After living in the Netherlands (Rotterdam) for a year I really got into the habit of cycling everywhere. It became the first option to get around locally. So much so that when you did go to drive somewhere you’d have to hunt around for your keys again. Lots of people ask why New Zealand can’t be like The Netherlands when it comes to cycling. There are some very obvious differences. But NZ could still do so much better. Here are some thoughts on how. This is from someone who does own a bike in NZ but only uses it a few times a year, and has never ever worn lycra. I would love to be able to cycle every day in Auckland. That’s one of the biggest things I’m going to miss from the Netherlands. It’s so nice to just … Read More
The long and the short of it…
Here is a random fact. The Dutch overall are the tallest people in the world. The average height of a Dutchman is 6-foot 1 inch. So, this begs one question; where on earth did all those Dutch genes disappear on me? No, that wasn’t the question I was thinking of but is another side issue because of my mish mash of Dutch, Irish, and Polish blood. The real question is how come they make their houses and buildings so small? Seriously, tallest people in the world, smallest houses in the universe, I don’t quite see the connection. It’s not the citizens fault though; they do a fine job of expanding their living area into every imaginable space of land available to them. But they get such small plots of land. I guess the dykes and canals do take up a … Read More