Bikes, Buses, Trains, Boats, and the Subway today!

Modern Mommy and family recently travelled to Europe to visit friends. Our journey took us to five countries. We walked along remnants of the Berlin Wall (Germany), across the Tower Bridge (England), up the Eiffel Tower (France), on the beaches of Normandy, over the canals of Amsterdam (Holland), and into brewpubs and waffle shops in Brussels (Belgium). Along the way, we stopped to observe the environmental efforts of our European allies.

With a tight travel schedule that included nine cities in five countries over fifteen days, transportation was a vital component of our trip. Navigating 3000 km of country and urban roads, with road signs and traffic rules posted in unfamiliar languages held little appeal to these first time trans-Atlantic travelers. Instead, to take advantage of the mass transit options that so many of our European friends utilize daily, we planned our path using nearly every public transport option imaginable. Similar to Dorothy's exclamation, "Lions, Tigers, and Bears, oh my!". Our motto for the Euro2009 Adventures was "Bikes and Buses, Ferries and Trains, and the Metro Subway each day!"

In the larger cities in Holland, a mix of bicycles, canal boats, buses and cars were found. However, in the smaller towns, bicycles outnumbered the cars, easily 5-to-1. We rented bicycles, complete with saddlebags and baby carriers, during our three days in Groningen. Roadways were segregated into bike lanes and vehicles, with bicycle police patrolling to ensure inexperienced or naughy riders adhered to the rules of the road. There was a bicycle etiquette that we quickly learned as we signalled our way between buses and pedestrians. As we biked to the grocer, city-wide celebration, Farmer's Market, restaurants, and tourist attractions, we realized how European cities encourage neighborhood living. Everything you needed was a short bike ride away. With parking at a premium and space limited, it was faster and easier to bike than drive to most destinations. Major sites and all train stations had extensive, multi-level bike parking garages available at no charge.

Words can't describe the myriad of bicycle and tricycle gear we encountered in Holland. Baby carriers on the front or the back of the bicycle, or sometimes both (one kid in each), windshields, horns, and lights. Saddlebacks were not limited to basic black cross-country bags that triathlethes use. Nearly every bicycle was adorned with colorful sachels on both sides of the rear wheel to hold groceries and more. My personal favorite were zebra striped bags. Check out Basil.nl for a selection of Holland's finest bicycle bags.

We opted to purchase a EuRail pass for the trip, so the majority of our inter-city travel was done by train. Step out of the "light rail" mindset. These high speed (yes, one train clocked at 300 km/hr through the English Channel) trains were luxurious and spacious (with luggage racks, food rests, and food trays). Snacks and meals were served via snack shop in one train car, as well as from a pushed tray up and down the aisles. Our EuRail pass seated us in the first class car on most trains, so internet ports and power sources for available for commuters, and the comfy seats reclined. We often sat with four recliner seats facing each other, with a table in between. Travelers have the option to reserve seats on popular routes or timetables, but unlike airline travel, the EuRail pass allowed us to hop on board any train. So when we were caught up touring, we could simply arrive at the train station later than we planned and hop on the next train. The trains ran like seamlessly, and we always arrived at the minute we were scheduled to. It was easy to understand why millions of Europeans commute and travel by train each day.

We took advantage of the extensive country to country networks of railways and booked a ticket on an overnight train from Germany to France. Our 3 person sleeper car had three bunk beds that folded up against the wall with a sofa beneath for daytime travel, a shower, sink and toilet. All this tucked neatly inside less than 35 sq feet. For less than $200 that included train/hotel/breakfast, we treked more than 1000 km and created another unique and memorable experience!

Innercity travel during each of our nine cities was easy and affordable with extensive Bus lines, Metros, Subways and Tube stations, strategically placed around the cities. Aside from two late night arrivals when we opted to take a taxi straight to our hotel from the train station, we hopped aboard underground and above ground mass transit to get between attractions, to find meals, to sightsee and get a feel for the layout of the city, and haul our son, backpacks and two 49 lb suitcases from the hotel to the trainstation and back.

Our ex-patriot friends currently residing in Holland drove to meet for the weekend in London and paid $75 to drive a car through the Chunnel and then $50 a day to park their vehicle during our three day stay. While aboard one of the famous red double decker buses, our driver told us parking in downtown London was available for $10 an hour. The sight of black cabs and red buses in all directions was so memorable that two-year old Levi returned home with the matchbox car he calls "London Bus" that he now sleeps with every night.