American Amazed By Dutch Seamless Traffic flow at Intersections

[@InquisitorHades]

so weird how just normal life for me can be so interesting for others lol

[@kailahmann1823]

In Germany you'd see a bit more cars, but what so strange about somebody walking their dog or a kid on a bicycle? 😂

[@InquisitorHades]

that isn't the weird part.... the fact that others find it so interesting is.@@kailahmann1823

[@InquisitorHades]

learn to read... it's weird that other people find dutch traffic so interesting even tho i live here and it's just normal... that people commute isn't strange no... ​ @kailahmann1823

[@hanes2]

same lol

[@exie17]

i tought the same lol

[@TheoBinnendijk]

All the car drivers are bikers too in their free time and in the weekends. They understand each other.

[@stonedmountainunicorn9532]

Nou ik heb mijn fiets al een goeie 12 jaar niet aangeraakt hoor, hij sta nog wel ergens in de tuin denk :P

[@solwidotnl]

They are also careful because in the event of a crash, motorised vehicles are always liable and need to pay damage costs to non-motorised riders, regardless of the situation.

[@varyagus]

I would love to see most of my(community) parking filled with various carshare vehicles. Owning car is so inefficient and I would prefer to spend 5,000/annual to something else.

[@ballzz2thewall]

@@stonedmountainunicorn9532 Echt een unicorn in het wild

[@stonedmountainunicorn9532]

@@ballzz2thewall ofnie, niemand geloofde toen Kim Jong Il zei dat hij een grot met mijn soort gevonden heeft

[@leendertjanw7540]

For a Dutch person who rides his bike on a daily basis, this looks perfectly normal. More hectic than most places in the Netherlands, but that's Amsterdam. You're right though: I was in the US (Florida) last year, and it's mind-blowing how car oriented that place is. Small towns crossed by six-lane roads, every single public place surrounded by a huge parking lot, the insane amount of cars on intersections, and no pedestrians or cyclists anywhere. You could hardly go anywhere without a car. For a European, that's fine for a few weeks but I would get so depressed if that would be my daily standard. Also, the fact that exercise is just no part of your daily routine; it's something that you need to take time for. While my daily commute already gives me 40 minutes that I'm moving.

[@suzannevoges5525]

Watching Americans reacting to our traffic is so nice, it reminds me of how well it is in the Netherlands. I have a new respect for my own country on traffic ❤

[@Albert1249]

Exactly!

[@PotsdamSenior]

Did you notice how quiet this very busy intersection is? You can hear people talk from several meters away.

[@stevepage5813]

@PotsdamSenior Yes I agree. When you watch video clips from around the World, horns are the constant background noise at any junction/intersection. When the traffic is completely gridlocked, I can't see the point in blasting your horn. I am from Yorkshire, UK so I am spoilt and fairly safe on the roads, but I do understand that other cultures aren't as lucky. In the mid seventies, I went to Italy on a school trip and we were advised not to use zebra crossings. Most countries you visit, it is safe to use said crossings, but not so when you are actually more of a target.

[@Hey.Joe.]

Now I realize why most american tourists are so loud in the public or restaurants, because they have drown their own traffic-noise out, not only because of longer distances or bigger bubbles of their personal space or lesser noise-isolated windows. 😉

[@MrKhushrenada]

I live in Belgium only a few miles from the Netherlands border and I think they have laws like we do where you get fined for unnecessary honking your horn.

[@PotsdamSenior]

@@MrKhushrenada we have that in Germany too. Maybe it's all over Europe? Well, maybe not in Italy 😆

[@tikket10]

@@PotsdamSenior definitely not in italy lol, its so annoying. the drivers there are all inpatient

[@Dacia1300]

Here`s another fun fact about the dutch: 98% of the 110 000 daily attendees at the Dutch Formula 1 GP last year arrived by foot, bicycle, or public transport.

[@Collino030]

tbf cars weren't allowed right? only people who lived in zandvoort were permitted to enter with their car (my bad if that is incorrect but swear to remember something like that)

[@micklovesknoeky]

​@@Collino030 This is mostly correct. Only people who either lived here or certain suppliers were allowed in by car. Most main roads were blocked of to make room for pedestrian walkability.

[@markknoop6283]

​@@Collino030 yep if they let cars in in that mass drivers go completely crazy and within 5 min nobody can move anymore.

[@flopjul3022]

@@Collino030 and the fact that you arent allowed to drink and then drive a car does help walking and biking a lot too

[@alicia.3740]

That's right. I went by train last year and it was perfectly organised. The party started on the train with all the F1 fans. It was amazing.

[@mandelbraught2728]

I'm an American who's been living in the Netherlands for 10 years, or so. For anyone planning a visit to Amsterdam and it's possible for you, I can't recommend getting a bike highly enough! It is one of the great pleasures in the world, imo. On a sunny, spring day, cycling free anywhere you like in the gorgeous city is just pure bliss. It's very real and very much as it's presented here. Biking can be a little stressful in commute times but people are so skilled that you quickly get used to the rhythm, and once you do, it's like butter. There is no reason on this green earth that cities like Chicago couldn't be like this. I think they are working on it and I hope they continue to. I've never lost the gratitude for the privilege but it's really nice to be reminded by your reaction and fun video!

[@attack125]

being in amsterdam is a pain in the ass period. doesn't matter how you travel the whole city sucks from a traffic point of view

[@selvmortsydd]

Because of people like you i can't order a cup of coffee in Dutch anymore. Thanks..

[@Schokland2007]

@@attack125 you apparently move during rush hour on the busiest routes in Amsterdam but even in the center there are plenty of quiet streets. Outside the ring it is exceptionally quiet on the cycle paths.

[@attack125]

@@Schokland2007 i don't live there so the only times i go there is in weekends or vacations. (and i just generally avoid going there) so when i am there. it's busy. but i just mean the infrastructure itself. all the moats is a pain in the rear. even without people i would hate to travel in amsterdam.

[@Schokland2007]

@@attack125 I live in Amsterdam, inside the ring and I am pretty sure you only experienced less than 2% of Amsterdam.

[@willgeorgakis1500]

"Look at all the people!.... ...people walking... kids..." absolutly charming to see your response but kinda terrifying something so mundane provokes such wonder.

[@arturobianco848]

Go to the states. I needed to find the bus station near the airport. So i asked around nobody knew where it was and i was standing 200 yards away from it. They all are sitting in a car.

[@la-go-xy]

Wonderful how the good vibes get across in just a video. It's even better if you're participating.

[@sachadee.6104]

In most of the US it's impossible to go around without a car. It's so sad there are no people outside, just cars (besides some tourist spots like NYC, Vegas, San Fransisco, New Orleans and such. As a Dutch person I still can not get over it. A business on the other side of the street may not be possible to reach unless by car. Hard to believe, but I've experienced it often.

[@lipgloss202]

The sound level is so relaxing compared to noisy cars. Also you can taste the difference in air quality.

[@guessundheit6494]

Cities are not loud. Cars are loud.

