— This submit is a part of BikePortland Workers Author Taylor Griggs’ journey by way of Europe. See earlier dispatches right here.
Okay, I believe that is going to be my final story about The Netherlands for now. I actually beloved it, particularly Amsterdam, as I’m positive is obvious from my tales this week, however I believe I’ve exhausted my capability to put in writing about this specific nation in the interim. Plus, I’ve simply arrived in Copenhagen, so I ought to in all probability attempt to cease interested by Amsterdam for some time and take note of my environment right here.
Within the articles I’ve written from Utrecht and Amsterdam, I mentioned a number of subjects concerning the infrastructure (and in addition recounted my hassle with the regulation). However I noticed I haven’t actually written about my precise expertise on a motorcycle! So, right here’s what I assumed concerning the brass tacks of the Dutch bicycling expertise.
The bike itself
Except my new electrical bike, I’ve solely ridden hybrid bikes with a minimum of seven speeds since I ended utilizing coaching wheels. I like to keep up a comparatively upright posture, however not a lot that I really feel like Miss Gulch in The Wizard of Oz. That’s form of how I felt driving the Dutch-style bikes I rented in The Netherlands, and it took some getting used to — particularly the braking system.
The rental store supplied bikes with hand brakes for a number of extra Euros, however I needed to see if I may determine the coaster brakes, so I opted for the cheaper one. At first, this was tough, and together with attracting the eye of regulation enforcement, I additionally nearly crashed right into a parked automobile and several other different issues as a result of I forgot tips on how to cease. However as soon as I received used to it, I noticed I truly like this fashion of braking for touring round flat areas.
I’m liable to overusing my entrance brake whereas biking in Portland as a result of I’m utilizing my proper hand to take photographs, which is actually not ultimate. With coaster brakes, you should use your arms much more freely with out risking flipping over the handlebars. Now, I don’t suppose this is able to work for me in locations the place you should climb up and down hills any steeper than a canal bridge (sure, fixie individuals, I do know!), however in Amsterdam it makes full sense.
I believe it’s sort of old school to sit down utterly upright on a motorcycle (these bikes are sometimes called ‘omafiets,’ or ‘grandma bikes’), however the Dutch are in a position to pull it off with fashion. This posture positively permits you to costume in additional restrictive clothes whereas biking, so it’s good for individuals commuting to work.
In the end, this fashion of motorbike is ideal for flat Amsterdam, however there’s a motive individuals in Portland have their most well-liked alternate options. I don’t hate it, although!
In Utrecht a person who needed to cross me on a motorcycle path gently pushed me out of his means with out saying a phrase… it was unusual!
Locking up
Most Dutch bikes make the most of a multi-prong locking system. The ring lock (a.okay.a wheel lock) component lets you lock simply your again wheel, stopping individuals from shortly driving off with it whenever you simply wish to go away it alone for a bit of bit or can’t discover something to lock it to (a standard downside with the amount of bikes within the nation). For extra safety, you should use a sequence bike lock that’s mounted to the bike to lock it to a rack.
Locals will inform you there’s an enormous downside with bike theft in Amsterdam, however there are such a lot of bikes within the metropolis that if somebody needs to steal one, they’re not going to take it if they will’t shortly trip away on it. And I need to say that with the variety of costly City Arrows and VanMoofs I noticed parked on the streets late at evening, individuals should both really feel assured it received’t get stolen or be prepared to purchase a brand new one if it does.
In the end, I’m in all probability simply going to maintain utilizing my u-lock in Portland — I’m too paranoid to depart my bike untethered to an immovable object. However for some added safety, perhaps the ring lock methodology ought to get some traction within the U.S.?
The bike tradition
I used to be a bit afraid I might stick out like a sore thumb in Europe with my American biking habits, however I believe I managed to determine tips on how to roll with the group fairly simply. The one considerably adverse interplay I had, aside from my dialog with the cops, was in Utrecht when a person who needed to cross me on a motorcycle path gently pushed me out of his means with out saying a phrase. I didn’t fall over and it didn’t even appear mean-spirited, but it surely was unusual!
In any other case, individuals used their bells to speak, which is one thing I believe we must extra totally embrace within the U.S. The one downside is that with all of the automobile site visitors in Portland, it may be exhausting to listen to a bell ringing.
It was nice to see individuals of all ages driving their bikes, wanting relaxed as an alternative of regularly harassed about security. And I don’t suppose I noticed a single soul sporting a helmet — it’s not vital!
So, onwards I am going on my journey. Thanks for studying my dispatches up to now, and hopefully you don’t get bored with them, as a result of I plan to maintain them coming.
Taylor has been BikePortland’s workers author since November 2021. She has additionally written for Avenue Roots and Eugene Weekly. Contact her at taylorgriggswriter@gmail.com
