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Amsterdam's Bike Culture
ski-epic.com — A fantastic series of pictures that illustrate the bike scene in Amsterdam - and how it differs from a U.S. city like San Francisco (the photographer's home town). Suit-and-tie dressed bicyclists, multiple riders, no helmets (ever), dogs and kids on-board, and spectacular gigantic industrial security chains on every bike.
tomboy501- 714 diggs
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- 0akley, on 10/10/2007, -2/+34nice pics, more people should ride bikes!
- Elektriq, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8I live in Amsterdam and I've been riding bikes all my life. All I can say is...
No. - cloudyprison, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3That would be great, too bad I have 15 miles to go and now easy route to do it. Stupid motor city.
- stinkipete, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5I hate to bring up the environmental debate, but yes, to prevent further human-contributed damage, bikes would be a great choice.
- soma4theMasses, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6and fat people
- nikkesen, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4I was in Amsterdam for 10 days and people on bikes can be just assholes on the same level as drivers. I don't know what's scarier, a driver on a cellphone or a cyclist on a cellphone...
Of course, it would be good for the environment if more people rode bikes... - TheKricket, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4ooh look! a woman in a skirt on a bicycle... and whats this? another woman in a skirt on a bicycle... look over there! a woman in a skirt on a bicycle... guess whats behind you?! a woman in a skirt on a bicycle!
this guy should just get it over with an start an upskirt website...
- Elektriq, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8I live in Amsterdam and I've been riding bikes all my life. All I can say is...
- staffrocket, on 10/10/2007, -8/+4LOL bicycle taxi!
- altered, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5The word you're looking for is: Rickshaw
- obliviousfool, on 10/10/2007, -22/+5This guy writes like a stereotypical American.
"Waaaaaaah! They don't do things like us! It's all wrong! Can't they see they're doing it all wrong?!"- LungGravy, on 10/10/2007, -0/+22If he's being critical at all it's of his own local culture and customs in San Fransisco. The jab at our mandatory helmet laws for example. In my city, a beach community, not only do we have mandatory helmet laws, but one has to register your bike, they actually stop people regularly at the beach to check registration and issue tickets. Registering is a huge PITA that takes about a day off running, around waiting in line, filling out forms. It's lame. No freedom, no liberty, completely anal, and not at all the casual , laid back culture as depicted in Amsterdam. He's giving props, not condemnation.
- obliviousfool, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I completely did not read it that way. In parts, he makes fun of their bike locks, and the little things on the wheels that power the headlights, and seems to make fun of people in formal clothes. The pictures are better without the commentary. The reason we have so many helmet laws is that the the US is built for cars. We have a car culture.
- SwordAngel, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Sorry to hear about that. Here in Tokyo, many of the bicycle merchants take care of the registration for you (free of charge, or included in the bicycle price; you can think either way). They fill in the form for you when you buy your bicycle and you just have to keep the carbon copy. The bicycle merchant takes care of submitting the original to the police.
- SwordAngel, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1By the way, we also do not have to carry the registration paper around with us. We leave it at home until the bicycle gets stolen, only then do we take the paper to the police.
- johnn11238, on 10/10/2007, -9/+2I love being an American and having everybody think its cool to bash all 250 million of us because of what they perceive as "stereotypical". Nationalism is the new Racism.
- sicamore, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2300 million. only off by 20%. i hate to be stereotypical.....
- LungGravy, on 10/10/2007, -0/+22If he's being critical at all it's of his own local culture and customs in San Fransisco. The jab at our mandatory helmet laws for example. In my city, a beach community, not only do we have mandatory helmet laws, but one has to register your bike, they actually stop people regularly at the beach to check registration and issue tickets. Registering is a huge PITA that takes about a day off running, around waiting in line, filling out forms. It's lame. No freedom, no liberty, completely anal, and not at all the casual , laid back culture as depicted in Amsterdam. He's giving props, not condemnation.
- Jayaych, on 10/10/2007, -1/+22We have Formally Dressed Bicyclists here in the U.S. as well, they're called Mormons.
- neuropsychguy, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1There are even a few of them in Amsterdam too.
- cyberdork, on 10/10/2007, -0/+31That's not only in Amsterdam, but in all of the Netherlands and parts of Western Germany.
I live in the East of the Netherlands and I usually take my bike to work, just a 3 mile ride. My mom back in Germany also does most of her shopping by bike.
1. It's cheap
2. It's often faster than taking a car, since in European cities most places (shops, workplace, restaurants, bars) can be reached within a 3 mile radius from your home. And parking a car is often difficult or expensive.
3. It keeps you fit.- mercurysquad, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7Also in Belgium.
- bertdevriese, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Allright! Belgische diggers!
- tororosso, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5Brussels is hardly bike friendly ... you probably mean cities in Flanders (Antwerp, Ghent, Brugge)
- mercurysquad, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Yes actually I'm in Ghent. However, I wouldn't say Brussels (or any big city) is representative of the entire/rest of the country.
- octophobic, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4I would love for everything I need to be within a 3 mile radius. Home, work, entertainment, and shopping.
- beatniak, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I live in the center of utrecht (Netherlands) and actually walk (+10 bikes of mine have been stolen, so i refuse to buy a new one). Home, work, entertainment, and shopping... all in a 10 minute walk radius.
- mercurysquad, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7Also in Belgium.
- 10goto10, on 10/10/2007, -0/+20"There was one particular type of bicycle I'm not sure I understood why it was so popular, but really stood out as a trend. These bicycles have smaller wheels than a typical bicycle, and a taller seat to compensate. "
That's not a trend, that's a foldable mini bciycle. You can fold it to suitcase-size when you take the train, and unfold it when you need to ride.- willemmulder, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Yeah, they're much used for going to work and back bacause they're light and small and you can take them with you for free in trains. (in NL at least, I don't know about Germany or Belgium)
- The_Wallbanger, on 10/10/2007, -1/+29This is why the Dutch don't have an obesity epidemic.
