Netherlands has got the title of the slimmest and healthiest country in the world, but the biggest reason behind this is more use of bicycles than motor vehicles. Very few people know that there are more bicycles in the Netherlands than its population. Dutch people use only bicycles for daily work and for going to office.
Population 1.7 crore, bicycles 2.4 crore
Dutch people consider cycling as their birthright. There are about 17 million (17 million) people living in the Netherlands and in total they own about 24 million (24 million) bicycles. They travel short and long distances depending on their needs. Children cycle to school, housewives cycle to supermarket, working people to office and elderly people cycle to stay fit and for entertainment.
cycle 1000 kilometers a year
In terms of kilometers, an average Dutch citizen travels 1000 kilometers annually and for the entire population this figure goes up to about 15 billion kilometers every year. Netherlands is known worldwide for its excellent bicycle infrastructure. About 28 percent of the journeys in the country are made by bicycle. The governments of the country have invested a lot in creating facilities and routes for cyclists.
Incentive amount for going to office by bicycle
This is a country where money is given as an incentive for going to office by bicycle. Yes, if you go to office by bicycle in the Netherlands, you are paid $0.22 per kilometer (about Rs 18 in India). This means that you do not have to spend money on petrol-diesel or motor vehicle to go to office, on top of that you also get money for going to office by bicycle. Under this pretext, Dutch people get exercise and the environment is also protected from smoke pollution.
Narendra Modi was also gifted a bicycle
The Dutch government encourages the Dutch people to ride bicycles. Huge discounts are given on buying bicycles in the Netherlands. Cyclists dominate Amsterdam. The ring roads and lanes of this city are equipped with a large network for cyclists. This is the reason why the country’s Prime Minister Mark Rutte also goes to Parliament by bicycle. Not only this, when the Prime Minister Narendra Modi When he went on a visit to the Netherlands in 2017, the Dutch PM also gifted him a bicycle.