That 'w' is not an accident. I've changed the title of this column to 'where's Helen' to reflect my current backpacking status.

I write this from Berlin but there's no telling exactly where I'll be by the time you're read this.

Together with my husband and two daughters, I've visited seven countries in the past two weeks and we've still got a month on the road ahead.

One of the many highlights of the trip so far has been seeing how different Euorpean attitudes are towards cycling.

In general, cycling is much more common and a more respected form of transport.

In Germany, intricate cycle lane networks wind their way around cities and cyclists even have their own traffic lights.

In Italy the road was like a catwalk - I've never seen so many stylish people on bicycles. 

While in Austria we did a Sound of Music cycle tour and visited all the main locations from the film. The girls loved the bikes - pale green, cruisers - and riding without helmets.

Over here, cycling is not a big deal. Everyone does it because it just makes sense. And because everyone does it, there's less cars on the road which makes it even safer, which means there will be more cyclists in future.

Here in NZ we are yet to reach that critical mass point where cycling becomes a first-choice transport.

However, Nelson City Council's Model Community bid could see all that change.

It's too premature to go into detail, but let's just say moves are afoot that could land the local council funding to complete a cycle network linking the region's main centres.

It's very exciting stuff.

Who knows, people might one day be coming here for cycling tours. Imagine cruising up Britannia Heights singing "the Port Hills are alive......."

See you next month.