- Jambi, on 10/10/2007, -2/+10Also, the food sold in the Netherlands isn't packed full of high fructose corn syrup.
- sydseale, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7In case anyone is confused as to why food in the US is over corn-ified, it's because of farm subsidies that allow corn growers to sell corn at a price that makes it more attractive to food producers than alternatives (Coca-cola, for example, used to use cane sugar, but now uses corn sugar. If you want to know what Coke used to taste like, check for the Kosher version in grocery stores...BTW, not always available...ask a Jewish friend when you should expect to see it).
I suspect that the average American is now composed 80% of corn.- ElwoodHerring, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3I always thought you were a corny lot.
- sydseale, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7In case anyone is confused as to why food in the US is over corn-ified, it's because of farm subsidies that allow corn growers to sell corn at a price that makes it more attractive to food producers than alternatives (Coca-cola, for example, used to use cane sugar, but now uses corn sugar. If you want to know what Coke used to taste like, check for the Kosher version in grocery stores...BTW, not always available...ask a Jewish friend when you should expect to see it).
- johnn11238, on 10/10/2007, -5/+3That's *****. Ever have one of those ***** waffle-things?
- dvde, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6hmm... you mean 'stroopwafels'
- toink, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0The food in Dutch supermarkets is way WAY more healthy on all levels then it is in the states. Also we tend to eat a lot more veggies and fruit. I have been in the states a lot and even lived there for a year so i know what i am talking about.
- The_Wallbanger, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5They put *****-tons of mayo on their french fries too!
- wiedo, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Most of the time this is 'frietsaus' (sause for french fries) and it contains a lot less fat then real mayonaise.
- Jambi, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5I didn't say Dutch food was healthy, but corn syrup is in a class of its own: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_fructose_corn_syrup
- Jambi, on 10/10/2007, -2/+10Also, the food sold in the Netherlands isn't packed full of high fructose corn syrup.
- wild, on 10/10/2007, -0/+11Don't forget the free white bicycles provided to the public to help relieve traffic and curb bicycle theft. Pretty cool solution to a theft problem.
http://www.tve.org/ho/doc.cfm?aid=743- Elektriq, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3Those don't exist (yet).
- Elektriq, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1Those don't exist (yet).
- Jeffler, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Comment system is a bitch, eh?
- Elektriq, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I swear to god (hehe) I didn't click twice. I think.
- Jeffler, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Comment system is a bitch, eh?
- altered, on 10/10/2007, -0/+23I visited Amsterdam a month ago and what I found especially hilarious is the multi-tiered bike parking lot near Centraal Station. It looked something like this at the time--but at twice the capacity.
http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/l/7/70054-bike-parking-garage-amsterdam-netherlands.jpg- eleece722, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Yeah I saw that when I was in Amsterdam in May. The garage was jam-packed with bicycles and there were so many bike chains it looked like a tangled mess. There are more bicycles there than there are cars! I think it's a great idea though.
- spyrochaete, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1They have bike locks underneath bridges as well. Very strange.
- bdbr, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I also have a picture of the Haarlem train station bike parking, which was smaller but also jam-packed bikes. These cities are all flat enough that biking is a good way to get around.
- killerpopiller, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7unfortunatly the photographer missed the really amazing garage houses near bigger trainstations. I´m from germany, and riding bike is normal but not this spreaded. but having this huge garages with several floors!!! filled with bikes and huge parking spaces before that as well really made me wondered how many bikes per head are the average in the netherlands
- Talena, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2We have about 16 million inhabitants and 18 million bicycles.
- bmtmtc, on 10/10/2007, -10/+8To be fair, you could walk across Amsterdam in a few hours, it's not possible to bike like that in a larger city. Also, it's not fair to compare it to San Francisco since who would want to bike up and down those hills all day?
- mercurysquad, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8excuses ..
- johnn11238, on 10/10/2007, -4/+3Lazy-Ass
- josegutz, on 10/10/2007, -4/+2Hmmmm... Have a salad?
- BlueInGreen, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3"Also, it's not fair to compare it to San Francisco since who would want to bike up and down those hills all day?"
The answer is no one, bike messengers out to make a name for themselves not withstanding, but biking is still very popular. Convoluted routes like "The Wiggle" go around, not over the hills. - spyrochaete, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Amsterdam is almost completely flat so it's a great city for walking and cycling. San Francisco is to hilly even for many cars!
- rajulkabir, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7"To be fair, you could walk across Amsterdam in a few hours, it's not possible to bike like that in a larger city. Also, it's not fair to compare it to San Francisco since who would want to bike up and down those hills all day?"
You can walk across San Francisco (just 7 miles) in a few hours too.
Many people in the Netherlands have a daily bike commute well in excess of 7 miles. My grandfather rode almost that far every day until he died in his 80s. - quaxon, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2umm i live in san francisco right in the middle of the city up one of the biggest hills (in nob hill) but as any biker in the city knows there are lots of different ways to go to get where you are where the hills arent nearly as bad. i bike pretty much everywhere and can get to anywhere in the city in less than 20 minutes, and am usually faster than the cars on the road. riding up the hills can be a bitch (especially in the harsh winds we get all the time) but after a few months you get used to it. also id like to point out that his rant on helmets is pretty off, i personally dont wear a helmet (though i should with the way i ride) and none of my friends who ride regularly wear helmets either, i only see old people or kids wearing helmets.
- mercurysquad, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7A note about those 'extra gigantic locks' : There are laws in place that mandate using such locks. If you don't use that type of lock, the police will tow your bike away thinking it's abandoned (had that happen with a friend). This goes also for bikes using feebly mounted slide locks.
- CatsAreGods, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5Tow your bike away?
