The effect of topography on cycling rates is often overblown. While we would reasonably expect fewer people to cycle in very hilly areas, in most places the topography isn't as large a factor as many would believe. For example, even cities in Switzerland – not a country renowned for its flat plains – have much higher cycling rates than cities in many much flatter parts of the world.

Although the Netherlands is a comparatively flat country, this is not a reason why levels of cycling there are so high. If it were, other flat parts of the world would have similarly high levels of cycling. The Netherlands does have hilly cities, such as Nijmegen, which has levels of cycling just as high as flatter parts of the country. The real reason why people cycle in large numbers in the Netherlands is because of high-quality cycling infrastructure that makes those journeys comfortable and enjoyable.

Also, cycles with electric assistance are increasingly popular, especially with older people, and these can help ‘smooth out’ hills.

So hills aren't an obstacle to cycling much more than they are to walking, and certainly not a reason to fail to design safe and attractive streets for cycling.