Holidays are a social necessity and more and more of us demand the right to travel as part of our leisure time. However, this activity comes at a cost to the environment in terms of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Low carbon alternative cycling holidays are an option but these are often uncomfortable and require a high level of athleticism which leaves them unattractive or out of reach to many. But cycling holidays which are comfortable, even luxurious, we think need not be the preserve of the traditional fossil fuel travel industry. With trains and stations better adapted to transporting bicycles, better cycling infrastructure with routes that separate cars and trucks from bikes and networks of hotels and bed and breakfasts which cater to their needs - the industry could be transformed to function differently.
For our own holidays, we thought that we'd try to see if we could practice this philosophy using the existing services and routes which are on offer. This blog covers an initial journey part train / part bicycle going from France to the Netherlands via Belgium and finishing in Cologne.
This article has been written by Christian and illustrated by Candy
