urbanism
When we picture Dutch cycling infrastructure, it’s often thegrand gestures that come to mind: Vast bike parking garages that swallowthousands of bicycles, sweeping bridges that arc gracefully over water, and billiardtable-smooth segregated lanes thronged with riders. But beyond the flagshipprojects lies something more quietly revolutionary.
If you ride a bike in Britain, you’ll know that it sometimes it can feel like you’re blaspheming against a national faith. This week the broadcaster Jeremy Vine announced he will no longer post helmet cam evidence of poor driving from his daily commute. Talking about the reaction to the videos he claimed: “Car driving is a religion in this country.”
Cycling in the City of London has soared by more than 50% over the past two years, according to newly released figures.
Official counts reveal a record 139,000 people cycled daily across 30 monitoring locations in October 2024 - a dramatic rise from 89,000 in 2022. The City of London Corporation, which governs the Square Mile, said this marks the steepest jump since it began recording cyclist numbers in 1999.
In city traffic, a two-seater electric pod like the Citroën Ami or the tiny pedal-assisted Quadvelo seems an obvious choice for urbanites – slipping through congested streets, easy to park, and using a fraction of the space and energy of a SUV. Designs such as the Ami, Pony4 quadricycle, or four-wheeled velomobiles promise a radically different transport model: One of smaller, lighter vehicles tailored to short trips.
For many of us, the freedom of cycling is something we cherish - whether it’s the joy of gliding through the park or simply popping to the shops without a second thought. But if you haven't ridden for a few years, the idea of getting back on a bike can feel daunting. That’s where e-bikes come in - and why they’re opening up cycling to thousands of older riders.
