IN THE SUMMER OF 2007, I got to spend an extended period of time in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. While visiting friends and relatives, I had the pleasure of getting my kids around the city, suburbs, and countryside on the BucketBike.

These versatile and well-constructed bikes are a way of life in Holland, used primarily to transport children (and all the stuff that accompanies little kids!) easily and safely with a minimum of fuss.

Whether it's downtown Amsterdam or the more open suburbs and rural parts of Holland, the BucketBike seems to have a place in every Dutch family's home. Its uses are limitless and allow entire families to travel, shop, and run errands without a car.

Living in Mar Vista, so close to the beach, the markets, the boardwalk, I immediately saw how worthwhile the BucketBike could be in the community. As a committed environmentalist myself, I felt the BucketBike could be a perfect addition to the front lines of the "Green Revolution".

The family keeps growing, and with my BucketBike, I've brought a bit of the way people live in the Netherlands to the United States. I can load 3-5 kids into the bike and take them to pre-school, stop at the local farmers markets for fresh flowers and produce, run local errands, and drop in on neighborhood friends. I've been able to cut out the use of my car almost entirely (which is a pretty incredible accomplishment living in Los Angeles).

With the everyday use of my BucketBike I feel more connected to the community than ever, and I'm glad I we can do something to help other families enjoy all the health benefits and freedom and adventure that I do.

I look forward to seeing you on the road...