+31 (0)50 367 71 97 
info@connect-int.org
Do it!
Don’t be daunted by the weather, the madness of Dutchies on their bikes or hatred of exercise; cycling is fun, practical and good for you!
The rules
There are of course traffic rules, but here are some basic “rules” to help you integrate:
- If you are a beginner, make sure your saddle is low enough for you to be able to reach the ground with ease and choose a bicycle with a low instep (e.g. a Mamafiets).
- Dress up warmly in the winter: you will be surprised how cold your hands and ears can get for example. (Similarly in the summer, don’t forget sunscreen on your hands, nose and forehead in particular.)
- Be confident. Cycle as if you own the road!
- Once you are confident and cease to wobble: add people (child on back and/or front, adult passenger on back), or things (carriers for shopping (basket on front, panniers on the back), clips for car seats, strollers, hockey sticks) to your bike, or just stick something large and unwieldy under your arm!
Traffic rules
Where are you allowed to/must you cycle?
On the side of the road (on the special (red) cycle path, on the bit separated by white dotted lines from the rest of the road or just on any space between the cars and the pavement / sidewalk).
On specially designated cycle paths:
Do NOT cycle on the pavement/sidewalk area (e.g. inner city shopping streets), or pedestrian area or where you see this sign:
Priority
Although you will see many cyclists breaking the rules, be safe rather than sorry and stop for red lights, and give way at sharks teeth or a thick white line or at these signs:
Traffic lights
In some cities, Groningen being a notable example, the council has decided that all the cycle traffic lights should be green at once at any one intersection. This means that all the cars stop and that there is a rush of cyclists all crossing any which way all at the same time. This can be daunting the first couple of times, but just keep your eyes open and your feet pedalling.
Remember
- Fit working, bright lights on the front and back and use them (they can be cheaply bought from shops like Hema, Action, Gamma etc.). Be seen!!! Thereby also avoiding a €55.00 on the spot fine for not having lights (on) between 1 hour before sun-down till one hour after sun-up.
- A police officer telling you to stop / go has priority over all else.
- Always give way to a police car / fire engine / ambulance with flashing lights / sirens.
- Traffic lights (temporary or permanent) trump traffic signs.
- Traffic signs (including lines and markings on the road) trump the basic rules.
Basic rules
Traffic from the right has priority!!! You must give way to bikes and cars coming from paths and roads to your right, unless they are on a road with traffic lights/sharks teeth, or you are on a road with one of these signs:
If you are facing another car or bike at a crossing and they want to go straight on and you want to turn left, you must wait till they have crossed.
Stick out your arm to indicate turning left or right. This is crucial to ensure your safety (from cars and other bikes) and to protect pedestrians.
If you are walking along wheeling your bike you are still considered by law to be a cyclist and not a pedestrian. Technically you are not entitled to priority at a zebra crossing for example, BUT most car drivers will treat you as a pedestrian, just beware.
And that sums it up really: beware and be aware. Cycling is fun (you see so much more, you can go places cars cannot), practical (the Netherlands is designed for cyclists and it is so much easier (and cheaper!) to park a bike than a car) and good exercise. And if it sounds like too much hard work, you can always get an electric bike!