No better place than…?

Not all those who wander are lost.

J.R.R. Tolkien

All travelling one does in their lifetime supports the one’s development and ability to remain open minded. That is a fact.

There was a time when the #tbcleeds team (quote) ‘swanned’ around Europe for over a month. We went for an adventure of our lives while visiting almost 20 countries, most of which heavily cycling influenced and cycling friendly. We have discovered places we never considered as a cycling mad (i.e. Poland) and we also learnt that the cycling is actually pretty popular in Europe; the UK, however strongly advertised as a cycling nation, has some catching up to do…

Sweden and Denmark, and for this example the entire Scandinavia, is an amazing place for cycling. The infrastructure is phenomenal, the driver’s are friendly and the cyclists are great.

Poland is absolutely driven (sic!) by cycling, there are paths everywhere, people are cycling everywhere, families are cycling with kids, adults, men, women, we have seen them all. Cyclists are great but there is still room for improvement for the drivers’ attitude.

France is great too; the city cycling is splendid, the countryside cycling is first class too. People behind the wheel are friendly and the cyclists are understanding too.

Germany and the surrounding places (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, etc.) are amazing as well. Quiet and peaceful rides are guaranteed; the driver’s and the cyclists live in a mutual symbiosis and it feels really natural to turn the two wheels.

Portugal and Spain are pretty awesome too. People are friendly- be it as drivers or cyclists- and the cycling is such an underrated way of transport.

Then we came back to England and we must admit it was a bit of a shock. Drivers are not that great and cyclists sometimes do not do themselves any favours. We are so behind with Europe- in attitude, in understanding, in respecting each other, in imagination vivid enough to realise that we do share the space and we do want to go home safely. Whether it is Europe or not.