The Netherlands wasn't always bike friendly. There was a big push in the 70's to redesign cities and popularize cycling. It wasn't something that just happened

The Netherlands wasn't always bike friendly. There was a big push in the 70's to redesign cities and popularize cycling. It wasn't something that just happened or something that was always there. I agree that you need to adapt the approach to the country or area. The real goal should be making the space in cities outside of buildings human friendly rather than only car friendly. This is about pedestrians, bikes, public transport, architecture, atmosphere, etc. In Sydney you could perhaps use public transport for long distances, with bikes for the last mile. This is also common in the netherlands for people who travel between cities. Or you could have electric bikes for hilly terrain and warm weather. Note that the netherlands is rainy and windy, and that's not nice for cycling either yet people still do it.