A Step into Dutch Cycling Culture: A study on the relationship between exposure to Dutch culture, attitudes, perceptions, and bicycling behaviour among international students in the Netherlands

Cycling behaviour promotion strategies are becoming contemporary solutions to numerous urban problems, ranging from health, traffic, safety and social inequalities. In the Netherlands, the idea of cycling culture is deeply cemented into the society. By investigating the role of culture on cycling behaviour, specific place-based policies and interventions can be applied to induce cycling behaviour. Previous research showed that cycling uptake is a gradual process and thus this study investigated how cycling behaviour differed across the number of years of residence in the Netherlands of international students. The theory of planned behaviour is commonly used as a means to predict cycling intentions and behaviour. Thus, this thesis has investigated the effect exposure to Dutch culture on the variables of the theory of planned behaviour. A survey was administered among international students in the Netherlands. The results revealed that the number of years of residence in the...Show moreCycling behaviour promotion strategies are becoming contemporary solutions to numerous urban problems, ranging from health, traffic, safety and social inequalities. In the Netherlands, the idea of cycling culture is deeply cemented into the society. By investigating the role of culture on cycling behaviour, specific place-based policies and interventions can be applied to induce cycling behaviour. Previous research showed that cycling uptake is a gradual process and thus this study investigated how cycling behaviour differed across the number of years of residence in the Netherlands of international students. The theory of planned behaviour is commonly used as a means to predict cycling intentions and behaviour. Thus, this thesis has investigated the effect exposure to Dutch culture on the variables of the theory of planned behaviour. A survey was administered among international students in the Netherlands. The results revealed that the number of years of residence in the Netherlands had a non- significant relationship with all the variables, indicating that cycling uptake is not a linear process, but instead one that fluctuates over time, due to a multitude of personal, societal, and infrastructural variables. Additionally, it was identified that the variables of the theory of planned behaviour are correlated with each other. These findings are vital because they contribute to existing literature. Moreover, the obtained results can be utilised by policymakers in the Netherlands to adapt not only soft infrastructural strategies but also to improve the built environment in promoting cycling behaviour for foreigners.Show less

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A Step into Dutch Cycling Culture: A study on the relationship between exposure to Dutch culture, attitudes, perceptions, and bicycling behaviour among international students in the Netherlands