Urban chaos, Dutch-style

[Speicher]

A tram and a fire tender!

 

[Arch]

I want it running 24/7 on a window sized screen on my wall, I could pretend I lived in Amsterdam!

 

[stowie]

OK, I give up. What is that shimmering thing in the right hand side of the screen? Christmas tree (bit early)? Apparition? Someone on fire?

This is the cyclists equivalent of train spotting. Oh look a Bakfiets! I haven't seen a tandem yet, and I think I need a notpad....

 

[stowie]

Just realised what the shimmering thing is...

It is the street lighting reflecting off the water in the canal.

Doh!

 

[slowmotion]

Hey! I'm glad you like it. Just wait for the Monday morning rush-hour . It's going to be pure bike porn...
I was in Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago and found dodging other cyclists to be far scarier than dodging London traffic.

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

OK, I give up. What is that shimmering thing in the right hand side of the screen? Christmas tree (bit early)? Apparition? Someone on fire?

It's the water in the canal

 

[snorri]

It's the water in the canal

Keep awake at the back please, see post 19

 

[slowmotion]

I prowled around on Google Streetview trying to spot the camera at that junction. From the images it's sending, it must be quite high up, and the Streetview images go wonky at high elevation. Can any other sad geek manage to spot the gizmo?

BTW, the sound is a real bonus, isn't it?

 

[slowmotion]

Oh dear, his chain is way too slack...

 

[I like Skol]

All quiet now on a Sunday morning.....Ooooh, there's a tram.....

This webcam link was posted on the forum a few months ago and I remember it being really busy but quite calm.

 

[Sara_H]

Have a look at this live webcam, complete with sound, which shows a four way junction ( complete with trams ) on Koningsplein, central Amsterdam. Quite how the cyclists manage to avoid multiple pile-ups is a source of complete wonder.

http://www.terena.org/webcam/

Fab! Better than watching telly!

Just showed the little 'un. He asked if Amsterdam wasa a poor country (cos I told him tat most people in Amsterdam get about by bike rater than car!).

I said no, they're a rich country full of very clever people!

 

[Bobtoo]

Finally found it on Streetview. http://g.co/maps/th8pj It's a much busier location than you would think from the flow of traffic.

 

[aberal]

Here in the UK, our Highways Engineers would have designed that junction for the traffic to be "controlled" by traffic lights, theoretically synchronized with each other, with filters timed to prevent them turning left at a time not of their (the Highways Engineers) choosing. Pedestrians would be "controlled" by the same lights and channeled along walkways by railings preventing them crossing the road inappropriately i.e. at a place not of their (the Highways Engineers) choosing. They (the Highways Engineers) love control here in the UK. All in the name of elfin safety.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I watched for quite a while yesterday afternoon and I didn't see a single person, car or bike, rushing. Talk about culture shock!

By the way, around 5pm yesterday, 14 horses in pairs crossed the screen travelling along the tramway. Anybody else see them? I assume that they were police horses but I've no idea why they would all be moving in formation.

 

[snorri]

I watched for quite a while yesterday afternoon and I didn't see a single person, car or bike, rushing. Talk about culture shock!

I think it might be something in the coffee, I've never seen anyone leave an Amsterdam coffee shop in a hurry.