[@HoogendijkRemco]

well, our largest airport and steel factory are nearby. So no, the air quality isn't better (I don;t live in Amsterdam though but in a city next to it)

[@ultimateearrapechannel31]

@@HoogendijkRemco well atleast we dont have visible smog anywhere. idk if america has it but yeah we still have very good air quality in the netherlands. germany might be even better because of the big untouched nature everywhere.

[@goonk3205]

@@ultimateearrapechannel31 Untouched nature? In Germany, where?

[@attack125]

@@ultimateearrapechannel31 are you like 8 years old? or younger? we most certainly do have smog in the netherlands.

[@LenaGus2728]

The most annoying thing about this is that many Americans think that people who don’t drive a car when they’re going somewhere are losers.

[@dgray3771]

And I go to work by foot... haha. 15 min walk every day.

[@PipBoykin]

I used to own a car, but sold it. It got so little use it didn't seem to make sense to keep it. I cycle to work, and public transport is able to get me everywhere I need to go with relative ease.

[@remc0s]

Exactly. Why drive a car when you can have a good bike? Just because you are 16 and allowed to drive? It's American car culture; their whole identity seems to be built around their cars. My uncle's mother had remarried an American airline pilot. When he first came to the Netherlands he couldn't understand why adults would still ride bikes, as "Bikes are for kids, until they get a driver's licence." I'm 45 and despite having a drivers licence i never even owned a car and bought myself a heavy duty urban transport bike (with a rack on the front) instead, so i can keep an eye on my groceries or gym bag when going to the dojo. And if i do need to travel to other cities, i just pack my tactical sling bag and use public transport to travel as light as possible.

[@Fievelavie]

cars make you fat, bicycling and walking keeps you slim and fit.

[@APEXPR3D4TOR]

@@Fievelavie i love cars and driving hell i get depressed when i cannot drive i do it so much that even when i am home i will drive on my computer with wheel and pedals after my job which you can guess it is driving :) i should have been born with wheels not feet xd if i cannot sleep i wil go for a drive at night

[@anneliese187]

this is how you plan cities for people, not for cars. 🤷‍♂️

[@oldtimer7635]

Well put.

[@Coladudetje]

Like making it illegal or to expensive or making to many rules, removing parkings for cars so people dont have freedoms anymore?

[@albertmak5496]

@@Coladudetje In a developed country, having a parking lot or a car has NOTHING to do with freedom.

[@PieterWigboldus]

@@Coladudetje i feel more free on a bike than in a car. With the bike you will feel you free, where to ride, where to park.

[@automation7295]

@@Coladudetje Average American comment.

[@sylpha51]

You worded it perfectly, taking the car when I want to. Not because you have to. Now that is freedom !

[@JoseMonteiro-bf3lk]

I'm an truck driver from Portugal and i went to the Nederlands recently and all de people stops to let you go... The Im and roundabout it's so diferent from other contries you have to be ter to realize. Notice that the bicicle as always the priority Over you. I likes and lote... Congrats to you...

[@Beun007]

Right, bikers are saints here! LOL!!!

[@attack125]

stay away from our traffic. you goddamn truck drivers ruin it.

[@Donderjager]

Truck drivers carry our goods, have some respect. ​@@attack125

[@r.m.97]

​@@attack125Truck drivers aren't driving around for fun, they deliver stuff; everything we buy gets delivered by truck to the distribution center, shop or even to your house.

[@attack125]

@@r.m.97 i wasn't talking to all truck drivers. just the ones with white license plates.

[@vast001]

Did you notice that this is an intersection without traffic lights? They all follow the rules of the road. This is the intersection in front of the Rijksmuseum where you ride through with your bicycle and walk through.

[@willemh3319]

a roundabout

[@MrRonDeL83]

Yeah, this intersection is really designed for a lot of bikers and pedestriants. I can point out a bunch of bussy intersections on Rotterdam010! That arent this smooth

[@sanderappel4499]

I'm from Amsterdam, and whenever I hear that loud "DING!" from a tram I know I'm home

[@siouex]

First time in Amsterdam I was mesmerized by the flow of traffic, it's like that on every intersection, it's like watching human size ant nest, it's spectacular

[@dascandy]

Imagine the same amount of people, each with their own car, and replacing this with *literally any kind of road set up for cars*.

[@johncrwarner]

The Dutch have taken over thirty years to get to this point. They were worried about road deaths and in developing road / street planning to make them safer developed this culture. I think every country can change when they focus on reducing road accidents and deaths.

[@Robalogot]

Same here in Ghent, Belgium. Today we're the leading city when it comes to reducing and in a big part removing cars all together from the city. But that started 30 years ago, and step by step, we've become an extremely liveable city. It's quieter in the city than it is in the suburbs... People always talk about Amsterdam, but we have more bicycles than Amsterdam in a far smaller city.

[@autohmae]

I think the next 'big thing' in Dutch legislation will be helmets for biked that can go fast, like e-bikes. Because at the moment deaths is going up.

[@johncrwarner]

@@Robalogot I fear that a) Schiphol International Airport is a source of foreigners coming to look at Amsterdam b) Amsterdam has better PR than Ghent / Gent / Gand - or as it was known in Medieval times Gaunt (as in John of Gaunt).

[@dimrrider9133]

50 years actually from the 7ties

[@johncrwarner]

@@autohmae I think there is certainly some resistance to that in the Netherlands

[@nikzel]

American living in Europe for the past 15 years here, last 10 in NL. Last summer I went back to the US for a 6 week trip and visited a few larger cities that are on many "top 5 places to live lists" with the idea of maybe finding one that I'd see myself living in... no. The red lights on timers that stop you even when you're alone, the 4-way stop signs, the massive parking lots, the noise, the selfishness and indifference of your average driver, the fact that you're forced to drive, if you want to go anywhere interesting or important. It all just adds levels of stress to daily life I just don't have in Europe. I bike to work on most days unless the weather is really bad. Then I take the metro. I have a car, but I use it maybe 15 times a year for road trips or to haul things. Every year I consider getting rid of the car all together, but I enjoy camping and visiting remote distant places and for that, a car is still king. For everything else, the car feels second best.

[@dascandy]

Try to pay attention to how, if you're the last car in a line of cars passing through a green light, it's probably orange by the time you pass through. Traffic lights here are smart in the way that they know how many cars come from a particular direction and they will both extend green so you can make it, and cut to red when nobody's coming so others can get home quicker. Then go to the US... or most other places actually, and see how horrible it is without that.

[@womenfrom0202]

I did get rid of the car, put the money saved in an bank account and hire a camper for my camping trips or hauling if needed. For me this works so much better

[@rypsterhc8673]

You could argue that seeings lots and lots of bikes is also stressful, the narrow streets, the weird rules for bikes and pedestrians, et cetera

[@baskoning9896]

There is method to the madness :) Trams have priority, everybody has to yield to them. Pedestrians have the thick white stripes, everybody (except the trams) have to yield to pedestrians on them. There are also little white triangles, called 'shark teeth', they signal to travelers that encounter the sharp, pointy ends, that they have to yield to the other road. Next to the tramline on both sides are bike lanes, where cars are not allowed onto (you can just see the blue circular road signs with the bikes on them). Cars are allowed crossing the tram line, but they have to be careful and share the lane with bikes. Hitting a bike as a car driver is very serious: the car is almost always to blame, and insurance wont like that, if the biker gets hurt or killed, you could go to jail, even if the bike was to blame: car drivers HAVE to look out for bikes. Bikes can be fined if they dont carry lights to make them more visible. A lot of eye-contact is used if bikers cross path with another biker (or car): the speed is estimated, and people just assume the path and cross behind or before the other mostly flawlessly (most accidents happen when people suddenly brake or turn unexpectedly )

[@patrick71994]

No. The tram also has to stop for pedestrians when crossing the zebra. You can see that in the video as well. The tram has some exceptions for priority, but it is still required for them to follow traffic signs like a yield sign, stop sign , traffic light and indeed zebracrossings.