Sorry, I'm not laughing at you, I just got a mental image of this gigantic tow truck backing up for a bicycle... - defectiv, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Heh, like the police will get the chance, someone else will have "towed" the bike away LONG before the police...
I lived in Rotterdam, another major dutch city, not locking your bike like a fortress was a sure way to be able to buy a new bike each week...
And when it's locked, better make sure it's locked to something immovable!
I have recently emigrated and now live in a small german village, the contrast is huge, here you can set your bike in front of your house, unlocked for hours and it will still be there!
Rotterdam, unlocked for minutes was asking for it... Even parked in your basement it wasn't safe, as those are broken open on a regular basis (I was lucky though, I had severely improved the doors strength and locks, so they always broke open my neightbours basements and mine was never violated in 8 years. I did loose 4 bikes outside though, all locked with a massive chain & lock to a massive object...- manstein01, on 10/10/2007, -6/+0Holy crap I cannot imagine living like that. Sounds like you guys need a law allowing you to shoot intruders. Break-ins would stop very quickly.
- mercurysquad, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2American viewpoint? .. lol.
It's a damn bike. It doesn't justify allowing anyone to shoot anyone.
- mercurysquad, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2American viewpoint? .. lol.
- manstein01, on 10/10/2007, -6/+0Holy crap I cannot imagine living like that. Sounds like you guys need a law allowing you to shoot intruders. Break-ins would stop very quickly.
- tybris, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Who cares if someone steals your bike, you can just take a different one...
- CatsAreGods, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5Tow your bike away?
- ChronicFiles, on 10/10/2007, -1/+24Mirrored at http://pileofphotos.com/view/322/Amsterdam-bike-life website crashed
- brianwski, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I'm the author of the original page, and this absolutely IS NOT a mirror, and I think it's kinda mean spirited. That webpage (on pileofphotos) took about half the pictures, none of the formatting, and NONE OF THE TEXT, serves banner ads, and doesn't really even offer any credit or explanation as to the real author. My pictures and that site are free for anyone who wants to use them for any reason, and I'm glad people enjoy it, and I really have never made a dime out of any of it, -> but this seems kinda out of the spirit, you know? -- Brian Wilson
- MikeonTV, on 10/10/2007, -0/+9Hows about it? http://blog.miragestudio7.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/bycycle_parking.jpg
- 029JO, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6I truly love the bikes in Holland :) but they do get stolen ALLOT just cause they are that great, and such a convenience
- edebolt, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2the bike theft in holland is beyond category because of all the drug addicts and lax penalties for being a thief. Basically you have two choices. Ride a really crappy cheap bike that nobody wants to steal or you can replace easily or never let your bike out of sight. While in Amsterdam we saw addicts using cordless power tools and stealing bikes in under a minute. I took my expensive mountain bike and was on edge the whole time. Even had nightmares someone stole my bike. Sucks.
- tybris, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Who takes an expensive bike to Amsterdam? That's just outrageous.
- edebolt, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2the bike theft in holland is beyond category because of all the drug addicts and lax penalties for being a thief. Basically you have two choices. Ride a really crappy cheap bike that nobody wants to steal or you can replace easily or never let your bike out of sight. While in Amsterdam we saw addicts using cordless power tools and stealing bikes in under a minute. I took my expensive mountain bike and was on edge the whole time. Even had nightmares someone stole my bike. Sucks.
- david76, on 10/10/2007, -1/+18"how it differs from a U.S. city like San Francisco"
I'm going to vote for no hills.- zeejay, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6and superior coffee shops.
- SJKat, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Less fat-asses and potheads.
- bjornkeizers, on 10/10/2007, -0/+12Bicycles are pretty much *the* form of transportation in The Netherlands. Quite a few people commute by bicycle (me included) and pretty much 90% of children go to school by bike. And with the great infrastructure we have combined with the relatively short trips... bicycles pretty much beat every other form of transportation. And to add some trivia: there are actually more bicycles in our country then people: there are 18 milion bicycles, 17 milion people, and there are 1,2 milion bicycles sold here every year.
- skellener, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4That's great!
- spyrochaete, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3What really weirded me out when I was in Amsterdam these past 2 weeks was how efficient the cyclists are. I saw people talking on cell phones, transporting their kids, eating, and smoking, all while riding bikes!
- redline13, on 10/10/2007, -14/+6No helmets? That's really dumb.
- fashiontrot, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4The laws there are in strong favor of cyclists. Usually if there's any sort of accident between a driver and cyclist, the driver is automatically at fault and liable for charges. Thus cyclist accidents are very rare. I wear and support helmets, but that may help explain the sense of security.
- niczar, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Helmets are completely useless. Places which have mandated helmets have registered no noticeable injury rate change, but OTOH bicycle use has dwindled as a result.
- PaulOwen, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2The wearing of helmets is actually an imposition placed on the cyclist by a car-centered society.
A little bit like mandating protective gear for women and children instead of tackling knife crime.
- bjornkeizers, on 10/10/2007, -1/+10Well.... I'd agree that wearing one would be smarter, but I can understand why people don't do it. For one, we've been riding bicycles since before the US was established. Children here pretty much ride bikes from the day they can walk. It's in our blood; second nature to us like walking or breathing.
Also, bicyclists are a lot safer here then they are in the US. We have special bike paths and many road rules and laws that protect them. Accidents do happen, but fatal ones are quite rare. Besides, falling down & getting up is part of bicycling.
So all in all, most people just don't see the need for helmets.- skellener, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3I don't see much traffic in most of the pics. Looks pretty sparse. Not like the we have in the states. All depends on how you ride. You can ride aggressive on a dirt trail far from any cars, bail and land on your head. Not fun. You could also simply have an accident on the concrete with no cars around...maybe to avoid a squirrel the jumps across your path? :) Helmets are required to wear for youths under 16 here in the U.S. It would probably be smart for at least little kids to use helmets in Amsterdam. I use a helmet. Better safe than sorry.
