We don't cycle because it's good for us ,the environment etc.. we cycle because we like it and because sometimes it's the most convenient way to travel.. I like my car as well.. 🙂 You will only be controlled on working lights when it's dark. We only use the left-and right signal. The strange thing with arm up and down.. nobody uses it and I doubt if anyone knows what it means.. i would advise you to keep your hands on the handlebar of your bike as much as possible.. we recognize foreigners by the way they sway all over the cyclepaths of Amsterdam. Helmets are not only not mandatory, nobody except racers use them. If you ride on an upright bicycle, helmet on, people will think that you are metally disabled or something. Adapt your speed to the circumstances, too slow and you'll annoy the other cyclists, too fast and you will not be able to react at sudden changes. Look out for very young children on a bike, 3 or 4 years old. They tend to sway a little, dad or mum right behind them, teaching them how to use the road.. that's how we do it here.. my 4 year old niece once was ridden from her bike by a stupid tourist. He started telling her parents that it was "irresponsible" . well, the bystanders allmost lynched him.. Don't yell at people if you want to pass them. You've got a bell, use it. No one wants to hear that "you're coming" too much information..
The Dutch do not consider themselves cyclists. Just like most Americans are not car nuts. Both drive what makes the most sense for their needs. Driving a car in most of Netherlands is an exercise in delay with no place to park when you get there. The infrastructure in Netherlands is FAR better for bicycles. Distances are short and streets accommodate bikes everywhere. Just make sure to lock your bike.
Thanks for this. Really helpful. I've found a lot of comedy videos about cycling out here. But, this is the first one that takes it seriously and gives tourists a good beginner's guide. I'll set off with more confidence now. Thanks again.
The hand signals are US signals that you use in a car. The only signals used in bike traffic in NL are: point to the left: go left, point to the right, go right. That bike lock is far too flimsy to be of any use.
Biking for health? Most people ride a bike because it's the best way to travel. Kids have no driven licence, other people have only one car and the one that needs to travel the most will get the car in most cases. In many cities, it's easier to use the bike because it's faster or you can't park your car where you need to be. Also no or very little parking costs. This is not the USA where everyone has his own car in the family and where roads go straight to the city center in big lanes. Also a car is a lot cheaper to drive in the USA than in the Netherlands. Yes there are people driving there bikes for fun but that is not the biggest group.
Handsignals are not used other than left to right by a very small portion. People that drive a car now that.
If you signal for right by putting out your left arm with a 90 degree angle at the elbow, people here will think you're saying hi to someone. Nobody, I repeat nobody, here uses that signal. It would be extremely confusing to Dutch people. I have only heard about this gesture once from Canadian visitors, but I had never seen it before they told me about it.
Also, the one for stop is never ever used. You can tell from someone's behavior that they are about to stop: they stop pedaling, and they start looking around more.
One final note: yes, you are supposed to signal by putting your arm out completely, so straight line from the shoulders, but only tourists or children on their bike exam would actually do this. When signaling, Dutch people don't extend their arms at more than a 45 degree angle from the shoulder, and you usually point your finger, rather than use a flat hand.
I've never seen those other signs for left and right. I'm sure no one will understand here what you mean. We don't use them. This stick out your hand the way you want to go. And nice lock, but insurance won't accept it as a good enough lock. So yeah, it will slow down thieves, but not stop them.
About regulations: there is a bill about using handheld devices on bicycles as of July 1, 2019. This means that as soon as the law comes into effect, you are not allowed to hold mobile phones, navigation systems, tablets or music players while cycling. The fine will be 95 euro! Only hands-free use of the telephone will be allowed.
Hm, I'm 54 have no bell, no light, and only signal when there cars involved. Oh and the last time I was fined on a bike was when I was 16 and crossed over a crossing, against traffic through red light. So, I don't know about that maintaining of the law :-). You can deduce the direction of your fellow biker by the way he/she shifts his weight just before making a turn, as you primarily steer with your body weight. But don't imitate my behavior when visiting as a tourist. Even better, just go walking. Tourists on bikes are the biggest menace in traffic.
In the 48 years that I have lived in the Netherlands, I have never seen anyone give a stop signal on a bicycle. on roundabouts some people indicate that they are going straight ahead, I find that a bit strange.
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We don't cycle because it's good for us ,the environment etc.. we cycle because we like it and because sometimes it's the most convenient way to travel.. I like my car as well.. 🙂
You will only be controlled on working lights when it's dark.
We only use the left-and right signal. The strange thing with arm up and down.. nobody uses it and I doubt if anyone knows what it means.. i would advise you to keep your hands on the handlebar of your bike as much as possible.. we recognize foreigners by the way they sway all over the cyclepaths of Amsterdam.
