Traffic works quite the same for cars as it does for bikes in that from 8-9 and around 6 you have a huge number of cyclists rushing to and from work, school etc

Traffic works quite the same for cars as it does for bikes in that from 8-9 and around 6 you have a huge number of cyclists rushing to and from work, school etc, and it can get pretty crazy. You don't really experience that as a tourist who leaves the hotel around 10 and is walking around for a restaurant around 7. Your experience does exist but it's not always like that. But there's also a lot of infrastructure to support the mellowness. Dedicated cycling lanes on both sides, priority around traffic lights, under/overpasses to reduce stops, flat roads and dense urban centres (with decent public transportation for larger distances) makes it easy to get to your destination quickly without having to race or compete for space. That certainly helps.