- bjornkeizers, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Haha, you've never been to Amsterdam then :D One of the busiest citys you'll see. Definitely agree with regards to self-inflicted accidents, and there *is* a growing trend of kids wearing helmets. I'd certainly make my kid wear one until they're old enough to decide.
- skellener, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3I don't see much traffic in most of the pics. Looks pretty sparse. Not like the we have in the states. All depends on how you ride. You can ride aggressive on a dirt trail far from any cars, bail and land on your head. Not fun. You could also simply have an accident on the concrete with no cars around...maybe to avoid a squirrel the jumps across your path? :) Helmets are required to wear for youths under 16 here in the U.S. It would probably be smart for at least little kids to use helmets in Amsterdam. I use a helmet. Better safe than sorry.
- FieldAnonymouse, on 10/10/2007, -3/+6Well, odd as it sounds wearing a helmet actually puts you at a slightly higher risk of being hit. It's a beacon to the drivers that you've taken steps to protect yourself so they don't think they have to be as careful around you. Of course that may be limited mostly to the US where you have people tooling around the city in an oversized SUV like they're the only ones on the road.
- redline13, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2I have heard this argument before but it makes no sense to me. The idea that not wearing a helmet makes you safer seems silly.
- rajulkabir, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3The statistics support it. When New South Wales in Australia implemented mandatory helmets for all riders, the amount of bicyclists went down by a greater amount than the amount of accidents. So overall, biking became more dangerous.
- frsrblch, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0Yeah, that really doesn't make any sense. Do you drive more aggressively around cyclists because they wear helmets?
Didn't think so.... - Burpeey, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Related article:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=778EF0AB-E7F2-99DF-3594A60E4D9A76B2&pageNumber=1&catID=9 - YouandWhoseArmy, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Didn't the study cite differences of only a few inches? Hardly seems like it makes a big enough difference to me....
- rootneg2, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1On a bike, one or two inches of clearance makes a HUGE difference. First of all, bikes aren't very wide, so a couple of inches is comparatively sizable. Secondly, a biker is extremely exposed; whereas passing inches from somebody with a piece of metal in between isn't all that scary, passing inches from somebody with *nothing* to protect you can be quite frightening. Lastly, bikes (being very light and relatively un-aerodynamic) are incredibly susceptible to the "draft effect", which diminishes greatly with distance, passing a bike by an inch or two can literally suck the bike behind the car into their draft-stream, but 4 or 5 inches will miss the draft-stream almost entirely
- rootneg2, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1On a bike, one or two inches of clearance makes a HUGE difference. First of all, bikes aren't very wide, so a couple of inches is comparatively sizable. Secondly, a biker is extremely exposed; whereas passing inches from somebody with a piece of metal in between isn't all that scary, passing inches from somebody with *nothing* to protect you can be quite frightening. Lastly, bikes (being very light and relatively un-aerodynamic) are incredibly susceptible to the "draft effect", which diminishes greatly with distance, passing a bike by an inch or two can literally suck the bike behind the car into their draft-stream, but 4 or 5 inches will miss the draft-stream almost entirely
- kholburn, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1What they have found is that laws making helmets compulsory for riders cause many people to stop riding and therefore more people to die from less exercise.
Actually it makes more sense to make every one in cars wear helmets, they can get nasty head injuries from car accidents. Like that's going to happen.
- redline13, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2I have heard this argument before but it makes no sense to me. The idea that not wearing a helmet makes you safer seems silly.
- angelces, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2You have to keep in mind as well that on a lot of the roads, especially the bigger ones, the bikes have their own lanes, separated by curbs from the cars. so it's not like they're riding the shoulders like they do here.
On the bigger roads there's the sidewalk for walkers, the bike lanes, then the car lanes. On the side streets there is either no car traffic or very little car traffic. But the tram and the bikes are really the way to get around in that town - dvde, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8in the Netherlands, motorcyclists have to wear a helmet. in a lot of states in the US they don't. now that's stoopid.
- octophobic, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2I live in a no-helmet state and the funny thing is I often see the guy not wearing a helmet but the woman on the back of the motorcycle is wearing one! Either he gave it to her to wear or she's just the smarter of the two I'm not sure.
- Biskino, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Bicycle helmets are more totemic than they are pragmatic. While there are instances where they might offer some protection, most cycling fatalities in urban areas are the result of a collision with a vehicle - a bicylce helmet is going to add a very small margin of surviavablity in those cases.
But hey, it LOOKS like you're being safe - which is almost as good- Bluemandrew, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0dugg down for using obscure words incorrectly
- Syntaxis, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5It's a cultural thing, most roads in towns have separate lanes just for bikers. Also, people driving cars around are taught to watch out for bikers - they spend, on average, 40 lessons (1 hour at an average cost of € 50,- per lesson) to just get their drivers license. And then they need to study their theory, too. Biking is as normal as walking and breathing here, wearing helmets actually looks silly and unnecessary. The few rare accidents are usually caused by bikers being stupid and falling over, causing a few rips in their clothes.
- Lionhart, on 10/10/2007, -0/+240 lessons at 50 euro each? That is insane. In the US we take a ***** question and answer test for a permit and after a year a ridiculously easy 10 minute driving course to get our liscenses.
- mercurysquad, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Well in India in many cases you don't even need to take a test to get a license, and the differences are apparent.
- Lionhart, on 10/10/2007, -0/+240 lessons at 50 euro each? That is insane. In the US we take a ***** question and answer test for a permit and after a year a ridiculously easy 10 minute driving course to get our liscenses.