Helmets are not only not mandatory, nobody except racers use them. If you ride on an upright bicycle, helmet on, people will think that you are metally disabled or something.
Adapt your speed to the circumstances, too slow and you'll annoy the other cyclists, too fast and you will not be able to react at sudden changes. Look out for very young children on a bike, 3 or 4 years old. They tend to sway a little, dad or mum right behind them, teaching them how to use the road.. that's how we do it here.. my 4 year old niece once was ridden from her bike by a stupid tourist. He started telling her parents that it was "irresponsible" . well, the bystanders allmost lynched him..
Don't yell at people if you want to pass them. You've got a bell, use it. No one wants to hear that "you're coming" too much information..
The Dutch do not consider themselves cyclists. Just like most Americans are not car nuts. Both drive what makes the most sense for their needs. Driving a car in most of Netherlands is an exercise in delay with no place to park when you get there. The infrastructure in Netherlands is FAR better for bicycles. Distances are short and streets accommodate bikes everywhere. Just make sure to lock your bike.
Thanks for this. Really helpful. I've found a lot of comedy videos about cycling out here. But, this is the first one that takes it seriously and gives tourists a good beginner's guide. I'll set off with more confidence now. Thanks again.
The hand signals are US signals that you use in a car. The only signals used in bike traffic in NL are: point to the left: go left, point to the right, go right. That bike lock is far too flimsy to be of any use.
“fiets” 😂 it’s pronounced like “feets” in english
Biking for health? Most people ride a bike because it's the best way to travel. Kids have no driven licence, other people have only one car and the one that needs to travel the most will get the car in most cases. In many cities, it's easier to use the bike because it's faster or you can't park your car where you need to be. Also no or very little parking costs.
This is not the USA where everyone has his own car in the family and where roads go straight to the city center in big lanes. Also a car is a lot cheaper to drive in the USA than in the Netherlands.
Yes there are people driving there bikes for fun but that is not the biggest group.
Handsignals are not used other than left to right by a very small portion. People that drive a car now that.
2:05 car being like wtf
fix your bars
If you signal for right by putting out your left arm with a 90 degree angle at the elbow, people here will think you're saying hi to someone. Nobody, I repeat nobody, here uses that signal. It would be extremely confusing to Dutch people. I have only heard about this gesture once from Canadian visitors, but I had never seen it before they told me about it.
Also, the one for stop is never ever used. You can tell from someone's behavior that they are about to stop: they stop pedaling, and they start looking around more.
One final note: yes, you are supposed to signal by putting your arm out completely, so straight line from the shoulders, but only tourists or children on their bike exam would actually do this. When signaling, Dutch people don't extend their arms at more than a 45 degree angle from the shoulder, and you usually point your finger, rather than use a flat hand.
I've never seen those other signs for left and right. I'm sure no one will understand here what you mean. We don't use them. This stick out your hand the way you want to go. And nice lock, but insurance won't accept it as a good enough lock. So yeah, it will slow down thieves, but not stop them.
About regulations: there is a bill about using handheld devices on bicycles as of July 1, 2019. This means that as soon as the law comes into effect, you are not allowed to hold mobile phones, navigation systems, tablets or music players while cycling. The fine will be 95 euro! Only hands-free use of the telephone will be allowed.
One of the main reason I moved to Amsterdam is because of the bicycling culture. I save about $800 a month by not having a car.
Big tips: make eye contact, keep to the right, don't make very abrupt moves, ride straight and don't act too hesitantly. Be predictable ….
Thanks a lot
What if you need to signal but you are a learning cycler and have to keep 2 hands tightly on the bike to not fall and die, what do you do
Hm, I'm 54 have no bell, no light, and only signal when there cars involved. Oh and the last time I was fined on a bike was when I was 16 and crossed over a crossing, against traffic through red light. So, I don't know about that maintaining of the law :-). You can deduce the direction of your fellow biker by the way he/she shifts his weight just before making a turn, as you primarily steer with your body weight.
But don't imitate my behavior when visiting as a tourist. Even better, just go walking. Tourists on bikes are the biggest menace in traffic.
You had a very bad lock, your bike will probably be stolen soon
In the 48 years that I have lived in the Netherlands, I have never seen anyone give a stop signal on a bicycle.
on roundabouts some people indicate that they are going straight ahead, I find that a bit strange.
Is it true that everyone rides their bike naked after 6: 00pm? Is that to keep your clothes dry when it's raining?
I found your video very helpful, thank you.
It gives me more confidence for when I live there.
I had hoped that you had more videos up, but unfortunately it's only this one – I hope my comment can inspire you to create some more.
👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