Cycling and Heavy Goods Vehicles in the Netherlands [295]

Cycling and trucks, lorries, vans, HGV's, the Dutch way.
More info: bicycledutch.wordpress.com/201...

[@Ahmed-N]

Your videos are like visual research essays where each example you show really drives the point home. Love it.

[@Sven._.004]

I knew this was an old video when I saw a truck of the C1000

[@yrp3489]

I was about to say the same..

[@Darkraw]

And the bakker groep truck for the coop supermarket is old. But driving these days.

[@patches_kitty]

Lol this channel is always roasting the UK

[@lapland123]

And it's not even trying.

[@ph11p3540]

Never mind it roasting the UK traffic system. It racking the US and Canadian traffic systems over the hot coals.

[@innsj6369]

We're trying to be like America but our streets are smaller than the Dutch's.

[@stefanheidrich7340]

Also Germany.

[@enterprisestobart]

I blame the Railway and Canal Traffic Act 1854 for Britain's failure as that is what crippled the "Big Four" and "British Railways" forcing British people to rely on cars and other road traffic as the legislation was not ammended/repealed after ww1 when automobiles had just begun putting pressure on rail and canal transport due to their greater ease of movement which increased speed of transfer

[@oscar1987zp]

It seems that all is so neat and tidy up and overall safe that people dont need to use helmets.

[@exposer3339]

For us it seems very strange to wear a helmet on a bicycle. If you see somebody ride a bicycle with a helmet it's probably someone that has down-syndrome or something. Even little kids dont wear helmets here, it's kind of normal.

[@wordupcameo5019]

Germans will still wear helmets

[@ryonnl]

It gives you a wrong feeling of security. People tend to behave more dangerous when wearing a helmet and think they are less funerable. Why they are still very funerable

[@mourlyvold7655]

We use them, in the shower. Very dangerous, slippery showers...

[@Ultimatefitness360]

Its really apriciable how people of fully developed country using cycles in large amount... Govt also did their job very well.. Really like this system love from india....

[@2_Wheeled_Wolf]

Shame UK Government cant understand these simple logical designs.

[@woutervanr]

Tbf, the government has to listen to the public and a big part (Probably a majority) of it doesn't want this infra because they have cars and think it'll hurt their feelings.

[@jonathanlin7874]

Same with the Canadian government

[@DrMorocho]

British Truck Driver jumping the red light at 2:31 no wonder so many cyclists are killed in London.

[@conzolanzo1896]

it wasn't a UK truck, it had a European number plate with a non UK registration.

[@SamyasaSwi]

Well, you might look at it another way. The only cyclists who dare to enter traffic are people who aren't afraid of the dangerous conditions. I also think you would HAVE TO cycle somewhat aggressively in order to get anywhere because motor traffic won't take cyclist into consideration. Aggressive cyclists annoy car users, causing them to be even less forgiving towards cyclists, causing cyclists to be less friendly towards car users and be more aggressive, etc. Being from the Netherlands I have no experience riding either a car or a bike in London, but I probably would be both terrified and shocked when riding a bike, and annoyed by aggressive cyclists when driving a car. I doubt it would be much different here if we didn't have the infra we have today. The reverse holds as well. Having a safe biking infrastructure means less aggressive behavior and dangerous situations, making for less incidents involving cars and cyclists. Cyclists are less afraid of motor traffic, and motor traffic is less annoyed by, and more forgiving towards cyclists. In the Netherlands, you're taught as a child to always take extra care and look both ways even when you have right of way. When learning to drive you're taught the same, even when you have right of way, take care to look carefully. Off course, nobody does this 100% of the time, and accidents do happen because of it, but most of the time it works out. So you either ban bikes all together from your streets, or you arrange for a safe transportation infrastructure. Like you can see from this video, it can be done, even in big cities.

[@morrisfalker2773]

When Poland and Romania invaded our country they all went dui. More people died in traffic.