[@baskoning9896]

@@patrick71994 Ah, tx for pointing that out, I did not know the exact rules, my city has no trams :)

[@KootFloris]

Also most pedestrians yield to bikes, even on zebra's. I do, many other do, because I can time my walking easily to allow a cyclist go first without losing a stride.

[@coenogo]

@@KootFloris Everybody works together, considers other traffic participants, and everyone gets to where they need to go quicker and safer!

[@KootFloris]

@@coenogo exactly!

[@Yvolve]

This is what every Dutch person grows up with and is totally normal. Amsterdam is definitely the most hectic place to ride a bicycle or drive. If this was filmed during the day and close to a school, you'd see endless lines of teenagers on bikes streaming past. My high school had a bike parking lot and it was big. Amsterdam Centraal Station just opened the biggest underground bike garage. We also can't get our license until we're 18, although that was lowered a little. Everyone just rides a bikes as that is the easiest way to get around. There are still plenty of cars but it is much safer. As everyone rides a bike for 18 years before driving a car, you know how scary it is when cars fly past, so you don't do that. There is also a law that protects cyclists and pedestrians, where the car or motorised vehicle is at fault unless it can be proven the weaker party (bike/pedestrian) was being reckless. Check out some video's from Not Just Bikes, he goes into the entire traffic system in the Netherlands. It's the most densely populated country in Europe and at the top worldwide, so we need efficient transportation. Traffic signals are all interlinked and give preference to cyclists in some areas to promote cycling, or will do so when it is raining or freezing. Cars can wait. It is by no means a perfect country but this is done extremely well.

[@bencze465]

The guilty unless proven innocent part is very sketchy but i guess it's in line with the tactics of scaring people out of cars. Different countries force different things on their people.

[@andycooper6085]

@@bencze465 Not as sketchy as the car adverts that sexualise owning a car! Of course the faster and heavier and more polluting one is more likely to be at fault.

[@xieulong]

@@bencze465 It's not about scaring people out of cars or forcing things on people. It's about safe and efficient commutes, whether it's bikes, cars, or transit. It's much safer and faster over there, so I'd say they're doing it right. Meanwhile in the US we're stuck in traffic for a couple hours everyday.

[@LeafHuntress]

@@bencze465That's not a thing. It has to do with insurance. Before this, victims of crashes could have to wait ages for the insurance companies to pay out. They would take each other to court, fight it out. That gummed up the courts etc. Now it's just assumed that the heavier the vehicle you operate, the more careful you need to be to not injure or kill someone. So a person with a walker or a child is at the "top of that tree." Then you get pedestrians, cyclists, mopeds, cars, up to lorries & busses. They have the most mass, they need the most education to be able to drive, they need to be the most carefull, because if they fail people get killed. Because adults should know that children are unreliable & adjust their speed accordingly. If you didn't do that as a driver you are at fault. So if i walk over a child that was skipping in front of me & then fell, I the _walker_ would be LIABLE because i as an adult should know not to walk over a kid. Simples. It's about liability & insurance. Simply to have less hassle in the courts. If you feel hard done by you can still have your day in court, don't worry about it.

[@Yvolve]

@@bencze465 There's always the American't who thinks laws are there to scare people. Why are you like this? The law is there to force drivers to pay attention as they will be blamed for an accident. Nothing more, nothing less.

[@chrissmith8773]

Replace 90% of Stop signs 🛑 with yield signs, and you too can have traffic that works. The downside is you have to think while driving / riding, which won’t appeal to most Americans.

[@PotsdamSenior]

😂

[@Aladdin_Sane59]

😂😂😂

[@Yvolve]

Or they can lean how to use a roundabout and do away with dangerous intersections altogether.

[@stevepage5813]

@chrissmith8773 Most Americans won't yield/give way so no, that system isn't going to work anytime soon in USA. Experts have proven that roundabouts keep the flow of traffic moving better than traffic lights at every intersection/junction.Only thing is, as in the UK generally, drivers need to have a basic clue how to drive and unfortunately roundabouts are out of the question for an awful lot of the countries in the World.

[@PotsdamSenior]

@@stevepage5813 But roundabouts are a lot easier than 4-way stops. Much less to think while driving.

[@ardie554]

I live in the Netherlands.. it's about clear rules, respect and communication, a quick glance into the eyes of another. All people drive a car AND ride a bike, so we respect a bike because we are bikers ourselves..

[@TangerineTulip]

Dutch ingenuity at its finest 🌷🇳🇱 goed gedaan ❤

[@MLWitteman]

This intersection is located on the north side of my workplace. I work at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. And I cross that intersection quite a lot. These trams you see, connect the west to the east side of the city. And it also connects to the north-south metro/subway line of the city. This video was probably shot in December, because you can see the advertising of the Boijmans exhibition at the museum, on the facade of our building. I have to commute between my city of Haarlem, and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. I don’t even own a car, because it costs way too much money. And it’s really inconvenient. I use my bike and public transport(train, bus, tram or metro) to commute. It takes me 50 minutes from walking out my front door, to stepping inside the museum.

[@rikschaaf]

I love how positive you are about seeing infrastructure like this. Some people would say "Grumble grumble, this slows down the cars!", but as you say, so do traffic lights. Also, while we have a lot of cycle, pedestrian and public transport infrastructure, we have one of the best maintained highway systems in the world. So you see: a car friendly network doesn't have to be a car-centric network.

[@AwoudeX]

Only people that NEED or WANT to drive are out there in cars, which is still alot of people, but since many short destinations are taken by other means, the roads are not as congested as in e.g. the USA, which makes a 2 or 3 lane highway far more comfortable than a 8 lane wide parking spot during rush hour in the USA.

[@dimrrider9133]

Just watch Not Just Bikes his videos, a Canadian who lives in Adam now.

[@rikschaaf]

@@dimrrider9133 I've been subbed for years 😄

[@dimrrider9133]

@@rikschaaf haha me to ;p

[@krabz9390]

Your secretary of transportation was the mayor of a city that had 6 busses. Our city planners went to university to study city planning and american city planners went to college to study lesbian dance theory. You also have a history of voting in and rewarding incompetence.

