Amsterdam:

new challenges for a cycling city

Gerrit Faber

Adviser Cyclists’ Union

Amsterdam branch,

the Netherlands

Amsterdam

g.faber@fietsersbond.nl www.fietsersbondamsterdam.nl/english

What is

“Fietsersbond”? Amsterdam

• The Dutch Cyclists’ Union

• for 13,5 million cyclists

• ‘for save, fast and pleasant cycling’

• 36.000 members, 4.500 in Amsterdam

• 150 local branches, 1 in Amsterdam

• 1500 active volunteers,

100 in Amsterdam

• 40 employees (2 in Amsterdam)

Amsterdam capital of the Netherlands

Compact city:

• narrow streets

• short distances

• flat

800.000 residents,

180 nationalities

881.000 (?) bicycles

Amsterdam

Amsterdam

• 500.000 cyclists cycle daily 2

mln. km

• 90% of the roads/streets are

‘bicycle-friendly’ and safe

• 400 km seperated bicycle lanes

• 225.000 parking facilities for

881.000 (?) bikes

• 60% of ride in center by bike

Amsterdam

Amsterdam cycling policy

• is part of an integral transport

policy

• is essential for functioning city

• networks for car, public

transport and bicycle

• quality guide-lines

• advised by Cyclists’ Union

Amsterdam

Amsterdam: Main cycle network Amsterdam

Amsterdam: Modal split in city and in greater

city centre Amsterdam

Amsterdam: World Bicycle-Friendly City #1 Amsterdam

Cycling history How did we get there?

Film: “How the Dutch got their cycle

paths” (6 minutes)

© Markenlei

http://bicycledutch.wordpress.com

- on laptop -

- youtube -

Amsterdam

Cycling history

1880: first bicycles

1910: first cars

until 1955: bicycle most

important transport

until 1970: explosive growth

cars

1970 - 1975: change.

1975: start “Fietsersbond”

Amsterdam

Cycling history 1970-1980: from action to

cooperation

1970’s: demonstrations

1975: start of Fietsersbond

1980: Fietsersbond joins Municipal Bicycle Working

Group

cooperation

cycling infrastructure guide-lines

cycling policy

subsidy for our advices and a small office

Amsterdam

Our position now

• Advice, public participation, action if needed

• Advice in the municipal traffic committees, with civil

servants, police, public transport etc.

• Contact with political parties in the city council,

lobby if needed

• Contact with our members, inhabitants, social

organizations: direct, by media and press

• Projects

• Maps and excursions

Amsterdam

Amsterdam: Modal split in city and in greater

city centre Amsterdam

Cycling in Amsterdam

Chaos or Success?

2011 Newspapers:

“Cycle chaos jams city”.

the back-side of a succes story:

Bicycle parking:

big parking problems at railway

stations and in city center

parking of “orphan-bikes”

Amsterdam

Cycling in Amsterdam

Scaling up!

Bicycle parking: different solutions

on different places

• more parking facilities (small and

big)

• some places maximum 7 days

parking

• remove unused bikes

• ‘fietsvak’ for short parking

• more ‘OV-fiets’

Amsterdam

Cycling in Amsterdam

Chaos or Success?

Riding bicycles:

cycle lanes to narrow in rush

hour

‘snorfietsen’ on cycle lanes

cycle jams at traffic lights

tourist mobs crossing cycle

lanes

cyclists’ image: not disciplined

Amsterdam

Cycling in Amsterdam

Scaling up!

Most streets are too narrow to

accommodate ‘everything’

new policy: choose!

• Creating bicycle ‘Plus-Net’

• Parallel streets: choose one

for tramway, another for bikes

• Finish main cycle network with

separate routes

Amsterdam

Cycling in Amsterdam

Scaling up!

• Create extra space for waiting cyclists

at crossings

• Less waiting time at traffic lights

• OFOS (‘Blown-up Cycle Waiting Space)

• Remove obstacles

Amsterdam

Crossing near

Berlagebrug

challenges 2012

• cyclists block each

other in rush hour

• creating more space

for waiting cyclists

Amsterdam

Crossing near

Berlagebrug 2013

Amsterdam

Amsterdam Central

Railway Station

Amsterdam

Amsterdam Central

Railway Station

challenges

• bicycle parking

(20.000?)

• tramways, pedestrians

and cyclists crossing

Amsterdam

More topics Annoying ‘snor’ scooters

• NL: difference ‘brom-’ and ‘snor-’ mopeds

• ‘Snor’: no helmet, on cyclepath, max. 25 km/h,

• 94% drive faster

Lobby to solve this on national and local level

Amsterdam

More topics: Cyclists behavior

• No rules? No lights at dark?

• No stopping for traffic lights or

pedestrians?

bad image

campaigns

Amsterdam

More topics: Rijkmuseum cycle path

• Short passage under

Rijksmuseum

• the most beautiful

cycle path in the world

• 10 years struggle,

10 years publicity

Amsterdam

Thanks!

Questions please

www.fietsersbondamsterdam.nl/english

www.fietsersbond.nl

twitter: @adamfietst

amsterdam@fietsersbond.nl

Amsterdam