[@erik5374]

brian turnbull And again the UK road war affects these videos of peacefully dutch cycling Arcadia. When I see the videos from UK, I think all traffic there is nuts. There’s no space for other traffic than cars. Cyclists only can join traffic if they are daredevils, and so only the testosteron-driven, lycra wearing male of the species will show in the wild life (and they’re proud of it too, they call dutch cyclists pussies) Which leaves the canned males of the species many oppurtunities to rant about ‘they don’t obey rules’ and ‘they have no right, because they don’t pay taxes’. And why should the government spent money on those cycling arseholes anyway. Oh, I’m so happy I’m a cyclist on the civilized side of the North Sea. I was on safari on the english country side in last april. I was not happy because I could not bring my steel horse, but it turned out to be better this way. I could safely see the traffic wildlife and the cycling savages from the car. I watched a young race biker being chased by a hungry SUV. It got caught on a narrow road with steep banks. Luckily the young cub found an escape.

[@Abraksas112]

Somehow it's kinda the same in Germany, at least the region I live in. Even right in front of the police you can violate most of the rules because they somehow don't give a shit. No lights on you bike at night? It's against the law (the official law for traffic, not just some side law) but who gives a fuck? Driving in the wrong direction? Who gives a fucking shit? Driving on the walkway even though there is a cyclepath? What gives? I'm a cyclist myself but it enrages me how the police/government handles things. It's fucking dangerous and irritating how most cyclists behave, even for me as a cyclist. I'm with you there. I'm pretty certain that if they'd decide to prosecute cyclists it'd really change things for the better. Seriously, as fucked up as it may sound, I feel much safer on the road between cars than on most cyclepaths here (altough not just because of other cyclists, also because of the way most cyclepaths are build, when build at all). At least car drivers (mostly) know and follow the rules and absolutely do not want to be involved in any accident at all. Never had trouble with cars, cyclists and pedestrians on the other hand I can't even remember how many times I almost had an accident with.

[@ChristoNorman]

Geez, there seems to be some great infrastructure designed here to have traffic of all types working together. I'd love to see something similar in Canberra.

[@bramvanduijn8086]

The crazy thing is that it's not that expensive. It is largely about how you put the roads down, not about how much material you use. You just need a dedicated group of expert city planners, that is the only extra expense.

[@eduardo_carvajal]

Your videos are always awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@ericvanderhorst5164]

Great new video Mark! Keep it going; so easy to refer too!

[@Maxschellenberg]

I wish they had this in Canada.

[@IntiFloyd]

It would be nice, but in Canada there is also a climatic factor to consider, because it's basically impossible to use the bike during winter due to frequent horrible weather conditions (huge snowstorms, icy rain) and traffic (snowplows running on the streets and even sidewalks). I really wanted to use the bike when I was living in Montreal but I didn't feel safe. I started to use the bike only after moving to Munich, Germany, a city with a really good bike infrastructure compared to Montreal and Rome (where I was born). In Netherlands is even better, a real paradise for cycling.

[@kruthent]

I can't ever see this happening in Canada. Canadians don't have the same ability to organize to achieve this level of sophisticated bicycle infrastructure.

[@Coccinelf]

@@IntiFloyd Not saying it's the only obstacle but if you want to see an example or cycling in winter, I suggest watching Not Just Bike's video titled "Why Canadians Can't Bike in the Winter (but Finnish people can)"

[@andyk5572]

Only 6,000 views? Shame. Londoners should see this!

[@taerial879]

20k. But indeed, cycling related videos seldom exceed 30k views, at least this number grows very slowly. Singer Adele is obviously far more important; 60 million views within some weeks....

[@OP-1000]

45k

[@robinenbernhard]

52k

[@morrisfalker2773]

Your cycle traffic light may be green, it's always worth your life to have a look around first.

[@cecasander]

That's true for all traffic lights, though.

[@Dutch3DMaster]

There is a roundabout in my city where I usually signal truck or bus drivers to simply carry on if they are already on it, because of the time it would take for a truck or bus to get back up to speed again, or because it would otherwise force them to come to an abrupt stop in case there would be doubt about whether or not I would be crossing their part of the road (and also to stop them blocking the other crossings, which can be handy because the fire department and the city hospital is 100 meters down the road). I usually look behind me for upcoming cyclists and people already cycling on the roundabout to not create a conflict with other road users. It's something truck and bus drivers usually like a lot, allthough it causes great confusion with regular motorists who think my gesture was also meant for them. I see some other people do this as well at this particular roundabout, which is also known for people misbehaving and NOT giving cyclists priority.

[@Jaqvander]

This was so tough to read, but I kept going, for some reason.

[@michaelscofield2652]

J I didn’t.

