Figure 1.--Here we see Belgian brothers enjoying an outing on their bikes, we believe in the early-1950s. Notice how empty the street is, although their may be a car behind one of the boys.

Belgian children jave played with a range of vehicles such as trikes and scooters. Boys also had bikes, boys more than girls. Bikes were not just for children. Until after World War II, workers had bikes to get to work. Cars were not something that most workers could aford. We have seen images of the Dutch using bikes, we have seen less about Belgiym before the War, but believe the same was true of Belgium. Before the War this was in part because workers could not afford cars. Since the post-War European economic miracle, beginning with the German economic miracle, European workers, at leat in the West, like American workers, could aford cars. The German Economiv Miracle helped ignote similar economic miracles in other Western European countries, including Belgium. Even with the economic sucess and prosperity, bikes have remained popular in Belgium--very popular. A recent American vicitor to Belgium was struk by the enormity of the cycling culture in the country. He writes, "Every day, in any type of weather, cyclists can be seen riding around town. They are young, old, pudgy, and thin, pedaling to work, the store, picking up laundry, or just leisurely riding along enjoying the freshness of a new day. In every picturesque small town in Belgium, red paths, or specific lanes for cyclists connect throughout the city. Every path is clearly marked, and the concrete smooth and maintained. Cyclists have their own traffic lights, and outside of every store or business a bike rack is conveniently located. Belgium is truly a commuting cyclists dream."

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Created: 3:46 AM 5/5/2019
Last updated: 3:46 AM 5/5/2019