Amsterdam: new challenges for a cycling city

Gerrit Faber

Adviser Cyclists Union

Amsterdam branch, the Netherlands

Amsterdam

What is “Fietsersbond”?

• The Dutch Cyclist Union for 13,5 mln. cyclists

• ‘for save, fast and pleasant cycling’• 36.000 members

(4.500 in Amsterdam)• 150 local branches (1 in Amsterdam)• 1500 active volonteers

(100 in Amsterdam)• 45 employees (2 in Amsterdam)

Amsterdam

Amsterdamcapital of the Netherlands

Compact city:•narrow streets•short distances•flat

790.000 residents,

180 nationalities

881.000 (?) bicycles

Amsterdam

Amsterdam

• daily: 350.000 cyclists …… cycle 2 mln. km

• 90% of the roads/streets in Amsterdam are ‘bicycle-friendly’ and safe routes

• 400 kms bicycle lanes, separated from other traffic

• 225.000 parking facilities for 881.000 (?) bikes

Amsterdam

Amsterdamcycling policy

• is part of an integral transport policy

• is essential for functioning city• networks for car, public

transport and bicycle• quality guide-lines• adviced 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 historyHow 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 history1970-1980: from action to cooperation

1970’s: demonstrations

1980: Fietsersbond joins Municipal Bicycle Working Groupcooperationcycling infrastructure guide-linescycling policysubsidy 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 AmsterdamChaos 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 centerparking of “orphan-bikes”

Amsterdam

Cycling in AmsterdamScaling 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 AmsterdamChaos or Success?

Riding bicycles:

cycle lanes to narrow in rush hour‘snorfietsen’ on cycle lanescycle jams at traffic lightstourist mobs crossing cycle lanescyclists image: not disciplined

Amsterdam

Cycling in AmsterdamScaling up!

Most streets are too narrow for ‘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 AmsterdamScaling up!

• Create extra space for waiting cyclists at crossings

• Less waiting time at traffic lights• OFOS (‘Blown-up Cycle Waiting Space)• Remove obstacles

Amsterdam

More topicsAnnoying ‘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 imagecampaigns

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

www.fietsersbond.nl

twitter: @adamfietst

amsterdam@fietsersbond.nl

Amsterdam