Reflections on Biking in NL v Denmark

The very obvious difference between biking in Copenhagen versus in Amsterdam is the flow of traffic. In Copenhagen it is orderly and rigid and cyclists follow strict rules like stopping at lights and crossing two ways to make a left turn. The Danish are strict about signaling and are considerate about informing cyclists behind them when they are stopping and pulling up onto the sidewalk to get out of the cycle track. My first impression of biking in Amsterdam was pure fear. I was afraid of colliding with other cyclists, getting hit by a tram, or being too close to a car. However, the best way to describe biking in Amsterdam is organized chaos. While it is terrifying at first and very different from anything like biking in the US and even Copenhagen it started to make more sense the more comfortable I got. The first few days were stressful and I wanted to be back in Copenhagen. After a few days and immersive discussions with friends about planning and infrastructure I started to open up to the Netherlands. Lauren and I biked to AH to meet Sulwyn to continue our scavenger hunt. The grocery store was in a plaza that was blocked off to cars but connected by cycle tracks on all sides. Above the stores was housing with balconies that overlooked the public space. I saw people of all ages entering by foot, bike, and scooter. There were young children on their own biking to the store. People were living and existing in spaces that were for them without a fear of vehicles or design hostility. I took a moment to sit and watch people. This is when Lauren and I had our Amsterdam moment. It was less about the city specifically because I still adore Copenhagen and more about the people I have met and the livability I am witnessing. Both Copenhagen and Amsterdam are well connected and biking is made easy. In Amsterdam you stop less and just move around people. No one really signals and when someone stops no one rings their bell or yells, instead you continue on around them.

As someone who does not bike as my main form of transportation prior to this course Copenhagen was easier and safer to jump into. It felt more like driving with the amount of signaling and traffic rules. This experience is why I think the Copenhagen model would be more applicable in the United States at least to start building a culture and system of biking. While I understand the flow and organized chaos of Amsterdam, I think it is the result of their bike culture and way of life. I will acknowledge it is easier to be a pedestrian in Amsterdam than Copenhagen. In Copenhagen whenever I walked somewhere it felt wrong and I felt that I should have been on a bike instead. Amsterdam feels more free in the sense that you can do whatever you want and go wherever with little restriction for bikes and pedestrians.

I want the ease of non-stop biking in Amsterdam with the small details from the bicycle infrastructure in Copenhagen such as banisters and the light turning orange before it goes green. I also appreciated the signaling from cyclists in Copenhagen. In Amsterdam I feel like I have to be extra cautious about where I am turning and what is happening in front of me.