[@TranceAnT]

Im in tears laughing about your reaction! 😂🤣Its so normal for me as Dutchy

[@Maverick21491]

In the Netherlands we have something called a "Fiets examen" which translates to "Bicycle Exam" its done in group 7 of school ( age 11-12 ) Kids learn basic traffic rules and cycling skills . Since High school starts at age 12-13 , kids might have to cycle to school ( We dont have a school bus and highschool is probably further away than elementary school ) Myself , I lived about 10 miles from my highschool and biked my way there and back for 6 years .

[@annekekramer3835]

Yeah, but that "exam" is just a brush up of theoretical skills. My daughter used a bicycle to kindergarten at age 3, just like I did at age 3, just like my dad at age 3. I will teach her bicycling for 9 years before she goes to high school, that's the correct way, right?

[@stonedmountainunicorn9532]

Do they still do that? it's not that you "learn" by then, but it's a good standard to set. i'm turning 35 in a few months but i live in the same town and still remember some of the route :P

[@Fievelavie]

In the Netherlands they teach children also “verkeersles” which means traffic lessons at school. Even on a young age so children can recognize traffic signs, and learn how to cross the road, and learn about other traffic situations. Is for their own safety. Especially when children walk to school themselves. Which is also normal in the Netherlands. Most of the time school is nearby so they can walk or cycle.

[@era3477]

It exists in many European countries. We have it in Poland also

[@tomghzel]

Onzin, kids go to school on their bikes and use them in their free time years before you do this funky ass fiets examen. You learn from your parents and from experience way before you do this exam. The exam felt like a 'day off' from school for me. Like sportdag. I remember nothing from it except not having to sit in class.

[@tillappelhans4985]

German here...Even though a lot of americans cherish the german bike path system, every time I visit The Netherlands, I always feel that there it is more accepted that there is noone who is participating in traffic has more right of way than the others. The tram stops for pedestrians, cars and bikes are sharing the street at the same time and without any hazzle...even compared to Germany it's running insanely smooth.

[@s.fernandes7560]

It helps in this case that there is a huge police station on that corner.

[@DeDoentje]

Personally I’m not very font of the German cycling system, as a lot of times for me it feels like I’m cycling on the footpath, as there is a lot of cycling/walking combination, which in my opinion is not a good combination, as cyclists cycling much faster than pedestrians. A separate uninterrupted bike lane works better.

[@stephenvanwijk9669]

“Even compared to” ….. bei uns ist Alles besser syndrome. It’s very difficult for Germans to accept that the Dutch traffic infrastructure is superior. It always was. And we are nicer people as well.

[@tillappelhans4985]

​@@stephenvanwijk9669 I wrote exactly that.

[@levironner4481]

@@stephenvanwijk9669idk about Germans being nicer, I’ll give you the Belgians though.. those guys are nicer imo

[@popcornshiner3937]

Wow that was trippy, I couldn't believe the amount of bicycles, their health must be a lot better as well.

[@Renzsu]

Almost everybody has a bicycle here. I cycle to work 6 km's and back every day, all separated from car traffic with a free ferry crossing tossed in the mix :) Can't complain!

[@jjraiin]

@@Renzsu​​⁠True. I also used to cycle 6km everyday, back when I was in highschool. Only took me about 20-30min max. everytime.

[@biancawichard4057]

this first intersection was part of my daily route from and to my work for 11 years, it has changed a lot over time. even as a child i passed there a lot for my moms work was a 5 minute walk from it and i went with her there regurlarly. passing there even now sometimes to visit a friend 50 years later so you can say its a part of my life and i love it. thanks for reacting to it

[@wortdrexler]

We saw hundreds of people crossing this intersection in just a few minutes (especially if you count the people on the trams). Imagine if each of them were sitting alone in a car.

[@the_real_Wieniet]

More and more urban planners from the usa are looking and visit The Netherlands.

[@irmaswart6165]

I was born in Amsterdam and spent my childhood there. As a 4 year old girl I learned to cycle on the sidewalk and when I was about 6 years old, I was allowed to cycle next to my mother, just between the traffic. One day my mother said, you should cycle alone, I was 7 years old. I can’t remember that I found it scary, because you were already used to it. So you grow up in Amsterdam, among other places. Sorry for the language mistakes, because my english is not that good.

[@ed7872]

Don't worry, you are doing a great job. Wait till you read IWrocker's Dutch. You will be in for a treat. 😂😂😂

[@xXSjapXx]

Bedoelde je "workers Dutch"? Because that came out as steenkolen Duits!

[@dimrrider9133]

In the US thats a crime if you dot drive your kid anywhere.

[@Tom-Lahaye]

In Amsterdam you can cover 7 miles by bicycle faster than you cover 7 miles by car in a busy American city, also notice how many people cross that little intersection in the short time, if all these people were in cars it would be totally gridlocked, even with 3 lanes in each direction.

[@pyramidsinegypt]

The coolest part of this is that this is all done without traffic lights. This is basically just good rules on who has right of way and a good education system to teach and adhere to those rules, starting from a young age :) I didn't realize this was so spectacular to see to folks from other countries :D

[@GuZ76]

Yes, I think it is indeed a social thing, but also having a good design for the specific situation with really clear signs and markings helps. Notice that the bike path gently bends outwards before back to the intersection, so you don't have to look all the way over your should before crossing the tram lane - that really saves lives (and saves your neck from from over turning 😅)

[@arturobianco848]

Its a bit more then that its also 50 years of experimenting with good road design We dutch don't see that anymore because its just normale for us.

[@Martin-di9pp]

Well, the thing with bikes is that when you collide with another bike, you are probably going to get hurt from falling. Most people don't like getting hurt so people are just more careful.

[@tomghzel]

Agree on the traffic rules but not about the education system. I learned riding the bike from my dad (which I think every kid here does) and than going on small biking tours with my mom or dad in the weekends. So most I think learn from experience at a young age.

[@qazatqazah]

I love your excitement about this video. (You really should come and visit our country.) Greetings from The Netherlands!

[@zenalberga2339]

I live in Amsterdam, always thought this was normal😂 you don’t need trafficlights everywhere, you just need a society that resoects eachother and give eachother the room to flow and keep traffic going

[@sergeleon1163]

Now imagine all those people in the trams and on bicycles if they would be in cars, the streets than would be completely filled into a giant traffic jam

[@tomghzel]

Well try to get to Amsterdam by car in the morning at peak traffic time. The whole A1 highway is one big jam, and around 5 PM the whole A1 back is one big traffic jam. Besides that if you live in Amsterdam Centrum (center) and you pay (a lot) for your parking spot which only allows you to park in your own street, chances are that you can't even park your car there because all spots are taken. It's not all glamour and glory. I've lived in Amsterdam and currently life in Hilversum and it's the same here. Lot's of bikes, but if you don't use the bike (I have to use my car because of the tools I need for work) 8 - 9 AM, and 4.30 - 6 PM I'm stuck in traffic the moment I take a turn from the street I live. I think we are overcrowded. Plus you pay € 7,50 an hour to park in Amsterdam and € 3 - 4 an hour in a lot of other cities. If you live in the city and need to go a couple of blocks you would be an idiot taking your car. Not because we don't want to go by car, you're literally forced. At least, that's how I feel living here.

