Holland, locking your bike?

[snorri]

A lot of missing bikes in Amsterdam end up in the canals.
http://blogs.rnw.nl/curiousorange/2009/05/23/more-dredging/


I watched the dredger at work one day, it didn't lift any mud, only bicycles, as these were likely to foul the propellors of passing boats.

 

[slowmotion]

I visited Amsterdam twice on a £450 hybrid and stayed with friends at a quite smart part of town. No way would they let me lock the bike outside their house on the Kaisersgracht, even there. They insisted it came inside. When we went exploring the city, they said that I should keep it within view at all times. OK, Amsterdam is exceptional, but that is what the locals told me.

As others have noted, the bike chains that the locals use on their own bangers are quite awesome. I saw one local bike with a bucket welded to the frame just for the chain. It had three child seats as well. An awesome machine.