Amsterdam gets tough on shared bikes, will remove them from busy places

Amsterdam council plans to start removing bikes rented out under bike-sharing schemes from busy parts of city, officials said on the council’s Facebook page.

‘Of course you can park in a public space, and that includes with rented or shared bike,’ the statement said. ‘But you cannot use public space as to store and rent them out.’

Over the past few months several app-driven schemes allowing people to share bikes for a small fee have sprung up and hundreds of two-wheelers have been left at strategic locations all over the city.

Companies such as Flickbike, Donkey Republic, Erbee and Hello Bike have started up operations in Amsterdam and say their bikes are meant for locals not tourists.

But the city council is not happy with the arrival of so many shared bikes, particularly as it is fighting a losing battle to make sure there are enough bike racks and to keep them free of wrecks.

‘We are going to start removing these bikes in the coming period to make sure there is enough space for Amsterdam bikes,’ the statement said.

According to the Parool, the crackdown will begin in September or October.