If you are new to Amsterdam, you are likely shocked at the sheer volume of bikes everywhere. In fact, there are approximately 23 million bikes in the Netherlands which equates to an average of 1.3 bikes per person!

Although biking is the preferred method of transportation in Amsterdam, some newly arrived expats can be hesitant to get on a two-wheeler. I get it! Even as a Dane (I was basically born on a bike) who hadn’t biked for many years after moving to Amsterdam from London, it took me a fair amount of courage and a little practice to get back on the bike-lane. Now, there is not a single day that I don’t bike and I absolutely love it! For those who drive a car, it’s the same feeling of complete independence and ability to get on your own without relying on others.

I hope this short article will help newcomers to Amsterdam with a few practical tips on how to bike in a safe way and what to look out for.

Traffic hierarchy:

The hierarchy is as follows – Trams, bikes, pedestrians, moving vehicles (cars, buses). While cars will stop for pedestrians at zebra crossings, bikes often don’t. Legally they should, but in practice they often don’t. There is a pragmatic reason for this in the sense that the sheer volume of bikes would mean a constant stop to the flow of traffic. As a pedestrian you can easily stop walking, but if bikes have to stop at all crossings it would clog up the bike lanes and make it unsafe at times. As a cyclist you need to pay attention to zebra-crossings, try to signal or make eye contact with pedestrians in order to “agree” on who goes first. Personally, I always stop for elderly people, children and often tourists if easily identifiable (the ones who walk leisurely  in the bike lanes and cross any street only looking at the pretty surroundings… you know who I am talking about).

Helmet or no helmet?

It is shocking for many non-Dutch expats to see so many bikes, but no helmets, me included. In Denmark most cyclists wear a helmet, especially children and so for this reason I did too when I arrived in Amsterdam…but it didn’t last long. Biking is generally not considered dangerous here and therefore helmets are not mandatory or even encouraged. However it is a personal choice and if you want to wear a helmet to feel more comfortable, you should not hesitate doing it. With the rise in electric bikes I would not be surprised if we start seeing more cyclists in Amsterdam with helmets on.

How many people can you fit on a bike?

“A lot”, is the answer and there are no rules on how you carry them! I often wonder if I am at the circus or on my way to work when I see people standing at the back or front of someone else’s bike. It is quite an acrobatic skill to commute this way, but it is not illegal. However, children under the age of 8 must have a designated seat on a bike so please keep this in mind. Parents in Amsterdam often bike their children around in a bakfiets (cargo bike). Two-wheelers are preferred over three-wheelers as they take up less space on the bike lane. There are many places where you can test-bike bakfiets before buying one. Juizz Amsterdam is a good place to start.

Where is a good place to start?

If you are not yet ready for the bike-lanes of the city, but still want to practice, going to less busy areas or parks is a good way to start. Although tempting, avoid Vondelpark on a sunny weekend afternoon. It is complete carnage with runners, bikers, walkers, tourists, bike tours and all sorts of other people. Rembrandt park is lovely and more quiet. You can also go early in the morning (before 9am) to the 9 streets or the Jordaan or any of the inner canals. Take in the sights with minimal pedestrians or other cyclists.

Texting while biking: A personal story

Completely illegal! In fact, any distractions on your phone while biking is a traffic violation. Let me tell you a personal story to warn you of the dangers of distracted biking. A few weeks ago I was biking through Vondelpark on my bakfiets with one of my kids. I took my phone out of my pocket as I felt it vibrate. The moment I looked at my screen, two uniformed police officers appeared out of nowhere and signalled me to pull over. They asked for my ID and how long I had been living in the Netherlands. Naïve as I was, I thought maybe they were doing a random police survey, but when the police officer informed me that texting while biking was made illegal in the Netherlands two years ago, I realized I was in trouble and not taking part in a survey….

Of course I understand that it is common sense not to text while biking, I genuinely didn’t know that it was ILLEGAL. After all, it feels as though the general biking rules in the Netherlands are quite lax… am I right?!

Without any hesitation, the police officer asked for my address and said that a fine would be sent to me. I asked if a warning was not sufficient as this was my first ever traffic violation, but my efforts were in vain.

Alas, I did the crime and will accept the punishment. I asked the police officer how much the fine would be (thinking it would be around 40 EUR in line with a small speeding ticket). Oh boy, was I wrong. The fine was 169 EUR and arrived promptly the next day in my mailbox with a convenient link to pay via IDEAL.

Safe to say, my phone is now safely stored away in my backpack whenever I get on my bike. For clarification I should add that any phone activity while biking is illegal so whether you are looking at directions or changing a song on Spotify, just don’t do it. Get a phone holder instead which will keep you both safe and financially stable.

Biking is a fun, healthy, sustainable and a very inexpensive form of transport. It is a great way to discover Amsterdam at your own pace and an even better way to integrate into the true Dutch lifestyle. Take it easy in the beginning, and before you know it, you will be parading around Amsterdam without even touching your steering wheel! Good luck and happy fietsen!

The post Life on 2 wheels appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Finding the Perfect Mother’s Bike!