[@robertlussenburg1770]

Always funny that hills are an excuus for not using a bicyclcle because The Netherlands are flat as a pancake. The thing is, it´s most of the time very windy, it is a work out. I love it! Cheers

[@suicidalbanananana]

Exactly lol, our grandparents didn't have to cycle uphill to and from school, they just had to cycle against ocean hurricanes both directions 😂

[@jjraiin]

@@suicidalbanananana😂 It's annoying cycling against the direction of the wind when it's strong. But cycling while getting blasted from the front *and* the side is something else.

[@chris1978nl]

Have seen a lot of your content and today i subscribed to your channel. Also want to tell that almost every Dutch car owner is grown up on a bicycle. That is also the reason why they are careful as they know themselves that cyclists are vulnerable. This indeed is a busy intersection, but trust me, there are places with more cyclist traffic. Sometimes it looks hectic but look forward and read the road, make eye contact with other road users. See and be seen is important on a bicycle and also use your arms as blinkers do on cars.

[@tetaomichel]

We are Dutch and even move like the water does.

[@darkiee69]

I'd say that most traffic lights in Europe is controlled by traffic, not programmed like it seems they are in the US, where empty streets can get green light while the street with lots of traffic gets a red light.

[@DenUitvreter]

Here in Groningen in the North of the Netherlands we have traffic lights that prioritize cyclists when those detect rain.

[@LarkspeedNL]

@@DenUitvreter that's not uncommon, we have them here in Emmen as well.

[@CornedBee]

Then Austria must be a pretty backwards place in that regard. Most traffic lights are programmed, with just a few reacting to traffic.

[@arturobianco848]

@@LarkspeedNL Look for them outside of the Netherlands and you know how uncommen they are. They are still pretty rare even inside the Netherlands.

[@Garagantua]

As a german, I'm still hoping that one day in the not so distant future, we can join you with those traffic lights. Here, the "smartest" ones use induction loops to register traffic.. and they often don't register bikes.

[@brucecook2995]

hi ian my wife & i were in amsterdam for about 10 days last october, we found getting around was good but you had to look out for bikes at pedestrian crossings & elsewhere because they had right of way & they didnt like to have to stop for you had some close calls it kept you on your toes. overall we enjoyed great place to visit. bikes in netherlands are like bums everbodies got one cheers mate.

[@peace8373]

The citizens of the Netherland decided years ago, they wanted livable, walkable cities. They spend years following a plan that the people agreed to. They have their freeways for long travel, they have roads for local travel, they have neighborhood roads for where they live, work, and play. They have trains to every city, they have local buses, they have trams, they have separated bike paths, they have designated bike lanes, they give their people all methods of travel. If you are rich or poor, you can easily get around. Yet here in the USA, the Auto, Insurance, Tires, Gas industries have you like an addict. You have to pay your way, or their is no way. The great land of capitalism that buys politicians, prevents the investment in things that the rich and wealthy cannot make money on. So we have very few dedicated bike paths, you have to fight to get bike lanes, and we do not believe in public transit. Sad how the propaganda or advertising, keeps the people in their place. You have to pay to live, not enjoy the beauty of nature in the natural world.

[@JosineKissels-xn3iv]

It's exactly like you said: I was lauching because it's normal to me. Love to see your reaction! 🧡

[@tonycasey3183]

You should check out a video about those Dutch "sit-up-and-beg" bikes, known as omafiets. I know they're not a diesel big rig or a V8 supercar, but they are a fascinating part of Dutch culture/transport.

[@jjraiin]

Almost everyone uses them. Other bikes are "mountainbikes" The people who actually do use a mountainbike are mostly men.

[@ariadnelecoutre9453]

Well yes, i'm laughing (a little bit) at you. I'm from Antwerp (Belgium), ... same bike traffic over here.

[@defiled3s]

Damn that brings me back to my days in Grundschule, getting traffic guidance and my bicycle checked by the police.. I think I was like 8 or 9yr old at the time. Anyone else beeing reminded of that time?

[@kailahmann1823]

I am currently reactivating the bicycle that I had used for that, with the sticker saying 1992. So that would be more like 12 years old. But I also thought it would be at the end of Grundschule in Germany, which is 4th grade (two years earlier than in the Netherlands).

[@KasKade7]

When I talk to my grandparents in their nineties now. They told me how they looked up to America when they were young in the 50's and 60's. Ofcourse, WWII had something to do with it, but also the technological advancement. The way people dressed and acted. Those days are long gone. When I talk to younger generations they're all negative about Americans and make fun of them.

[@dimrrider9133]

Wordt tijd dat Trump terug komt want met pedo joe zal dat zo blijven

[@jjraiin]

True. America has become a laughingstock honestly.

[@tomghzel]

Yep. I know even even I was young (90's) I could buy hardware or food supplements from the US, stuff made in the US, pay the shipping costs and it would be cheaper than the high taxed EU stuff and you knew it was high quality. But that's long gone too. Everything is made in China nowadays.

[@t.a.k.palfrey3882]

One of the main reasons turning right on red isn't allowed across Europe and in Québec (or left on red in UK, Australia, Japan, etc) is that drivers might easily hit bicyles on the inside lane or pedestrians crossing.

[@sachadee.6104]

exactly !! I was walking in a Toronto area near the airport, having an unplanned lay over. Even if a pedestrian walks on a pedestrian crossing WITH a green light, it is still dangerous as f*ck because of that and in recent years it's getting worse because of the ridiculous large pick-up trucks which make you invisible for them.

[@attack125]

except that in most places here IN THE NETHERLANDS WICH IS IN EUROPE. turning right on red IS!!! allowed for cyclists. and even some places for cars but those are rare. though in every single case there will be something of a sign or text on the traffic light stating that this is one of those cases. if there is no sign saying it's allowed. then it's not allowed.

[@tomghzel]

Turning right on a place with a traffic light or turning right when the light is red? I don't get it... Red is red right? You don't get to cross so you don't get to turn? In Amsterdam lot's of times bikes, pedestrians and cars get green light at the same time, but traffic that goes straight forward have priority over the ones making the turn. So in your car you look over your right shoulder and can only cross when no one else is going straight ahead.. No one wants to ride into a bike or a person so I don't see the issue or understand what you guys mean...

[@attack125]

@@tomghzel there will be intersections where there is only 1 light that functions for both straight ahead and turning right. when that light is red then going straight ahead is impossible. but turning right can be done easely. without ever crossing any traffic. (because there's multiple lanes or you're on a bike that's on the bycicle lane. there will usually be an orange flashing light with the text. "rechtsaf voor fietsers vrij" wich means free to turn for cyclists. there are select cases where even for a car. there is no light for turning right because of the way the intersection is designed. like having an extra lane specificly for the people that turned right, that merges into normal traffic a little further past the turn

[@attack125]

@@tomghzel we hebben het dus over die "rechtsaf voor fietsers en bromfietsers vrij" bordjes. waar je dus zelfs als het stoplicht op rood staat gewoon rechtsaf mag slaan, maar niet rechtdoor mag gaan.

[@lth1072]

I'm a Brit and even I'm amazed. It looks incredibly fast and confusing 😂

[@arturobianco848]

Well its 50 years of constantly improving safety and efficiency in traffick and a population that has had that same 50 years to get use to it. For most dutch this looks completly normale because it is completly normale for us. Heck this looked pretty quite and not that busy even.

