Comments on: Amsterdam bicycle survival guide

By: Roberto Derichi

Roberto Derichi — Mon, 27 May 2013 16:20:51 +0000

Hi all.
I am Dutch, i live in Amsterdam.
I have something more to say: Many locals think the tourists on the bike are quite annoying.
This is because some of the things described by Ide above;

When changing direction; always use your hands to tell others where you are going. Left hand means you’re going left, right hand.. indeed. you’re going right.

If you are a tourist and you are on a bike-lane; don’t drive with 2 people next to eachother. Always stay behind / in front of your mate. Reason: The Dutch are in a rush, they don’t want to have to stay behind you going just 12 km/p/h.. People in a rush go 20 / 25 km/p/h easily.

About traffic lights: 100% true.. As a tourist you are not as fast as the locals; never try to ‘catch’ an orange light. Just stop.

One last thing; when you have stopped and you want to get going on your bike again; always check behind you if there are other bicycles coming; if there are; wait. Only get on your bike again when behind you is free; you are not as stable on a bike as the local Dutch are so when getting on you will wobble from left to right a bit, using all of the bicycle-lane. You don’t want the locals having to brake for you..

Light.. If you’re going in the winter-time or in the evening; always use lights! White / Yellow light in front. Red light in the back. Other users of the road can get very pissed if you do not have proper lights on the bike; remember, you are vunerable on a bike; when it’s raining .. dark and you do not have lights; you are close to invisible for car-users / trams / taxi’s.

That’s all! When keeping to the rules it’s quite safe to bicycle in Amsterdam… The people who use the road are used that there’s bikes coming from all directions at the same time. When a car wants to go right, and you want to go straight forward; and the bike-lane is on the same road as the car-lane; you can always go first.. just make sure the driver saw you.

Enjoy!

By: Lorna Bartlett

Lorna Bartlett — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:18:19 +0000

We are doing a couple of tours-bike helmets are required, but we don’t want to have to carry ours over from the USA. Can we buy bike helmets in Amsterdam? And, would you make a recommendation as to where? Your post was very helpful! We are very excited. Thanks, Lorna

By: Ide

Ide — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:56:06 +0000

Hi Adam, thanks for the compliment. For sure rent a bicycle in Amsterdam when you come over again.
If you turn into a bikelane and you know someone is about to pass indeed just move over to the right and let them pass. Same goes when you do not see them, often you will hear a nice bell ringing letting you know someone would like to pass.

By: Adam

Adam — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 18:59:55 +0000

Wow, very informative rundow for the first timer! I never ended up renting a bicycle last time I went, but I will be sure to this time! The only question I have is this: If I have turned into a bike lane and someone is about to pass me, do I move to the right and let them pass me on the left, or is it the other way around?