Cycling and public transport can have a symbiotic relationship forming a hybrid, distinct transport mode, which should be reflected in transport planning. The bicycle is as a versatile way to soften the rigid nature of public transport and thus accommodate diverse individual travel needs and situations. Public transport can be seen as a means to dramatically extend cycling’s spatial reach. In this paper, the Netherlands is used as illustrative case because of the relative maturity of its bicycle-train connections. The case shows that the synergy between high speed, high flexibility and increased degree of choice are the fundamental characteristics to understand the functioning of this system in a wider spatial context. 

This Working Paper is no longer available. The article is published in Transportation Research Part A.