Bicycles are the primary mode of transportation in the Netherlands - there are actually more bikes than people in the country! If you live in the Netherlands, you need a bike. At home, in Oklahoma, everyone needs a car. My first purchase when I got here was a bike!
Most people in the Netherlands cycle for their daily commute to work or school. Almost all children bike to school, as well. There's a mini "rush hour" in the bike lanes in the mornings and evenings! For longer trips, people will take the train or the bus. Public transit can take you almost anywhere in the Netherlands, and the trains and buses almost always run on time. On Google Maps, you can type in where you want to go, and it will tell you which bus line or train you need to get on, what time you need to transfer, and what time you'll arrive at your destination!
I was nervous when I started cycling, and everyone, even the elderly people, were zooming by me! I was shocked that no one here wears helmets, but I realized that cycling in the Netherlands is a lot safer. They have protected bike lanes that are separated from the road where the cars drive, and everyone learns the rules of the road (or rather, the bike lane) as soon as they start biking.
