The European Cyclists Federation launched their new website earlier this month and for this occasion I did a guest post, which of course also belongs on Amsterdamize. Here it goes (with a few [add-ons]):

I was asked by the ECF to tell you a little bit more about Dutch bicycle ʻcultureʼ and Amsterdam in particular. And it starts right there: I use quotation marks for ʻcultureʼ, because thereʼs a big difference in how the Dutch understand this word and how itʼs defined and used abroad. To have understanding about the differences and commonalities there needs to be context, and this is an important context to start off with.

Outside the Netherlands (particularly in the English-speaking world) ʻbicycle cultureʼ is generally defined by its minority status: within the whole transportation & lifestyle spectrum, urban cycling forms very much a ʻsub-cultureʼ, eager to become mainstream. Either marginalized by society or just not overly prioritized on a policy level, there everyday cycling is far cry from ʻcycling is for everyoneʼ.

Cycling is so much part of everyday life in the Netherlands that not many Dutch people give it a second thought, let alone recognize the ʻcultureʼ part of it. Itʼs that normal. As normal as water from the tap. Itʼs just there and we use it. And yes, the Dutch take it for granted. Which can be tricky with regards to advocacy, but on a whole itʼs a very positive thing.

Following the popular discourse: Amsterdam is unlike any other city. In the same way any other city is not Amsterdam, but unique in itself. The same applies to the whole country. Allow me to explain.

Amsterdam has the reputation of being the Bicycle Capital of the World. Rightly so. In the world of everyday cycling there is no other place like it. Yes, Copenhagen is up there as well, but weʼll let wonks and data miners worry about the numbers. Whatʼs more telling is that the Netherlands on a whole have hundreds of ʻCopenhagensʼ. Cycling in the Netherlands is ubiquitous.

A population of just 16.7 million souls, owning close to 20 million bicycles. Virtually every Dutch person cycles, to a greater or lesser extent, be they young or old, rich or poor.

A few samples: 27% of all movements in the Netherlands are by bicycle. 80% of all Dutch cycle at least once a week. The average age for a child to cycle to school (or otherwise) independently is 8 years (which has the Dutch worried, as that used to be 6 years). On average, the Dutch make 14 million cycle trips a day, each covering 3,5 km on average. Per year, the Dutch travel well over 200 billion km by bike and the average distance pedaled per person is still rising. During rush hour, there are more people going from a to b (for all purposes) by bicycle than by car. Since 2007 the number of bike trips in Amsterdam is greater than the number of car trips. Amsterdam has a bike modal share of over 50% 60% in the downtown area, 38% in the greater city. The city of Groningen (the actual Cycle Capital of the Netherlands) has a modal split of over 60%. 40% of Dutch train commuters get to the station by bicycle. Train stations have a total of 200.000 bike parking racks. This is far from enough, as current and rising demand (over 10% each year) actually require a minimum of 400.000 racks.

Contrast these few samples with other places and most people will conclude (and actually have) they are unimaginable, ʻout of this worldʼ and, I hear and read this a lot: it would be unattainable, impossible to replicate. Hereʼs the kicker: nothing could be farther from the truth.

There are a few very persistent myths circling the globe about cycling in Amsterdam, and the Netherlands in general:

- the Dutch have, for some undefined reason, always cycled. Also known as: ʻcycling is in their blood/DNA’;
- the Dutch cycle so much because the city/country is flat as a pancake;
- itʼs a small country, everything is close by;
- the Netherlands have a moderate climate;
- car drivers are all well-behaved.

I could go on. Of course itʼs a very well-established human condition: the need to find excuses why some (the minority) do or have something the others (the majority) donʼt. Itʼs persuasive and powerful, persistent to a degree that it doesnʼt just dominate the general public discourse, many bicycle advocates and organizations abroad often donʼt allow themselves to look beyond these myths. This of course stems from being unfamiliar with the essence of Dutch bicycle policies, the many differences in social attitudes towards everyday cycling and the reluctance to divert from familiar paths, while feeling trapped within the status quo of car-centric policies and spending, resulting in bicycle-unfriendly infrastructure (to put it mildly).

