Solid blog! I have always heard there are more people who ride bikes and also walk in Europe than in the US. A lot of it is because of economic reasons and not as many people can afford cars over there.
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Wrong, the bicycles some costs more or same than a car. It's very cheap, clean, easy, healthy to use. Especially with the rising gas prices people tend to go with bicycles more and more. As a Dutchman I can remember I grew up with bikes since I was about, well since I can remember. Our family have plenty of cars to use, mainly because my dad was a car mechanic. Still I was going to school by myself or with my brother by bicycle. It's just a cultural thing in the Netherlands and our whole Road system is made for bicycles too. Not to forget in cities you can get faster from place to place with the bicycle than with a car. You can avoid a lot of traffic jams, stop lights, save money on parking, save money on gas, etc.
I agree! Some bicycles can be very expensive but generally, it is cheaper than using a car of course! And as I see it, it has to do with 2 things: culture and distance. There are some big cities in the Netherlands, but there are mostly villages and towns, what makes it much easier to use a bike. If I tried cycling through Rio, it would take me forever to get anywhere (apart from the fact that we don't have the appropriate roads for that). The cultural part is also very strong, kids learn how to use a bike very young but they know it is a transportation method, not just a toy. Again in Brazil, I had a bicycle when I was young but it was just a toy, so I never saw it as something more. One thing I admire about the Netherlands is how much they are appreciate nature and the environment :)