- fashiontrot, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4The laws there are in strong favor of cyclists. Usually if there's any sort of accident between a driver and cyclist, the driver is automatically at fault and liable for charges. Thus cyclist accidents are very rare. I wear and support helmets, but that may help explain the sense of security.
- tommyvercetti, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7Just curious, why do the bicycles look like the old style of bicycles? Here in the US, majority of bicycles seem to be either mountain bikes (or atleast made to look like them) and road bikes. These bicycles look like the kind people had in the 50's.
- rediculous, on 10/10/2007, -0/+17Good question.
Because Amsterdam is flat, there is no need for gears. Just a beach cruiser style bicycle will do.- isseki, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0This has nothing to do with amsterdam being flat. The whole country is flat, MTBs are still popular.
The real reason is that every single picture on that page was taken in the heart of amsterdam, and only a fool (or a tourist) would leave a bike of any worth outside unattended over there. People keep those inside, and just take the crappiest bike they own when they just want to get somewhere.
- isseki, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0This has nothing to do with amsterdam being flat. The whole country is flat, MTBs are still popular.
- bjornkeizers, on 10/10/2007, -1/+10Several reasons. They're a comfortable, proven design that's easy to manufacture. These 'old' designs allow you to carry a big load and they last for ages. Just the thing you'd need for a daily commute. Mountain bikes or the like don't offer the convenience & reliability of these designs.
Most trips are short. To Dutch people, a five mile bike trip is quite long. Americans would probably consider that going round the block. So our designs need to be practical rather then comfortable over longer distances. Real mountain bikes are mostly seen as sports equipment for men in too tight shorts with children's bicycle helmets. Lance Armstrong wannabes.
Lastly, true mountain bikes often don't conform to all road rules when it comes to the number of reflectors, lighting, bells, etc. Again, mostly sports equipment rather then practical transportation.- Nerfdude, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1lance armstrong wannabes? i don't recall lance armstrong riding off a paved road. ever. people who buy mountain bikes for on-road training are just misinformed.
and actually, you sound misinformed. mountain bikes don't have enough reflectors? you are aware that you can add or remove safety equipment to anything at will, are you not? bells? yeah, my bike didn't come with a bell, there's no way i could just go down to the store and buy one. better buy another bike, and make sure it comes with a bell.- PDXpete, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0"lance armstrong wannabes? i don't recall lance armstrong riding off a paved road. ever."
2003 TDF, Lance went "off road" to avoid an accident for about 60 feet. Pretty impressive considering he stayed upright the entire time. - panfist, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2actually, you sound like you wear tight bike shorts and were offended by bjorn's comment. not that there's anything wrong with tight bike shorts, i have a pair for long bike rides. you have to admit they look kinda like spandex diapers.
anyway, bjorn was merely offering his explanation of what the culture is like there, no need for you to take offense.
- PDXpete, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0"lance armstrong wannabes? i don't recall lance armstrong riding off a paved road. ever."
- Nerfdude, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1lance armstrong wannabes? i don't recall lance armstrong riding off a paved road. ever. people who buy mountain bikes for on-road training are just misinformed.
- apio, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8another reason is that bikes get stolen here. a lot.
if i have my 1980 25euro bike stolen, i would just by a new one from the local junkie. that doesn't work with mtb's.- frsrblch, on 10/10/2007, -5/+0Use a lock?
- Syntaxis, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Every Dutch student can show you at least 3 ways of opening any bike lock in under 1 minute. The bikes with good locks are usually worth stealing by bigger criminals that drive around in vans, taking the bike to a workshop where the lock - no matter how expensive - will get broken. Then, your expensive bike will be taken apart, painted and sold on the streets.
Locks are mostly pointless. Unless you have like 5 chains around a big solid tree, of course.
- Syntaxis, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Every Dutch student can show you at least 3 ways of opening any bike lock in under 1 minute. The bikes with good locks are usually worth stealing by bigger criminals that drive around in vans, taking the bike to a workshop where the lock - no matter how expensive - will get broken. Then, your expensive bike will be taken apart, painted and sold on the streets.
- frsrblch, on 10/10/2007, -5/+0Use a lock?
- gharding, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5Those are cruisers and really the most comfortable bikes to ride. In the US, mountain bikes and road bikes are the norm (cruisers are kind of a biking counter-culture here). They look "old" to us because we pretty much phased out the style. But they're so much more comfortable compared to a road bike if you're not trying to haul ass. I'm pretty sure they think that Americans riding around casually in the drops look like idiots!
- YouandWhoseArmy, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Perhaps they are the most comfortable but I enjoy the fact that my legs can easily propel me to 35mph on a road bike.
- oldroads, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1From my site about old bicycles I have this:
Cycling Doesn't Have To Be:
Cycling Doesn't Have To Be Complicated
Cycling Doesn't Have To Be Expensive
Cycling Doesn't Have To Be Uncomfortable
Cycling CAN be done in street clothes!
Vin - Menotomy Vintage Bicycles
http://OldRoads.com
- rediculous, on 10/10/2007, -0/+17Good question.
- angelces, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8ah yes, we were there this spring. bikes everywhere.
http://angelces.com/photos/places/2007-03_amsterdam/DSC00329-sm.jpg
the bike parking garage was my fave too
http://angelces.com/photos/places/2007-03_amsterdam/DSC00358-sm.jpg
but nothing beats this sign!
http://angelces.com/photos/places/2007-03_amsterdam/DSC00187-sm.jpg- tybris, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1You know, I never thought about that sign being special...
- mt066, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1People have such hatred for bicycles around here though. Try suggesting it in most forums and you will get various infuriated anecdotes about how 'one time this guy rode a bike through a stop sign without stopping and it was awful.' I guess people are too afraid of demolishing bike riders with their cars so they get really upset about it.
- webmaniac, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4I don't know where "around here" is, but I live here in Amsterdam. My bike is my main way of transportation. If you get annoyed by one person ignoring a stop sign, don't bring your car here (or any big city in the netherlands). Most bike riders ignore red traffic lights, stop signs and never use the appropriate crossings (myself included).
