Bicycles in Amsterdam

[Melvil]

On holiday in - you guessed it - and although the vast majority of bicycles here are one speed 'sit up and beg' types (which appear to be very effective), I have noticed a surprising number of bromptons too. Perhaps confirmation bias on my part, since I have just bought one.

I am also very very inpressed at both the number of bicycles here and also the priority they have with and over other traffic. Truly a heartening thing and it would great if the UK followed the model here (I doubt it though!).

 

[Hill Wimp]

On holiday in - you guessed it - and although the vast majority of bicycles here are one speed 'sit up and beg' types (which appear to be very effective), I have noticed a surprising number of bromptons too. Perhaps confirmation bias on my part, since I have just bought one.

I am also very very inpressed at both the number of bicycles here and also the priority they have with and over other traffic. Truly a heartening thing and it would great if the UK followed the model here (I doubt it though!).

Have you seen the roundabouts yet where the cyclists go under and around their own roundabout?
I loved cycling over there.

 

[slowmotion]

I love the long distance cycle routes and the cycle lanes on rural roads in Holland. I find the crowded cycle lanes in Amsterdam and other cities to be far scarier to ride along than being in unsegregated central London traffic. That's probably not what the UK cycling lobby groups want to hear.

 

[Julia9054]

I love the long distance cycle routes and the cycle lanes on rural roads in Holland. I find the crowded cycle lanes in Amsterdam and other cities to be far scarier to ride along than being in unsegregated central London traffic. That's probably not what the UK cycling lobby groups want to hear.

I found central Amsterdam cycling a bit scary too. The key is to know exactly where you are going and to never hesitate! Difficult when you are a tourist - the locals take no prisoners! I reckon I would get used to it fairly quickly though.

 

[snorri]

I love the long distance cycle routes and the cycle lanes on rural roads in Holland. I find the crowded cycle lanes in Amsterdam and other cities to be far scarier to ride along than being in unsegregated central London traffic. That's probably not what the UK cycling lobby groups want to hear.

Amsterdam gets a lot of mentions for its cycling infrastructure probably because it gets a high volume of visitors from around the world who are not used to the sight of bicycles in a city centre..
Rotterdam is much more cycle friendly, as are many other smaller cities in the Netherlands.

 

[Mr Celine]

I was amazed that the majority of riders appear to be able to ride in dense groups of other cyclists, motor vehicles, trams and pedestrians while simultaneously operating a smartphone.

 

[Haitch]

If you see a space going in your direction, stare at it until you are in it. Let that be your only aim. In the end it's like meditation. No conscious thoughts, just stare at the gap and you become it.

PS have you also noticed how small and flat Amsterdam is? And how full the trams and buses are with tourists?

 

[Glow worm]

Another chance to share a link to this junction in central Amsterdam, where everyone seems to get by just fine, but you just know that if it were in the UK, it would end in complete carnage....

https://www.terena.org/webcam/

 

[Melvil]

Have you seen the roundabouts yet where the cyclists go under and around their own roundabout?
I loved cycling over there.

Yes it's quite amazing

 

[Melvil]

Amsterdam gets a lot of mentions for its cycling infrastructure probably because it gets a high volume of visitors from around the world who are not used to the sight of bicycles in a city centre..
Rotterdam is much more cycle friendly, as are many other smaller cities in the Netherlands.

Hmm...no pretty used to lots of bikes having once lived in Oxford. But it's the primary of them that has taken me aback. We might be going to Rotterdam this week so would like to see what you mean about cycling there.

 

[Melvil]

If you see a space going in your direction, stare at it until you are in it. Let that be your only aim. In the end it's like meditation. No conscious thoughts, just stare at the gap and you become it.

PS have you also noticed how small and flat Amsterdam is? And how full the trams and buses are with tourists?

Absolutely! We went by tram yesterday but really needn't. You're right it really is quite small and flat! We walked a lot of it today and all we needed were eyes in the back of our head for the traffic ;-)

 

[Melvil]

I love the long distance cycle routes and the cycle lanes on rural roads in Holland. I find the crowded cycle lanes in Amsterdam and other cities to be far scarier to ride along than being in unsegregated central London traffic. That's probably not what the UK cycling lobby groups want to hear.

One man's pleasure is another man's poison I guess!

 

[Hill Wimp]

Hope you get to see outside the cities. Cycling over there is a dream and the rest of the country rarely gets talked about.

 

[snorri]

[QUOTE 4332290, member: 45"]There's a nice ride out to a windmill just on the edge of town, with a bar right next to it.[/QUOTE]
Are you referring to the windmill with the singing mouse on the stair?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fg7w49UnGA

 

[slowmotion]

I found central Amsterdam cycling a bit scary too. The key is to know exactly where you are going and to never hesitate! Difficult when you are a tourist - the locals take no prisoners! I reckon I would get used to it fairly quickly though.

The only time I have ever been threatened by another cyclist was after doing something on a cycle lane in Amsterdam. I'm not sure quite what I was supposed to have done wrong or what his problem was. As we subsequently mouthed insults, lip-reading, with a swirling stream of Dutch cyclists between us, I realised he was an American tourist.