Plan Amsterdam

The ultimate Amsterdam 'Cycling Policy & Design' publication!

3rd of October 1960 cyclists were banned from Leidsestraat for the first time ever, and Amsterdam was moving towards becoming more of a car loving city. Between 1960 and 1970 the number of cars quadrupled. This had a negative effect on road safety and fatality rates climbed. For a short while the outlook for cycling in Amsterdam seemed bleak. However, the Amsterdam residents were determined not to let this happen. During the late sixties and early seventies, a cyclist protest movement gathered momentum, gradually forcing the city council to take more action. In 1978 a new traffic circulation plan was introduced by the city council, promising to allocate more space for cyclists and pedestrians by reducing space for cars and car parking. Today the city recognises the importance of the bicycle as the most valuable part of its mobility. In comparison to motorised traffic, it requires very little space, it’s cheap and clean, it’s convenient and quick and it keeps us healthy. Cycle policy has therefore become an integral part of the Amsterdam mobility policy. What would happen if all these people would drive a car or use public transport for that matter? There simply wouldn't be enough room! The City of Amsterdam composed a wonderful booklet entitled: 'Cycling policy and design; Putting knowledge into practice'.

Courtesy of Pascal J.W. van den Noort, Executive Director Velo Mondial, A Micro Multi-National