The Famous Fiets!

One of the things I admire most about Dutch culture is just how integrated bicycles are into everyday life. Everyone from age 3 to 103 has one- and they are used to go everywhere, generally along "fietspads" (off-road bike paths). There is great respect and awareness for cyclists, and fietspads are incorporated into every neighborhood and on nearly every sizable street. The flow of bicycle traffic is taken into account at all intersections and in all roundabouts. Incredible! As a cyclist from the U.S., it is such a treat to feel the sense of security that comes from being in a cycle-centric culture. Go Nederland!

 

In the photo below- fietspad is red area. 

 Here is a funky green "Oma" fiets ("grandma" bike).  An oma fiets is a curved step-through design that is really quite classy- it has made a major come-back in the last 2 decades since I was last here. 

Note the back rack- which one can load bike bags onto- or even a good friend (or wife)! It is actually a quite comfortable and fun way to travel! We got a quick pic of the this advertisement to illustrate just how this works.....

This is "bakfiets"- a bicycle with a very convenient large bucket that carries everything from groceries to kids! This example also has a kid's seat perched right behind handlebars. 

 They make great delivery bikes!

This bakfiets even has a plastic shell to protect the kids from the elements)

Bikes, being such popular modes of transport, are frequently used to advertise..... (Note the handsome and functional front rack)

No shortage of bicycles here!

 

It quite impressed us to see the number of bikes parked at the train station- 

We were tempted to take the red bike taxi through the Amsterdam. But we had our bikes with us, kind of defeating the need to pay for transport!

We were amazed by the clever built-in hand/arm warmers for winter riding.....

We had to pause for a few minutes to try to figure this one out..... And never quite got it. 

Here's another über-utilitarian bike: 

One thing that is a little odd is that very few Dutch bike riders wear helmets. We wore ours everywhere we went, and were a spectacle because of it - lots of people noticed the weirdos wearing brain buckets.