When I ride, I absolutely must have both hands on the handlebars.  How some clever people manage the "look Ma, no hands!" trick has always amazed me.  Riding with even a single cup of coffee is impossible-sounding enough; riding with two cups of coffee is a circus stunt; riding with small children as passengers, questionably secured, should provoke a visit from the social worker.

Presumably, there are different sorts of baskets and racks, so that one can transport purchases in relative comfort and security.  In that case, it is very unlikely that one and the same bicycle can easily fulfill such different functions as commuting, shopping, conveying passengers, and recreation.

And as for shopping, it is frustrating, but I guess to be expected, that the interests of small businesses have such a heavy hand in bicycle-friendly reform in US cities.

I did not know that the Dutch had a name for extreme stinginess, as the French and the Scots do.  Actually, in most European societies, it is likely that economizing is fairly well ingrained.

In Italy, terrain seems to be an important factor in whether a city has a strong biking culture.  In Ravenna, near the mouth of the Po, bicyclists are everywhere; and that is probably the case in most cities in the Po Valley.  On the other hand, there are many towns built on hills, where biking is more of a challenge.  E.g., Cortona is a Tuscan hill-top town overlooking the Val di Chiana from far above, in which almost all the streets are up-and-down; I have a souvenir T-shirt from there, which must have been made as a joke, with the name "Cortona" printed under a picture of a bicycle.

In another recent bicycle-related thread, a commenter writing from Rome observed that that city is not bike-friendly.  I have no doubt he is right.  It is noteworthy that the vehicles in Italian cities are much smaller than the ones in the US; but driving practices are aggressive, and streets tend to be narrow.  I would doubt conditions are very different in London.

Bicycling ought to be as workable in Barcelona as in Paris, but I do not remember seeing many bicyclists there.  In general, Paris might provide a better model for some older American cities than either Amsterdam or Copenhagen.  A proliferation of bike rentals is in fact part of my own scheme/dream for relieving lower Manhattan of car traffic.

It may be no more than a curious anomaly, but the smaller Catalan city of Girona, a bit north of Barcelona -- a medieval town with a river and bridges -- , was chosen by Lance Armstrong and the US bicycling team as their European headquarters.

Chickens are our cousins! So are other sensitive animals! Enough is enough! No more factory farms!

Not so long ago, as I was beginning my big European adventure, I found myself in Amsterdam contemplating where I'd like to rest my boots for a while. It was 5pm and my girlfriend and I had just emerged from a few afternoon drinks at the cafe...being late november, the sun was setting and we paused on a bridge to catch the view of it along the canal. While we watched, a commuter--fortysomething lawyer-type in business clothes--biked past, noticed the sunset, and coming to the top of the bridge, grabbed the handrail and sat admiring the view for about thirty seconds before setting off again. This is rush hour in Amsterdam.

What's best about the dutch cycling culture is how unself-conscious it is. No ridiculous racing gear for a simple commute--they wear their normal clothes and strap plastic bags on their feet when it's raining.

Hey, I'm Dutch. Lived there for the first 26 years of my life. I sooo much miss the biking. The US is not a good place for this. I suppose living in Houston does not help.

It is true though that bikes are just part of every day life. It is so much nicer on a warm day to cycle to work rather than sit stuck in a metal container.

I miss it more than anything else from my old place. Dutch food is not to write home about. Except the kroketten of course...

... that I still dream about.

And yes, I biked there. Unfortunately, I rented one of the red bikes, which marked me as a dork tourist. Here's a tip for you Amsterdam travelers: rent a black bike. You'll blend in better.

grist.org

I've read similar facts about the Netherlands and how bike friendly is it.  I also have a friend who lived in Amsterdam for a few years and experienced it.  A very cool setup and something to admire for sure.

I've bike commuted on and off for over 20 years, the last 4 years or so - quite a bit.  I commute 17 miles one way from Kenmore to downtown Seattle.  34 miles a day, 3 - 5 days per week.  I do slack off some during the winter - then crank it up the rest of the year.  On a yearly basis, I now ride more then drive - to work anyway.  

To some, probably sounds like a big deal - it's not.  It takes me about an hour each way, not much longer then driving.  Driving on a normal traffic day takes 35 - 45 minutes, some days an hour.  Plus pay to park, fuel, and pollution - you know the story.  After bike commuting for awhile, sitting in traffic seems even more tortuous then usual.

I'm lucky since about 90% of my current bike commute is on the Burke-Gilman trail.  The BG is a well used regional trail that allows off street riding.  I'm convinced if more trails like this existed, more people would commute by bike.  The side of road "painted bike paths" are still better then nothing, since they do remind motorists that bikes exist.  However, the off-street bike paths are much more inviting and nicer to use.

You don't need to be a hard core rider with an expensive bike and racer clothes to commute - although I'm guilty on all those counts.  If you live within 10 miles of work, pick out the quietest route possible and give it a shot.  Use the bike you currently own, or pick up something used.  Carry your stuff in a messenger bag or backpack.  No need to go crazy with equipment, experiment to see what works best for you.  No need to be a hero and ride everyday.  Try a few days a week and mix up with using other forms of transportation - rack on bus, drive in and ride home, etc.

I've mentored a few people on commuting, met them to ride in or home - and get a huge kick seeing the grin on their face - "Wow, I rode all the way to work!"   A few continued to ride, other have not.  It isn't for everybody, but if it clicks for you - is a killer solution to a lot of issues.

There are a few stumbling blocks to get more people riding in U.S.  We need more bike paths and general awareness that bikes can be transportation - instead of toys or sport gear to lie next to the BBQ grill and skis.  Another is the "uniform" of the "serious cyclist" - to look a racer.  This puts many people off and is not necessary.

I find many people are interested in the idea of commuting.  An example is the Commuter Challenge run by the Cascade bike club here in Seattle.  Runs the month of May and puts people and companies together in a friendly competition for most commuting miles and round trips.  About 600 teams and 6000 people sign up for this - not too bad for just the Seattle area.  I usually recruit a few teams for my company and can see the increase of people riding during the month.  A cool sight indeed and perhaps a glimpse into the future.

More info on the commute challenge:  www.cascade.org

Two bike companies geared towards commuting:  www.breezerbikes.com  www.rivbike.com

Gabba Gabba Hey