How Amsterdam Made Me a Biker

By: Mia Ferrentino

I grew up casually riding my beach cruiser to the park or the beach usually on weekends, but I never imagined I would ever commute to work or school by bike until I moved to Amsterdam… The bike culture here was something I was interested in as a very active person who also tries to reduce their carbon footprint where they can. However, it wasn’t until I actually came to Amsterdam that I realized just how convenient and how much fun biking here was. 

What Makes Amsterdam Different

Coming from a school in New York City I was skeptical about biking in a metropolitan city until I saw Amsterdam and realized the city revolves around biking. Almost every street has designated bike lanes, and many have separated bike paths making biking not only convenient but also safe. It feels as if the city was designed for biking. Bike parking can be found almost anywhere, and bikers often have the right of way in most traffic situations. At every intersection, there are designated lights that communicate to bikers when it is safe to cross. My housing through CIEE even offered me a free bike for the semester - showing how ingrained biking is in the Dutch culture. It is also so normal to bike here that my school, UvA, has a huge bike parking garage and free repairs station. 

How Biking Has Improved My Life

Biking has allowed me to get places faster, get more fresh air, and see more of Amsterdam than I ever could on foot. I feel like I have had a true Dutch experience because of my bike. In addition, it is also a very healthy habit that has made me feel great physically and mentally. I also spend very little on transportation costs because of my bike which saves me money to enjoy Amsterdam with. 

How I Will Incorporate Biking into My Life in the U.S.

While some cities in the U.S. are very difficult to bike in, I plan to move to Washington DC within the next year which is somewhat bikeable. I think instead of spending exorbitant amounts of money taking public transit to work every day, I might just take inspiration from the Dutch and buy a bike to commute to work. This biking lifestyle is one of the main things I will take away from my time in the Netherlands, and I hope it might inspire you to give biking a try in Amsterdam or wherever you find yourself.