[@alejandrayalanbowman367]

What also makes a HUGE difference is 'attitude' - the Dutch have an inbuilt respect for others. It is nor a case of "Me first"

[@idromano]

It's because they have the right infrasctructure. The right infrastructure incentivises good behaviour.

[@computeraddic675]

This is so normal for us,we dont think about it!Its like putting your trousers on when going outside!

[@cliffboulton8763]

This video should be compulsory viewing for all the Lycra Louts cycling in the UK!!!

[@DougGrinbergs]

3:00 the importance of sight lines

[@wildviaduct]

In België krijgen fietsers groen licht die rechtdoor gaan en de auto's die afslaan tegelijkertijd ook groen licht.....met als gevolg vele dode-hoek ongelukken....

[@navarroh1884]

In NL ook maar meestal is de bocht ruim genoeg zodat je het kan zien in je spiegel

[@piderman871]

1:05 what happened to those orange flags? I get the feeling that anno 2020 I never seem them anymore.

[@richieyeah]

I live in an area with a primary school so i see those orange flags on the bikes of the very young children quite regularly

[@danielday36]

Hey, when you were in the USA, what did you think about our huge trucks?

[@MrEscen]

Sir Bikes-a-lot Day... I thought:" that's why USA wants to control all the oil of the world, everything has to be big, oil consuming and inefficient"

[@theanimatronicscollectoran4193]

Nice size, but dangerous because they are so big.

[@rajnadar6555]

In my area, they started giving pedestrians a head start...but it is almost always less than 5 seconds which is no where near enough...I wish they would give all pedestrians a separate signal and then let motor vehicles cross the intersection.

[@MinecraftKaan71]

I like Traffic Lights 🚦 0:01

[@tsaszymborska7389]

I think it's also very important to mention that Dutch cyclists don't drive at lunatic speeds like many cyclists in London do for example. This gives other road users plenty of time to notice them before they decide to make a turn.

[@wimahlers]

You said: "In london people ride like its a race..." They kind of have to. Since there is no cycle infrastructure to speak of they must out race the motor traffic. You see the same action in, for example, the USA.

[@wimahlers]

Maxwell Winters By the way, I am Dutch and an avid cyclist. On the common traditional no-gear bike that is.

[@ingeposch8091]

dear tsa, we do have those in the netherlands too... they are mostly to be found out in the country and operate in packs. they pretend to be riding the "tour de france" and are a danger to themselves and the people around them, trafficrules are trampled on and red lights and give way signs are totally ignored... as a postalworker i have a 1950 gazelle bicycle, converted to a "mule" (crate on the front and huge panniers on the back) and i "love it" when i meet such a pack on a crossing where i have priority for i'm not stopping for those idiots and my bicycle is a very sturdy, heavy vehicle.

[@marcvanderwee]

+Inge Posch: Despite that, be careful of your bike! It will be sad when it has gonna get damage after a meeting with a race cyclist.... ;-) Apart from the risk you get hurt!

[@ingeposch8091]

maak je geen zorgen Mark, ik heb meestal weinig tot geen schade... de meest fantastische "klapper" die ik ooit gemaakt heb was in september 2010. ik was op weg naar een camping in Doorwerth met mijn Juncker Impala uit 1964, volgeladen met mijn krampeerspullen. op ongeveer 4 km van mijn bestemming kwam ik op een smal 2 richtingen fietspad een groep mislukte veldrijders tegemoet. ik ging net heuvel-af en was dus vaart aan het maken om de volgende heuvel goed op te komen toen ik ze zag. ik gebruikte mijn grote "pling-plong bel" en waarschuwde dat ik dubbel breed was... de meesten gingen netjes in de ganzenpas, maar 3 eikels dachten dat ik wel ruimte voor ze zou maken. NIET DUS!! de eerste zag het net op tijd aankomen en dook het pad af, het bos in. nummer 2 was een echte stommeling, hij ging vol in de remmen, recht voor mijn neus... ik heb mijn remstang niet aangeraakt, ik denderde er vol in met een vaartje van ongeveer 30km/u. dat leverde een totaal vernielde mountainbike op en ik had een klein, bijna niet zichtbaar, deukje in mijn stuur en een flauwe slag in mijn voorwiel. toen ik er achter kwam dat die fiets van hem nog geen 2 maanden oud was en zo'n 2000 euro had gekost kon ik het niet laten om op te merken dat mijn fiets mij maar 10% van dat bedrag had gekost en blijkbaar veel geschikter was voor een ruwe behandeling... je had het smoelwerk van die gast moeten zien toen hij dat te horen kreeg! ;-)

[@BelovedNL]

Honestly should have included the locations where it did go wrong (deadly) and why.