By the logic of the aforementioned myths, we actually wouldnʼt be talking about the ʻuniquenessʼ of Dutch ʻbicycle cultureʼ, we would instead have seen hundreds, if not thousands of Amsterdams and Groningens emerge around the world by now. But we havenʼt. Instead, we often hear ʻBut this is not Amsterdamʼ.

When the majority of people feels itʼs unsafe to cycle, they wonʼt. Only the brave will. [The Dutch experienced that from WW2 to well into the 1970's]

As proprietor of the website Amsterdamize and acting as a Bicycle Ambassador on the global stage with the emerging interest for cycling, I try to show the essence of cycling in the Netherlands by recording this urban cycle life as it reveals itself to me on a daily basis [,relate that to existing and new policies & putting it in context of cycling in the rest of the world]. Nothing more, nothing less. I attempted to do the same when I wrote and produced the promotional film for the Dutch Cycling Embassy putting the Dutch success in a much-needed historical context.

Yes, the Dutch have been in that place where many cities and countries find themselves now. At the expense of too many lives lost and a degrading quality of urban life, they came to terms with outdated and one-sided urban/road design, citizens rose up and decided a different way was needed, putting people and livable cities first. Through trial and error, sustained efforts and a long-term vision the Dutch managed to reverse a downward trend and put bicycles back on the map & make them a viable part of our lives again. Fast, convenient, comfortable and safe.

My point: each city has its own particular history regarding design, architecture and social contract, but in essence humans behave the same way the world over. When you facilitate a particular mode of transportation and make it safe and convenient, people will use it. This was the case for automobiles and this is certainly the case for bicycles.

The bottom line: there are more similarities than differences between the Netherlands and the rest of the world when it comes to everyday cycling. Thereʼs more than meets the eye, too, you just have to have an open mind.

Bicycle cultures are man-made. Itʼs a choice. Cycling should be for everyone, not just the brave and few.

It has cleared up a bit in Amsterdam and the rest of the country, two weeks of what seemed like never-ending downpour was clearly enough for most. People moaned, sighed and bitched like there was no tomorrow. But whaddayagonnado? Shit happens. At the same time we completely and conveniently forget about the absolutely gorgeous months of April and May (record droughts). Alright, alright, it’s supposed to be summer in July, not feel like the end of November.

Anyhoo, tomorrow I’ll be getting on a plane (gasp) to Copenhagen, on business. Last time I paid the Danish Blues a visit it was for leisure and I took the (slow) train, as I had to bring my bike along. It was cool. I serenaded ladies in red, competed in a slow bicycle race (and let my opponent, who was coming of age, win, of course) and drank way too many expensive beers. Emphasis on ‘expensive’, not ‘too many beers’.

Referred to by the aforementioned, herring-eating individual I was invited by Wonderful Copenhagen to cover the UCI BMX World Championships in my role as an inquisitive journalist, who expect me to insightfully peel off the layers of one of the sportiest of ’street bicycle cultures’. Naturally, I’ll try not to disappoint them.

Accredited by the UCI, yes m’am, there’s a first for everything. You see, there will be all sorts of street events going on all over town, all evolving around our two-wheeled (if not more) friend, the arts, the urban life, etc. I’ll be all over it, trust me. Lauren is joining me, so she can see for herself how cheap Amsterdam really is for shopping. ;)

My lack of BMX-cred doesn’t mean I won’t attempt to sneakily attach my GoPro camera to the BMX of one of the Dutch contestants, because I will. Or whoever will indulge me. Either that, or they’ll most likely rip off my press card and toss me in the Søerne to go look for bikes there.

As you might know or have been able to assess, I have NO knowledge whatsoever of who’s what in the BMX universe. Doesn’t mean I don’t admire these rascals. It will be intriguing to dive back into this semi-sub-bike-culture which I left behind at the age of 10. Oh, the memories.

I leave you with photos..I mean postcards, as many often tell me I live in one. From a, as you by now have guessed, VERY wet Sunday in July.

