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Cycling in Amsterdam

(22 posts)
  • Started 9 years ago by paddyirish
  • Latest reply from rbrtwtmn

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  1. paddyirish
    Member

    Mrs Paddy and I have a few kid free days next week and are going to Amsterdam.

    I'll be looking at the Iamsterdam cycling pages but was wondering if there were any more personal experience tips on here.

    Lots of posts on here referring to Amsterdam as a cycling mecca, and a little on the Cycling in Netherlands thread which was more about touring but not so much practical advice.

    Does anyone suggest any hints on the following
    - best places to hire bikes
    - are any of the bike tours any good?
    - suggested half day pootle routes (~20-30 miles involving a cafe would be good, and could either be exploring parks or an out of town route (with possible return by train)
    - there were some comments on theft so for security- I assume hire bikes will have locks and insurance?

    Answers to the above and any further tips would be gratefully received

    Posted 9 years ago #
  2. UtrechtCyclist
    Member

    A day trip cycling to Marken is always fun, a bit touristy but shouldn't be too bad in February. You could also take the train to Haarlem (which takes about twenty minutes I think) and rent a bike there for a day, exploring the bike tracks along the sand dunes. Utrecht is a superb place, and it's quite a nice cycle ride from Amsterdam, but it's probably a stretch on the kind of bikes you'll be renting.

    There are plenty of places to rent bikes, you'll almost always get a pretty heavy city bike and thirty miles might be quite as relaxing as you're used to, particularly if the wind is blowing against you!

    Bike theft is a problem, but if you're renting city bikes then I wouldn't be too paranoid as long as the bike place give you good locks, I kept my city bike on the street for three years and it wasn't stolen.

    Don't cycle the wrong way down a bike lane, don't stop suddenly in the middle of a bike lane because you'll be rear ended, don't assume tourists aren't going to jump out in front of you or that other bikes will respect your right of way, then everything will be fine. Amsterdam is a great place to ride a bike!

    Posted 9 years ago #
  3. LivM
    Member

    Watch out for the tram rails...

    Posted 9 years ago #
  4. chdot
    Admin

    "Watch out for the tram rails..."

    Yes, check whether there are lots of falls or if they are avoided by 'skill', fat tyres or better installation or maintenance.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  5. I found Amsterdam took a bit of getting used to on a bike (and my non-cycling wife actually hated the experience, after loving riding in Copenhagen and even Paris).

    Wrote about it here (i did find it all making a bit more sense after talking about the experience with Mr Amsterdamize over a pint later).

    Posted 9 years ago #
  6. PS
    Member

    I didn't cycle when I was in Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago, but I was very impressed by the number of folk on bikes and the continuous nature of the facilities.

    From watching the cyclists there, the best recommendation I can give you is "be confident". They plough through junctions without even the thought of stopping or slowing down. I couldn't help thinking that standard-issue UK cyclists would be rear-ended on a regular basis as they slowed to see if those cars were really going to stop.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  7. sallyhinch
    Member

    Get yourself to the Vondelpark which is like a motorway for bikes and is an amazing sight to see.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  8. paddyirish
    Member

    Thanks everyone. It is really useful to see what experienced Edinburgh cyclists have to say and based on that I do not want to put off Mrs Paddy who doesn't cycle much in traffic...

    @Utrechtcyclist- point noted about reining in ambitions on city bikes.

    @wc - really good description of what to expect. may do our cycling somewhere like Haarlem.

    @Sallyhinch- Vondelpark is definitely on the itinerary- whether we'll be riding or observing remains to be seen.

    Will be away Wednesday to Saturday, so I'll report back on Sunday or Monday.

    Thanks again everyone.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  9. paddyirish
    Member

    Just realised I never reported back on the trip to Amsterdam. Had an excellent time and really loved the city. Didn't end up hiring bikes but even just looking at the bikes was amazing and inspiring. Would definitely like to go back and try to hire a bike next time. Everyone's comments above matched our experience and we noted the following in particular.

    The variety of bikes was amazing, lots of great Heath Robinson contraptions and methods of carrying small kids. Even Hankchief could learn from these guys…

    Apart from kids, we saw one helmet and only two guys in lycra (probably the only road bikes we saw out of thousands)

    We stayed in the Grachtengordel South area and did a lot of our walking parallel to canals - the main thoroughfares were perpendicular to them and provided you were patient at lights, you could travel long distances parallel to canals with few encounters with cars.