I don't have a drivers license yet, but will get some driving lessons here in Amsterdam soon. Already afraid of all cyclists I will encounter :) But then again, if you learn to drive in Amsterdam, you won't come across a place with more "obstacles"
- webmaniac, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4I don't know where "around here" is, but I live here in Amsterdam. My bike is my main way of transportation. If you get annoyed by one person ignoring a stop sign, don't bring your car here (or any big city in the netherlands). Most bike riders ignore red traffic lights, stop signs and never use the appropriate crossings (myself included).
- supersam, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5@tommyvercetti , well the types of bikes they are riding are really easy and fun to ride, they are cruisers. just because its an old design doesn't mean its not a good one.
- Rustbelt, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0I'm all for riding bikes but the rain and snow in Northeast Ohio are going to make it tough from October to May. However, this could be a good substitution for our non-existent mass transit.
- PBatemanNL, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5To answer your question tommyvercetti, I think it has to do with the fact that we (the Dutch) don't need mountainbikes becouse there isn't a single mountain to climb in the Netherlands. Those people who have a mountainbike use it for sportscycling at eh...maybe rough terrain such as woods and the few 'hills' we got. Besides, the classic bikes turns out to be less fragile, they are better for your back because you sit straight. And most important, they are a lot cheaper than mb's and since your bike gets easily stolen (especially in Amsterdam) it's better not to stall you 1000 dollar bike anywhere but your own garage (if you have one).
- octophobic, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I think in the US if you only have access to a Walmart or a sporting goods store you'll probably see only mountain bikes. If there is a bicycle only shop near you they might feature both the more expensive mtb and the cruiser style bikes.
- CarzorStelatis, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6If only we Brits could have proper cycle track provision like that. Instead we get half a lane of roadspace painted red. No separation from traffic at all (not even the mini-kerbs as with Amsterdam's cycle lanes) which means you want at least a helmet, if not a full set of military battle armour.
- manstein01, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5hahahahahahahahahahah - come visit the US, and I'll show you some REAL hostility to anything that does not have four tires and an internal combustion engine.
- frsrblch, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5Some drivers here in Canada don't even understand that bicycles have a right to be on the road....
I /wish/ I had half a lane to myself. I can either ride on the sidewalk (which, technically, is illegal), or take my chances on the road. I ride of the edge on the right, and many people seem to be incapable of giving me more than two feet clearance as they drive by in some over sized vehicle.
Realistically, bikes are useless once the snow starts falling, but during the summer they are great for getting around. People piss and moan about gas prices, and insurance, but you sure as hell don't see them actually doing anything about it. - niczar, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Helmets are useless, and so are bike lanes, as far as security is concerned.
The single most important factor for bike safety is the number of bike in use -- the more bike, the less they get hit. That's what the stats show. - rootneg2, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Bike lanes are a double-edged sword. If they are well-thought out (accounting for getting "doored" by a parked car, unambiguous intersections, buffers, well-maintained, no cars parking in them (!!!), etc.) then they are amazingly effective at increasing the safety (and efficiency) of biking, thus leading to more bikes. On the other hand, a poorly designed bike lane is worse than none at all; cars will force bikes into the unsafe bike lane, confusing intersections lead to accidents, people believe that this is how scary biking usually is and are discouraged.
If you EVER feel uncomfortable or unsafe in a bike lane, simply be confident, demonstrate your intentions (point, make eye-contact, shake/node your head), and ride in the middle of the lane like a car (as long as it's not a highway, you ARE a legal road vehicle after all). People may honk at you, but if they really want to, they can pass you just like they would a stalled car, old granny, volvo full of stoners, or construction machinery. Trying to bike on the edge of the road (especially with skinny lanes) is usually more dangerous, as cars don't know whether to treat you like a pedestrian or a vehicle, and will try to pass you with far too little space. - rootneg2, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Bike lanes are a double-edged sword. If they are well-thought out (accounting for getting "doored" by a parked car, unambiguous intersections, buffers, well-maintained, no cars parking in them (!!!), etc.) then they are amazingly effective at increasing the safety (and efficiency) of biking, thus leading to more bikes. On the other hand, a poorly designed bike lane is worse than none at all; cars will force bikes into the unsafe bike lane, confusing intersections lead to accidents, people believe that this is how scary biking usually is and are discouraged.
If you EVER feel uncomfortable or unsafe in a bike lane, simply be confident, demonstrate your intentions (point, make eye-contact, shake/node your head), and ride in the middle of the lane like a car. People may honk at you, but if they really want to, they can pass you just like they would a stalled car, old granny, volvo full of stoners, or construction machinery. Trying to bike on the edge of the road (especially with skinny lanes) is usually more dangerous, as cars don't know whether to treat you like a pedestrian or a vehicle, and will try to pass you with far too little space.
- NCg8r, on 10/10/2007, -4/+3We learned the hard way to STAY THE H3LL OUT OF THE BIKE LANES when you're on foot. They will ring their little bike-bells and give you the stinkiest of stink-eyes when you get in their way. I felt like I was in grade school again when a young professional rang at me to get out of her way...
- spyrochaete, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1You get little more than one second of notice too. You have to be very alert in Amsterdam, especially if you've just emerged from the local rokerij. :)
- SonnyW, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8So bike lanes are for bikes?
Who knew! - b0neman, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2This is true in most Euro cities: Watch where you're going! I always get caught by a bike or barely missing getting run over by a bus on my first day in Europe because I'm stuck in my US-braindead-walk mode. The paths for bikes in Amsterdam are actually pretty well marked. They are a different color than the sidewalks and the streets. Also, all the natives there are pretty good at ringing bells to get your dumb ass to wake up! Sooo, next time you walk out of a coffee shop in a daze, look where you step. It'll either be in a pile of dog crap or in the path of a biker.
