Question: Why Are the Bikes in Amsterdam So Old and Run-down?
A reader asked me why Amsterdammers own such "old, clunky" bikes. Find out why.
Answer: For the same reason that a farmer probably wouldn't use a brand-new Lexus SUV to do work on his land. Amsterdam bikes are workhorses. Locals use them day in and day out, riding miles to and from work, toting children, groceries and even friends on the back package holder.
It's not that the old, heavy bikes you see in Amsterdam are on their last legs (well, some that have been left seemingly for years are). The well-made Dutch cruisers are (like the farmer's trusty truck) rugged, and able to withstand rust-friendly rain, daily dings that come from being parked alongside thousands of other bikes and wind gusts that routinely knock them to the ground like dominoes.
You might also hear that Amsterdammers don't worry about how nice their bikes are because they're likely to be stolen at some point.
That said, if you rent a bike in Amsterdam, yours will probably be in better shape than those of most locals. Rental shops like MacBike and Yellow Bike offer newer models with shiny paint jobs. Others like Bike City rent more typical plain black models.
It's not that the old, heavy bikes you see in Amsterdam are on their last legs (well, some that have been left seemingly for years are). The well-made Dutch cruisers are (like the farmer's trusty truck) rugged, and able to withstand rust-friendly rain, daily dings that come from being parked alongside thousands of other bikes and wind gusts that routinely knock them to the ground like dominoes.
You might also hear that Amsterdammers don't worry about how nice their bikes are because they're likely to be stolen at some point.
That said, if you rent a bike in Amsterdam, yours will probably be in better shape than those of most locals. Rental shops like MacBike and Yellow Bike offer newer models with shiny paint jobs. Others like Bike City rent more typical plain black models.