You have figured out for yourself a way to cycle through Amsterdam with confidence. You know how to dodge speeding taxi cabs, tram tracks, and wandering tourists. But now comes your next obstacle … how do you cycle through Amsterdam with kids? Whether you are pregnant, have a baby or toddler, or multiple kids on board, it’ll take some practice before you are cycling fearlessly. Having a good, solid, comfortable, and reliable bike will help relieve those white knuckles!

So What Exactly is a Mother’s Bike?

A mother’s bike has more space between the saddle and handlebars, making it easier to get on and off. The bike also has a double kickstand, so when you get off but your children or groceries are still on, the bike won’t tip over. Mother’s bikes are designed to carry a heavy load. After all, more often than not you’ll be cycling around with about 100 kilos (adult + child + groceries). A strong frame and wheels with good spokes are essential. The tires are a bit wider for stability and handlebars are wider to fit the front seat better.

Brands with Special Mother’s Bikes

Choosing a mother’s bike really depends on who YOU are! We can’t stress enough how important it is to try them yourself! Weight, height, looks, and overall feel of the bike vary and will feel better or worse to different bodies. Your height and weight will matter, as will that of the bike. You need to feel comfortable and safe.

Here are some examples of brands with a standard mother’s bike in their selection:

Cortina Transport 

Gazelle Bloom

Batavus Mambo

Sparta Amazone

BSP Seine

How to Customize Your Own Bike into a Mother’s Bike

If you already own the best bike in the world – and yes, sometimes that’s truly how we feel about our bikes – you might consider customizing your own bike into a mother’s bike.  The difference between using your own bike and a pre-made mother bike is the space between the saddle and handlebars. On a regular bike this space is shorter. This can impact your ability to get on and off your bike with a pregnant belly and if you put a child seat on the front it could poke you in the stomach or chest. To make more space you can customize your saddle and your handlebars.

Having a shorter bike seat will make a lot of difference space-wise. The ROKzadel (skirt saddle) is an example of a shorter bike seat you can install to make more room.  

To make more room, especially while pregnant and/or adding a child seat in front, consider special, larger mother’s bike handlebars.

The Azor bike is recommended by a lot of mamas because it can easily be customized into a mother’s bike. Every bike sold at Azor is completely customizable, so they are a good choice of bike for anyone with special space requirements.  

Child Seats – Front or Back?

​So now you that have chosen a bike, or have customized your own, where do you put your child? There is an ongoing debate about the safety of cycling with a newborn baby in a sling/carrier. Some people claim this is a very unsafe way to cycle with your baby, while others feel that mothers have been transporting their babies this way for decades and it’s perfectly fine. On a personal note, it felt safer to me then having my baby on a bike seat, but to each their own.

Your baby must be able to sit up and support their own neck before you can put them in a front seat. You can also purchase a windshield to protect your child from the wind and the rain. Once your child is too heavy or big for you to have on your handlebars (usually around the two and a half year mark) you can choose to put your child on a seat on the back instead.

Four Dutch brands with both front and back seat options, and a protection screen are:

Yepp  

Qibbel  

Bobike 

Guppy 

If your child is older, but not yet big enough to sit unstrapped on the back frame, and you are willing to cycle with him/her on your front bar, a seat on the front bar might be an option for you.

Buying your perfect mother’s bike and accessories really depends on your personal taste and style. You can look online, but like many things, from cars to clothing, you can’t always tell the comfort and fit without trying it out in person. This bike will become part of your family so make sure you are 100% sure you have found the right one. If you are unsure, talk it through with your local bike shop, and try before you buy!

Photo credits: Cortina, David Germain

The post Finding the Perfect Mother’s Bike appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Learning to cycle in Amsterdam traffic can be quite a challenge if you are not used to the local system. After living in the city for three years, I wanted to share my recently acquired “insider knowledge” with a wider audience. 

Here is a summary of crucial cycling advice for newcomers:

1) Familiarise yourself with traffic regulations

In a crowded city, a basic understanding of traffic rules is essential. Learn to tell whether you have the right of way: when do you need to stop, and when can you continue?

Pay attention to signs and road markings. If you do not understand the meaning of a symbol or a piece of Dutch text, you could be missing out on important information. Knowing what is permissible and what is not gives you confidence, and allows you to make decisions quickly and efficiently, whereas uncertainty and hesitation will slow you down.

In the event that something goes awry, it is good to be able to pinpoint whether that was due to a mistake on your part (which you can subsequently learn from), or whether it was someone else’s fault.

2) Get up to speed on road etiquette

If every scenario was perfectly addressed by a system of logical, comprehensive traffic regulations, and every road user followed these regulations all the time, then cycling would probably be easy. Given the sheer variety and complexity of traffic situations that occur in reality, that is just not possible.

Many aspects of cycling are governed instead by unwritten rules – guidelines that are not explicitly described in written regulations, but have evolved over time to become part of the collective consciousness. Such rules are specific to a particular culture and location, and typically have to be acquired through experience, observation, and common sense. Learn how to strike the right balance between being a polite cyclist, and being over-accommodating.

