Three quarters of the Dutch sing while riding their bikes. In Amsterdam singing is now officially allowed on two bicycle paths. No more awkward pauses in cyclist’s songs because they’re passing one another!
As a daily cyclist and former amateur singer this news makes me very happy. And that is exactly what Mapije de Wit of Mapije Fun Design had in mind when she thought this up. In her column de Vogelvrije Fietser (The Fancy Free Cyclist), she first wrote about the singing bike path.
Research shows that 77% of people at one time or another sing while riding their bikes. Not all cyclist sing in equal measure; about 32% sings now and then, 23% sings regularly, 12% sings often, and 10% very often!
According to De Wit there are many people who would like to sing on their bikes, but are secretly scared of doing so. For instance, they stop whenever someone passes them, or just hold it in. But according to Mapije de Wit people actually like encountering someone who sings while cycling. De Wit: ‘[Singing] makes people happy! It would be a shame not to do it, right?’
As Americans get more dedicated bicycle paths, so cyclist are no longer dodging cars, perhaps singing while cycling will catch on in the US too.
New in the Netherlands: the singing bike path
More of Today's Solutions
Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation regains ancestral lands near Yosemite in major c...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Nearly 900 acres of ancestral territory have been officially returned to the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, marking a ...
Read More8 fermented foods that your gut will love (and that taste great, too!)
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Fermented foods have been a dietary staple in many cultures for centuries, but in the U.S., they’re only ...
Read MoreBreaking the silence: empowering menopausal women in the workplace
Addressing menopause in the workplace is long overdue in today's fast-changing work scene, where many are extending their careers into their 60s. According to ...
Read MoreInsect migration: the hidden superhighway of the Pyrenees
Insects, while frequently disregarded, are critical to the planet's ecosystems. They make up about 90 percent of all animal species and play important functions ...
Read More