- beatniak, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Stupid tourist. Some people try to live here
- rootneg2, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1As a biker and a pedestrian; PLEASE stay out of my lane! sidewalks are for walking, bike lanes are for bikes, that's why they were made....
Nothing annoys me more than the people that jog in the bike lane, forcing the bikes to swerve into the middle of the road to pass; or the bicyclists that zoom by on the sidewalk forcing you to scramble to smash up against the wall/foliage/fence lest you want a handlebar to the ribs. If there isn't a bike lane, bikes should go in the road, and if there isn't a sidewalk, then i suppose it's excusable, but only then...
- pipipie, on 10/10/2007, -5/+0They are vicious out there while on their bikes. My aunt was run over by a girl on a bike out there. It was crazy.
- frsrblch, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Beats getting run over by a car...
- Syntaxis, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5Blood and guts all over the place eh? Bikes are like locomotives, when hit by one you instantly ignite in 5000-degree flames and blow up, splattering your blood and guts all over the crowd that's watching the gorefest. Yeah, "crazy" indeed.
Wait, it's just a bump, people saying "hey I'm walking here!" and the other going: "ah damn, I scratched my new jeans slightly, sorry about that by the way..", making sure the other person is alright and going on their own separate ways. - jacquesm, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1bloody tourists. So keep your eyes open and be aware of the traffic. Or would you cross a US freeway without looking ?
- zombies187, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0pathetic
- gabeN, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I saw this gallery a couple weeks ago, really a good overview; but I recommend experiencing it for yourself first hand! You can rent dutch style bikes, which are by far the best way to get around the city, and they're pretty cheap.
- ParaRegSoldier, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1once again....digg users burn a hole in a server somewhere making the website "unavailable".
good work!!- frsrblch, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I'm sure you've done your fair share of server burning.
- mrfunybuny, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2The parallels between Portland, OR and Amsterdam are interesting. Both have lots of bikers, and lots of druggies to steal your bike. Portland also stole their on the street bike lane symbol.
- Bajeda, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Amsterdam actually has a relatively low level of drug use - even for cannabis - compared to most of the US. Hmmmm, wonder what they are doing right....
- mercurysquad, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1tolerance policy is what they are doing right.
- PDXpete, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0I think the "druggies" in Portland are a little different that the Americans getting baked in coffee shops in Amsterdam.
- bdbr, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Portland is only "bike friendly" by American standards. Drivers still show plenty of contempt for cyclists, and there are so few bike lanes that you're contending with traffic a lot. Portland has hills large enough that they're technically mountains - hardly comparable to super-flat Amsterdam.
I ride my bike for errands, but not everywhere in Portland is conducive to that.
And re:the drug comments - please try to stay on topic.
- Bajeda, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Amsterdam actually has a relatively low level of drug use - even for cannabis - compared to most of the US. Hmmmm, wonder what they are doing right....
- DutchViking, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Fun pictures, but hardly a special thing. You can find this everywhere in the Netherlands, and in Copenhagen (Denmark) bikes are as frequently used, or maybe more. Cars are expensive here, and bikes are easy, comparatively cheap and it easy to get around with bike lanes everywhere.
And it has a fantastic effect on womens' asses ;)- ParaRegSoldier, on 10/10/2007, -3/+0You can find this everywhere in the Netherlands because its flat!!
Thats why crime is so low too, because you could see someone making their getaway for miles!!
- ParaRegSoldier, on 10/10/2007, -3/+0You can find this everywhere in the Netherlands because its flat!!
- feckineejit, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4I ride a bike with a motor and goes about 27mph cruising speed. As with any other bicycle if there is no bike lane or shoulder to ride on a bike is entitled to the entire lane until such time that there is a shoulder. DRIVERS DON'T GET THIS. I have been almost run off the road so many times it's ridiculous and the next time some punk kid tries it, he's getting a nice big loogie on his windshield.
- Smedley42, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1...and BIKERS DON'T GET THAT THEY HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE SAME RULES MOTOR VEHICLES DO!!!
Yes, I ride a bike on occasion too.
- Smedley42, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1...and BIKERS DON'T GET THAT THEY HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE SAME RULES MOTOR VEHICLES DO!!!
- xler8, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3I was there in 2004 and I loved seeing all the happy, regular people on bikes. Favorite thing I saw was a guy in a wheelchair flying through a square by himself at midnight. He had some kind of hand-powered crank attached to his wheelchair.
- SparkyMaGee, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Here's a pic I took last year on my trip to Amsterdam. Count the bikes!
http://web.mac.com/inspector_11/iWeb/CorBader/My%20Amsterdam%20Trip_files/259949655_a19cc90f72_o.jpg- tybris, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1923
- diggerphelps, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6Helmets are over-rated. The American fascination with passive "safety devices" over "safe practices" amazes me. (Yes, I am American) I don't have a problem with people wearing helmets, but what I usually see in Berkeley (there are a lot of bike riders here, despite the hilliness) is people wearing helmets, but not looking where they're going, blasting through stop signs, just generally riding in an unsafe manner.
- SJKat, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0It's not an either-or thing, turd.
- slipstreampilot, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2I was surprised to read that the Dutch had "monster, unbreakable chains" protecting their bikes from theft. My brother got back from there recently, and he said that since nobody really splurges on too nice of a bike and since there are more bikes than people, the entire country is like a giant bike swap program. If somebody steals your bike, who cares? Steal somebody else's; they in turn will steal somebody else's and in the end it all evens out.
Is that not the case?- isseki, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1No it's not. Getting your bike stolen is a pain in the ass regardless of how little you paid for it. The gigantic lock/crappy bike combination is just to make your bike look as unappealing as possible to possible thieves. If your bike looks like *****, and has a bigger lock than the one next to it, it should generally be safe.
