Between 2005 and 2007, Amsterdam residents rode their bicycles 0.87 times a day on average, compared to 0.84 trips by automobile. It was the first time on record that average bike trips surpassed cars, the Dutch Bicycle Council (Fietsberaad) reported in January. Bike trips in the city's downtown increased 36 percent between 1990 and 2006, whereas car trips decreased 14 percent, the group said.
"It's the result of the policies ... implemented over the past 30 years to make bicycle use more attractive and safe," said Ralph Buehler, an urban affairs professor at Virginia Tech University. Developments include an extensive system of bike paths and parking facilities, lower speed limits to improve cycling safety, and promotion of mixed-use neighborhoods that allow for shorter travel distances.
Nearly 30 percent...