Europe already has a cycling tradition. It is said that during the process of industrialization, in the 1970s, Amsterdam once struggled over whether the cycling infrastructure should give way to motor vehicle lanes. Eventually, a public vote decided that urban road construction would continue to prioritize cycling convenience. In recent years, discussions on climate change have sparked a new wave of enthusiasm for bicycle culture across Europe. Belgium, Denmark, and France are all well-known as “bike-friendly” countries.
Earlier this year, London launched an urban bike rental program, which involved densely installing self-service bike racks across the city center. As long as you have a bank card, you can swipe it at a street machine and take a bike. The rental fee is one pound per day—much cheaper than a subway ticket.
Earlier this year, London launched an urban bike rental program, which involved densely installing self-service bike racks across the city center. As long as you have a bank card, you can swipe it at a street machine and take a bike. The rental fee is one pound per day—much cheaper than a subway ticket.
For international students, the various cycling clubs and repair groups in schools or dormitory areas make it easier to meet new friends and explore new places. A classmate of my cousin, during her first week in France, teamed up with a Japanese student and cycled all the way to Switzerland on two bikes. During my master’s studies, a South African classmate kept urging me to buy a bicycle. Her theory was that your perspective on a city changes depending on your mode of transport—for example, relying on the subway makes London seem like a colorful “spider web” (the tube map); using a car makes it a series of concrete parking lots; traveling by foot makes it vivid but leaves your feet sore at night; but a bicycle is different—you can choose your own routes and pace.
Just like the 2-minute-15-second opening scene in the 2008 British film Happy-Go-Lucky, where the heroine rides her bicycle through central London, it’s hard not to recall the words of British poet Derek Mahon: “You’re astride the bike / and life is a series of ridges / spinning freely / through scented privet hedges.”
Just like the 2-minute-15-second opening scene in the 2008 British film Happy-Go-Lucky, where the heroine rides her bicycle through central London, it’s hard not to recall the words of British poet Derek Mahon: “You’re astride the bike / and life is a series of ridges / spinning freely / through scented privet hedges.”
Of course, bicycles are definitely not just for students seeking freedom and saving money. In downtown London, it’s common to see sharply dressed professionals pedaling to work. Due to the frequent rain in the UK, you’ll also notice many men wrapping their trouser legs with thick, high socks—it looks quite funny, but it keeps their pants clean when riding through puddles. Still looking sharp in business.
In Europe, announcing that you own a bicycle instantly associates you with a series of traits in the eyes of classmates or colleagues: health-conscious, environmentally aware, romantic, sexy (especially if you’re wearing cycling gear), stylish, confident, quality-oriented, mechanically inclined, and most importantly—like a local. Think about it, which image seems cooler: “hiding in a four-wheeled metal box” or “freely weaving through streets and alleys”?
With the resurgence of cycling culture, many European cities, such as London, have also published bicycle-specific versions of urban transport maps, indicating one-way streets, dual carriageways, and more. By typing “Europe” and “bicycle” into Google, you can easily find over 200 route maps and travel guides for more than 40 European countries. Of course, a reminder for backpackers: seeing Europe by bicycle means safety first.