    We commented on how quiet the area was - the relative lack of vehicle noise meant that we could hear every little squeak and purr from a bike as it approached. Other areas were busier, but not massively so.

    No drivers were impatient- don't remember hearing any horns.

    You need always to be aware of trams.

    It wasn't unusual to see 20 bikes queued up at a set of traffic lights.

    In 15 minutes we could fill a whole page in the rubbish cycling thread (mobile phones, texting, reading, cutting folk up , going through "impossible" gaps between moving vehicles), but it was done with such utter confidence.

    In the same time we could have filled 10 pages in the glorious successes of a cycle commuter thread - lots of people looking absolutely fantastic on bikes. Do Dutch people not sweat? They seemed to be moving pretty quickly, but no real sign of effort. I don't even want to think what I would look like after my commute if I cycled wearing normal clothes- it would not be nice...

    Vondelpark looks like a cycling paradise.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  10. paddyirish
    Member

    Tried adding photos but failed miserably. Will try again another night...

    Posted 9 years ago #
  11. Min
    Member

    Sounds cool. I like the sound of the quiet (?) What I mean is, I really hate the deafening roar of motors here.

    mobile phones, texting

    Are Dutch laws different with regard to mobile phone use by cyclists then? Seems odd that it would be okay to do here and not there but then maybe the numbers could cause problems. Something else for the unwary tourist to watch out for when cycling there!

    Posted 9 years ago #
  12. fimm
    Member

    Min, I think the thing with mobile phones (whatever you are doing with one) is that here there's the sense of "you must be totally attentive to the road and what is going on otherwise YOU WILL DIE" while if you are rolling along a wide cycle-only space then perhaps you don't need to be quite so attentive to things that will kill you?

    Posted 9 years ago #
  13. wingpig
    Member

    More prevalence of coaster brakes? Uprightier bikes? Less loss of control from having one hand up agains the ear? Also fewer aggressive motor vehicles revving around making people wobble.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  14. Min
    Member

    "you must be totally attentive to the road and what is going on otherwise YOU WILL DIE"

    Or more likely, as in the case of riding two abreast and filtering and so on, most drivers would prefer it not to be legal even though it is and may use their vehicles as weapons against any cyclist who does it. Such as that motorcyclist who deliberately ran over a cyclist using a mobile phone - and the posted it to Youtube.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  15. fimm
    Member

    There was an argument that there didn't need to be a specific law against using a mobile phone while driving because it was covered by "due care and attention". However the law-makers decided that it was a big enough issue to make a specific law about it (the law doesn't specifically say that you may not drive your car while eating a bowl of cereal, but that doesn't mean it is legal to do so).

    I'm saying that there's an attitude among some cyclists that phone use by a cyclist is dangerous for the cyclist (and in some cases it is!) - but, just like I was saying in the phone use thread that drivers probably feel "OK" about using a phone while rolling in a traffic queue (I'm not saying I agree, I'm just speculating about what others might think), so I'm suggesting that there's a difference between using a phone while negotiating the Leith Walk roundabouts as opposed to using a phone while rolling through the Vondelpark...

    Posted 9 years ago #
  16. paddyirish
    Member

    I don't think people do a risk analysis beyond "I need to answer the phone"/ "I mustn't be late for work"

    I think someone who does it on a bike would do it in a car and vice versa...

    Posted 9 years ago #
  17. paddyirish
    Member

    Meanwhile in Ireland

    Posted 9 years ago #
  18. Roibeard
    Member

    I think someone who does it on a bike would do it in a car and vice versa...

    I'm not certain I'd agree (or I'm the exception that proves the rule).

    If I'm in charge of lots of kinetic energy, I don't use a phone/handheld device. I've even been known to switch off the radio in busy traffic, and drive without conversation much of the time.

    On a bike, I'll chat away (assuming breath allows!), and don't mind using a hand held device on cycle tracks. In a chain gang, that would endanger others, but mostly on a bike you're only a risk to yourself.

    On foot, I'm happy to read, daydream and generally pay no attention to my surroundings, until I encounter something likely to endanger me.

    One legislates to compensate for the laws of physics.

    Of course, there are already calls by those with the greatest energy to be protected from those with the least energy by ensuring the most vulnerable are paying most attention (cf "zombie pedestrians")...