I’m charging 3 cameras as I type this, cross your fingers it will be a dry weekend in Copenhagen.

That, or I just might convert and ask this fine craftsman and fellow Dutchie if I can join him on his maiden voyage…when the moment is right. And only if I can bring Lauren, of course.

Croix De Beaucaillou.

Wanna GAGA?

Tourists will ride their rental bikes, no matter what. In style.

‘Double Dutch’ – summer contradictions.

On occasion I get asked to explain the side saddle hop, because to quite a few people it looks complicated & the Dutch make it look so easy. Or my guests want to try riding along on the back of my bike & but they’ll settle for getting on while stationary. So here it is, an instructional video, the anatomy, if you will, of the genuine Dutch side saddle hop. A three-act. Perfection in motion.

No pressure, of course. Practice makes perfect, that’s all :).

UPDATE: Ricardo Javier sent me the following video of him and his girlfriend cycling around Amsterdam (it starts in the same area as where I shot my video), it includes some very nice side saddle action too. Thanks, Ricardo!

PS: riding side saddle is illegal in many countries, including Germany and Denmark. That’s also the case in Australia (unsurprisingly), but little birds told me that some Ozzies continue to break this law and that they call it ‘dinking’. Winners.

No matter how many times I see it, I -am not Marc by the way. Álvaro, nice to meet you- never get used to just how beautiful Amsterdam is when it’s covered in white. Other than the tamed cars and the muffled noises, life really just goes on. Well, actually the city sort of cheers up a wee bit all of a sudden.

Don’t get me wrong, people in Amsterdam are always nice and cheerful, it’s just a subtle mood switch. They will smile at you when you ride by them and wish you good luck. Anywhere you look there’s someone throwing a snowball, a kid with a sled, a hipster snowboarding down canal bridges, and of course, people on two wheels.

Or even three wheels.

People still do their groceries, go to hockey practice,

take the kids to school early in the morning and deliver parcels.

And of course, Amsterdam girls still go around on their bikes looking fabulous, in their usual effortless sort of way of being pretty.

PS: Yours truly was kindly invited by Marc to bring in the point of view of an expat who loves this city and its bicycle culture to Amsterdamize. I wholeheartedly accepted.

Every winter you’ll see the same phenomenon unfold in Amsterdam (and basically anywhere else in the country): the Dutch desperately seeking refuge on the terraces.

A people desperate for a shot of UV, specially near the end of a long, cold and dark winter, a real winter.

This one being the record-braker that it was, last weekend the sight of Amsterdammers scrambling for their spot in the sun must have triggered the curiosity of many visitors: “How can these people sit outside? It’s freezing!!”

As always, the answer is quite simple. Blue skies, the sun blazing and there was hardly any wind to speak of. All you need to temporarily escape the grip of a relentless winter.

Oh, and of course they will get to their place in the sun by bicycle. You could call that instrumental for a full recovery…and dream of the end of winter. And when you let people on bicycles be your seasonal talisman, you’d be convinced spring had already arrived ;).

I’d like to use a real life image of everyday cycling as a point of reference, so that nobody, and I mean anybody that lacks the aforementioned cortex tune up job, cries foul play.

Our specimen:

Location: the Netherlands, downtown Amsterdam, along a busy shopping street.

Weather conditions: 31 degrees Centigrade, high % humidity, no wind.

Cycling speed: approximately 15 km/h.

Observations:

• Both subjects appear to be adult.
• Both subjects show a more than average sense of confidence and/or self.
• The male subject wears flip flops, shorts and shirt.
• The female subject wears a lovely dress, drapes a matching handbag and could easily attend a cocktail party, if it wasn’t for the flip flops dead giveaway.
• The subjects ride side by side.
• The subjects ride on bicycles that seem to enable a very comfortable and upright position, contrary to mountain bikes.
• Neither of the subjects wears either a so-called bicycle helmet, lycra bicycle clothes, other gear such as bright yellow fluorescent vests or feel worried about getting.
• During the observation the subjects were engaged in a conversation.
• Observing this and their posture, it’s safe to say the subjects were not intimidated by the cyclists up ahead or the ones behind them. The highly visible bicycle traffic lights up ahead show a green signal.

