In 1934 a Ministry of Transport divisional chief engineer was asked by HQ how many people rode bikes in Bedford.
The answer was a modal share of 80 percent. Did that shock you? It certainly shocked MoT's top mandarins in London.
The concept that Dutch folks cycle, but that Brits won't because they never have is simply not true. This is Bedford in 1936. Men, women, children on bikes for transport. All perfectly normally British.
Cycle use was high in other places too. This is York.
And this is Barrow in Furness.
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