Comments on: Poor Cyclists Key to Safe Roads

By: Lloyd Morgan

Lloyd Morgan — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:37:39 +0000

Yes, from my personal observations I’ve noticed that those driving in the Netherlands seem naturally more alert than the British (the only other nationality I can compare with).

There is more general observation, constantly looking out for possible hazards, undoubtedly brought on by an upbringing surrounded by pedestrian and mounted hazards (cyclists).

By: Pastaklovn

Pastaklovn — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:19:19 +0000

I think it’s plausible that the accident rate is lower because cyclists are a part of the car driving education in the Netherlands (and Denmark and other very bicycle-friendly countries). That is, drivers there may be more “automatically” alert of eventual cyclists in traffic than in countries like the US, thus lowering the accident rate.

I love my bicycle, so if I had to move out of Denmark, I would move to the Netherlands!

By: Lloyd Morgan

Lloyd Morgan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:21:22 +0000

Dorf, I love these insights and in reading them I realise how true they are. My girlfriend is Dutch and I’m currently in the process of moving over there and these observations are so very true.

I’m a fairly proficient cyclist, but compared to the Dutch–even 10 year old girls–I’m a novice (or, as you say, a toddler performing in the Olympic 110m. Hurdling.)!

I wonder if I’ll ever fit in!

By: dolf

dolf — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:38:57 +0000

that It might be, I always thought that the low number of deaths was *despite* the Dutch way of cycling, not because of the way the Dutch cycle.

A different reasons for the low deaths in the Netherlands might be that when a car and a cyclist are in a traffic accident, the liability is always with the car driver even when, for example, the cyclist had ignored a red light. This makes car drivers more alert.

Another one might be that there is no person in the Netherlands that is able to walk that doesn’t own a bicycle. A visit to Amsterdam will bring this home, as there are more bikes there than people. There are cyclists in the Netherlands, for sure. People who, in the weekend dress themselves in Lycra to go out on a tour. But everybody else just rides their bikes. It is not a special thing to do, not a scene, not a hobby, it’s just a mode of transport. So, people in the Netherlands really know how to cycle. One can always immediately recognise tourists on bikes in Amsterdam. It is like watching toddlers perform in the Olympic 110m. hurdling.

As an aside, the Dutch never wear helmets when on their bikes. Maybe some children wear them nowadays, but when you see one on an adult cyclist, 100% chance that person is foreign.