These observations can be explained, both empirically and by way of common sense:

• There is an extensive, mostly segregated bicycle infrastructure put in place. Segregation from both the sidewalk and the road.
• Both inside and outside urban areas this infrastructure has nurtured cycling as the most practical form of transportation for short and long(er) trips.
• Mountain bikes are not the norm, quite the opposite, people mostly ride bicycles that come standard with chain and spoke guards, no need for.trouser clips or any other add-on which needs to masquerade deficiencies in cycling. It’s utility for style & convenience, baby.
• Historically, the Dutch start riding bicycles before they can walk properly…and don’t stop at the age of 11.
• People of all ages and any social status use their bikes to go to school, to work, to the supermarket, to go out, etc etc, every day. Come rain or shine.
• Cyclists don’t consider it a culture. It’s just there, they don’t know any better.
• There’s absolutely no need for bicycle helmets. Alright, don’t be scared, I’ll throw some science at ya. You’ll see it’s more dangerous for a pedestrian to cross the street.
• Leave the science for what it is when you have generations of people in a nation being one with the bicycle, using a segregated cycling infrastructure, you DON’T need helmets. Not the young, not the old. Yeah, but what if shit just happens? You know, how about leaving the fear-mongering to less enlightened people and trust us. We also learned to just get back up and go. (Psst: it means we’re not very anxious about riding and/or accident-prone)
• Car drivers are also cyclists.
• If you don’t give way to or ignore cyclists during your drivers test, you fail immediately. And it doesn’t come cheap here.
• Netherlands: 16.5 million inhabitants, 18+ million bikes.

These are outdated statistics, NL cycle death rate has dropped since

Besides these practical observations I can tell you, dear reader from presumably a car-dominated culture, that this is not at all an isolated case for Amsterdam. All over the Netherlands you’ll encounter this phenomenon. However, it’s not something of late or something that’s been there for centuries. This infrastructure was built and improved over the last 45 years. Through public(!) and political will and determination, coorporation and vision (and a big bag of pragmatism). Nothing is easy, but it sure isn’t impossible.

The same developments can now be seen all over Europe (besides bicycle friendly countries like the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany), even in some cities in the US. Paris transformed into a bicycle friendly city in just a year, for instance.

Bicycles are not suited for all commutes or purposes, obviously. But short trips (largest share) are. Having public transportation options i.e. alternatives also helps. Cutting down on car use has so many advantages, I don’t think it needs an explanation. In Amsterdam over 40% 55% of all trips are done by bike. Nationally, it’s 27%. Again: of ALL trips. That last figure has politicians and cycle organizations shaking in their boots, it’s too low to them. So a new national cycle campaign has just started.

If you live in a country where cycling is marginalized or demonized, and you’re thinking of joining or starting a cycle advocacy organization, please do me, and more importantly, yourself a favor. Don’t make it more fringy, cultural or political…and certainly not ‘the green thing to do’. That’s just a by-product, it shouldn’t be promoted as such, there’s enough greenwashing going on already. Bicycling is normal, like how it started it out. Just do it, in normal clothes, comfortably. Have others join/follow your lead, inspire. If you currently can’t count on political vision or will from your town/city council, sheer volume will get you there. Indeed, safety by numbers.

Maybe not today, but certainly tomorrow.

Ps. Don’t assume we can all relax, sit back and dwell over our accomplishments.

Ps #2. I’m not against helmet wear, I’m all for personal choice. But I’ll go ballistic when people or politicians push for mandatory laws, trying to legislate something that doesn’t need or isn’t helped by enforcement. So all you zealots, ill-informed and scared fellow human beings, read this post twice if you have to, challenge me and this basic concept of cycling, but let’s do it with putting thought into it, ok? Cheers.

I’ll finish this post with an episode from Amsterdamize Bicycle TV, a video impression of normal cycling ;-p.