    Robert

    Posted 9 years ago #
  19. paddyirish
    Member

    @Roibeard- fair enough and eloquently put.

    From a personal point of view, I don't have enough faith in my bike handling skills to multitask, and need full concentration when cycling and will stop to eat/take phone calls/do routefinding etc.

    It's one of the reasons I prefer to cycle alone, so that I minimise the distractions that apply.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  20. Min
    Member

    so I'm suggesting that there's a difference between using a phone while negotiating the Leith Walk roundabouts as opposed to using a phone while rolling through the Vondelpark...

    Yes I agree, personally I wouldn't do it!

    Posted 9 years ago #
  21. rbrtwtmn
    Member

    I've just spent a week in Amsterdam with my family. I read this thread in preparation for the trip (while pondering whether to hire bikes or whether it would be too scary) and found it really helpful - so here are my own reflections to assist the next person in my/our shoes.

    Firstly DO GO CYCLING IN AMSTERDAM, at least if the weather is good. To put it in the words of my eldest offspring "Dad that was AMAZING!!!" - "Dad, dad, that woman just stopped to let us across the road when she didn't have to - this is AMAZING!!" - Dad, dad, do you think it'll ever be like this in Edinburgh, this is AMAZING!!. This was very easily the best part of an altogether very good holiday. With some preparation and after the first 15 minutes we ALL found the whole experience utterly amazing... and the two days of cycling were easily the most relaxed trips by bike we've ever had as a family (and quite possibly as adults full stop).

    As background - my wife and I are both experienced on bikes - and in much bigger cities than Edinburgh. The kids are also experienced in that they know to do exactly what they are told when they are told. (They are at the lower end of high school age.)

    We chose to rely on Tripadvisor for guidance on a hire company - had no issues with Macbikes as our choice (didn't compare costs - just wanted a hassle free hire). I should say that we avoided back-pedal breaks just to take one new thing out of the equation.

    We did one easy day trip to Weesp and Muiden (loop), and one easier day trip to Broek in Waterland and then back across the city. Both were lovely destinations in the sunshine.
    http://osm.org/go/0E6WMZA?m=
    http://osm.org/go/0E7BpnJR-?m=

    What worked for us was as follows:

    First watching the cycling for a day (actually 2 but 1 was enough) until we felt we understood most of how it worked. This isn't complex - but it helped to have worked out who gives way to who.

    Based on the advice on here I decided to plan for this a bit like how I would for a motorway journey - knowing in advance where we'd be going and what route to follow, and making the route as simple as possible. Particularly on the first morning this was really helpful - our journey initially required no twists and turns and simply following the Amstel until we were well out of the busy area.

    We planned to head immediately out of the centre. This was a good decision.

    In a similar vein - again thinking like I would for driving in a strange place - everyone was advised that when we needed to stop I'd wait until I saw a good place, signal properly, and then pull OFF the cycle lane. This worked very well. If you drive then simply apply the same logic as you'd use for stopping on a road and it's a doddle.

    This sounds like lots of hassle - but that's really because I'm using lots of words to say that we planned a bit and it was worth the time to do so...

    What else to say... well we completely switched around the order we'd normally cycle in - the kids didn't need the guidance I offer here (from years of anticipating stupid driving and recognising their inexperience in this) but could themselves easily judge what to do. Instead of instructing I told them just to follow where I went and to use signals like me, but to make their own judgements on collision avoidance. Whereas here they count as young cyclists, there they were far older and more experienced than lots of those on bikes. The big difference was that I was very sure that if they made a silly mistake and got stuck on a tram line or in a road lane an oncoming driver would simply wait for them. Here I don't make that assumption - there cyclists are people on bikes and were treated in the reasonable way you'd expect rather than as vermin (expected to hide in corners and scurry out the way).

    That's about it. Apart from the very city centre we quickly became very very comfortable with the system. Bear in mind that a cycle trip is so efficient that if you really want to experience the full city cycling experience you'll need to turn around more than once and go back into the city... otherwise before you know it you're out and on back almost-no-cars roads and quiet country cycling infrastructure. We did this intentionally on the second day - cutting purposely through the busiest tourist area. By this time we were comfortable enough to cope with this... which was primarily about dealing with the effects of overload of tourists and delivery drivers or tourists on tight roads rather than anything else.