- tybris, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1It's common practice among students, but in most places the bike density is too low and people would like to be sure they can get home.
- jacquesm, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1there is a running joke here that the weight of the bike and the lock add up to a constant. For the humour impaired, light bikes cost more so you need a heavier lock if you want to have any expectation of making more than one ride on it.
- rqtaylor, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Although Boise, ID is pretty spread out, many people ride their bikes to commute to and from work. Many cars still don't like it. I was flipped off just Friday for riding my bike in the bike lane by a black SUV with the license Idaho License plate LEGIONS. I would love to meet the guy in the passenger seat.
- it5five, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I'd love to be able to not wear a helmet, but unfortunately I live in Phoenix; home of the worst ***** drivers in the US.
- glenneroo, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1why does the author feel the need to put "while riding her/his bicycle" in EVERY SENTENCE????? The page is OBVIOUSLY about bicycles, could he possibly get any more annoying and redundant? geez.
- tybris, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Perhaps he/she is trying to emphasize that these are activities not normally done on bikes in other places?
- felchdonkey, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Note the pleasant weather and nice, flat, wide open streets. Try what they're doing in a city with New York drivers, or San Francisco hills, or Chicago weather.
There's a reason people don't ride bikes as easily as that here.- PBatemanNL, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Not true, the Dutch ride their bikes anywhere, anytime. Our climate is generally rainy, cold and cloudy , it's similar to (south) England's climate but we still ride our bikes every day. Don't ask me why, it's just something we do. There are people who don't ride their bike with bad weather but most people just put on a cap or raincoat and do their cycling. Then again we are known as pretty tough and 'down to earth' people. We're used to living with loads of rain and water, and of course bikes :) I hope this info is use full
- tybris, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Hills are a good point, climate is not. Although it's slightly better than Britain the Netherlands is one of the rainiest places in Europe. Riding your bike in the rain is most refreshing and makes for good conversation with other soaked people once you're inside.
- rootneg2, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I bike
NYC - rootneg2, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I bike
NYC
- JMous, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Tourists are really annoying in Amsterdam. They don't know the traffic rules for cyclists... Constantly walking on the red bikeroads without looking... Luckily it is easier here in the northern part of the country biking. And tourists with those helmets... Look like idiots, nobody ever had an incident I know with falling on heads. It is my daily form of transportation.
- tybris, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1That is, until they almost get killed by a tram.
- monsieurx, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Check out Mike's Bike Tour (link anyone?) while in Amsterdam! Great fun... Bikes are great, the ride is 4 hours and you see and hear it all about Holland's Disney Land...
Tip: take the rear spot in the queue and bring some beer along... Easy rider style! - growler1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3@SonnyW
"So bike lanes are for bikes?
Who knew!"
When you're jetlagged and disoriented, those bike lanes in Amsterdam look like sidewalks. They are not. That dinging sound? That's the six-foot, model-hot woman bearing down on you, who will curse your entire genetic lineage if you cause her to stop while gawking in the middle of the bike path.
/learned this the hard way.- zappo1776, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1When I first visited Amsterdam I was very confused with all the different traffic lanes. Not 5 minutes out of the train station I jumped out of the way of a tram and into the path of a large dutch woman on a bike. She looked more like Don Rickles than a model though.
- SwordAngel, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I'm in Tokyo right now. This metropolis is also full of bicycles. It looks like most people don't have a car here. Heck, they don't need one anyway because the railroad and metro systems are so comprehensive. Most people seem to bike to the nearest train station for commuting.
Pretty much nobody wears a helmet here either. Most bicycles here are equipped with a dynamo head light (mine has one, and it doesn't seem to add much resistance. The light is not bright, but illuminates the road ahead enough that I don't crash into anything or get run over by incoming cars). The other aspects are different though:
1. it's rather rare to see more than one person on a bicycle ("Hey, I have my own bicycle, so why would I hitch a ride?").
2. the locks are rather simple and lightweight (rear wheel ring-type key locks are common). - 2shae, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Ok, I live in The Netherlands (not Amsterdam though)
Just some facts about bicycles here:
1.4 million bicycles are sold every year,
700,000 are stolen every year.
btw, in the city where I live...The Hague, they now have those stupid little India taxi's ( http://tinyurl.com/33cjop )
It's ridiculous! - jacquesm, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2bikes are the major mode of transportation of the future, as soon as the oil runs out... mark my words :)
- rootneg2, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1It's the truth!
What other vehicle has a design (the standard, double-triangle road-bike) that has remained virtually unchanged for more than a hundred years, and yet still remains in such widespread use? Aside from materials/alloys used, and perhaps the invention of clipless pedals or the dérailleur, one could essentially take a 100+ year old bike, copy it bolt for bolt, weld for weld, and still compete favorably against the racing bikes of today. You certainly couldn't say that about cars, planes, trains, or boats (possibly racing shells..).
Bikes have already withstood the test of time; they aren't going away anytime soon.
- rootneg2, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1It's the truth!
- crapbox, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Looking through the pictures, I noticed how slim and good looking they all are.
- rootneg2, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I surprised there aren't more fixies (I'm assuming the cruisers with the swept-back bars are just single-speeds). It seems like a busy port city that's very flat and theft-prone would be ideal for them (seems similar to NYC, which has lots of fixed-gear cyclists). They would certainly be one of the most efficient/fastest ways to get around; does Amsterdam not have a demand for bike couriers?
- liquidsqueeze, on 02/13/2008, -0/+0I love my riding my bike when I'm in Amsterdam, its so much fun! I would say that at times I get frightened by the trucks, but its much safer there because all the cars are aware you are there, not like in San Fran or the States in general. Now everyone has the LED lights on their bike instead of the dynamo because they brake so easily
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