From Children in Buckets to Old Men in Suits, Amsterdam Does Bikes Right
June 5, 2008 · Print This Article
Amsterdam gets a lot of things right. Among them are drug policy and tulips. It’s becoming increasingly clear that another thing they do far better than most other countries is bicycles. A traveler in Amsterdam took 82 pictures of bicycles in 73 minutes in a single city square, and the variety is amazing. Riding bicycles isn’t just an occasional recreational activity in Amsterdam – it’s a way of life.
This photo shows a normal scene of bikes parked in Amsterdam:
Here are just a small selection of the photos taken, and in them you’ll see bicycle riders of all sizes, ages and walks of life, including a very old man and a very young child, a man in a suit, a woman in pearls, people carrying large bundles and children balanced precariously on handlebars. It almost sounds like a Dr. Seuss book. It’s awesome.
People in Amsterdam take their bikes seriously. Very seriously. Check out the high security chains and locks, human-powered headlight contraptions, and all of the decorative touches. The photographer questions why they use such strong locks when all the bikes look to be worth about $10 – I think it’s because so many people ride bicycles, people wouldn’t think much to ‘borrow’ somebody else’s to get where they need to go – not to sell it.
You may find it curious that nobody’s wearing a helmet, kids seem so dangerously unprotected and many of these people are even talking on cell phones while they veer around cars in busy intersections. Sure, it looks dangerous to us. Trying to do these things in America would amount to a death wish, but there’s a simple reason why it works in Amsterdam: respect and awareness. They’re just used to it. The people driving cars know to watch out for people on bicycles. When you have a culture where bicycle riding is so commonplace, it’s easy to adjust. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get there, too?
Check out the site for all 82 pictures, plus large enhanced versions.
Link [Ski Epic]
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As a Amsterdam citizen I can perhaps give an answer to your question about the locks: the reason for the cheap bikes is the same reason for the heavy double or triple locks: amsterdam has the highest bike theft rate in the world! You could say there’s a very high bike-owner turnover: you buy the cheapest bike possible because DESPITE the two locks it will get stolen within 5 years (average). Then you buy another one. No surprise the cheapest ones are sold on the street by the same people who steal them, so these days there’s a penalty for buying outside real 2nd hand bike shops (penalty for the thief ánd you if you get caught!!). People often spend more money on good locks than the bike itself.