How to cycle like the Dutch in Amsterdam, home to more bikes than people. The Dutch learn to cycle before they can walk. This plus the fact that cyclists have the right of way on the roads in Amsterdam makes them incredibly impatient when having to share bike lanes with tourists and expats who are not used to cycling like the Dutch. This videos shows you how to cycle in Amsterdam like the Dutch

    http://amsterdamshallowman.com
    https://www.facebook.com/expatshallowman

    48 Comments

    1. Let's say the rules of the road are more guidelines more than anything.
      I come to a crossing slightly before you, i have the right of way even if you come from the right. A car is slightly onto the intersection: i just swing my bike right behind the car and continue instead of waiting. I can cut a corner between cycle paths by going over a pedestrian area: i take it. The cycle light is red, but the pedestrian light is green: You can continue your way as a cyclist as well even though you're technically running a red light you won't come across any cars. And i can be faster when i go the wrong way on a cycle path for a while: sure i take that, but not for great lenghts of time because you will annoy people who come from the other direction.
      And you can ride a bike on a shopping street when it's not packed with people even though that's technically illegal. Get off the bike when there are too many pedestrians though on a busy shopping day.

    2. Again Amsterdam as representation for the rest of the country. Behaviour differs throughout the country. Of course cycling behaviour like that you see in the rest of the country, however less accepted behaviour.

    3. I've been in Amsterdam 3 times in 4 years. First time flying over, I was thinking about renting a bike from day two.
      After seeing the other cyclists I saved a lot of Euros!
      It's been 6-7 years since my last visit but If I'm going back in a near future I still don't dare to cycle 🙂
      I've seen the entire city on my feet. One year I had a blister on a blister :-I

    4. When I'm on my bike I just want to get to the place I'm going as fast as I can lmfao, I'm not cussing at people and all that stuff but geez I'm most reckless when I'm on my bike damn.

    5. "You are the most important being in the universe."

      In the USA, we say this is the motto of those who drive cars which cost more than your house. In the Netherlands, it is the motto of cyclists. The Dutch are much more egalitarian.

    6. Cycling is so much easier in Amsterdam (and some other cities) than taking a car. Much faster too. Many roads are too narrow for cars and all those traffic lights. Then you need to find a parking space and pay for it (really expensive in center) and hope nobody scratched it before you come back.

    7. hahahaha….It isn't an easy to bike in AMS, on the same place you have tramway + buses + cars + pedestrians + bike (tons of bikes) which btw are huuuuge. I am 1.74m thus got a "girls"'s bike as I am to short. Love Amsterdam

    8. It's not 'convenience before safety'! It's 'looking out for your safety before trusting others to follow the rules'.

      '…you're the most important being in the universe' is true though.

    9. But I have to say the Dutch are the most skillful cyclists in the world. I once saw a woman riding a bike while applying eye-liner with one hand and holding the little mirror in the other, I wouldn't dare to try that..

    10. Nice one! I just recently made a video about surviving the Dutch Bike paths, I have been living here for over a year now and these are the things that annoy me most, would love to know what you think.

    11. Stuff the Dutch bike riders in Amsterdam…… Try being a pedestrian there and not get monstered or hit by one of the idiots who ride bikes there!!!!!!!!!! Pack of bastards…… I will never return to that God forsaken bike riding shitehole….. Dutch cyclists – pack of tossers…… Cheers from Australia.

    Leave A Reply