Bicycle

Thanks to its somewhat complex administrative structure, Amsterdam has a ‘mature’ cycling policy, argues consultant Dirk Ligtermoet in an article in Fietsberaad. Contrary to the national trend, bicycle use has increased in Amsterdam by 20% over the past twenty years.

According to Ligtermoet, Amsterdam has learned to turn its administrative complexity into an advantage, with a co-ordinating role for the municipality and districts contributing detailed knowledge of the local situation.

Over the past three years, the Noord Administration has spent over 100,000 euro on renting limousines from a taxi service. Het Parool asked other districts and found that Noord is unique in its expense policy. Elsewhere, aldermen travel by bicycle.

The Noord administration further spent 60,000 euro on catering, Het Parool reports on the basis of preliminary answers to questions asked by Leefbaar Noord. In Noord, catering and limousine expenses are not paid from the fixed allowance aldermen receive. In other districts, aldermen are supposed to pay taxis and lunches from their allowance.

[By Alex van Veen] – “This is a very dangerous crossing.” The man, smartly dressed and carrying a briefcase, made his comment to various bystanders behind the police tape. Earlier, an accident had taken place at the crossing of the Ceintuurbaan and the Tweede Sweelinckstraat. Two boys were seriously injured.

The incident took place on Tuesday 24 November at about 7 pm. The victims were speeding on a scooter not wearing a helmet and were hit by a turning car. As a result of the heavy impact, the boys were launched, hit a two-meter high safety mirror and landed against a dustbin. The trauma team arrived to provide medical assistance.

Amsterdam wants to promote electric cars in order to meet climate goals. However, cyclists are worried that their “traditional right-of-way over cars will be sideswiped by more cars and more parking ramps,” writes Evan Lehmann in a curious article in the New York Times.

The article quotes Marjolein de Lange of cyclists’ organisation Fietsersbond: “If you add more parking spaces, you get more cars. We think the cleanest means of transport is the bike. Definitely.”

Deserted bicycles are clogging up scarce parking space. People who deliver a disused bicycle to a bicycle repair shop should therefore be rewarded with a 20-euro voucher they can spend on a new bicycle or spare parts, independent council member Joop Lahaise proposed a year ago. However, the Centrum District thinks the idea is not practicable.

Owners of bicycle repair shops said they liked the idea, but did not have space to store deserted bicycles. Also, they fear that people will only return bicycle wrecks that cost more to repair than the price they can be sold for.

Cars are slowed down and public transport is a mess, but cyclists seem to be OK despite having to plough through the snow. However, frozen brake cables do seem to pose a problem.

Govert de With of cyclists’ organisation Fietsersbond told Buurtleven that no real complaints have reached the organisation so far. “I’ve spoken with various districts. They are responsible for the bicycle paths. They say that they scatter salt on the bicycle paths every day, but that they’re having trouble keeping up with the heavy snowfall.”

He added that complaints about the condition of bicycle paths may be addressed to the district or to the Fietsersbond (6854794).

Copenhagen is replacing Amsterdam as bicycle capital of the world. Cyclists’ organisation Fietsersbond visited the city to find out how Copenhagen cyclists differ from those in Amsterdam.

• Copenhagen cyclists are faster. The green wave is adjusted to cyclists going 20 km per hour, as opposed to 15 to 18 in Amsterdam.
• They can ride fast because other cyclists do not ride abreast. If someone blocks the way, bells will ring instantly.
• They have faster bicycles. Fixies are popular.
• They have better bicycles. Even if they ride an old bicycle, they will fix it and make sure it looks good.