coordinated network of bike path, lanes and streets that cover rural and urban areas; bike streets that are fully coordinated and color coded, with directional signage for bicyclists; ample bike parking that is secured, well-lit and guarded, with priority parking for women;

• urban design sensitive to the needs of non-motorists such as advance green lights for cyclists at most intersections or advanced waiting positions for cyclists (ahead of cars) that facilitate their safer and quicker crossings/turns;

• traffic calming of residential neighborhoods with bicycle streets; home zones with low 5 km/3 miles per hour limits and pedestrian and cyclist priorities;

• coordination with public transport with bike – parking, rentals and repair services at most train stations;

• rigorous traffic education of both motorists and non-motorists including comprehensive cycling training courses for school children with test by traffic police;

• strict enforcement of traffic regulations that protects pedestrians and bicyclists e.g. special legal protection for children and elderly cyclists and motorists assumed by law to be responsible for most crashes with cyclists.

The Dutch biking experience is inspirational, insightful as it is fascinating, and there is more to come as we have yet to dive into the newest electric bicycle trend to hit their scenes.

Meanwhile, how does the Dutch widespread approach resonate with you? Can you see you and your family welcoming or rejecting their national guidelines and policies into your community? What are some of adjustments you might suggest?

Photo courtesies of Flickr photographers kevindooley, PhillipC and country_boy_shane under the Creative Commons license.