Abstract: Many Southern European cities are now working to encourage bicycle use for commuting. In search of effective strategies, they often study best practices from elsewhere. Dutch cities are a prime example of bike use in Europe. However, in order to assess the likely success of transferring measures, an accurate comparison of the bicycling context is needed. This study explores the similarities and differences in attitudes and beliefs about the decisions to commute by bicycle to work in three small, cycling-oriented cities: Gouda (The Netherlands), Shkodra (Albania), and Peja (Kosovo). As almost everywhere in the Netherlands, cycling conditions are good in Gouda. Shkodra has one of the highest levels of cycling in the Balkan region and Peja is striving to improve its urban amenities for sustainable transport modes. The analysis is based on 45 in-depth interviews with volunteers in the selected cities (15 in each city).