3) Use spatial awareness

Observe the traffic around you and learn to identify patterns of movement from various road users. At what speed are other people moving? How experienced are they? Can you trust them to maintain control over their actions, or are they behaving unpredictably and uncontrollably?

Communicate through body language: turn your head, look around, make eye contact, and use your hand to signal if you are planning to turn or stop. Use the bell or call out if necessary.

Develop your sense of balance so that you can stop, slow down, or speed up at a moment’s notice. Practise going at a snail’s pace or remaining in the same spot while keeping your feet off the ground. Try standing on the pedals and adjusting your body position to maintain your balance. Practise navigating sharp corners, bridges, barriers, diversions, and traffic junctions – all of which require good motor skills.

4) Cycle with friends

It can be very helpful to have a buddy to guide you through the city and act as a buffer against vehicular traffic. Make sure that your friend communicates clearly with you, letting you know in advance if you need to make a turn, or giving you a heads up for approaching objects.

Remember though, that even the most empathetic and thoughtful of friends may not always be aware of your needs, pace, or skill level on a bike – particularly if they are much more experienced in heavy traffic than you are. Which brings me to the next point …

5) Go at your own pace

Be careful not to follow people blindly – whether they are good friends or strangers. For example: if the cyclists in front of you decide to dart across a traffic light that is just turning red, or they inch past other road users without leaving sufficient room for you to do the same, remain calm and assess the situation.

You do not have to rush to keep up – stop and wait for the traffic light to turn green again, or make way for other road users if it is appropriate. You are in charge of your bike, and you need to make your own decisions independently.

Similarly, if you have a bad experience (we all do), take it easy, breathe, and give yourself time to recover – and then get back on your bike again as soon as you can!

6) Familiarise yourself with the technicalities of cycling

When buying a bicycle and accessories, you can search through online classifieds, such as Marktplaats.nl, or visit bicycle stores. Numerous stores also provide rental bike services, usually coming along with a sturdy lock. Read up on how to prevent your bike from getting stolen. Keep your bike well-maintained: check the sides of the tires to identify the right tyre pressure, and keep the pressure within the recommended range.

Get to know the difference between hand brakes and foot brakes (also known as “coaster brakes”). Foot brakes are operated by pedalling backwards, hence the pedals cannot be spun backwards freely. When you come to a temporary stop, such as at a traffic light, keep one pedal at a high position so that you can easily push off again.

When it gets cold and wet, consider wearing a waterproof jacket, trousers and gloves. If it gets really chilly, you can insert hand warmers into your gloves for extra warmth. For longer journeys, you can pay a fee to take your bicycle with you on the Metro and train during restricted hours. Alternatively, NS International (the train provider in the Netherlands) provides an OV-fiets rental service, making it easier for commuters to get to their final destination.

photo credits: Header: Tim Bleeker. Other pics: Xing Chen

The post Biking in Amsterdam: Insider Tips appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

 Neuroscientist and author Xing Chen (pictured at left) grew up in Singapore and lived in the US and the UK before moving to the Netherlands in 2014. And what would be the first thing Chen bought on the first day she arrived in the Netherlands? Exactly. A bike. Or een stalen ros as we like to call them in the Netherlands – a steel horse. Learn to Cycle in Amsterdam is a must-read if you are not a born-and-bred Amsterdammer – I would even suggest for the local-born as well – if you want to master your way around Amsterdam on two wheels.

In this practically-sized, 157-page handbook, Chen explains everything you need to know – and every skill you need to master – about cycling in and around Amsterdam. Although most people have learnt how to bike in their youth and have probably done it for years, cycling in Amsterdam is a completely different story. That is why this book, as Chen explains in the first pages, is meant for people who already know how to ride a bicycle. It does not cover the technicalities of learning to cycle from the beginning.

As a Dutch national by origin, but living in London since 2005, I have personal experience of the huge difference between cycling elsewhere and cycling in The Netherlands. Especially when participating as a cyclist in the hectic traffic of Amsterdam. As Chen rightly states, “cyclists, not car drivers, rule the road.” This rule changes a lot about the way we cycle here.

What I found most appealing about this book is how Chen covers all the different aspects of cycling in Amsterdam. It wasn’t until I read this book that I realised how we underestimate the skills and knowledge you need to be a confident cyclist in Amsterdam. The often dangerous situations tourists on rental bikes get themselves into prove the importance of this book.

The Netherlands is known for its cycle paths separated from the main roads where cars drive, but then, in Amsterdam and in other Dutch cities, quite suddenly cyclists have to use the busy roads as there are no separate cycle paths. This can be quite confusing and very daunting, Chen notes. Chen also takes time to explain the different types of bikes: city bikes, sport bikes, folding bikes, and the very popular bakfiets in which parents transport their kids. From the official rules regarding traffic to the “how-to-make-sure-you-will-arrive-at-your-destination” rules, Chen has got it covered.

