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Cyclists get ruder as city cycle lanes become more crowdedThursday 27 September 2012 
City cycle lanes are becoming increasingly overcrowded, leading to an increase in anti-social behaviour by cyclists, a conference in Utrecht was told on Thursday. And while bikes are acknowledged as a way of improving the quality of life in cities, cycling is not properly addressed when significant planning decisions are taken, according to the Dutch cycling union Fietsersbond. In Amsterdam and Utrecht, for example, cycle traffic jams and parking problems are an increasing issue, but changes can be made at little cost, city planners say. But at the same time, planners must do more than pay lip service to the needs of urban cyclists, the conference was told. For example, the redevelopment of Utrecht's main station area involves parking space for 30,000 bikes, Trouw reported on Thursday. The cycling union told RTL news it has had many complaints about bad cyclists: the most common being not indicating, weaving all over the road because they are on the phone and cycling through red lights. Are you a good cyclist? Have your say using the comment box below. .
© DutchNews.nl
It is obvious that the drivers here spend 18 years on bikepaths honing their skills ('not indicating, weaving all over the road because they are on the phone and going through red lights') before getting their Rijbewijs. By jaycee | September 27, 2012 3:34 PM was recently reading Plato's Republic (yes I need to get a life) and he said "an excess of liberty leads to people pushing others off the pavement etc because they can" "this leads to anarchy". Sound or look familiar? By Drookitcoo | September 27, 2012 3:39 PM Haarlem has very little bicycle parking at it's central station. Nearly everyone parks on the sidewalk. I don't understand why they can't put up bike racks to handle the demand. By Chris V | September 27, 2012 4:18 PM I think the ''locals'' should learn what a redlight is for.The amount of times I have seen parents leading their children to school on bikes while going right through red lights is shocking.Some don't even have lights on the kids bikes.They should be prosecuted if caught. By jason buttle | September 27, 2012 4:19 PM As an ex-fietser I would like to come to the fefence of the cyclists whose bike paths are frequently blocked by cars and trucks and tourists blithely wandering down the middle of the bike motorway. And in Amsterdam foreign tourists riding a bike for perhaps the first time in 40 years just add to the dangers. By Disgusted in Amsterdam | September 27, 2012 4:33 PM Some people seem to think they can go and do anything and everything they want when they are on their Bike, theses people don’t think or care about anyone else, for these people a (Red light ) means Stop and a ( Green ) light means Go, even a child can work out the difference between Red and Green. By Wallace Het Dam | September 27, 2012 4:50 PM Get. Scooters. Off. Bike lanes. By julian Marshall | September 27, 2012 6:36 PM bicycles are for kids , green freaks , and ppl stuck on 18th century. By dork | September 27, 2012 6:59 PM It is about time the Dutch traffic start to realize that bikes is a part of the general traffic picture Try to follow the quite exelent Danish example By Dr.No. | September 27, 2012 7:07 PM I consider myself a good cycler. Try to be fast, always indicate, look before taking a turn, give space if someone wants to pass, etc. But I constantly get the feeling that caring about other cyclers doesn't pay itself back. People in NL seem to forget about the world when they step up their bikes. Totally selfish. I always have to cycle around Central Station in Utrecht and always ask myself: 'how is not anyone dying or having serious injury everyday in this chaos?' By pfmb | September 27, 2012 7:26 PM The problem isn't other cyclists - IT'S THE SCOOTERS. They're rude, dangerous, interrupt the natural flow of bike traffic, and they've been multiplying. Whoever thought up that law that scooters must drive on bike lanes should be immediately shot. By PK | September 27, 2012 7:51 PM The trouble with the bike lanes is that people with YELLOW plates(motorcycles) ride them. Big bullies. They crash into you on a bike, you're toast while they can strut away with their helmets and leather jackets. BAN yellow plates on bike lanes and ENFORCE it! By Robert | September 27, 2012 8:20 PM we are not yet as bad in Perth, Western Australia. The majority of Cyclists is very polite By Richard Fenson | September 28, 2012 5:41 AM i cycle 300km a week, and drive 20.000km a year. all i can say is please get those scooters off the road. i have no problem with other bikes, yes we block each other, ride 4 by 4, we all learn to live with it. But those f*ing scooters, i hate them, ban them now! get them off the road now! i would make an execption that only girls are allowed on them, these young boys have way too much to prove at that age. By colin | September 28, 2012 8:22 AM I live and in Amsterdam and cycling is my only form of transportation. I think it is a wonderful city to ride in and the vast majority of cyclists and drivers are safe and respectful. You have to expect traffic, and disturbance, delays and disturbances because you are riding in a compact, busy, historical city full of tourists, commuters and all the grime of daily life. Of course the city should work towards better infrastructure (and they are) and there will always be antisocial people, but by the tone of these comments, one would think riding in Amsterdam was a scary or dangerous thing to do. It isn't. By Craig | September 28, 2012 8:30 AM Saftey first! No bromfietsers on fietspads; more cops on bicycles especially during rush hour: impound offenders' bicycles/scooters and bill them for it. Safety/etiquette programs in every school. By Puck | September 28, 2012 8:31 AM If you look beyond the headline, you will know that bicycles are the future for city-transport. Cars don't fit anymore. OV is expensive and over-crowded. Stop complaining about schoolkids on bikes (getalife). See the solutions. Breethe the air. Feel the wind. Your body will respond to movement. Make way for livable cities. By Fietser | September 28, 2012 9:00 AM I try to use common sense on the fietspad, making way for people to pass, etc. I do take offence to the people going the wrong way, coming towards me. I have a rather sturdy fiets, with a nice, hard plastic basket on the front. For anyone coming the wrong way and playing chicken, that's a game they are going to lose, because if I have no where to go, there will be a collision. I agree about getting the bromfiets out of the lanes. More than a few close calls with major injury... By Rick Kane | September 28, 2012 9:34 AM What. Julian. Said. Get. Scooters. Off. Bike lanes. By B | September 28, 2012 9:46 AM Get the damn brommers/scooters off the fietspads. These people are a danger to bikers and pedestrians alike. They ride with utter disregard for human life, far beyond just "anti-social" behavior. By ikhouvanfietsen | September 28, 2012 9:57 AM Ban those bl**dy scooters. By Expat in Holland | September 28, 2012 10:28 AM When will Cyclists learn that a voetpad it NOT a fietspad? As a walker with 2 dogs you would be suprised how many cyclists go down the wrong side of the road on the pavement, or take the shortcut and expect the pedestrian to move out of the way. They also seem to have no idea how the pedestrian crossings are meant to be used. Rude and selfish - yes they are. By Alex | September 28, 2012 11:57 AM Nice comment Fietser, really good stuff. 'see the solutions', wow, thank you. By B | September 28, 2012 12:01 PM Ban scooters from the fietspad By A Nonny Mouse | September 28, 2012 12:11 PM Main problem is cyclists not obeying traffic signs - even on the fietspad itself!! By inkeca | September 28, 2012 12:21 PM Support the motion of JM: By G.CT | September 28, 2012 1:36 PM Only witnessed two accidents in Amsterdam - both were caused by scooters being rode badly at a reckless speed through a crowded area. Had a few near-misses between myself and the misses, all but one was caused by a scooter, the remaining one by a belligerent, drunken fool on a bicycle. By glenn_uk | September 28, 2012 3:19 PM Anything without pedals should be banned from the fietspad. Violators should immediately have their scooter/bromfiets tossed in canal, preferably with them still on it. By RC | September 28, 2012 3:50 PM I have a fiets and a yellow plate. I agree wholeheartedly that the scooters should not be allowed on the cycle lanes. These 'arses' that charge you or whip your sleeve as they pass crowding the middle of the fietspad while people are passing either side have no interest in their safety or others. As I said earlier this behaviour, is about a total lack of consideration for others. The problem is not the mode of transport it is the selfishness of the perpetrators involved. The speed limits are ignored, and the Scooters speed are illegally increased? Also, there are not enough traffic Police to monitor traffic or fietspads? Never see police at all, only active on TV, Wegmisbruikers? By Highlander | September 28, 2012 4:07 PM Only witnessed two accidents in Amsterdam - both were caused by scooters being rode badly at a reckless speed through a crowded area. Had a few near-misses between myself and the misses, all but one was caused by a scooter, the remaining one by a belligerent, drunken fool on a bicycle. By glenn_uk | September 28, 2012 4:39 PM Try cycling in Britain and you will see how much better it is in the Netherlands. Though I agree about the scooters. I am British and cycle in both countries. By tina | September 28, 2012 11:27 PM Second Julian's comment about scooters. Makes no sense to have them doing 40 on bike lanes. By slim jim | September 29, 2012 10:16 AM Second Julian's comment about scooters. Makes no sense to have them doing 40 on bike lanes. By slim jim | September 29, 2012 10:16 AM @Robert, no vehicle with a top speed of more than 45 km/h is allowed on the bike lane. If a motorbike is using that lane they'r doing it illegaly. By Donaugh | September 29, 2012 1:56 PM I also agree about the scooters, they do not belong on a bicycle path! do people here stop for red lights ever? in the car or the bike. I have almost been hit on my bike by cars many times in Amsterdam as they race through yellow and even red lights. By Steve | October 1, 2012 10:10 AM Aw..'just have to say something about this quickly... (Being a user of a bicycle as well as a scooter that can do 70k.) When I ride a bike on the bike-lane, I give the same consideration to other cyclists as I do when I have to 'compete' on the road with the cars & trucks. If I ride my scooter on the bike path, I ALWAYS consider the cyclist before myself :) If you happen to live in an overcrowded country like NL, then you just have to have more patience & for goodness sake, think of others & not just yourself, less mishaps right? :) By The visitor | October 1, 2012 8:14 PM I am sooo glad to read these comments! I wondered if it was just me feeling so annoyed by the way people cycle (and act in general)here, they think YOU are the one that has to care for them, they just keep going and you have to make sure YOU don't kill them! Cyclist just go forward without a proper look if cars is coming or stop light is red! And the scooters? Pff, I also have one and believe me I get so nervous riding it! the others just pass you like on a racing track and put YOU in danger!And the police don't even care... By Gati | October 3, 2012 12:36 PM I Agree with Colin, those young BOYS have to much to prove and they should be BAN on scooters! By Gati | October 3, 2012 1:48 PM
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How about, cycling towards you three abreast, and playing chicken with you? The school kids are the rudest and the worst. But, its the same when they are on foot, they just replicate their bad manners on the fietspad. Its more about declining social norms and good manners, welcome in the new era. Best defence, continue to be polite and set a good example.
By Highlander | September 27, 2012 3:06 PM