Off topic but I have to clarify. I am a Van by half for sure but my
Dutch ancestors moved to Pella, Iowa more than 100 years ago. My dad's a
stubborn IOWA Dutchman and it is my great fortune to have friends who
live in Amsterdam so I've been able to "return" to the home country
several times and bike the wonderful wonderful wonderful way they do it
there.
I DO think the car laws make a diff. It's true that people drive like
maniacs there BUT the expense and trouble for hitting a bicyclist or
pedestrian are much more than they are here. Of course in Netherlands
the separate bike highways make a huge difference, and separate and
separated lanes (and stop lights) in cities. That just didn't happen by
itself. Bicycle activists got out there and agitated for them - and
still do - including painting their own d*** lanes on the roads. But I
don't think that would work nationally here (maybe city by city if lots
of people are willing to be arrested over it.) If you can get through
the Dutch, a great online mag about what's happening with biking the
Netherlands is at http://www.vogelvrijefietser.nl/ Makes me wish there
were something similar (maybe quarterly) through BFW. At least a web site.
- cathy in la crosse
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