Cycling in the Netherlands

Non-Fiction Summary Number. 1

This article is called “Why do Dutch cyclists not wear helmets?” and it is written by an author called Carol Vine. The article was published on a website called “discerningcyclist.com” and it was done on November 27, 2023. The article puts the largest attention on the cycling culture that the Dutch locals have in their country. The article is more like a viewpoint from a British tourist who came on a trip to The Netherlands and describes the things that caught her eye through her trip.

The 1st big idea that is described in this text is already mentioned in the title. The article talks about why Dutch people do not wear helmets while traveling on bicycles. The reason behind this is that since the 1970s there have been cycle routes built through the city and local people feel very safe without wearing helmets. Just 5% of locals wear helmets. The locals’ arguments about it are quite silly, like that it “messes their hair”, “safe without” and it is safe. The reason why Dutch people ride without helmets is also because every car rider is a bicycler and both respect and understand the bicycle riders. There is even a joke between the locals that if they see a bicycle rider wearing a helmet, they know that it is a helmet. In The Netherlands, mountain bikers, BMX riders, other professional riders, or local people competing in bicycle riding competitions wear helmets.…