At first glance, they seem a lot gentler than Dutch students. They cycle less through red lights or on the sidewalk, they have their lights on more often and they cycle less with a drink on. At least that is what the foreign students say themselves.

Yet they are more than twice as likely to be involved in an accident as Dutch students, according to a survey by TeamAlert, a foundation that aims to reduce traffic fatalities among young people. The survey on the differences between domestic and foreign students on bicycles is already a few months old, but it was only now publicized.

Eleven versus four

Some 1,500 students (slightly more internationals than Dutch) filled out an online questionnaire about their bicycle behavior. The bike is popular among foreign students - seventy percent use it daily. This is not at all obvious, as in their home country this is true for only six percent of internationals.

That lack of experience plagues them in the sometimes quite crowded college towns. Eleven percent of internationals were involved in an accident in the past month, compared to four percent of Dutch respondents.

Experience works wonders

Internationals are somewhat uncertain about their own cycling skills and their knowledge of formal and informal rules. On top of that, they experience Dutch roads as quite chaotic. "Cycling feels a bit like finally being served the hot meal and you have to fight your way past twelve older brothers", one of the internationals explains.

TeamAlert's findings are consistent with earlier research by the University of Groningen. In that, too, cycling internationals had more accidents. But they also made more mistakes, the researchers observed. For example, they rode on the wrong side of the road or took the traffic circle the wrong way.

TU/e also realizes that cycling is difficult for newcomers to the Netherlands. During this academic year's Intro, Student Diversity Officer Lara Hofstra organized cycling lessons. These came in the evening program of the Tranquilo Track. One evening Cursor was there. See the report here.