How did Amsterdam become such a successful cycling city, with 60% of all trips in the inner city made on bike? The increase is so large, that the City now has to make new choices. About the history and future of cycling in Amsterdam, and the latest initiatives.
The Netherlands is the only country where the bicycle remained strong after the uprise of the automobiles in the years after WWII. It was due to strong bottom-up protests that in several cities in The Netherlands highway plans were put aside. Due to the mutual respect from a government and civilians perspectives, the bicycle is a strong mode of transport for utility (school, work) and recreation.The Dutch way of cycling is straight up – working clothes – young and old – all colours and social classes symbolises the freedom of choice. Anyone can choose to cycle on high quality infrastructure and safe.Amsterdam is Cycling Anarchy, with shared space projects in extremely busy places.
We now have so many people riding that they need to slowdown and acknowledge each other with a nod or a wave. At the same time Amsterdam has revolutionary plans to reduce or totally forbid cars in the historic centre. Bicycling empowers people on an individual level (mental and physical health). It also empowers social group behaviour. With all our sences we estimate our own path very closely with all the other cyclists on the road. All with their own behaviour in speed, in direction and future turns.
Line up of presentations, as talked through with Janine Hogendoorn of Ring Ring and Eva of the City of Amsterdam:
1. Ria Hilhorst: 50 years of Amsterdam Cycling Strategy (15-20 minutes)- How did the City start in the 70s to step by step create the bicycle infrastructure we have today, how did cycling develop, the protests in the 70s- What are the new key issues of today: in some streets now even too many bikes and pedestrians at the same time, finding new balances, playing with time with rush hour strips, learning by experimenting- and probably so much more that the international audience will just be dying to hear
2. A round past the latest initiatives (5-10 minutes each):
- Janine Hogendoorn (Ring-Ring)
- Agartha Frimpong, Mama Agatha: Getting newcomers on bikes in Amsterdam Bijlmer
- Mahmut Yasar, Europe Cycle Company: importing from / and exporting to France, Turkey and China
- Kees Vernooij, City of Amsterdam: new designs for bike junctions.
3. Q&A and discussion with the audience
