I’ve fallen in love with traveling between cities. Before this trip, I had no idea how powerful combining cycling and the transit system can be. I completely underestimated the relationship between the integrated travel system. Back at home, I’ve never biked or taken public transportation anywhere longer than 30 minutes. I have certainly not combined these two forms of transportation for the same trip.
Despite long distances between cities, biking remains one of the most popular methods of transportation in Denmark and the Netherlands. People often start and end longer trips by cycling, and use public transportation in between. They conveniently get to choose the point they want to start and stop cycling. They can hop on a train when biking may take too long or the terrain becomes too difficult or unsafe. There are usually several stations located throughout urban areas that come very often, relieving the concern of timing a bike ride perfectly. Stations are also generally reliable and easy to navigate, alleviating travel stress. Also, stations that have a high amount of connectivity attract more cyclists because they have more destination options.
This interrelated system allows travelers to personalize their speed, physical input, and length of the trip. When traveling from Korinth to Odense, we had the option of choosing to bike the entire way or to complete the first 10 miles by bicycle and the rest by train. I love knowing that I can choose to take transit if I need it. When coming from Nijmegen to Utrecht, we had a quick bike ride to the train station from where we were staying. I appreciate the convenience of only being a short ride away. In the past, I’ve only ever walked to public transportation, so I enjoyed experiencing getting there by bike. It was quick, and easy, and will motivate me to try this when I get back home.
I have gained a new appreciation for bike paths and transit stations that are clearly marked. This makes cycle-transit traveling much easier and more accessible. I don’t have to worry about checking my phone or getting lost on an unknown route. The more accessible and easy this form of travel is, the more trust people have in cities. Accessibility directly relates to personal gain, convenience, and safety. The high number of cycle-transit travelers in Denmark and the Netherlands demonstrates effective transportation systems. Traveling here has not only made me feel accomplished but also self-sufficient. I am excited to see how the transit system differs in Amsterdam in just a few short days!
A question I still have:
– How do people transport their bikes with them once they’re on the train? (We haven’t had to do this because we’ve had a van with us).
The train station we arrived at in Utrecht
(Photo from “Utrecht Centraal railway station,” Wikipedia).
(Photo by Petra Appelhof in “Utrecht Station Becomes a Cycling Haven,” Azure).