Why Dutch Bikes are Better

[Explorer-1]

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The video makes me want puke.
Most of countries are neither the Netherlands nor Denmark.
With the Dutch omafiets you typically commute for 10 km round-trip, at low speed, on the flat, on bike paths only, with temperatures rarely below the freezing point, and actually don't need any motor. And you wear no helmet, why should you?

 

[fooferdoggie]

that would make my commute slower then the bus. when your land is all flat and its designed for bikes there is a difference

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Unless you live in a hilly area, Timpo. Are "Dutch e-bikes" Class 3?
Long distance, fast ride calls for a strong mid motor and a large battery. Dutch bikes are not "better". They are from another tale. Different country, different infrastructure, different needs.
Would you accept riding at 25 km/h if you lived in the Netherlands?

Denmark: The only e-bikes widely embraced there are cargo e-bikes.

Copenhagen, Denmark. Nobody needs e-bikes. And yes, Dutch bikes are common there.

Copenhagen, Denmark. "100% Rye-Bread-Motor". You need no e-bike in Denmark or Netherlands unless that's a cargo one

The material presented in the video certainly describes what bikes are ridden in Holland. But "Dutch Bikes Are Better"? Not.
Add to it there is no bike theft in the Netherlands really.

 

[Viking1]

Very interesting. My Gazelle is my first "Dutch" bicycle and first E Bike as well.
I will say I am very impressed with build quality, although at the price of it, I would
hope the quality was on par.

 

[Kayakguy]

What puzzles me is how you find your bike in one of those huge log-jams you see in many of those shots. And if you can locate it, how do you extricate it from the massive tangle of bikes?

 

[m@Robertson]

What puzzles me is how you find your bike in one of those huge log-jams you see in many of those shots. And if you can locate it, how do you extricate it from the massive tangle of bikes?

You just remember where you park and go there. I had to park mine a half dozen times on weekdays during a short stay in Amsterdam last summer and the issue was finding the parking spot. Once you had that, you were good. The trick also was to try and park on the end of one of those rats' nests. Not somewhere in the middle.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I had traditional bike rides in Copenhagen. No need for an e-bike there. A simple 3-gear hub share bike was good for me for a 12 km ride, and it even included one pretty steep climb near the ZOO.

 

[PedalUma]

I am in Northern California in a town that is becoming more and more bike friendly. When you have power wind resistance is less of a problem. Clothing for the destination, not the ride, is more practical and comfortable. An upright position gives a better view and is nicer on the back and neck, no stupid stooping. Here are a few of my builds in homage to the practical Dutch style of transportation bikes. Where I live an eBike is three times faster than a car. Cars just can get to a red light gridlocked traffic jam faster. Douche attachments are for those who post distance as is the spandex.

 

[pmcdonald]

I've been interested in this interplay between commute times and distances and modes of transport. According to the graph below Dutch commute times are longer than the US, by almost 10 minutes in the case of males. Perhaps because everyone is riding omafiets

This link lists Danish commute distance (22.6km) as getting on to three times the US distance (8.8km) and a massive five and a half times the average Australia commute (4.2km).
https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Transport/Commute/Distance#-amount
And yet cycling rates in a Denmark are sky high:

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Kinda hard to get to Africa and not fly to major EU airports… so yes.
Ever traveled the African continent? Central America? Every USA state? Mexico? The Caribbean? Ever live in another country or territory? Visit Canada or Hawaii? Seriously! I dislike large cities generally and most of my travels were to remote places in search of rare plants in the back country. Fishing the Sea of Cortez, Baja, and pacific coast of Baja? Rwanda? Namibia? How does that qualify either of as as a better person or world citizen? Ever pet a tiger or ride an elephant? I think I like it better just not engaging you. My bad. It won’t happen again. Later Richard…

Been to the United States thrice (NYC, VA, Washinton DC, TX) and to Canada (BC) once. Been to China, Syria, Israel. Never been to Africa, I give you that. No South America. I prefer the First World Countries. I am not attracted to high crime countries to be honest with you.

Paul, the Dutch ride rather slowly. I was more impressed with my customer/friend Risto in Finland who used to ride his 45 km/h Vado 5.0 for every week day in the warm season in Finland for 90 km

 

[PedalUma]

I like remote areas in the Southern hemisphere. Hell no to places like Venice. My one exception is Quebec City. I can avoid crows by running on the ancient walls. It feels like Europe but it is small. And there is beautiful countryside close at hand to ride. Where ever I go coming back is the best part. The photo is from 20-minutes ago. I got two rides in today.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

And yet cycling rates in a Denmark are sky high:

A factor not yet mentioned is enjoyability -- say, on a scale of 0 to 10. Let E0 = having a root canal without anesthesia, E1 = with anethesia, and E10 -- well, E10 involves activities best left for another forum.

