Safe Speed Forums

I have just got back from a short trip to Amsterdam which, as I am sure that you are all aware, has very good cycling provision. Generally, the interaction between all road users was very good albeit at very low average speeds but a few observations stuck in my mind.

- I saw thousands of cyclists everywhere. Out of all these, only ONE was wearing Lycra and was on a sports bike. Everyone else was wearing ordinary day clothes and used upright bicycles. My guess is that very few of them were trying to beat their best time for a journey.

When I arrived back in the UK and drove home from the airport, all the cyclists I saw were in Lycra and furiously pedalling.

- There is clearly an understanding about who gives way to whom but, as a visitor, I found this inconsistent. Cars and vans give way to cyclists but cyclists expect pedestrians to get out of their way. This seems illogical.

Either the road user with the lower inertia should always give way (as they are the most able to move rapidly to avoid an accident) or the bigger vehicle should be the one to take the avoiding action (upwards liability). However, cyclists seem to have the best of all worlds.


In summary, I would be pleased to see cycling in the UK change to be like in Holland. Unfortunately, the attitude of UK cyclists seems to be "racing on the highway" rather than "getting about normally".

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.

Perception bias.


Why do you think we don't see this sight:



On roads like this (which is pretty standard for London I might add):




Pretty much the only people prepared to go out on the roads in the UK are young men, who pretty much like going places quickly.

Because it would be suicidal (for at least the first kid) when trying to pull out of a T junction in a narrow street with high walls on either side?

OR Because of vehicles parking on the pavement/excessively close to Junctions blocking access to movement.

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

or because the "elf and softy" gurus at the council would have a fit if they were to see that many children on one bike.

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

You need a local with you (I'm not but I visit friends there often).

Cyclists in Amsterdam often behave like they have right of way when they don't. On the cycle paths they do and you should keep off those if you are walking. When it comes to pedestrian crossings controlled by lights the cyclists are supposed to stop just as the other traffic but you'll often find they don't.

It's the trams I have most trouble with.

Exactly my observations and conclusion too Malcolm.

I'm not against Lycra, each to their own, but the attitude is just as you described. Just goes to prove too that the weather and arriving a bit hot for work is no excuse.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

They've actually got two proper words for cyclists in the Netherlands, Wielrunner, and Fiester. The former is your lycra clad lot who enjoy getting out for long rides, possibly anerobically, the latter is a utility cyclist, somebody who uses a bike to get around, to and from work etc...

There are of course lycra clad cyclists in the Netherlands, but unlike here, they are vastly outnumbered by people in normal clothes on bikes they're using to go to the shops or work.

Of course, this is because people feel safe on their cycles in the Netherlands, here in thee UK the number one stated barrier to cycling is that the roads don't feel safe for cycling. So, we end up with an unrepresentative sample of young fit men who are willing to take the risks.

I have to say I think the risk is overstated, but then, sometimes I also think that certainly London is a place that cyclists really get the bum end of the deal.

And not having any hills might also have something to do with it...

I don't think anyone will be doing a long ride anaerobically.....

For a little bit, where your utility cyclist is never going to have to be dealing with lactic acid.

I get anaerobic on a few bits of my commute in the morning, e.g. going up Holland Park Avenue in London, if it's not clogged up with cars slowing me down.

Cycling up and down hills in the Netherlands:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCEde7izMwY