@Markus: In Holland (and probably across most of Europe) bicycles are seen to be a normal part of transportation, and people really don't seem to care what type of bike they have, and what it looks like.

In Australia, particularly among the kids, if a boy were to be seen riding a girl's bike, he would be derided by his peers. I noticed in Holland that's certainly not the case, with many bikes being uni-sex anyway.

Also, in Australia there are several other factors that mean bicycle transport isn't as practical, including greater distances, hills, strong winds, and hotter weather. The road system and traffic rules in Holland is much more bike-friendly than Australia

I think Australian culture is also more car-centric, with it being quite normal for most households to have 2 (or more cars), while in Europe car registration is typically more expensive, and many families have one or no car.