Cycling in Amsterdam: 5 things to know before you go

With nearly 250 miles of dedicated bike lanes, Amsterdam is one of the bike-friendliest cities in the world. The Dutch bike everywhere: to the market, to school and work, to bars and, most dangerously, back home from bars. If you’re planning on cycling in Amsterdam on your next visit, start by finding a bike rental company (MacBike is ubiquitous) for a self-guided two-wheeled tour. But before you do, heed these five bits of advice.

1. Don’t do as the Dutch do. If you see cyclists typing away on their iPads, eating a meal, shaving, drinking a beer, or all of these at once, don’t assume you can follow their lead. Most people in the Netherlands bike before they can walk and are very skilled at multitasking while riding. You, most likely, are not. Also, the Dutch tend to blow through red lights. Don’t do that, either.

2. Don’t wear a helmet (unless you really want to). This is one instance where you can violate rule No. 1 and fall in line with the Dutch, who never, ever wear helmets. Why? Because biking in Amsterdam is extremely safe: You’re moving at a slow pace and bike lanes keep cyclists away from cars. But if you would feel more comfortable with a sheathed noggin, just ask your bike-rental company for one—most have a few on hand for Americans and kids.

3. Lock up your bike. You’d think that in such an easy-going, friendly society bike theft wouldn’t be a problem, but it is. Sometimes it’s not even theft that causes your unlocked bike to disappear; some locals love nothing more than to have a few beers and find tourist bikes they can toss in the canal.

4. Get out of the way. Want to get a Dutch person mad? Stop your bike in the middle of a bike lane and pull out a map. For most Amsterdammers, their bike is their main mode of transportation, and you impeding their path to an early-morning meeting will (understandably) really get their clogs in a clump. if you’re not comfortable riding as fast as the Dutch, stay to the right. If you’re lost, stop your bike on the sidewalk.

5. Mind the tram rails. As luck would have it, the tram rails that criss-cross many of the main streets are the exact width of a bike tire, making getting stuck in one very easy to do and one of the main reasons you’d ever fall off your bike. Cross them at a sharp angle and you’ll be fine.

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