When I read in the Lonely Planet that Holland is perfect for cycling, I envisioned something a bit like Kyoto: relatively normal cities, but where vehicle traffic is particularly aware of and cautious about cyclists. But what I found is a place unlike anywhere I’ve ever been.
Most parts of the world I’ve visited – except for the US of course – has at least somewhat of a bicycle culture. In China you have bike lanes next to most every major road, though these tend to be a mess of people crisscrossing in every direction. In Japan you have more orderly rules, but due to a lack of space, bikes usually ride on the sidewalk, carefully avoiding pedestrians and cars popping out of driveways. Holland, on the other hand, is quite simply a cyclist’s paradise.
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