Amsterdamize » Blog Archive » The Skinny But Windy Bridge

The Skinny But Windy Bridge

Posted On: January 31, 2011
Posted In: amsterdam, Amsterdamize, city cycling, fiets, fietsen in amsterdam, Magere Brug, people on bicycles, Photos, Skinny Bridge
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There’s this little ol’ bridge over the River Amstel. De Magere Brug, aka Skinny Bridge. It’s a popular route for people biking east from downtown Amsterdam & vice versa.

It’s also one of my popular spots to take my time and watch, observe & click. This is one of a few sequences I clicked a week ago:

Now tell me, didn’t you just feel that Dutch wind yourself? :)

Just in case you didn’t, watch this video I shot back in 2008:

http://theprudentcyclist.com Will

That’s a great sequence of shots! I could almost feel the wind as I saw her hair flow out to the left.
http://theprudentcyclist.com Will

That’s a great sequence of shots! I could almost feel the wind as I saw her hair flow out to the left.
Anonymous

Wow. That sequence really captures the struggle. Well done.
http://amsterdamize.com amsterdamize

Good! :) thx, Will!
http://amsterdamize.com amsterdamize

Good thing she was rewardered at the top, as it goes with hilly adventures :-p
Anonymous

I am curious about something. i have never been to Amsterdam.But i have been to Rotterdam for 3 days.And in Rotterdam it was extremly common to see people riding on the back rack of bikes. I even saw a few women riding with men on the back.But most were the other way around. The women were always perfectly balanced, and often werent even using thier hands to stay on the bike.

My question is : Is this a Rotterdam thing? Or is it done all over the Netherlands? Is this a custom in other European countries as well. Ive seen one or two teenagers do this in America.But in Rotterdam it seemed like every third bicyclist had someone riding on the back rack.And these were businessmen and businesswomen.

I had wondered about this.And figured that this would be the perfect place to ask.It would be a great idea for a post as well.A collection of photos showing back rack riders

Btw, i have never commented here before.But i have read your blog off and on.And i recently subscribed. I just wanteed to say that you have a great blog.Thanks for all of your efforts
http://amsterdamize.com amsterdamize

Hi Pete, this is the perfect place to ask :). Yes, ’side saddle’ riding is common all over the Netherlands, certainly in Amsterdam. NL is the only country where this is allowed by law (in Denmark you officialy need to have a symbolic string/belt to do so & in Germany you’re not allowed, but its not enforced).
I have posted about it in 2009: http://amsterdamize.com/2009/12/09/side-saddle-suspects/. Taking pictures on a weekly basis usually means there are always quite a few side saddle ones in there. I have photo set for specifically that: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mindcaster-ezzolicious/sets/72157614437696557/ & a general one for ‘Bicycle passengers’: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mindcaster-ezzolicious/sets/72157622885589032/.
Lastly: Dutch bikes are specifically built to be able to carry adult passengers, the only practical thing to do & women carry men just as often as the other way round :)
Thx for subscribing & you can ask me anything. Cheers, Marc
http://amsterdamize.com/2011/02/04/putting-a-face-on-cycling-interaction/ Amsterdamize » Blog Archive » Putting A Face On Cycling: Interaction

[...] me pick up where I left off a few posts ago. Adjusting my lens a bit, zooming in, [...]
Jack

Nice. What’s the music?