It’s great if you have mastered cycling Amsterdam-style, as well as knowing your way around Amsterdam, but knowing what your fellow roadies are up to is just as important, if not more so. Another important message Chen tells the newbie cyclist is that you should not only think about yourself in any given moment, but also one step – and if possible two steps – ahead as to what your fellow road-users might do. “Expect the unexpected,” Chen stresses, from the bakfietsen filled with three kids (at least!) to rows of students cycling side-by-side or cars turning right at the last minute. And let’s not forget the trams that graze past, because their tracks are next to most cycle paths.

All in all, the fact that Chen herself was new to the whole way of cycling in Amsterdam, might be the reason why she was able to write down all the essential rules and facts to take part in traffic on our beloved two-wheelers. A great read for those who are new to Amsterdam bike life, but also highly recommended for parents whose kids are about to conquer the cycle paths by themselves.

Learn to Cycle in Amsterdam was written by Xing Chen.  More information can be found at Learn to Cycle in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Mamas received a free copy of this book in exchange for our honest review.

The post Book Review: Learn to Cycle in Amsterdam appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

I was 14 when I asked my Dad if I could take the British Cycling Proficiency Test – his answer was a candid no. He told me that it would be better for all concerned if I was never on the road on two wheels. I blame him entirely for what happened later.

Bike Culture is Cooler Here

Bicycles are a way of life for the Dutch; it is the national mode of transport and so it was inevitable that once I had moved to the Netherlands, I would have to ride a bike. I desperately wanted to fit in with the local culture, and what better way to look the part?

In the UK, it seems to me, cyclists are often kitted out in ultra-revealing, head-to-toe neon Lycra; an aerodynamic helmet; and a smug smile on their face. I think we can agree that this image conjures up very little to be smug about.

The Dutch appear to be ever-so-slightly cooler customers when it comes to the issue of bikes. Bikes are actually more of a lifestyle choice for people here. They see them, not as a weight-management device, but as a means of getting from A to B. They use them to transport groceries, children, sinks, luggage – there is literally nothing that people will not consider transporting on the back/front/side of their bikes.

Back on a Bike

The last time that I rode a bike was when I was nine years old and I am certain that the stabilisers were still on and it had pink ribbons trailing from the handle bars. After three months in the Netherlands, it was time for me to get back on that bike. Well, not actually THAT bike. That would be ridiculous. But even getting on that bike with the stabilisers and the pink ribbons would have been less humiliating than the series of events that followed.

One unsuspecting evening, about 9pm, my friend Eric offered me the chance to ride on his bicycle. Okay, so he didn’t offer, more that I begged and pleaded with him for an hour and then, like a weary parent, he gave in to placate me.

Eric is about 8 inches taller than me, so when I sat on his bike, I couldn’t reach the floor. This should have served as a warning sign to me but, as we all know, after a couple of gin and tonics, Bravado and his friend Stupidity become your allies. The wind was blowing through my hair as the bike smoothly made its way through the cobbled street. There was a canal to the right of me and a quaint row of shops to my left. It was really picturesque – I was living the Amsterdam dream. The sun was setting, the air was mild, and I was gliding like a swan. “Who needed stabilisers?” I merrily thought.

In the distance, I could hear Eric shouting manically for me to stop. He sounded very dramatic, so I did. No longer was the canal to the right of me. To the right of me was the cold, hard pavement. To the left, the sky. I had fallen off. Fast forward – after a few boozy tears, some lost dignity and a cup of chips for the brave soldier (that was me by the way) – I was home in bed. Turns out, I did need stabilisers.

Looking Inside Myself

One week passed and my side was still hurting. Common sense forced me to visit a doctor as a colleague had alarmingly pointed out that I might have punctured a lung and could be unwittingly bringing a slow, painful death upon myself. For a hypochondriac, this was like honey to a bear, and despite not being totally sure of her medical expertise, I hot-footed (hot-limped) it to the local doctor. The doctor sent me to get an x-ray.

The x-ray centre was weirdly situated off a junction on the motorway, but when I arrived, I was seen to very quickly so put the location out of my mind. However, due to the location, not everyone spoke English. Cue some major communication issues.

The radiographer came out of his room and called my name. He was pretty easy on the eye to say the least. He was probably about my age at 22 (I was once 22) and extremely tall and tanned with what I could only describe as edible honey-coloured hair. This rib injury was beginning to have its perks.

He ushered me into his room and motioned me to remove my top as he went out of the room to get something. This instruction did not seem strange to me – it was only natural: I had pain in my ribs and so he needed to x-ray the area. So I removed my jacket, tee shirt and bra, without giving it a second thought, and stood in the centre of the x-ray room in just my skinny jeans and Ugg boots.

Doctor Honey-Hair came back in the room holding some forms and upon seeing me and my bare breasts, made a strange face. I’ve seen that reaction before. We both looked at each other for a few moments, him wide-eyed and me blinking naively, wondering when the x-ray was actually going to happen.

In his best English, he tells me that we need to fill out some forms first and the x-ray will come later. So, he wasn’t actually motioning me to take my clothes off, he was motioning me to sit down.

He asks me a few questions. “Do you have a metal plate in your head?” I told him no, but I could see that he was thinking that I probably should get one.