I have 25+ years of car commuting under my belt, mostly in urban areas. On average, I'd give it an E3.

Now consider Amsterdam or Copenhagen. Pleasant scenery, no hills to speak of, little bike theft, drivers and pedestrians who generally give you a wide berth, and cultures holding bikes in high regard. Now factor in the general joy of cycling, exercising comfortably, and getting outdoors.

How much higher could the enjoyability of commuting get in a place like that? E7, maybe E8 when the weather's nice?

Could have something to do with those sky-high cycling rates.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

E8.75 daily in Petaluma, California. There are special saddles that allow for a 9.99 ride for some people.
View attachment 143916

I have one of those, but I'd only give it an E9.3.

 

[pmcdonald]

A factor not yet mentioned is enjoyability -- say, on a scale of 0 to 10. Let E0 = having a root canal without anesthesia, E1 = with anethesia, and E10 -- well, E10 involves activities best left for another forum.

I have 25+ years of car commuting under my belt, mostly in urban areas. On average, I'd give it an E3.

Now consider Amsterdam or Copenhagen. Pleasant scenery, no hills to speak of, little bike theft, drivers and pedestrians who generally give you a wide berth, and cultures holding bikes in high regard. Now factor in the general joy of cycling, exercising comfortably, and getting outdoors.

How much higher could the enjoyability of commuting get in a place like that? E7, maybe E8 when the weather's nice?

Could have something to do with those sky-high cycling rates.

Absolutely, great analogy. I wouldn't be commuting daily to work on the bike if it was akin to root surgery without anaesthesia! I rode a few times when I lived in Sydney in a time when cycling infrastructure was more limited. It was a nerve wracking experience, not helped that literally every single cyclist commuter I was friends with had been hit by a car. I turned to public transport and walking instead. It takes a whole supportive ecosystem to shift from outlier to major trend.

The charts I linked should be taken with a bucket of salt, but I found it interesting the often heard excuses for not cycling more (it's too far to work, it'll take me too long) don't seem to be issues for countries with high cycling populations.

 

[kevinmccune]

The video makes me want puke.
Most of countries are neither the Netherlands nor Denmark.
With the Dutch omafiets you typically commute for 10 km round-trip, at low speed, on the flat, on bike paths only, with temperatures rarely below the freezing point, and actually don't need any motor. And you wear no helmet, why should you?

Boys, please.

I've been interested in this interplay between commute times and distances and modes of transport. According to the graph below Dutch commute times are longer than the US, by almost 10 minutes in the case of males. Perhaps because everyone is riding omafiets

This link lists Danish commute distance (22.6km) as getting on to three times the US distance (8.8km) and a massive five and a half times the average Australia commute (4.2km).
https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Transport/Commute/Distance#-amount
And yet cycling rates in a Denmark are sky high:

I used to do a little mental exercise of speed vs distance, time involved in practicality, time plays a big part of the equation depending o what amount of time you can reasonably expend to make the rounds so to speak, time increases as radius increases vs speed of vehicle.I usually start at 100 meters as a practical walking distance, a few kilometers on bike after about 5 klicks I look for a motor vehicle because of the time factor.If I lived in the "low countries you can bet bike would be my preferred mode of travel( especially since I no longer have to punch the clock) It always seemed to me that Europeans have a great sense of practicality. A ICE vehicle is an expensive master.

 

[PedalUma]

Look this podcast up. It is good.

 

[Rexlion]

"E-bikes could be a more affordable way to reduce emissions".... unlike analog bikes, which make you huff and puff and exhale much more carbon dioxide per mile!

 

[Mr. Decaf]

I am in Northern California in a town that is becoming more and more bike friendly. When you have power wind resistance is less of a problem. Clothing for the destination, not the ride, is more practical and comfortable. An upright position gives a better view and is nicer on the back and neck, no stupid stooping. Here are a few of my builds in homage to the practical Dutch style of transportation bikes. Where I live an eBike is three times faster than a car. Cars just can get to a red light gridlocked traffic jam faster. Douche attachments are for those who post distance as is the spandex.
View attachment 143856

Nice looking bikes. Where do you get your bottle battery packs?

 

[tomjasz]

Nice looking bikes. Where do you get your bottle battery packs?

is knowing worth your life? Kidding aside it's unlikely a business will advertise their source.
Amazon, but vet the reseller and specify the cells and BMS used