[@marcvanderwee]

3.08-3.12: 'Also when it is a little child pushed by its mother'. Of course a truck will give priority to them as well. But in this particular case they are pedestrians... And they are on a zebra crossing.

[@ralphmacchiato3761]

It's about sight lines and persons on a bicycle. Like that kid on it's bike.

[@hak8755]

wow

[@harrami101]

2:58 was awe inspiring, to see trucks and cyclists in harmony. The cycle lanes look awfully similar to pavements, do pedestrians get confused where to walk?

[@keokiracerhalsteren]

Cycle lanes are usually in red, so it's quite clear who needs to be where. And when it's not in red there are always the signs ;)

[@weeardguy]

And to continue on that, you can be incredibly certain that if there is a cycling path or lane, there is also a pavement, unless you are in the countryside. But because the pavement is there as well most of the times, there is nothing to get confused about ;)

[@whoops20]

Most of the time there are clear pavements for pedestrians, but if you need to walk on a bikelane. You walk on the leftside not right, so you can see the bikes in front of you and step a side, eye contact.

[@Mark-uq9ty]

In Russia we must to cycle on road.

[@SamyasaSwi]

In Russia, road cycles on you

[@petermcgreevy6386]

I see a number of motorised bikes scooters,what is the law on these. Thanks.

[@DarkDutch007]

yellow plate scooters are not allowed to go faster then 45km/h, can share the roads with cars that go at a maximum speed of 60km/h, is not allowed on a bicycle path UNLESS it is a scooter & bicycle path, and you need to wear a helmet. blue plate scooters are not allowed to go faster then 25km/h, can share the roads with cars that go at a maximum speed of 30km/h (Industrial streets can be up to 50km/h so also there), depending on the city can or can't use the bicycle path, also depending on the city helmet is not necessary (except for Amsterdam at the moment) for both you need insurance and the same drivers license.

[@sampathk1212]

Where the kids learn cycling in Netherlands ? specially if they are living in the city apartments ?

[@meiketempel8430]

I can't speak for everyone, but I'm pretty sure kids just learn that at home. I did, atleast.

[@SamyasaSwi]

I'm not sure what living in city apartments has to do with it, but there are always places around where it's safe to practice. Especially in most smaller or medium sizes towns or cities, traffic isn't that high, and you can practice on the streets or sidewalks.

[@ronnap2000]

Children also get lessons in basic school. Where i live each year we organize examination for children how to ride bike in traffic.

[@kjellbrandenburg1343]

I am learing my kids to drive in a park nearby. (Sometimes like whe did we had is walkingbike to learn there balance on the stepways. The most children jus this bike when the are 2 and gets there first bike when the are 3. When they are 4 years a lot of kids drives on the road) When the had control over it we will let them drive nix to me on the road and that how we learn then the thirst steps. When they are 9 or 10 school will give them lesson and a exams. After than the most are secure to drive alone.

[@Saartje05]

On the streets, playgrounds, sidewalks. There's enough room. And if they live in a city apartment they just go down and outside. You can always find room to learn.

[@viamarasigan]

Hi from GMA, Philippines' TV Channel. How can I reach you to formally send my request/permission letter to use your video? Thanks :)

[@BicycleDutch]

follow the link to the blog.

[@viamarasigan]

Sent request letter to this email ([e-mail]) Hoping for your favorable response. Thank you! :)

[@DougGrinbergs]

Alas, in the US, bar is low; we're generally grateful for some paint, maybe some silly plastic bollards. (:-(

[@woutervanr]

You have to start somewhere. The important part is starting at all and wanting to improving constantly.

[@msdenise1234567]

I think 3:30 shows how important education/ growing up here is. Dutch people know you almost always have to give away to cyclists, this truck driver is probably not used to that.

[@TimothyFish]

Your emphasis is on the design of the infrastructure, but the thing that makes those situations safer is that people stopped and waited when another road user did something illegally. Even with that infrastructure, one driver failing to yield at a crossing is all it takes to injure someone.

[@totobobomask]

Chicken and egg situation, note in this video (2:26) shows an example of good design yield safe behavior. a truck driver didn't give way as he was supposed to. Fortunately, due to the clear line of sight, cyclist easily noticed the truck and stopped in time.

