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Why is cycling so popular in the Netherlands?

bbc.com

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Re: Why is cycling so popular in the Netherlands?

#171

Post by Freak_NL »

avar wrote: post #47

> If anything, having a tatty, battered old > bike affords more status as it attests to > a long and lasting love. As an Amsterdam resident: What a romantic characterization of our high crime rates! Yes, the reason I still ride a shitty old beater of a bike is definitely my long lasting love for that piece of shit, it's not because I know that if I buy anything fancy I'm going to have to never take my eyes off of it,…

For Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague; yeah, just get a beater. In the rest of the country, just lock your bike to something stationary (lanterns, fixed bicycle stands, bridge railings, etc.).

Re: Why is cycling so popular in the Netherlands?

#172

Post by s73ver »

ramy_d wrote: post #93
chrisseaton wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Surely it means nothing Well I guess it means that you can't leave your bike unlocked in parts of Amsterdam, which is a shame.

You can't leave your bike unlocked anywhere. Ever. At anytime. How come this isn't the initial reasoning? In fact, you can't leave anything unattended or not secured. This goes for cars, bikes, luggage, homes, i don't know what else.

That being true doesn't mean I can't lament the fact that these shitty people exist and are able to get away with it.

Re: Why is cycling so popular in the Netherlands?

#173

Post by victornomad »

giobox wrote: post #65
victornomad wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bougth a second hand bike for 40eur 5 years ago, and I only had to fix the wheel once (5 eur). Never had to buy clothes, special locks or anything fancy... I use it daily...

I think for most cities, locks and lights are unavoidable costs, if you want to stay safe and still have your bike be where you left it... Some would argue a helmet should be too, but experienced cyclists know better than to open that debate up! Unless you live somewhere with a great climate, foul weather clothing inevitably ends up needing bought if you intend to commute all year round by bike.

a lock is 10 euro and a front + rear light 3 euro in a dutch supermarket. About the weather, it snows in winter and rains a lot during the year, you dont need special clothes, just whatever you would wear daily

Re: Why is cycling so popular in the Netherlands?

#174

Post by ramy_d »

nisse72 wrote: post #141
jlg23 wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Is it typical for a 13mm+ Ulock in Amsterdam to get broken? Yes. One thing that still works is to get two different high-end locks and to always use both. Most thieves specialize in one lock only. But I'd still not leave a decent bike outside over night.

I would imagine that an angle grinder works equally well with all locks regardless of brand.

welp, if this entire thread taught me anything, is that I need to lojack (or whatever it's called) my bike.

Re: Why is cycling so popular in the Netherlands?

#175

Post by nisse72 »

mercer wrote: post #167
nisse72 wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would imagine that an angle grinder works equally well with all locks regardless of brand.

Yeah I think the main benefit of using two locks is that a thief will just go for an easier option. IIRC similar rules apply to home security. It's not only about deterrence; making your house more of a nuisance than other houses is important too.

I agree - you don't need to outrun the bear, you just need to outrun your friend.

Re: Why is cycling so popular in the Netherlands?

#176

Post by s73ver »

DavideNL wrote: post #112
jmcphers wrote: post #8

One thing the article doesn't mention is how long the bicycle trips are. Surely the relative compactness of their cities are a major contributing factor! I live in America and commute on my bicycle almost every day. For me the biggest obstacle isn't the hills (which there are plenty of) or even sharing the road with cars (which is admittedly extremely unpleasant) but the fact that in the quasi-suburban area in which…

> everything's so damned spread out that bicycling is very impractical. The solution: e-bike. Where i live in the Netherlands many people use them (not just elderly.) Just this week i saw a 15 year old kid drive back home from school on an e-bike. If you have to drive a long distance, an e-bike eases makes it much easier/faster...

E-Bikes are a good idea, but they're pretty expensive. Like, you could buy a car for the cost of one.

Re: Why is cycling so popular in the Netherlands?

#177

Post by mercer »

giobox wrote: post #65
victornomad wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bougth a second hand bike for 40eur 5 years ago, and I only had to fix the wheel once (5 eur). Never had to buy clothes, special locks or anything fancy... I use it daily...

I think for most cities, locks and lights are unavoidable costs, if you want to stay safe and still have your bike be where you left it... Some would argue a helmet should be too, but experienced cyclists know better than to open that debate up! Unless you live somewhere with a great climate, foul weather clothing inevitably ends up needing bought if you intend to commute all year round by bike.

I think you underestimate how much a bike is more like an umbrella or coat to us than it is a transportation vehicle. But I do agree that in places where it's more like the latter, your comment applies. The nearest equivalent I can think of in Holland is the 'scooter' (moped?).

That said, you're now making me curious to what degree this applies to other cities, even just cities that are known to be bike-friendly. In how many cities is it normal (or even possible), like in Holland, to use bikes in this ways?

Re: Why is cycling so popular in the Netherlands?

#178

Post by collyw »

eecc wrote: post #133
avar wrote: post #47

> If anything, having a tatty, battered old > bike affords more status as it attests to > a long and lasting love. As an Amsterdam resident: What a romantic characterization of our high crime rates! Yes, the reason I still ride a shitty old beater of a bike is definitely my long lasting love for that piece of shit, it's not because I know that if I buy anything fancy I'm going to have to never take my eyes off of it,…

Sure beats paying for a car, insurance, road tax, gasoline, parking... did I forget anything? Yeah, having your bike stolen sucks, particularly if on your way back home from a night at De School but whatever... still cheaper (and healthier and fun) Get it over, or you can go live a couple years in Rome and learn what it means to live in a hideous car-infested city.

I was in Rome 6 months ago. I was surprised at how little traffic there was in the centre (I assume they have some laws in place to limit it only to taxis). I guess that only happens in the centre proper?

Re: Why is cycling so popular in the Netherlands?

#180

Post by collyw »

gozur88 wrote: post #136
mercer wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Locking just a wheel is a rookie mistake, of course! Always wrap it around the frame and something that is solidly rooted in the ground. It's just that even all that isn't always good enough if the homeless guy or professional bike thief has a power-cutter thingy.

My sister locked her bike to a pole through the frame in San Diego. When she came back literally every other part was gone, and the frame remained locked to the pole. They even took the cranks, the forks, and the brake cables. Who steals brake cables?

I had the quick release clamp stolen on mine (after taking the seat off). Twice in one week, because i happened to have a spare. And the window wipers from my car one time.
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