Written by Nina van Leeuwen, reflecting on the course “Unravelling the Cycling City ” with Dutch experience cycling, Melbourne, Australia.
Cyclists are often squeezed into categories they do not quite fit, somewhere between pedestrians and cars. But in reality, cyclists are a distinct group of road users, with their own needs and rhythms in the city. This becomes especially clear when looking at how cities are designed and how those designs shape our everyday experiences.
As Forsyth and Krizek (2011) explain, cyclists require different infrastructure than pedestrians, drivers, or transit users. Their needs are specific when it comes to space, flow, and safety, and urban design should reflect that. In places like the Netherlands, cycling feels so safe and integrated that you hardly think about it. But that is no accident, it is the result of years of evolving policies. As Pucher and Buehler (2008) point out, Dutch cycling culture is not driven by higher income levels or lower car ownership. It is built on thoughtful decisions: separated cycle paths, safe intersections, traffic calming, parking, coordination with public transport, education, and traffic laws. These illustrate what urban design can do for cycling culture, though they are not one-size-fits-all.
Personally, cycling has always been a big part of my life. Growing up in the Netherlands, biking was the default way to get around. Whether going to school, visiting friends, or running errands, everything was built to support cycling. It was normal, easy, and safe. But it is only after moving abroad, to places like Melbourne, did I start to notice the differences in infrastructure and culture more clearly. Although cycling is growing in popularity in Melbourne, it often feels like an afterthought in some parts of the city. Cycling infrastructure is often shared with cars or pedestrians, bike parking is limited, and traffic lights seem to endlessly interrupt your ride. These aspects reveal the complexity and challenges that many urban spaces face as they try to become more cycle-friendly.
Right: Cyclists share roads with cars and trams
Taken by Nina in Melbourne 30-04
Something I have always loved about cycling is the way it connects you to your surroundings. As a cyclist, you are not enclosed or isolated. This makes for a richer urban experience; waving to friends, smiling at strangers, stopping on a whim to take a photo or buy a coffee. Cycling invites spontaneity and fosters a strong sense of place and community. The feeling of safety, freedom, and joy while cycling is deeply connected to the way a city is designed.
Unfortunately, this connection can be harder to feel in places where safety is not guaranteed, or where helmet laws, though well-intentioned, create a barrier to casual, everyday cycling. As Brailsford (2015) argues, such policies often discourage participation and reduce the diversity of people on bikes. Ironically, cities with a higher cycling share tend to have lower fatality rates (Pucher & Buehler, 2008). Safety increases when more people cycle.
In the Netherlands, these small joys, like easily biking to the store or school, are built into daily life. As Treasure (2016) puts it, the journey is “extremely painless.” You feel truly part of the city. Still, no system is perfect, and even there, ongoing debates continue about space, congestion, and how to adapt to newer trends like electric bikes. But this also brings up interesting questions. What would our neighbourhoods look like with fewer parked cars? Could we use that space for parks, play areas, or wider bike lanes? And how will the rise of electric bikes, which might be unique road-users too, shape future infrastructure? And evidently, how do transportation planning and urban design successfully intersect?
In short, recognising cyclists as a unique group is key to building cities that are safe, inclusive, and enjoyable. This course made me reflect not just on policy and design, but on the feeling of cycling, and how powerful that feeling can be.
References
- Brailsford, L. (2015). Cyclists behaving badly – Understanding cyclist disobedience in Amsterdam. [Youtube]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XypDTdd4qr0.
- Forsyth, A., & Krizek, K. (2011). Urban Design: Is there a Distinctive View from the Bicycle? Journal of Urban Design, 16(4), 531–549. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2011.586239.
- Pucher, J., & Buehler, R. (2008). Making cycling irresistible: lessons from the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany. Transport reviews, 28(4), 495-528.
- Treasure, M. (2016). The Dutch supermarket. Retrieved from https://aseasyasridingabike.wordpress.com/2016/11/01/the-dutch-supermarket/.