[@lth1072]

@@arturobianco848 True. I wouldn't be surprised if my government introduced this system for a few months each summer to get numbers down in the overcrowded areas. 100+ people would die daily here 😄

[@stonedmountainunicorn9532]

That's the nice thing about it, if you learn the basic rules it's anything but confusing.

[@dimrrider9133]

We have a video special made for the tourist so they know Red is death ;p kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYPIlGSXbZinqbc

[@tmjaspers]

In our Netherlands ( very small country) we have 35.000 km ( almost 22,000 miles) of bicycle roads. And yes, you can go anywhere (safe) on your bicycle

[@kriskarpjee9657]

One of the rules of the road is the driver of the heaviest vehicle is always responsible in case of an accident. So cars have to be careful with cyclists.

[@GuZ76]

yes, the weaker road user is well protected. Luckily everyone is obliged to have insurance for damages you make to others - but you will loose your car insurance rebates and you will have to pay your own deductibles (is that the right word?) Like my mother always told me when biking: if you end up in a hospital, you are still sorry - so always make sure other drivers have seen you! 😅

[@stonedmountainunicorn9532]

Not entirely true, but don't mess with cyclists in The Netherlands i agree.

[@hahahan100]

When you hit a biciclist with your car your are always responsible, unless you can prove it was totally unavoidable. But the big difference with other countries is that ALL dutch start on a bike as kids. So we all know what it is like to be on a bicycle. So we learn to drive a car with a biciclist mind set

[@astrayamatu]

its so funny to watch these kind of videos as a dutch person i cant get enough of them

[@MelodyMan69]

This should be compulsary viewing for Australian Bike Riders. 🇦🇺

[@Martin-di9pp]

Safety comes mostly from the way infrastructure is designed. If your roads aren't designed with bikes in mind it's going to be hazardous. If nobody gives way to bikes then they will probably loose patience at some point and do something risky/stupid.

[@Buurtspoor]

What helps is the fact that traffic lights are connected in order to coordinate the flow of traffic efficiently. Also the trams and buses have transmitters to influence the traffic lights.

[@Zyphera]

Dutch beat most if not all towns in Europe too. As a Swede I am amazed too.

[@AwoudeX]

Been to Sweden, near Trolhättan and lake Vänern. What amazed me as a Dutchie was the terrain right outside of a village, woods, mountains (well probably you'd call them hills) and all of that just outside, walking distance, seemingly untouched by humans. My point: what you take for granted is amazing to others. Take pride in what you and your ancestors have created and maintained. It's worth it.

[@Zyphera]

@@AwoudeX Oh yes! Now when you say it. I love the nature nearby in walking distans. A really good thing here. You are right that I did not thing of it as something unique.

[@judithflow3131]

Many urban regions have a speed limit of about 20 mph here in the Netherlands now, it helps with safety, especially for bicycles. Almost every trafficlight works using sensors, and they're trying to limit the wait to 1 minute, though it may be as much as 3 minutes in some places. Public transport gets priority on the trafficlights, it can be REALLY frustrating when you wait for a trafficlight and a public bus moves into a lane which had its trafficlight just turn red, because it will switch back to green for the bus and your lane might skip a round. For how people interact with others, it's a matter of having a little courtesy: if someone obviously reaches an intersection before you do, you just pedal a bit slower so you can weave through behind that person. Not everybody does this, some people do try to step on it and get past the intersection first, but most people look ahead and try to anticipate the situation before they reach the intersection. It's quicker to weave in and smoothly get through the intersection, than to be a jerk and bump into someone and get into a fight. Oh, and mobile phones are prohibited on ALL vehicles, including bicycles here. That last rule definitely cut down the sudden spike in accidents since the introduction of mobile phones.

[@dennis_nl7587]

I drive semi trucks in the Netherlands, and most often, you don't even have to stop at a red light. They teach you to roll the semi truck enough so the sensors in the road can sense traffic. And then they just turn green right in front of you because the intersection is empty. I usually wait a maximum of ~30 seconds if it's very busy. Again, sometimes I don't have to wait at all when the light prioritises my lane, just blast right through

[@autohmae]

I'm still amazed they don't even have this minimum solution in the US.

[@GuZ76]

..and we have these green-waves, where multiple traffic lights over a longer distance are connected, so if you would travel exactly the speed limit you can just cruise through all the traffic lights. These are usually the 80 km/h roads between cities and villages

[@arturobianco848]

@@autohmae going back there again in may and unfortunatly they don't. They are however very sociale in certaine gridlocked crossing with taking turns to cross over thats something we Europeans could learn from them. So its not all doom and gloom.

[@dennis_nl7587]

​@autohmae that's kind of strange indeed, for a car based country like the US 😅. In the Netherlands they don't even want us te drive cars at all. Just public transport and bikes

[@autohmae]

@@dennis_nl7587 pretty certain the goal is: get as many people to where they need to go fast and safely.

[@AwoudeX]

My work-home commute distance is 18 kilometers, many intersections and the best parts of this is: -NO TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT ALL -NO STOP SIGNS WHATSOEVER. almost all of the intersections are roundabouts and rarely do i wait longer than 10 seconds to be on my way.

[@finnishculturalchannel]

One key thing, which makes traffic flow seamlessly, is forethought, adjusting the speed and acknowledging others. There's not even need to follow the traffic rules to a point, when everyone work together to make the traffic flow seamlessly. Bicycles tend to be faster in short distances, when there's proper pedestrian and cycle routes. One time-consuming thing with cars is parking.

[@CARambolagen]

...and it's so chilled!

[@s.b.907]

Check out Not just bikes. He has a video about the smart traffic lights you might want to check out. He has videos about the Dutch cycling culture but also about urban planning.

[@dimrrider9133]

Great you found bicycle Ducht to, he have more then 10.000 videos about Dutch bicycle infra.

[@conallmclaughlin4545]

Just wait until you see their smart traffic lights 😂 Also, fun fact for you... Paris has no stop signs! Zero, none.. Worth a look at someday

[@automation7295]

Paris used to have stop signs, the last stop sign was removed in 2013 I believe.

[@henkhutschemakers]

Yup, Dutch traffic lights are awesome! Sensors in the road detect vehicles so no vehicles the green light will be longer. Amount of vehicles everywhere rule the time for traffic lights. Pedestrians push a button on a post and have to wait for only 1 minute.

[@Gazer75]

What do you mean by smart lights?

[@henkhutschemakers]

see above@@Gazer75

[@themadsamplist]

@@Gazer75 They detect traffic and figure out the most efficient way to direct that traffic. The lights are not programmed whith a cycle but act on the amount of traffic

[@yilmazzzz9044]

looks can be decieving, its extremely hard to learn to adjust to this fast moving bike life in the netherlands at first without crashing into others. but once you learn to dodge and weave and bob. its smooth af.