He then asks if I am pregnant. My general reaction to anything remotely uncomfortable is to make jokes. Terrible, badly-timed and largely inappropriate jokes.  So, when he asked me if I was “with child”, I replied with, “Not yet, Doctor” and gave him a wink. A WINK? What was I thinking? What was he thinking?

My breasts and the facts were laid out bare for all to see. I had taken my top off and now I was trying to seduce the Doctor who had started to look a lot younger and more terrified.

I did my best to fill in the remainder of the paperwork in silence.

Lessons learnt

Surprisingly, post-x-ray mortification, my relationship with bikes has actually blossomed. My desire never to have to visit that x-ray centre of shame again has been an overwhelming motivator for becoming a less terrible – I would never say good – cyclist.

Oh, and the Uggs went in the bin.

The post Adjusting to the Bike: One Mama’s Experience of Getting Back on Two Wheels appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

It’s pouring rain, blustery, and cold … and somehow you have to bring all the precious art from your daughter’s year-long art classes home and it has to be today; you want to take a jaunt into the countryside to see some sights and getting there by bus or train will take hours compared to 30 minutes by car; you have to get to to an event very early in the morning, too early for the metro, but too far away for a taxi/Uber …

Let’s face it. Sometimes only a car will do!  Here are some options for you.  

Car Hire/Car Rental

Using a major rental company is often the easiest way to grab a car for a quick trip. 

• They have more flexibility than car-sharing for longer trips, one-way trips and last minute needs, and offer a variety of models, and more payment options. 
• They are also simple to procure: you must be over 18 and have a license, although the license does not have to be Dutch or EU (check with your agency if you have any concerns about your driver’s license). 
• They’re economical: if you can drive them, manual transmission cars are a much cheaper rental option – you can save as much as 30-50% compared to an automatic!

Normally, you do have to get yourself to the rental agency, but some have free pick-up and delivery within a specified radius. Here are some of the biggest car rental companies serving the Amsterdam area:

Avis

Budget

Hertz

Sixt

Green Motion

To simplify choosing an agency, and to find the best value for your needs, consider visiting a comparison search site.

Car Share Services

If you have a driver’s license, a pin card, and are over 18, you can sign up for car share services online. Here are three of the biggest:

ConnectCar

Green Wheels

car2go  (currently requires valid EU license of at least one year)  

Fees

All of these car share services:

• require a deposit that is returned when you close your account and all outstanding fees are paid in full
• offer an option where you only pay when you take a car out 
• accept debit/pin cards.

Some companies also accept credit cards, and have monthly subscriptions for those who plan to use a car more regularly. There is usually a deductible (eigen risico) in case of accident. There are other penalty fees for not following rules, such as returning cars late or leaving the car a mess, so read all the information carefully and ask questions before taking a car out.  

How It Works

The registration process is not complicated, but providing the required documents and setting up payment can take a little while, so allow a week or two before the date you need the car for this process to take place. Some services also have to send you a card for locking and unlocking the car (Green Wheels allows you to use your OV-chip card to do this). 

Car-share reservations can often be made up to the very last minute. It’s possible to make a reservation from a phone app while standing next to a car you want! You have to get yourself to the car, which can vary from very convenient to not so convenient, but it is still generally closer and easier than getting to a rental car. Most of the time you must return the car to the same spot. You can arrange for a car in a different city or location from your own, such as from a train station. There are instructions in the car for starting it, for reporting damage before and after use, for using a gasoline card found in the car, and for returning the car.  Billing takes place online after the car is returned. Currently, car2go has trip distance limitations, but many of the companies do not, and you can even take a car for multi-day trips, and to nearby countries.

What You Get

The cars themselves tend to be pretty basic: most do not have GPS, none have or even allow towing. Some, however, have air-conditioning or automatic transmission. If you need a specific feature and it is available, you can request that model car in your reservation, though it may mean you have to go further afield to get your car. Child car seats are not provided, but some companies rent them. Each company varies on pet policy, from none at all to pets-in-carrier only, and all the companies have extra cleaning fees if pet hair or messes are reported by follow-on users.  

Carsharing

Carsharing is a rapidly growing business model that works very much like Airbnb: companies provide a space for car owners to meet renters needing a car for a fixed period. As in Airbnb, providing feedback about owners, renters, and the overall rental experience is an important part of ensuring the integrity of the process. Just as in carsharing, users must register and be approved to drive. There are different locking/unlocking procedures, and fees are outlined on websites. One nice feature of renting privately owned cars is the great variety of models you can find. In fact, Snappcar has filters that allow users to search for a specific type of vehicle: vans, campers, electric cars, antique, and even open-top convertibles (if you simply want to go for a spin)! 

The most prominent carsharing companies are:

Snappcar

Mywheels

Carpooling

If you enjoy having company while you travel, a carpoooling service might be a good option for you. It allows you to find someone who would like to fill any empty seats in their car and share gas costs. You increase your carpooling options the more flexible you are about your pickup and dropoff points. Although using carpooling for short trips does not appear to be cheaper than using public transportation, the equation changes when you have a more distant destination like Paris or Berlin. The biggest carpooling company at present is:

Blablacar

Taxis and Uber

With a little planning, car share and rental car services can save you money over taxis, but taxis and Uber are your best bet for last minute car needs. 

