Thanks, I am not posting up these videos that have been culled from YouTube just to show another way of life, I am doing so because we have lived and breathed with our friends in the Netherlands what you see on those videos. A couple of weeks ago we were with friends in Leeuwarden [Friesland], they have young children and we went with them to their primary school in the morning. What a revelation! It was a big school with over 200 children spread out through several buildings on a normal residential street. Everyone either walked or cycled to get there, I only saw one car and was told that was unusual in itself. The net effect of this is that there is less traffic for everyone to negotiate in the morning "rush" hour.
In Nijmegen we spent the weekend with more friends, the husband met us at the station from where we walked a short distance to an underground bike park and hired bikes for less than 2 euros per day, from there it was a pleasant 15 min ride to their house. Their 3 year old daughter rode her own bike the mile or so to her Christmas activity that evening in the pouring rain without a murmur of protest. We also spent a full day shopping and exploring Nijmegen on the bikes, just like everyone else really.
Dr_pink on an unaccustomed bike with our friend.