    My last advice is to plan your mapping beforehand - simply because you'll spend less time wondering where you are and more time enjoying yourself. I have plenty of experiences with GPS devices/apps so used this to great effect. The Opencyclemap rendering of Openstreetmap was really helpful (downloaded onto the Oruxmaps app over wifi). This shows all the cycle infrastructure (including that most one way streets are two way for cycling - on which subject take note of the signs on this linked image which say things like no entry except for cycling as these are extremely common). Take note that around Amsterdam the cycle node network is used effectively (along with some coded routes). These are also all visible on the Opencyclemap mapping.

    After you're used to the system and don't mind a busy bit DO go on one of the free ferries from behind the station. They are timed to the second, and the experience of cycling onto one (mingling with pedestrians who saw us as people on bikes not 'cyclists' yet again) then straight off and immediately and efficiently into a cycle track at the other side... was pure and utter joy.

    Oh - and to answer chdot's question no the gaps at tram lines aren't maintained better than here - in fact many had grass growing in them - but the infrastructure design simply makes it simple and safe to cross them.

    We'll be back...

    Posted 8 years ago #
  22. rbrtwtmn
    Member

    I've been meaning to add some thoughts to the post above for a couple of years. For no good reason today's the day. I'm doing this for anyone new... people in the same position I was before my first Amsterdam trip... based on now having very much more experience cycling in Amsterdam (compared to the above reflections which were after 2 days only)...

    So my additional thoughts are:

    I'd stand by everything above. My cycling days in Amsterdam easily make up the best holidays I've ever had. Last year I was there for 3 weeks to study - cycling every day - and this year again for a week with the family - cycling every day.

    You don't need a special cycle map in Amsterdam. You can assume that any back street is good, and that most big roads will have segregated tracks or a wide cycle lane.

    For a first trip bear in mind that the quiet residential neighbourhoods can be easier cycling than the cycle tracks.

    There's a huge difference cycling in the middle of the city (within the canal rings) to outside this. Of course when you first hire a bike it'll probably be in the middle of the city. This is not the best place to learn. I said this already four years ago, but having now spent many hours in the Amsterdam rush hour I'm even more sure of this.

    There's a very important rule that I didn't know about when I first cycled here - and wanting to describe it is one main reason for writing today. At unmarked junctions - of which there are very many - you 'yield to the right'. Someone arriving at a junction from your right has priority over you so you give way to them, and you have priority over someone arriving from your left. Out in quieter streets this matters much less, but in the very middle of Amsterdam the locals can make judgements about this in milliseconds - and the whole mass of commuting people rely on this knowledge and will not unreasonably be irritated if you don't.

    But the rule above is also flexible. There's a huge amount of communication going on that you may not notice at first - and a huge amount of cooperation. So a slight pause in pedalling will be understood as "you first", someone turning your direction will expect you to make room for them so they don't need to wait, and a group of people on bikes tend to be treated as unstoppable. And if someone can cut across in front of you without you needing to slow down then they probably will. This takes a few days of cycling to get accustomed to - which is why it's good to avoid the very centre at the very busiest times to begin with. You don't need to go far to get away from the really busy places.

    And now opposite advice. Once you've started to get used to this system try plunging right in at the deep end. THE most wonderful thing in the world is to cycle with one of the big flows of people. Go with the flow - abandon yourself to the direction the flow is going - leave it only when it's taking you somewhere you definitely don't want to go. These flows have a life of their own, and being part of them and getting competent to behave well in them has been far and away the highlight of my cycling in the Netherlands. I've even left my family for an hour or two just to play with the rush hour flows...

    Understand that red traffic lights work a bit like the red man does here for pedestrians. Including that judgements about waiting for green depend on the character of junction. If there's a tram line you'll probably see people waiting. If it's a junction where the lights are only really there for the vehicle traffic then you'll find that nobody does. But of course it's safest to wait...

    This last year I hired from Damstraat Rentabike . It felt like a bit of a cowboy operation at first (for example taking a deposit using a paper signature), but I changed my mind about that. They treated me with respect, I got on well with them, and gave me a good price for a week's hire once they knew that I wasn't really there as a normal tourist. It's the kind of place where it may be worth a polite and respectful haggle - in fact the man there on the day told me that this was worth doing if it was clear in future that I wasn't just a normal day-hire tourist.
    https://www.rentabike.nl/
    https://osm.org/go/0E4~2gGv2?m=

    Lastly: If you haven't been yet - go! Tomorrow!

    Posted 4 years ago #

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