Taxis

Taxis are very easy to use in Amsterdam.  A licensed taxi has roof lights displaying the name of the operator and blue number plates. Because space in Amsterdam is limited, taxis cannot stop anywhere they like and this is one of the reasons why there are so many fixed taxi stands. Gemeente Amsterdam has a list of approved taxi companies, including photos of what their roof lights look like.

Be aware of the rules for taxi drivers and fare calculations, and know there is a online place to make a complaint.

Amsterdam Taxi Online has a very nice fare calculator program and makes it easy to order a cab. 

Uber

Uber can be less expensive than taxis, but it requires a bit more work on the user end. The best thing to do with Uber is download the app to your mobile device and enter all your info, including payment details. Then any time you need an Uber, you can call it from your smartphone and without needing to have any cash or cards handy – it will automatically be billed to your account.

The Uber app can be fun, too! You can watch the graphic of the little car approaching, and you can clearly see how much time you have to wait. Make sure to check how far away an Uber car is before requesting a pickup; it could be 25 minutes away, or only a few minutes, in which case you need to be ready to go! If you ever have a problem with Uber billing incorrectly, the customer service part of the app is easy to use. You can fill out a form and get your refund all online.  

Be aware, however, that in major locations, like airports or big hotels, Uber cars often cannot pick up at taxi stands, which are in prime locations. In such cases, a taxi is often easier because they are right where you need them to be.

The post Car Options for the Car-Free appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

We here at Amsterdam Mamas are big fans of biking in Amsterdam. It’s the way most of us get around with our kids and we think it’s one of the more special aspects of family life in the city (though maybe don’t ask us about it in a downpour with a bitter headwind). We also think it can be crazy and stressful, and a little alarming at times. Who thought it would be a good idea to allow scooters in the bike paths and why? And is it just our imagination, or are there really more and more bikes out there every day?

This episode is all about Amsterdam cycling: both the agony and the ecstasy of it. We talk to Henry Cutler, our go-to biking expert, about what makes Amsterdam biking so frustrating (*cough* scooters and tourists *cough*) and what makes it a joy (safety and infrastructure and, of course, babies on bikes!). Henry gives us the low-down on scooters in the bike lanes and explains why that scooter ban we keep hearing about hasn’t ever happened.  

Topics we cover include:

• Why scooters are the biggest cycling issue in Amsterdam.
• The surprising way scooters ended up in the bike lanes in the first place.
• The logistics of changing the law vs enforcing the law.
• Bicycle safety and whether it is dangerous to bike in Amsterdam.
• Is it possible to have too many cyclists in the city?
• The joys of biking as a parent in Amsterdam.
• What, if any, laws and regulations apply to cycling with kids.
• The two things every parent should make sure their bike is equipped with.

The one thing we don’t talk about? Helmets. That’s a topic for another day and another episode. We do, however, offer a cute segment in which Katherine and her daughter Olivia attempt to count bikes in Vondelpark and quickly reach the limits of a 3-year-old’s counting abilities. We also answer a listener question about bringing a grandparent from outside the EU to live in Amsterdam.

About our guest: Henry Cutler is the founder of WorkCycles and a cycling enthusiast. After moving to the Netherlands from the U.S., he became so enamored with the Dutch approach to cycling that he quit his corporate job and began building and designing bikes. He now sells his bikes, not just to Amsterdammers, but to customers all over the world from the WorkCycles in the Jordaan. You can find out more about Henry and read about all things cycling on his blog Bakfiets En Meer. 

This is the final episode of our fourth season. We have big changes coming up, and we’re excited to introduce our new co-host, Nerissa Muijs, and sad to say goodbye to our podcast’s founder, Donna Bardsley. Katherine and Nerissa will be back in August with season five!

Shownotes:

Workcycles

Dutch immigration information

Support Amsterdam Mamas by using the link booking.com/amsterdammamas for your next holiday stay!

Don’t forget to subscribe! You can find The Amsterdam Mamas Podcast in iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or on your favorite podcast app.

For feedback, questions, or comments on this episode, visit our Facebook Page or contact us at podcast@amsterdam-mamas.nl.

Image use by permission from WorkCycles. 

The post S04E32: Sharing the Bike Path: Bikes and Scooters in Amsterdam appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Moving abroad was the scariest thing I have ever done. It wasn’t my choice, and I was more apprehensive than excited about it. The first few days of living here are a bit of a blur now. We were busy and tired due to jet-lag and all of the things that have to be done to set up a new house in an unfamiliar country. I was overwhelmed and stubbornly wanted things to be similar to my life back home.

I saw that everyone here rode bikes, but I wasn’t eager to get a bike. We had a car, I could walk places, and Amsterdam has a great public transportation system. I knew it was unrealistic to think I didn’t need a bike right away, but I was so busy Google-translating my way through the grocery stores, applying for residency cards, getting my children ready to start a new school, and exploring Amsterdam that I just didn’t want to face what I saw as a huge challenge: Biking in Amsterdam.

