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Thursday, November 13, 2014

Illuminated Cycling paths - cycling in the Netherlands, London, England, and Africa

Fit or fat, cycling on holiday is the answer for you. Two of the best places are the Netherlands and London, England. Amsterdam is known for biking. But so is the whole of the Netherlands. Why is The Netherlands so keen on cycling?  Because it's flat.

London, England
London, England, because there are banks of Boris bikes that can be picked up, paid for with a credit card, and dropped off at your destination or any time of day or night when you return. Cycle paths are all over London, not just in the city centre. In the UK I see a cycling club gathering outside Fellini in Hatch End on Sunday mornings.

Netherlands
Todays news is about the glow in the dark cycle path in the Netherlands, copying van Gogh's Starry Nights painting. Turning paths into paintings. Preventing you from getting lost or having accidents in the dark.

UK
Wasn't there a pop song about 'starry, starry nights'? Glow in the dark was not a new idea for roads. We've had cat's eyes, an invention inspired by cat's eyes, down the middle of roads in the UK for years. Reflectors are on posts edging roads, and on the backs of cars and bikes and other vehicles. You can use luminous paint to illuminate your house number to help visitors find you.

Africa
But the glow in the dark paths are the thing of the future, helpful all over the world including African countries.

Is you are simply interested in the technology, without any immediate plans, watch the interesting video on the BBC site.

Before you plan a cycling holiday for yourself, a couple, a group, or friends, you need to think about the cost, or saving, the timing, the routes, your shoes , goggles, and gloves and illuminated jacket for safety and helmets. And maps. Maybe a camera attached to your helmet as evidence in case there's an accident, and for saving the story of your journey as a journal or souvenir or to entertain friends and family.


If you are thinking of hiring a bike for a holiday, e.g. in The Netherlands look at the advice on Tripadvisor.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g188590-d2631766-Reviews-I_Cycle_Holland-Amsterdam_North_Holland_Province.html

I was looking for a photo of the Boris Bike - oops - it's now the Barclays Bike new sponsorship or sale of advertising space I presume.

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