Why is cycling so popular in the Netherlands?
<p><pre><code>    > If anything, having a tatty, battered old
    > bike affords more status as it attests to
    > a long and lasting love.
</code></pre>
As an Amsterdam resident: What a romantic characterization of our high crime rates! Yes, the reason I still ride a shitty old beater of a bike is definitely my long lasting love for that piece of shit, it's not because I know that if I buy anything fancy I'm going to have to never take my eyes off of it, least it be stolen in under half a minute in certain parts of town[1].<p>1. <a href="http://www.iamexpat.nl/blog/culture/amsterdam-wins-european-bike-stealing-championships-2015" rel="nofollow">http://www.iamexpat.nl/blog/culture/amsterdam-wins-european-...</a>