BIKING AND THE CULTURE OF EQUALITY

That the Dutch are bikers is fairly well-known around the world. But the often mentioned flatness of the country as facilitating our biking can’t be the explanation. Of course, biking is easier in flat country but the world is flat at many places and yet biking is not widespread at those other flat places. 

A better explanation is that the Dutch culture of equality makes biking less associated with low status or as just for the poor. The same culture of equality makes biking OK for girls and women. In Holland the bike is a socially acceptable means of transport to the fullest extent.

Moreover, Dutch government policies have made biking safer, especially after WWII, which made biking more attractive, including for children. 

The only places where I saw masses of bikes were Bangladesh and Beijing, and it was such a relief. You just heard the ringing of bike bells. I wonder what is left of those ringing islands.

Former Queen Juliana (1909–2004)

Present Prime Minister Mark Rutte 

Present-day Dhaka traffic