Fritz and I might have put a lot of miles on our sneakers during our stay, but the rest of Amsterdam was commuting on two wheels. Bikes were EVERYWHERE!
Gas is expensive in Europe and perhaps even more pricey in the Netherlands so the people have selected a more fuel-efficient approach to transportation. It probably helps that the city is so lovely, the weather is fairly temperate, and parking is nearly impossible. There were bike lanes all over and there were even some roads that were completely restricted to bikes only- no cars allowed. As a walker, the bike traffic was somewhat terrifying at times. At one point in our travels, Fritz labeled bikes "The Silent Killer" because you can't really hear them approaching from behind and they don't necessarily follow the "rules of the road," often riding on sidewalks and taking corners at top speeds.
If I added up all the bicycles I have seen over the course of my entire life, I'm certain it would not equal the sheer volume that I saw in a single day on the streets of Amsterdam. Naturally, I took pictures.
Many bikes had baskets. The plastic milk basket attached by bungee chords was the most popular.
Some baskets were made of straw and decorated with a silk floral garnish.
Some baskets were more like wagons and came with their own kickstand.
Some bikes were made of wood.
Some bikes had vintage leather handle bars.
Some had vintage leather seats.
Many bikes had headlights.
Nearly every bike had a bell.
Some bells were new and shiny.
Others had been through a few seasons.
Consequently, nearly every picture we took in Amsterdam included a bike... or twelve.
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