My final thoughts on the Dutch infrastructure are about how convenient and safe I felt biking around the Netherlands. I was very nervous beginning this class because after biking around Atlanta I knew that I was the least experienced cyclist in the class. Although I did spend the majority of my time at the back on the group, I DID IT! The separated bike routes and cycle tracks allowed me to feel safe and it made me feel more comfortable getting around. After the two weeks, the bike was second nature, I didn’t think about getting around via car and I didn’t miss it. It felt weird to see people driving when I returned to the United States. I also was more observant of bike infrastructure here in Atlanta to determine how comfortable I feel riding around the city. In the U.S. bikes are less of a priority so the infrastructure is not as prevalent. When I drove back from the airport to my apartment, I did not see a single bike and that is a huge difference between the U.S. and the Netherlands. Biking is a huge part of their culture and is well integrated into society from an early age so getting around by bike is a no brainer for them. In the U.S. biking has the connotation as a children’s activity or a method for college students and sports cyclists to get around. It is not something that everyone does no matter the age, gender, or physical ability of the person.
790 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
