Bolzano is a thriving college/industrial town that bills itself “the gateway to the Dolomites.” It is the most important town in the region, and is annually at the top of Italy’s “best quality of life” ratings. Perhaps most importantly, it is home to Otzi the Iceman, the mummified man from 3300 BC found by hikers in the nearby Alps in 1991. We, unfortunately, did not have time to see Otzi.

So, what do Bolzano and Amsterdam have in common? Not canals, and not a red light district. Bikes!

We came into the city on a bike path, and discovered that it tied into a whole network of bike paths. And these paths were heavily used, not by MAMILS (middle-aged men in lycra) like ourselves but by mothers, students, old folks, teen-agers–just ordinary people in everyday clothing. Most bikes had baskets, kid carriers or cargo racks. They were used for basic transportation.

On city streets, one sees bikes everywhere. Markham rode past an elementary school that was just dismissing students for the day. He saw “about 75 bikes” outside the school, with many mothers on bikes waiting to ride their kid(s) home. Apparently, when roads, paths and car drivers’ awareness make biking an easy and safe way to get around, lots of people choose to do so, at least in Italy and Holland.