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0Is cycling the future of city travel?
Neil
Hello, this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil.
Becca
And I'm Becca.
Neil
Cycling is a popular activity in Britain.
Becca
Yes. This year, sales of bicycles, or bikes as they're usually called, are up in Britain. Many people choose cycling because it's good for their health and the environment. And electric bikes are making cycling accessible to more people, including older people.
Neil
In this episode, we'll visit two countries: one with a long history of cycling and another where it's just getting started.
Becca
But first, Neil, I have a question about a country that's world famous for its bikes: the Netherlands, also often referred to as Holland. The Netherlands' cycle network spreads over 95,000 miles, and there are more bikes in the country than its 18 million citizens. So, roughly speaking, how many bikes are there in the Netherlands? Is it: a) 20 million, b) 24 million, or c) 34 million?
Neil
Well, I'm going to say c) 34 million.
Becca
Well, we'll reveal the correct answer later in the programme. Staying in the Netherlands, let's hear from Meredith Glaser, CEO of Amsterdam's Urban Cycling Institute. Here, Meredith tells BBC World Service programme The Inquiry more about Dutch people's love of cycling.
Meredith Glaser
The bicycle is deeply ingrained into Dutch culture. But the rise of cycling started in the industrial era, when bicycle manufacturing took off. And it went from a toy for rich people to an everyday tool for transportation, and this was a really important milestone for cycling in the Netherlands.
Neil
Cycling is deeply ingrained into Dutch culture. Deeply ingrained are two words that go together commonly, and it means something that's firmly established within a person or culture, and unlikely to change.
Becca
During the 1890s, bike manufacturing took off in the Netherlands. Take off is a phrasal verb meaning to suddenly become popular or successful. Certain brands became symbols of a new, comfortable style of bike. New factories made bikes cheaper to buy. This was a milestone for cycling in the Netherlands. A milestone is an important event in someone's life or in the development of something.
Neil
Our second destination is better known for cars than bicycles: the United Arab Emirates or UAE. UAE is hoping cycling could be a greener way for visitors to explore tourist attractions in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Transport consultant Martin Tillman, who lives in the Gulf region, explained more to BBC World Service programme The Inquiry.
Martin Tillman
We also have quality of life and liveability. All the cities in the Gulf are very competitive, and they would love to be ranked very high in those global rankings, and cycling is seen as part of that quality-of-life solution.
Becca
Gulf cities like Dubai want a reputation as places with a good quality of life. The phrase quality of life refers to someone's level of enjoyment, comfort and health when living in a particular place. It's a measure of a person's overall wellbeing.
Neil
Gulf cities are also interested in liveability – the degree to which somewhere is a pleasant place to live. Cycling is good for mental as well as physical health, and Dubai's town planners are hoping the 600km of cycle tracks already built will make the city more attractive to live in.
Becca
Of course, there are big differences between the Netherlands and UAE – the temperature for one, which in Dubai regularly hits 45ºC. Martin told BBC World Service's The Inquiry that Dubai is studying countries like the Netherlands not to copy them, but to discover what works.
Martin Tillman
It's certainly not a copy and paste of what is good in Holland or Denmark, but the key is that we're looking for the principles.
Neil
Cycling in UAE isn't a copy and paste of cycling in Holland. Martin uses the phrase a copy and paste to mean an exact copy of something, which is moved and put somewhere else. Dubai can't simply copy the Netherlands, and a range of measures, including water stations and shaded rest areas, have been created for cycling in the heat.
Becca
Cycling isn't the perfect solution for everyone, everywhere. But in some places, it can be a popular and green alternative.
Neil
Yes, just look at the Netherlands. And that reminds me of your question, Becca.
Becca
Ah yes. I asked you roughly how many bikes are there in the Netherlands?
Neil
I said 34 million. Was I right?
Becca
There are certainly a lot of bikes in the Netherlands. However, there are only roughly 24 million bikes.
Neil
Only?! That's still quite a lot!
Becca
Right, let's recap the vocabulary we've learned, starting with deeply ingrained – a combination of words meaning well established and unlikely to change.
Neil
If something takes off, it suddenly becomes popular or successful.
Becca
A milestone is an important event in the development of something or someone.
Neil
Quality of life describes a person's wellbeing in terms of their level of enjoyment, comfort, and health.
Becca
The noun liveability means the degree to which a place is pleasant to live in.
Neil
And finally, a copy and paste is an exact copy of something, which is then moved and put somewhere else. Once again, our six minutes are up. Goodbye for now.
Becca
Bye!
词汇表
be deeply ingrained (into) [ɪnˈɡreɪnd] 深深植根于，根深蒂固于
take off 开始腾飞，飞速发展，流行起来，突然成功
milestone [ˈmaɪlstəʊn] n. 里程碑，重大事件
quality of life 生活质量，生活品质
liveability [ˌlɪvəˈbɪləti] n. 宜居性，适宜居住的程度
copy and paste [ˈpeɪst] 复制粘贴，原封不动地照搬
Netherlands / Holland [ˈneðələndz][ˈhɒlənd] n. 荷兰
the United Arab Emirates (UAE) [juˌnaɪtɪd ˈærəb ˈemɪrəts] 阿拉伯联合酋长国（阿联酋）
the Gulf region [ɡʌlf] 海湾地区
cycle tracks [ˈsaɪkl træks] 自行车道，骑行道
water stations 饮水站，供水站
shaded rest areas [ˈʃeɪdɪd] 遮荫休息区，阴凉休息区
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