Press Release: 200 Dutch bikes in NYC for 400 years of friendship

Check out this cool event that will happen as part of the big NY400 campaign surrounding the 400th anniversary of the friendship between the Netherlands and New York City.

PRESS RELEASE APRIL 2ND 2009: NY400 BIKING IN NEW YORK CITY

400 wheels representing 400 years of friendship between New York City and the Netherlands.

400 wheels, 200 orange NY400 Batavus bicycles, will be leaving the Netherlands this week and are on their way to New York as a special gift, celebrating 400 years of friendship.

Why 400: Four hundred years ago, a Dutch ship called the Half Moon arrived on the shores of what is now New York City with Captain Henry Hudson at the helm. This year we celebrate the deep-rooted connection between the Netherlands and New York City including the common values of freedom, openness, entrepreneurship and tolerance, as well as the cultural ties of these forward-thinking societies.

Now: Exactly 400 years after Henry Hudson set sail from Amsterdam, the bright orange NY400 bicycles will undertake the same journey across the Atlantic to New York City.

Coming up: On April 30, Dutch Queen!s Day, the bikes make their official arrival on NYC’s soil in a very festive way. Later that day, the bikes will be part of a special NY400 Queens Day bike tour cycling uptown to the Riverside Church, where Lou Reed will be attending a one-hour special “Perfect Day” Queensday concert on the Carillion.

Later on this year the bikes will be part of NYC!s Summer Streets event and they will be used in a big bike-sharing event during NY400 week in September.

Why Dutch bicycles?: The Netherlands is famous for being the bicycle place of the world. More than 60% of the Dutch prefer to bike when possible. Bicycling is not only a sport and used for leisure, it is used as an everyday means of transportation. In total, over 27% of trips made by the Dutch are done on a bike.

Why Biking?: Biking is the most sustainable, green & clean way of transportation. Also health experts say bicycling is one of the most effective ways to prevent obesity also adds to economic value! Better physical condition improves work productivity & it!s the most efficient way to avoid traffic jams!