No Wonder They're Everywhere

You cannot help but notice the propensity of bicycles in this country; I already told you that, but just today I read some stuff that I thought was interesting. Get this: the Netherlands has more bicycles than inhabitants. It has the highest bicycle density in the world. And, as if you might not already know it, the Netherlands has the world’s highest density of bicycle thieves as well.

It is estimated that the Netherlands’ sixteen million inhabitants own some twenty million bicycles. Why? Because many Dutch citizens own different bikes for different purposes. Many own a “decent” one for trips and travel and a “regular” one—usually an older model—for daily use, like shopping.

Estimations of stolen bicycles are as high as 800,000 per year! You will see bikes chained with several locks, attached to any immovable post available—street lights, trees, fences, and bridges. Then again stealing bicycles is big business, so it doesn’t really matter what is used, the thieves are way ahead with shears, grinders, and bolt cutters. Chaining the wheels and not the frame often results in the obvious.

My limited research on this topic indicated that the single most common excuse for lateness to work is—you guessed it—a flat tire.