[@taerial879]

When the infrastructure is bike and pedestrian friendly, the number of cars on the road will drop dramatically, thus also the number of injuries. And in The Netherlands the majority of drivers are cyclists also, triggering more empathy.

[@maaiker2977]

totobobo mask The problem is that dutch drivers know the traffic rules...foreign truckers sometimes don't...or don't obey them. We also see that with tourists cycling in the Netherlands...our system signals them to let others pass..they don't know that and the other cyclists assumes they do...thats how accidents happen. Safe cycling doesn't just start with infrastructure, it starts with the school/parents teaching kids the rules of the road.

[@bramvanduijn8086]

The reason the people stopped is because they noticed the truck. They noticed the truck because of good junction design like direction of traffic facing the correct way to see him coming and a traffic-calm place to wait safely.

[@harvey66616]

I know I'm late to the party, but KZbin has recently suggested your channel, and I've enjoyed watching the videos and learning more about Dutch cycling infrastructure. It certainly puts even the best examples in the US to shame, and of course those are few and far between. That said, I found it interesting that even in the Netherlands, arguably the pinnacle of bikes-as-transportation in the world, and even in a short 4-minute video, we see cyclists apparently ignoring a red light, but more importantly several (at least three that I saw) people on motorized scooters making use of the cycle paths (and they were not restraining their speed to match the cyclists either). Is it actually legal for these scooters to use the cycle paths? From their design, it's clear they are not just "bikes with motors", limited to some reasonable speed, but are road-worthy motor vehicles in their own right. It seems odd to me that these would be permitted on the cycle paths, in any jurisdiction, but especially in one that otherwise seems so keen on adhering to the very best safety-oriented practices available.

[@Jaqvander]

It's ok to ignore a red light when it's safe to do so. After a while you know when it's silly to stand still and have a computerised light tell you want to do when you know better.

[@lightblue_12]

The scooters are supposed to be on (most, not all) cycle paths and they are restricted to 30, 40 or 45 km/h depending on where they are. And it's probably a lot safer for them on there than on a 50 or 80 km/h "car"roads because they would not be able to keep up. I have not found this dangerous as a cyclist in The Netherlands.

[@steamhammer2k]

A UK Truck driver is very unlikely to cross a red light, and looking at the video it is very clear this truck is NOT from the UK,

[@OP-1000]

ጎፕ ጎነ ሀቿዪሃ ርረቿልዪ ፕዘጎነ ፕዪሁርጕ ጎነ ክዐፕ ቻዪዐጠ ፕዘቿ ሁጕ

[@ralphmacchiato3761]

Save it for the food riots. Bye bye.

[@cecasander]

It says Milton Keynes on the side though. Is that not part of the UK anymore (hard to tell these days)

[@jordivanselm3201]

3:24 When spotting a Wabby your life may be at risk.

[@Eric.T.Cartman]

😂 Indeed! Never trust a Wabby!

[@RFGfotografie]

The thing is there are actually quite a lot of deadly traffic accidents between bikes and trucks in the Netherlands.

[@wimahlers]

Nobody claimed there are no accidents. Accidents do happen. So what is your point exactly?

[@bramvanduijn8086]

Not according to the Centraal Bureau voor Statistiek (CBS.nl), trucks are almost never involved in deadly accidents. Most dead cyclers involve collisions with normal cars. On average 75 cyclists die a year by getting hit by a car and only 20 by getting hit by a truck. opendata.cbs.nl/#/CBS/nl/dataset/7233/table?searchKeywords=doodsoorzaken And obviously no car or truck drivers die by getting hit by a bicycle. Just adding that in to point out that bicycles are the most virtuous of vehicles, they practically never kill others.

[@IJubane]

@@bramvanduijn8086 I don't really know why I feel the need to reply to such an old comment, but to be fair though, you also have to take in to a count that there are probably way more cars driving in places where a collision with a bike is most likely. In many places I can imagine that there might be only 1 truck driving for every 20 or more cars, so then the percentage of trucks colliding with a bike is higher than the percentage for cars since the diverence in accidents is only 1:3,75. I would also argue that it doesn't really matter of it's a car or a truck, basically a lot the same safety measures are required to lower the change of a collision. "Luckely" most accidents seem to happen on older infrastructure, and every time a road needs resurfacing or change, updates are often done according to new regulations that usually makes it safer. Some roads are just old and not yet made to today's standards. Can't do everything at once unfortunately.

