Car

Crossings in Amsterdam have been designed primarily for cars and should be more bicycle-friendly, Marco te Brömmelstroet of the University of Amsterdam writes in an article in the journal Verkeerskunde. Cyclists are forced to take a sharp left turn, while it is more efficient to cut off the corner and take a smooth turn.

The Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure Department has made all data on traffic and transportation available as open data. Among other things, the data show that there are far more car parks than ‘Fietspunt’ bicycle parking facilities in Amsterdam.

From now on, cyclists can call the Wegenwacht (Dutch AA patrol) when they have a puncture, but there are alternatives as well. Fietsforce offers to change your inner tube for 15 euros, the Fietswacht will mend it for 12.50 plus 3.50 call fee. The Wegenwacht, a service of motorists’ club ANWB, costs 32 euros per year plus 17 euros subscription. So starting from 4 flats, the ANWB is cheaper (but then, how often do you still get a flat these days?). Further, the Wegenwacht is on call 24/7.

Parking places in shopping streets in West should be vacated during the day to make room for parking bicycles, Alderman Dirk de Jager suggests on his blog. Research would have found that the majority of shoppers walk or cycle to the shops and only a minority would go by car.