ABSTRACT
In 1950, the Netherlands’ major roadbuilding trade journal Wegen (“Roads”) celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. For this occasion, the special May issue featured a specific theme. A few years after World War II, in a context of reconstruction, readers might expect a vista on the future of highway building, perhaps inspired by American highway engineering ideas circulating through Europe at this time. Instead, the special issue was dedicated entirely to cycling paths “since bicycle traffic and the cycling path question are at the center of attention at the moment.” 1 What does this theme choice tell us about cycling's status in the Netherlands around 1950? Was it the last stand for cycling before automobility took it over entirely? Or was it rather an indication of cycling's continuing presence in practice and governance?