[@kailahmann1823]

​@@IJubane there are a few differences. For example speed bumps have no effect on trucks, they barely feel when they hit the curb. Also trucks need a lot of space to their sides when they turn. And while sharing the road with passenger cars at low speeds is no issue and quite common in the Netherlands, any street with regular truck traffic must have separate bike lanes.

[@MrAronymous]

Nothing in this video about the blind spot in places where there is no room for segregated cycle paths? Or the blind spot campaign, blind spot mirrors?

[@keokiracerhalsteren]

Basically there often is room for cycle paths. And if there's no room for that it usually means that it's somewhere in the inner city where trucks can barely come due to narrow streets or truck bans etc. But yeah, in NL there have been some campaigns to make cyclists aware of the blind spot. Basically all trucks have extra mirrors so they can look in their blindspot.

[@lienbijs1205]

I am Dutch and the children are thaught both at school and from their parents never to take place next to a truck. And the golden rule is that if you can't see the face of a truck driver in his Side mirror, he can' t see you either.

[@adrianameyer1848]

As a child you will get taught about the blind spot. There is even a famous child book with the moral of the story to be cautious of the blind spot, which made a huge impression on me as a child

[@nickbooker5579]

@@adrianameyer1848 what's that book called, please?

[@paolagrando5079]

@@adrianameyer1848 I would live to know the title of the book too. Thank you.

[@dannystroo]

2:30. Not a driver from the UK, One from poland or so..

[@Saartje05]

Nope, it's UK

[@walker1054]

@@Saartje05 Lol but it doesn't have a UK number plate so it's not a UK truck. Might be a UK logistics company but its not a UK truck, same way not all Coke trucks aren't from America.

[@mysurlytrucker7510]

Thats the sad fact in my country Scotland most are not even thinking whether cycling is safer or not, its not even in their thoughts, it shows when you look to the Netherlands just what a dreadful attitude there is to cycling here in Scotland there mite be some poor shared cycle ways but most walking don't want you on them ,and if your on the road they definitely mostly do not want you there ,the paths right now and have been for days covered in ice not gritted and mostly dangerous and unusable by bike ,sometimes your told you shouldn't be on this path by walkers, tho they wouldn't like to be told by a cyclists to get of the cycling path , yes a very long way to get even close to your country.

[@m__6930]

JUMBOOOO.

[@m__6930]

I just found a post of myself from 4 years ago by accident wtf lol

[@navarroh1884]

@@m__6930 lol

[@mysterion9686]

2:37 That bicycle crossing is actually not very intuitive/visible for car drivers that are unfamiliar there. I've seen some late braking from cars there. The nearby car T-junction in a bent is distracting car drivers.

[@ynotnilknarf39]

Whilst the side of the Wagon has Milton Keynes markings, the actual vehicle itself is owned/run by a company from another country as clearly seen by the non UK license plate. That said a lot of lorry HGV drivers over here are absolute bastards, not to mention tipper lorries and others that value a few seconds over the life of a human being. Your life means fuck all to these people never mind red lights!

[@ronkalkhoven2119]

ynotnilknarf39 The BAKRO truck is a british company....Everything is in the name...

[@simonh6371]

@@ronkalkhoven2119 Yeah but all the British truck drivers got undercut by Eastern Bloc drivers who now work for the UK companies for lower pay...many deaths of cyclists in London were caused by truck drivers from Slovakia, Bulgaria etc. People in the UK don't train to drive trucks because the level of wages has been pushed down so low. Same for many jobs. That's one of many reasons for voting Brexit. A similar thing is now happening in NL with Horeca and shop workers, so that now if you want to go out in a big city centre in NL you have to speak English in your own country, because these migrant workers are only there to make a few bucks and return home in a year or two, so they don't bother learning Dutch. EU homogenisation.

[@kayhanett209]

Yeah but when you are in Germany on the highway you only hear noisy trucks.

[@Aragorn.Strider]

And if road designers do it wrong a cyclist can be killed. Also in the Netherlands. But... hopefully soon that road gets adjusted and will get safe again.

