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 5 minute walk from Central
Station by vtnyc
So renting a bike is naturally the fun way to get around the city. However, if WANT to look like a tourist, make sure you rent your bike from MAC BIKES. Alot of their bikes are bright orange and ALL of them have a huge round sign in the front under the handle bars that says, "Mac Bikes." Some other places will put license plates on the back of their bike--another dead give away you are a tourist.
But if you DON'T want to look like a tourist, rent from Holland Rent-a-Bike. Their bikes have no distinguishable rental features on them either. A local friend of mine, Ania, checked it out too. Nothing. So when you are riding down the street on their bikes, and ring your bell for people to move, they think you are a local! It was funny watching the "tourists" dodge my swift maneuvers :)
Service was good too. I had a flat one day and they replaced my bike at no extra cost on the spot. Each bike comes equipped with a chain lock and a special lock that latches between the spokes on the wheel. And just like cars come with horns, their bikes come with bells.
Renting requires a refundable 150 euro deposit. Credit Cards are accepted and when you return the bike, they give you back the credit card slip so you can shred it.
Rates in euros as of August 2005:
1 day 6.50
Next day till 11 am 9.25
Next day till 7 pm 12.75
3 days 17.50
4 days 22.25
5 days 26.50
6 days 30.50
7 days 34.50
every day after 7 4.00 Leave a Comment Theme: BicyclePhone: 31 20 622 32 07Website: none Other Contact: Damrak 247, 5 minutes from CS.
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 This isn't sooooo hard - hey
it's almost fun! by Mariajoy
So Petra says "We really should hire a bike while we are here in Amsterdam. Everyone does - it can't be that difficult".
Me "Why would we want to do that? - the cars drive on the wrong side, we are unfit - there are trams coming at you from all directions - We WILL die!"
P - "Oh come on Maria! - It'll be fun - we will stay off the roads and just go to the park - have a cycle round and eat icecream afterwards to reward ourselves for being so brave and fit"
Me - "Tut. Ok then.......But I know I'm gonna hate it".
So off we went to the Mac Bike Hire place in Leidseplein and hired bikes. It was luuuuverly (and we didn't get killed by speeding trams).
We went to the Vondel Park - saw flocks of parakeets - ate icecream - drank coffee, watched skaters, joggers, walkers, and other "proper" cyclists keeping fit in one of Amsterdam's few green spaces. Leave a Comment
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According to a recent Gallup the Dutch feel very positive about cars (86%) and bicycles (84%). They are only 26% to feel positive about public transport.
Cycling is cheap, reliable (arriving on time). The problems are the bad weather (rain and wind) and the parking difficulties (look around the stations!) and bad driving cyclists.
In 2005 all Dutch drove 14 milliard (billion) Km. The Netherlands produced 967 thousand bicycles in 2006.
From my recent 5 day stay in Amsterdam it seems to me that their positive look at bicycles is forced by the politics imposing a ban on car traffic in this city. Walking in the residential area around the Museum Kwartier, which is not in the centre, I saw that parking on the street costs about 3 €/hour, about 25 € for 24 hours, even at night you have to pay for the parking! The residents pay a quarterly fee of 80 € I was told.
With such anti car tolls it is understandable that the Amsterdammers favour cycling.
What surprised me is that they don't wear protection helmets, fluorescent jackets or even anti rain clothes. I must say they are very skilful drivers, I saw no incident at all.
They don't mind about the rain for themselves or for their bikes which are parked outside day and night. Most bikes are somewhat rusty and you won't see expensive sport models. Interesting are the "bakfietsen = cargo bikes" with a large wooden box at the front wheel. This box is loaded with children and shopping.
A good point of all that biking is that there are no fat Amsterdammers, they are all slim and have muscled legs. Theme: Bicycle
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 Bike Park by CoAir13Leave a Comment Theme: Bicycle
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 by jenniferchin
One of the fondest memories I have of bicycles in Amsterdam is the many times I came close to getting run over as I was totally unaware of the lanes specially for bicycles. **grin**
Everywhere you go in Holland you'll see people getting around by bike. In Holland bikes are given a status accorded few modes of transportation. Bike paths exist next to every major road through the countryside into the center of the big cities. You can explore all of Holland by bike if you choose. For the Dutch it is not just a recreational sport, it is a primary means of transport to work, school, even the market.
-taken from http://www.hiptravelguide.com/amsterdam/php/article-29.html- Leave a Comment Theme: Bicycle
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 Rent a bike here by davequ
Especially during good weather, what could be more fun than to rent a bike and go for a ride in & around Amsterdam?
There are lots of places to rent an affordable bike all over town.
Frederic rents the plain, simple old black bikes most Hollanders ride in the city, so you don't stand out like a tourist on your bright orange MacBike, inviting the junkies to trash and/or steal your transportation.
The VVV tourist info office outside Centraal station has bike path maps.
Even some hotels rent them to pick up and return it to the lobby (hopefully.... bicycle theft is so common in ADam it's almost comical... ).
In Amsterdam, bikes are given respect, their own lanes & traffic lights.
Just be cautious/careful as the tourists not used to bike traffic won't see you comin'.
If the sun's out and the wind isn't blowing hard, you will be in Nederlands-bicycle heaven.
The "frederic" website listed below is where I rented mine (BROUWERSGRACHT 78).
Make sure to get a couple good locks and lock it up tight to a bridge or something very sturdy
Doei. Pedal 2da metal.......ching!.... ching... ching.... Leave a Comment
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 These are a few of the bikes
at Centraal Station by flyingscot4, 4 more photos
1. Look left, right, and behind you, especially on your right side.
2. Bicycles traveling at at 15mph exert more force (and damage, of course) than you do at walking speed.
3. Bicycles have right of way, period.
4. It is always good to check your map or guidebook well away from ANY kind of traffic.
Since you are still reading, I may as well recommend seeing Amsterdam by bike. It is character-building but fun. In fact, take a bike tour with Mike's Bikes. The tours are easy, and the most fun, I have found. They will also teach you the "rules of the road" in Amsterdam. Have a ball!
Note: After looking at the pictures of the parked bikes, remember that there are another 100,000 or so being pedaled too. Theme: BicycleOther Contact: probably police headquarters
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 Bicycles - easy way to
get around by Jenniflower
For those who arent used to cyclists on the pavement (usually this is for pedestrians...), you learn pretty quickly in Amsterdam haha. On the way to our hotel we were nearlly mowed down twice. The road was full of cars, the pavement had bikes, and there was really nowhere else we could walk!
The pavement was thin and so bikes and people couldnt safely walk/cycle alongside one another. So we learnt pretty quickly who has right of way, and to jump out of the way. We were very aware of this our whole stay there, keeping the ears peeled for the sign of an urgent bicycle bell!
Quite a few companies offer bicycle rentals for around ?8 per day with discounts for longer rentals. Leave a Comment
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 by micas_ptLeave a Comment Theme: Bicycle
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 by acemjLeave a Comment Theme: Bicycle
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