Bike and Train. Why the Netherlands Is Leading the Way

For several years now, and even more so in the wake of the pandemic, bicycles have been making a comeback as one of the world's preferred modes of transport. This phenomenon is well underway in France, particularly in a number of major metropolises, not least Paris. In France, many local authorities are making cycling a central part of their strategies, investing as never before and deploying facilities and services. However, despite significant progress, one dynamic is still slow to take off: intermodality between bikes and trains. It has to be said that for the worlds of rail and cycling to come together, there are many stages to go through, a strategy to define, a method to choose and players to involve. It's a pity, because coupling these two modes of transport is surely one of the most effective solutions for covering all kinds of distances in a way that really competes with the car. Trains can offer fast solutions for medium and long distances. Bicycles, for their part, can cover the first and last kilometers, all the more so when they are electric. A number of countries have clearly understood this potential, and for several years now have been developing a real strategy for developing this duo. Among them, the very specific case of the Netherlands will be detailed in this article.