Treehugger: Why Do the Dutch Like Bikes So Much?
It isn’t the climate; the weather can be pretty cold and rotten. Lots of North American cities and towns are flat and relatively dense, at least downtown. It’s not for lack of money- sales of expensive bikes are booming. The New York Times looks at the question and finds all kinds of answers: environmental concerns. Exercise. Fashion Statements. It helps that there are dedicated bike paths everywhere, secure lockers and parking, and acceptance by everyone, including all of the drivers of cars, that “Its a bike-loving country”

Link to New York Times article