You see, prior to moving here, I hadn’t ridden a bike in a very long time. It had been years since I owned a bike, and the last time I rode one regularly was probably pre-driver’s license days. When I rode my bike, it was to play with kids in the neighborhood, ride to the local convenience store for candy, or occasionally ride to a friend’s house across town. It just wasn’t something I regularly did. In the United States, or at least where I lived in Chicago, bikes are mostly used for recreation. They aren’t a transportation necessity. My husband once bought me a bike as a gift. Then, less than two years later, it was stolen from our back deck. That was about 8 years ago, and I never got a new one.

Concessions

Fast forward to our move here. After a couple of weeks, it became obvious that I needed a bike. The kids already had their new bikes, and they were ready to ride. I had crazy visions of becoming a cute, bike-riding family. One Saturday morning, my husband went out to buy his own bike, and I later met him at the store. I had no intentions of getting a bike that day, but my husband and the salesperson said, “Hey, guess what? This bike would be great for you!” I froze. I wasn’t prepared. I didn’t have time to look around and pick out my favorite. Instead, here they were, handing me a bike and telling me to get on and take it for a test ride.

The bike salesman joked that he could put training wheels on my bike, and for a split second, I considered it.

You know the saying, “it’s just like riding a bicycle”? Well, that seems to apply to a lot of things, but for me, riding a bicycle was not one of them. The bike salesman joked that he could put training wheels on my bike, and for a split second, I considered it.

I’m kidding. But I *was* a little wobbly. And I had to learn how to use coaster brakes again, as stopping my bike by dragging my feet on the ground and running into a pole wasn’t going to be a good long-term solution. I tested the bicycle by riding down the street, sweating from nervousness, and silently wishing every other bicyclist to stay far away from me. I returned to the store, not completely convinced it was the bike for me or that I would ever be able to calmly ride through this city.

But I bought my shiny new bike, and I quickly figured out how to ride again. And then I had to figure out something far more intimidating: how to ride a bike with kids.

Kids: Turning Everything into a Challenge

Both of my kids, ages 3 and 5, had bikes back at home. Cute, tiny little bikes with training wheels. In the winter, they zoomed around our basement on their bikes. In the summer, they would ride on the sidewalk in front of the house or on the playground of the nearby school. Sometimes, if we were felt adventurous, we would ride through the neighborhood to the park. But it wasn’t a long trip, and it was mostly on sidewalks.

So here we were in the Netherlands, a country in which everyone has ridden a bike as a method of transportation since they were infants. Seriously. I have seen tiny infants in baby carriers strapped to their mom’s chest as the mom pedals her way through town. I’ve seen babies, barely old enough to sit up, sitting on bike seats in front of their parents. Little kids on their own bikes, multiple children riding on the same bike as a parent, and still my favorite – the mom riding the bike with one school-aged child behind her, and one in front of her holding their dog. The Dutch know their bikes and their cycling. Dutch children grow up knowing how to navigate the bike paths of Amsterdam. They are naturals.

We are not naturals.

The boys were ecstatic about their new bikes and immediately wanted to ride everywhere – the park, the mall, the corner store for ice cream, restaurants in town for dinner. And that sounds great, doesn’t it? Can’t you picture my cute little family all riding together to these places, assimilating into Dutch culture?

Wrong. You’re wrong. Completely wrong. It did not start out as cute.

Because here is the thing. There are bike paths everywhere here. Some of these paths are totally separate from the street, some are just alongside the road, and some actually share space with cars. Now, most places we ride have very little traffic, but still, my kids are not used to riding along near cars. They also aren’t used to sharing the space with other people riding bikes who (understandably) don’t want my kids in their way. This causes my stress levels to rise and gray hairs threaten to appear every time all of us ride together. My little American children have no idea how to navigate the bike paths of Amsterdam.

Let me Explain How my Three-Year-Old Rides:

1. Gets on bike.
2. Puts head down to look at feet.
3. Pedals the bike as fast as he can without ever looking up at his surroundings.
4. Ignores all instructions from parents. 

Honestly. The kid takes off like a rocket when he gets on his bike. My older son is five, so he is a little better at paying attention and following my instructions. But I spent the first few weeks screaming every time we rode bikes together:

“SLOW DOWN!”

“Stop at the corner! I mean it! Stop right there!”

“Not so close to the parked cars! But not in the middle of the road either!”

“THERE IS A CAR COMING! Get to the side of the road!”

“Let the other people on the bikes go past!”

“You can’t ride ahead of me where I can’t see you!”

“I AM NEVER LETTING EITHER OF YOU RIDE BIKES EVER AGAIN!”

Pedalling Through the Pain

The first few bike rides ended in tears. Both kids hated riding with me. I was a nervous wreck, and I’m sure the laid-back, cool Dutch people who saw me thought I was insane. I really was the crazy lady yelling on the bike path every day. I hated it, the kids preferred riding with Daddy, and I was prepared to keep my family off bikes forever.

You wouldn’t mistake me for a natural, bike-riding Dutch person, but I don’t think I stick out as the overbearing, super-nervous, screaming foreigner that I used to be.