[@ph11p3540]

I have never seen a place where there are so many expensive sidewalks. In my city, new neighborhoods are going up and there are no sidewalks to be seen for miles. The thing is a neighborhood with no sidewalks has been proven to greatly reduce crime in that neighborhood. We have city planners who actually looks at older neighborhoods and they rip out all the sidewalks permanently every time there is a road improvement.

[@Saartje05]

LMAO, what have sidewalks got to do with crime in a neighborhood???? If that's true, then why aren't we all robbed all day long?

[@simonh6371]

@@Saartje05 A bit of joined up thinking please Saartje. If more people are out on the streets (sidewalks) there is less likelihood of crime. We have sidewalks in the UK but more of a culture of shutting ourselves off in our houses. So the only people on the streets are gangs of youths in residential areas, up to no good because they are left to their own devices, some shopkeepers even put frequency emitters in front of their shops which are only audible to teenagers because they don't want groups of ''hoodies'' standing near their shops... hence more crime, whereas in Spanish cities, all kinds of people are out, old guys on benches talking and listening to football on radios etc. so you never feel threatened. UK is a bit of an antisocial country in many ways.

[@bramvanduijn8086]

It is true that if there are no people on the street they cannot get robbed, but this solution is similar to pre-emptively cutting off everyone's thumbs to prevent them ever stealing anything. Sure, it works, but the sacrifice is too big.

[@mark9294]

Sounds like a horrible hellscape

[@mourlyvold7655]

Geez, that chain of thought is so alien to us (to me for sure) it's actually rather hard to grasp. I can sort of see the logic behind it to some degree, if I try. But if your home security depends on moving everyone out of the public space (wich is basicly what it comes down to) you might want to consider looking at some deeper, social-economic issues that underlie that bleak reality. We see it as an established fact that in general an inhabited neighbourhood is much safer than empty streets. Of course in Europe guns don't enter our minds, makes a difference I guess. It's a sad reality you guys have to deal with, Phillip.

[@Pushyhog]

Usa would take 20 plus years to build and that long to train people to drive. Shame usa didn’t start after wwll.

[@brozius]

I'm sorry too say but the U.S. has an old infrastructure, what the dutch had in the early 50's the U.S. has now.

[@sanssheriff3829]

We, the Dutch, needed 20 years as well. We just have a head start and the right mindset to want to make the infra safe instead of blaming eachother. If America would set its mind to it, it would also achieve this in 20 years from now.

[@markomatic1566]

This doesn't work out so well down town in Amsterdam where most cyclist are maniacs coming from all directions unexpectedly and terrorise the streets.

[@simonh6371]

Totally untrue. Cyclists hardly ever collide or have problems, although it looks like chaos, because they are proficient and know how to read other cyclists behaviour. If you feel like that because you were walking there, that means you were either walking on a bike lane, or more likely, walking in the middle of the street even though there is a pavement. Where there is not a raised kerb, the pavement is separated by bollards. I really don't understand why tourists think it's ok to just walk in the middle of the road in groups in Amsterdam, something they would never do at home, because in the UK or USA you would get hit by a car doing this. Amsterdam is not a theme park for tourists, it's a working living city. So walk on the pavement. And be prepared to walk behind the people you are next to for a second or two if someone is walking from the other direction, don't take up all the pavement and expect other people to step into the road because you are too far up your own arse to behave normally. Kkrtoerist.

[@helenooft9664]

@@simonh6371 Ik ben het helemaal met je eens, goed verteld, alleen jammer dat je eindigt met het k woord, ik schaam me echt dood dat Nederlanders zo erg vloeken, ook tegen elkaar, dat zouden we echt moeten veranderen. zo zonde, dat dit telkens gebeurd. Verder vind ik je commentaar echt geweldig. hopelijk lezen dit meer toeristen, groet, Helen

[@lightblue_12]

Also a lot of cyclist in Amsterdam are tourists and have no idea how to ride a bike...

[@mourlyvold7655]

@@simonh6371 You brought up some valuable points there, Simon. But let's please not get all hypocritical about this, shall we? There are assholes out there, true that. They walk, drive cars and... ride bicycles. Don't fall for this holier-than-holy mindset, the us-against-them mentality. A sure predictor for trouble on the road.. In it's very nature the public space is a space of compromise, for all. Bikers included. I've been one in Amsterdam for decades by the way. You presented some valid observations but, to be honest, seem to have some anger issues. Not a good thing while relating to your fellow inhabitants of this great town. No offence, enjoy the ride. Peace.