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.