Things quickly got better, though. My older son learned how to ride without training wheels. Both boys learned more of the rules about riding their bikes. My little guy is still a monster on wheels, and I do have to keep a close eye on him, but he’ll learn as he gets a little older. I’ve calmed down a little, and I rarely yell anymore. You wouldn’t mistake me for a natural, bike-riding Dutch person, but I don’t think I stick out as the overbearing, super-nervous, screaming foreigner that I used to be. We do ride our bikes places together now, and it isn’t the worst thing in the world.

And if I dare say it, we are starting to look pretty darn cute when we do.

A version of this story originally appeared in Katie’s blog, 731 Dam Days.

The post From Crazy to Calm(ish): Adventures in Family Biking appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Our Top Tips for Deterring Bike Thieves

1. Have at least two locks.

2. Always attach your bike to something fixed. Otherwise, thieves can simply lift it up and pop it in a van.

3. Put the air valve next to the rear lock. Though thieves may be able to bust open the lock, they will not want to risk deflating the tyre in the process.

4. Spend more on the lock than on the bike. If the bike is just for you and doesn’t need to transport the family, buy a tatty second-hand bike and an expensive lock.

5. Customise your bike so that it is easily identifiable and less marketable. A thief needs to be able to sell the bike on quickly; lurid spray paint, engravings, stickers, and crazy flower adornments will slow them down.

6. Lock your bike through the frame. Never lock through the wheel alone as it can be unscrewed and the bike released.

7. Get your bike engraved. This is sometimes possible for bakfietsen too.  

8. Install wall or floor anchors outside your home. 

9. Splurge on a GPS Bike Tracker. 

10. Try an ear-piercing theft alarm. 

11. File photographs of your bike, along with the purchase receipt and the bike’s make, frame number, and chip code (if it has one). This will make it easier to reclaim a stolen bike if found, or claim insurance if not.

Bakfietsen

All of the above and also…

12. Padlock the bike cover on in at least two places. If the thief has to damage the tent too much to release it, they will move on.

13. Buy the heaviest, longest chain you can carry. The potential inconvenience of losing ‘the family car’ to thieves makes it worth every penny.

The Mamas Recommend is a series generated from responses on our Facebook page from multiple sources. 

photo credit: Flickr via PhotoPin

The post 13 Tips to Stop Bike Theft appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Imagine a camping holiday with two adults, two kids, two bikes and two trailers – all on public transport! It can be done; it just requires a little forward planning…

My Top Tips 

1. Take only the minimum. If you are going to be cycling you have very limited space. Every kilo counts. Both bikes had side bags (total weight 50 kg per bike). I had a trailer with kids (total weight 50 kg), and my husband had the trailer with camping gear (total weight 100 kg).

2. Pack well. I mean maximise every inch of space available.

3. Plan your trip around rush-hour regulations. You are only allowed to take your bike onto trains outside of the rush hour (before 06:30, between 09:00-16:00 and after 18:30). On the metro, bikes are allowed before 07:00, between 09:00-16:00 and after 18:30.

4. Your bike needs a ticket too. Make sure you purchase a day ticket for your bike, otherwise you risk a fine. If you have a foldable bike, however, you don’t need to pay.

5. Allow plenty of time. If you mean to travel by train, but need to pile in multiple bikes or trailers into the train, try to travel from a station where the train stops a little longer and its not too crowded. The NS app can be helpful. 

6. Park your bike in designated compartments. Look for the bike icon on the train/metro door. In the train, bikes have priority in those spaces because they can’t go anywhere else. So if there are people sitting in the bike spots, you do have the right to ask them to move. Note that bikes are not usually allowed on trams, except for Tram 26.

7. In the train, arrange bikes by order. If there are several bikes in the designated bike space, ask the owners (if around) who will exit the train the earliest, and arrange the bikes accordingly. Nobody likes digging their bike out from under a pile.

8. Lock your bike. This stops it sliding around the train.

9. Sit close to your bike. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on it.

10. Remove your belongings (e.g. side-bags) from your bike and take them with you. This way, more bikes can fit side by side.

11. Bike trailers are not allowed on the train. In our case, we used a Chariot, which doubles up as both a bike trailer and a buggy; and a Radical Design Cyclone trailer, which is a fully collapsible duffel bag on wheels.

12. Check your route for rail engineering works or other delays using this link. While bikes and trailers are allowed on the train, transporting them on replacement buses along your route is going to complicate matters significantly.

13. Ensure your end station has a lift which works, and is big enough to transport all your bike gear. Again, the NS website has a specific section where you can look up the facilities at each station.

14. Enjoy the trip itself – it’s all part of being on holiday!

If you don’t want the hassle of transporting your bike on the train, you can always rent a bike at your destination via the OV fiets system.

The Next Step

Once both kids can cycle, we’ll probably try a proper cycling holiday: bike to our destination, set up a tent, sleep the night, pack everything up again, and cycle for another day. It will be a good way to get the whole family fit and active. Just pray that the weather will be kind to us!

photo credit: Niina Nuottamo

The post 14 Tips for Taking Bikes on Public Transport appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.