[@timba1181]

I am convinced that all of america's problems can be traced back to the infrastructure. The asphalt costs too much too maintain so theres not enough money for the homeless. Everybody has to drive by car so there's too many people get lazy and ultimatly fat. The cities are too large and with too many "gaps" so there's no sense of community and people feel lonely and get depressed. etc, etc.

[@ayannafit2441]

This is the equivalent of sitting in a cafe ☕ and people watching

[@carmenl163]

Or outside on a terrace

[@DiGiDaWgZs]

It's such a shame that this sort of social inclusiveness doesn't exist in the U.S. This sort of interaction is based on mutual respect and doesn't work in "me first" society. It makes me very sad that the simple empathy shown here is strange in the U.S.

[@lbergen001]

You're right! And in this situation, the road infrastructure contributes to this mentality. In NL modes of transportation are separated by speed. In the USA all modes use the same road, which determines the sense of safety. In NL waiting time is minimized. In the USA waiting time is increased due to (needed) traffic lights, which in itself accumulates more road users. That all determines the level of frustration due to waiting time and traffic intensity. Therefore the aggression in traffic is determined by the quality of the infrastructure, and governments on all levels are accountable for that quality.

[@henkhutschemakers]

you're right! I'm Dutch, married an American woman, living near Virginia Beach. I bought a bike in the US to cover only 4 miles to the beach but I noticed there are no bike lanes. Five lanes on each side so you have to cross 10 lanes while there is no infrastructure to cross. Traffic lights are not suited for cyclists either. Cars honking, open window swearing and cutting me off, passing by inches away like they were trying to hit me. Only 4 miles take me like 10 (safe) minutes in the Netherlands compared to one and a half hour (extremely dangerous) in the US @@lbergen001

[@GuZ76]

nah, you give us too much credit - I think it is just good design that looked carefully at human behaviour and having clear rules. For every individual you see in the video - I think they mostly follow the fastest and easiest path. The most amazing part that will make most commuters really happy is that there are no traffic lights needed here; I guess that is why we see more and more roundabouts as well.

[@Martin-di9pp]

@@GuZ76 Agreed, it's also simply self interest to not collide with other traffic users.

[@marcelschellekens6386]

the trick beeing, if you design the road network to be pedestrian and bicycle friendly people will react logically in the way the road network tells them to react. and the best part is, it doesn't slow you down, it usually makes you faster.

[@DenUitvreter]

Bicycles needs very little to move around efficiently, very little space and very little rules. This is quite an orderly junction and there are much more chaotic ones that only work because everybody is willing to improvise a little and tolerate one another to be a bit cheeky. There is a lot of non verbal communication with the leg movement, handle bars and eyes. Thomas Schlijper - unbelievably busy cycling crossing in Amsterdam- for example. There are similar videos'from Utrecht and Groningen too.

[@lolololol7573]

I cannot imagine to live like you do. I just cannot. While it's totally normal for me to experience what you just looked at, it's also fascinating how it's special for someone else. Ngl it feels nice to be seen as an example.

[@QnA22]

So weird, here in Mongolia it takes 2 hours to do 3 kilometers by car. You could try as a pedestrian in - 40C, but there aren't footpaths to everywhere. Plus, car is king, so you'll be waiting 10 minutes for every intersection you pass for the lights to go green. Even then, many drivers go through red and are even upset you dare walking on their road. For a small city as Ulaanbaatar the government should be ashamed of itself to do such a poor job at planning it. Especially as most was build in the past 10 years.

[@zeveroarerules]

Looks like right in front of the Rijksmuseum. The Vermeer exposition was A++

[@bigoz1977]

It looks like one of those precision driving videos you see. Cars going all direction within inches of each other and no collisions 😂. Personal express tells me that wouldn’t happen in the UK or Australia 😂

[@arturobianco848]

We had 50 years of getting used to it trust me it wasn't always like that in the Netherlands.

[@Jonago.]

If you want to see more of this subject, I suggest looking at a video titled "There's More to Dutch Roads Than You Think" by Build The Lanes. It's much more in-depth, with good sources

[@petero8893]

like a ballet

[@Tofu.87]

As a car/truck driver. I also am a cyclist. I know what it’s like to be more vulnerable in traffic. That goes for a lot of the Dutch. That’s what helps a lot to make this happen. I once on a vacation to NYC drove around there and that was a crazy experience for me. Cars having rubber bumpers so they can pump into each other 🤷‍♂️ crazy..

[@chrisbodum3621]

Somewhere 6 or 7 miles away by car should be 6 or 7 miles away however you get there, whether by foot or on wheels.

[@CornedBee]

Cars need to stick to roads where cars are allowed. Bikes are more flexible, and pedestrians even more so.

[@dagandreassen3115]

I live in the Netherlands and here cars need to stop for bikes in all cities at each round abouts and for pedestrians at zebra crossings. If you are unlucky as a car driver to hit a bike then you are in big trouble and can expect a fine of minimum 170 $. I had huge problems to learn it when I moved to the Netherlands from Sweden. And it's more bikes cars here as well because the country is so flat. Not many places where you have uphill if you not going to cross a river on a bridge.

[@MartijnV452]

Could you imagine wat would happen if every pedestrian and cyclist would be in a car or even worse a pick up truck? And the best thing is nobody is forcing these people to walk or cycle, it’s just because it’s the best way to get around 😊

[@SamyasaSwi]

It is a lot of the time, but don't forget it's also a lot cheaper than owning a car

[@ellieskirdneh2524]

You should take a peek at aerial footage from keizer karelplein in Nijmegen. It's a miracle so few accidents happen. But in all fairness, the design is just one part of the solution. In primary school (when kids are already participating in traffic lots independently from age 7) we have traffic lessons on our bikes with an exam when we're 10/11. Most ride bikes well into adulthood, some get mopeds or scooters at 16 (they're often a menace). Laws have also been implemented that in an unequal accident (car - bike/pedestrian) it's almost always the car's fault. So that makes the drivers a lot more cautious. The biking tradition actually came from us being quite poor after the war, and with such a flat country bikes were easy & cheap. And nowadays it's often the first bit of freedom & independence you get, you cycle with your friends to school, sometimes even for over 10km (mostly secondary school), and even some companies have financial incentives to cycle.

[@meriotheart]

The biking tradition didn't come from being poor after the war, at least, not if you're talking about WWII. Quite the opposite as far as I know. Cycling was pretty popular in the Netherlands until the end of WWII when there was a post-war economic boom and everyone started buying cars (they finally had the money for it). There was a huge decrease in people cycling and it became more and more car oriented. It wasn't until later (I think 70's?) that things started changing and people started pushing for less cars. One of the reasons was that the oil crisis I think, that combined with Dutch cities not being able to accommodate so much car traffic (and the borderline horrific plans they had to change that) and the huge amount of deaths that happened because traffic laws weren't developing fast enough (or something, I don't remember the exact cause). There were a lot of protests, the 'Stop de Kindermoord' group is pretty well-known I think and they managed to get reforms through

[@simonesays7222]

As a Dutch citizen I just get annoyed that non of the cyclists stop for the pedestrians at the zebra crossing 😂... Oh well, it's Amsterdam.🤓

[@BrendonChase_2015]

Most pedestrians & cyclists in Amsterdam have situational awareness & know perfectly well that the flow of traffic would be impossible if cyclists stopped for pedestrians all the time. People not used to inner city traffic - tourists especially, whether on bike or on foot - are a major complicating factor. Cheers!

