“The bicycle, king of travel in the Netherlands: a look back at a citizen revolution”
In the land of tulips and windmills, the bicycle has become the preferred mode of transport for the Dutch. While in France, only 4% of journeys are made by bicycle, in the Netherlands, this figure proudly reaches 27%. How to explain this craze for the little queen?
It all started in the 1970s, when the number of road fatalities reached a sad record in the Netherlands. Among these victims, 400 children lost their lives, which deeply shocked a group of citizens. They decided to take matters into their own hands and lead a real citizen revolution in favor of cycling.
Their action began with demonstrations on bicycles, where they denounced loud and clear the “murder of children”. They also occupied areas where there had been numerous accidents and temporarily blocked traffic to allow children to play safely. These spectacular actions attracted the attention of the authorities and the population, thus creating a collective awareness.
This citizen movement did not stop there. Pro-cycling activists joined forces with the authorities to create suitable infrastructure. Today, the Netherlands has more than 35,000 kilometers of cycle paths, a truly dense network that makes it easy and safe to get around by bike. In Amsterdam, for example, there are no less than 22,000 dedicated bicycle parking spaces around the station.
However, despite this notorious advance in favor of the bicycle, the number of cars continues to increase in the Netherlands. It is expected that in 2030, the country will have no less than 10 million cars, an observation which may seem contradictory with the craze for cycling. This is partly due to increasing urbanization and the continued reliance on the car for longer journeys.
Despite this, the Netherlands remains an inspiring example when it comes to promoting cycling as a means of transport. Many cities around the world are inspired by the Dutch model to develop their own cycling infrastructure. The success of this citizen revolution proves that mentalities can truly change and that cycling has its place in our daily travels.
So why not take inspiration from this example and make cycling our preferred means of transport? Not only would this help reduce pollution and traffic jams, but it would also help us take care of our health by engaging in regular physical activity. And who knows, maybe thanks to our own citizen revolution, the bicycle will become the king of travel in our own towns and villages.