BBC reporter Anna Holligan says that according to a recent study by the University of Utrecht, Dutch cyclists live longer than those who do not use bicycles.
Asked by Mrs Holligan, the University of Utrecht's assistant professor, Carlijn Kamphuis, replies that every 100 minutes of cycling corresponds to a 10% reduction in mortality. That is, every year 6,500 deaths are prevented in the Netherlands. In everyday life, Dutch people cycle about 74 minutes a week, which adds about 6 months to their life expectancy.
Ms Kamphuis points out "For every hour of cycling, you earn an extra hour that adds to your life."
The Netherlands, or otherwise the Paradise of Bike, has 37,000 km of separate bike lanes. From an early age children are encouraged to use the bike while older people benefit from the good physical condition of the bike.
The Dutch have bicycle parking at each train station while they plan to build the world's largest parking lot with a capacity of 12,000 bicycles.
According to Mrs Kamphuis, any European country that has good measurements of cycling and mortality levels can make corresponding calculations. The results will encourage governments to invest in cycling.
Ms Holligan concludes that cycling is not fun but life.
Translated by BBC News, 11 October 2015, Anna Holligan reports