[@attack125]

sometimes the zebra path just shouldn't be there. this is one of those cases. it's alot easyer for a pedestrian to stop and wait for a hole in traffic to walk through, then it is for the cyclists to stop and wait for pedestrians to cross. if the cyclists stopped then after a while you could even get a traffic jam of bicycles wich would make it even harder for pedestrians to cross.

[@montro2220]

I just get annoyed that non of the cyclists stop for the pedestrians at the zebra crossing ... -Oh well, it's Amsterdam.- Fixed it for you, cyclists don't seem to (want to) understand that pedestrians on a zebra crossing have priority.

[@wayaca47]

Love th3 channel, topics and your commentary🎉

[@conallmclaughlin4545]

5:28 my work is 9 miles away from my house. It's a 15 minute drive 😂

[@jefferadus8582]

Go with the flow

[@eisikater1584]

I know both Berlin and Amsterdam, and I can confirm that it's true what people are saying: In Berlin, when you ride a bike, you must be careful not to be hit by a car. In Amsterdam, when you walk, you must be careful not to be hit by a bike. -- But biking is really fun in the Netherlands. Whenever I'm there I rent one for a day. It's so more relaxed than here in Germany.

[@jeremy_6838]

Yo.. thats normal AF ! Greetz from the Dutch

[@dikkiedik53]

Watch the traffic lights ;-). Cars block seeing the body language of other people in traffic. For the most busy one kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYDPZql8bdFqfMU

[@Ningishzidd4]

Riding a bike all day like we do, instead of going by bar everywhere, is also amazing for your health.

[@carmenl163]

Imagine tourists renting a bike because they love cycling at home and then getting caught up in this traffic flow. 😮

[@Beun007]

Welcome to the Netherlands lady! LOL!!!

[@wenwen5891]

That’s why I have a big ass bell on my bike 😊

[@ultimateearrapechannel31]

some handle it fine, others really dont. its the things like suddenly stopping in the middle of the bike lane while someone (me for example) is approaching them with cruising speed. they just never look around before stopping even though its the most common sense ever.

[@Paper_Dog_NL]

That's kind of normal in central Amsterdam: tourists want to get on the bike but can't handle the traffic (I don't blame them, it's crazy if you're not used to) or they walk blindly into a bike paths and they got yelled at by locals just trying to get their kids to school or get to work on time. Downsides of living in a very popular place I guess...

[@Fievelavie]

Snoop dog got used to it ( he stays a lot in amsterdam, I wonder if he speaks Dutch now)

[@Jila_Tana]

Rocker, Such infrastructure is not just found in Amsterdam, it is everywhere in the country. Just Amsterdam has a bit more people, so a bit busier. That specific infrastructure though, follows directives that are applied everywhere. Even towns with under 10K population. Infrastructure is designed around people.

[@-sandman4605]

In that whole video did not see one fat person, everyone looked fit and healthy.

[@justdadstuff5171]

LOL USA levels of fat are quite rare over here, but then again so are actually fit people.

[@BernhardGiner]

Yes, but (looking at the clothes of the people and the trees) it's probably winter evening and you look mostly at bicycles. Old, weak or sick people are there too. Okay may be they are mostly at home or probably they preferred to take the streetcar, subway, train, bus, cab... or car. I'm pretty sure if there were such traffic situations in the US you'd see about the same people. All kinds of people - except for those staying at home or at work, riding the streetcar, metro, bus or car - you just don't see their bodies that well in this video. Overweight and obesity are a problem everywhere, including in the Netherlands. But in fact significantly less in the NL than in the US (48% vs 68%). But you can't tell that from just watching a video.

[@SamyasaSwi]

Just to be clear, we do have fat people here as well

[@-sandman4605]

@@SamyasaSwi Thats a shame, they should buy a bicycle and burn that fat & stop eating sh t. 🤣😂

[@-sandman4605]

@@SamyasaSwi Thats a shame, they should buy a bicycle and get fit and stop eating sh t. 😂🤣

[@vikingdragon2764]

Here in the Netherlands, pretty common. The triangles on the road are called haaientanden (shark teeth) are to say you have to yield. These days many intersections have a 4-way bike signal and they take short cuts across intersections rather than having to wait and cross over once or twice. We learned how to ride bike in traffic at young age and had to take a test in school when I was young. I rode a bike for 4 years when I was in North Carolina at ECU... would ride everywhere there too... to the mall, to the hospital (for my clinicals, would beat everyone there as I didn't have to wait on the bus in the parking lot like they did), and to the movies, grocery stores, and once to the airport... the faces of the people when I parked it beside the building and walked in to change my ticket: priceless! I would ride up the hill with roommate on the bike rack so we could go to the movies. And up the hill to go to the basketball court and the tennis courts. Cars weren't always happy with me, but I didn't have a car at first, so I rode my bike if I wanted to go anywhere. On campus it was more common, but as they say: you ain't much if you ain't Dutch, so I ventured out whenever I could. Easily 6-8 miles one way.

[@gar6446]

Have you ever seen the " Magic roundabout" in Swindon UK ?

[@LeafHuntress]

apparently it is no more, it ceased to be, it has joined the choir invisible, it is an ex magic roundabout...

[@wesbos9929]

more then 17 million people live in the Netherlands. our country is the size of Maryland. We have an average of around 600 people dies in traffic every year.

[@ssgtblackmamba7991]

Speaking of Dutch people travelling to the US. As one of the few Dutch people that handles firearms on a regular basis, the most shocking story was hearing how a friend of mine went to the US and she went shooting for the first time in her life. How she described the instructions they had and how much fun the gun range was, I was shocked hearing how she celebrated her first hit by jumping around and turning in circles..still holding the gun, with her finger on the trigger. She didn't know this was wrong, I got this information after asking some follow-up questions. Now the gun was empty, because she was only given one round. But the fact that nobody said anything to correct this behaviour, before givinv her a full mag makes me doubt the range instructor she had that day...that's waaay scarier than "our traffic is really annoying " 😂 I do agree with many US citizens that guns aren't the problem, people are. But also please realise people are stupid and very badly trained (Even your police force makes too many mistakes in my opinion and lack proper weapons training) and seeing as we can't take dumb people out of society, the next best thing to limit are the weapons. But hey, that's just my opinion...

[@LarryMiller3396]

Excellent point you made yourself from this video: The amount of people moving through the image in this short timespan is the single biggest reason why cycling and public transport, especially in urban area's is so much more effecient than everybody in their own car.

[@Chris-xe5ts]

The netherlands are special with the bicycle culture. But i'm a big fan of the eletric scooters that are common in most european cities. Maybe the fastest way to reach another point the city. Fast travel speed and no search for parking space. But all non-car cities require a higher density... The ridiculous street width in the US makes everything so large.

[@suicidalbanananana]

Yeah great, until some tourist nearly runs you over with one because they don't seem to realize that the things hardly making any sound is a BAD feature 😂