Some more photos from our pedalling around this pleasant small city in the southern Netherlands.

The crazy cube houses (Kubuswoningen) in Helmond, designed by the Dutch structuralist architect Piet Blom in the mid-1970s.

Bridge over the the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal which runs through the city.

In the heart of Helmond can be seen this impressive castle, built by Jan III van Berlaer around 1350.

On the road!

The Netherlands is fantastic for cycling - not only is it flat, but there's loads of safe cycle lanes.

More photos: Helmond, Netherlands

Labels: bikes, holland, netherlands

Please sign!

Currently there is no minimum requirement for train operators to carry bicycles and each operator has a different set of rules and booking procedures. This makes the system extremely complex to use, especially where multiple operators are used. Its not possible to book bicycle reservations online and hence one does not know whether there will be room for a bike on a train when a ticket is purchased (note, advanced tickets cannot subsequently be altered to a train with available bicycle carriage space). Some operators have extremely poor provision.


The Crosscountry service has reduced the capacity of its trains from 4 bicycles per train to 2 bicycles (so they can provide secure accomodation for their retail trolly). Hence, a maximum of 2 people can travel together with bicycles when you using the crosscountry service (a major element of the national network). Clearly, a national policy is required with a fully integrated booking system (that is available online through the standard ticket retailers) and incentives/requirements for operators to improve capacity.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/bikes-on-trains/


Discussion on urban75: here

Labels: bikes, cycling. trains, railways

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