Of course, bike racks are still everywhere, and people usually lock their bikes to these, too, just to be careful.
One crazy thing about biking in Amsterdam is that nobody wears helmet!. Don’t follow the Dutch example unless you’re here--biking can be very dangerous in America and it’s important to protect your head! However, here, there are, in most places, pink bike lanes that separate cyclists from cars on the road. When you are walking, it’s very important not to walk on these paths or you might get in the way of cyclists and motorcyclists! However, the good news is that Dutch people are very good at avoiding tourists who don’t know the rules. Most people have been biking since they can walk. Even children don’t usually wear helmets since it is so safe to bike here! I often see Dutch children goofing around and riding without handlebars or doing tricks because they’re so used to biking.
While biking is definitely the main mode of transportation in the Netherlands, Amsterdam also has an amazing system of metros, trams, and buses. I sometimes take the metro to work if the weather is very bad outside, but it takes me almost twice as long to get there than if I were biking. My work is about a half hour walk away from my house, but only a ten minute bike ride and twenty minute metro ride. It definitely pays to bike in Amsterdam!
I feel very free when I bike. I love to be outside and see beautiful views of the city. When the weather is nice, I sometimes decide to go somewhere just so that I have an excuse to ride my bike there!
