Riding errands

Transport by bicycle. Sounds idyllic. You think it's a good idea until you land directly in Holland. And you learn that just because fewer people die doesn't mean you feel safe.

But you get used to it. You learn to look not only left and right, but 360 degrees when crossing the street. In fact you also learn sometimes its best to just not cross the street at all. You learn to lock your bike. First the back wheel with the dutch invented wheel lock. Just a key is needed and bam, your bike is disabled from riding until you and only you enable it. A cable for the front wheel, to lock it to the frame. And finally a chain to go around the frame and to a rack, or a tree or a post.

You learn patience. You learn to wait for the signal, as opposed to hopping across the intersection. You learn to dodge young boys, old women, and couples holding hands and taking up the entire lane. You learn the rules of the road because the Dutch are not afraid to call you out on a mistake.

You learn the entire city and that you can get anywhere in less than five minutes.

And you notice. What it's like to be woken up by the birds as opposed to cars in the middle of the city. How the loudest thing in the city center will be the band that's playing.

Cycling as a mode of transport is far from perfect. You can't carry a lot. You can't go all that far. Sometimes it rains. And there is no radio glued to your handlebars.

But you take what you can. You get where you need. You wear a raincoat. And you learn to sing at the top of your lungs...world be dammed.