The Ultimate Guide to Bicycle Etiquette
By Embla Waage | Culture | November 15, 2023
Cover Illustration: People biking on the street. Ugur Arpaci / Unsplash
Culture reporter Embla Waage takes you inside the world of bicycles with luggage carriers, and of the cyclists who own them.
From parrots in public parks to houseboats on canals and some of the most outrageous outfits I have seen in my life, Amsterdam is truly a never ending stream of surprises. However, the biggest culture shock is not found in the people on the street or their questionable housing choices. The biggest thrill in Amsterdam is to observe the passengers on the back or front of bicycles, ranging from furniture to border collies, microwaves to gold fishes. This is not an unusual sight on the roughly 800,000 bicycles as they pass through the city. Some of the passengers, interestingly enough, are people. Usually seated on a luggage carrier, the passenger must trust their driver to reach their destination safely.
As this is fresh territory for many new residents, they might have a number of questions upon witnessing this rather unusual commute. Questions might include: What is going on? Is this legal? Is this safe? However, once one becomes familiar with the concept of shared bicycle riding, the questions start taking a different form. How can I support my transporter, now carrying a passenger with nothing but sheer force? These questions have no objective answer, but with the aid of experienced cyclists, we can find a potential explanation.
Geira, a 21-year-old sociology student at the UvA, frequently gives friends rides to and from social gatherings. This past summer, she has cruised the city as a guide for the bike tour collective We Bike Amsterdam. As a professional, she knows a thing or two about cycling. As a devoted friend, she also knows a thing or two about giving people rides. Today, she takes a step back from the pedal and contemplates about past experiences.
“I give rides mostly when the other person doesn’t have a bike,” Geira explains. There are a number of reasons why she might offer a ride, but for the most part, she prefers cycling with some added weight to walking. At one point, she even offered a ride to a client while she was on duty. “I had to do it!” Geira exclaims, “her tire was flat.” The experienced tour guide carried the added weight for roughly 15 minutes, a remarkable feat in the unforgiving summer heat.
Iréne, a 19-year-old media student, could also be considered an avid bike-rider. She has lived in Amsterdam for nearly a year now, and owns a blue bike with a luggage carrier on the back. Iréne states that her services are mostly needed after nights out, especially when all the buses and trams are out of service for the night. “It is extra effort for sure,” Iréne states. For her, the process is nonetheless worth it, as she can be accompanied on her journey.
Although extremely economical and practical, Iréne’s efforts are not always appreciated. “It is not very comfortable, I’ve had a lot of complaints about that.” However, she is a very considerate driver and warns her passengers before crossing a curb or speed bump. One time, she offered a roughly hour-long ride, something her passenger appreciated in spirit, but their rear forgave with more reluctance. A good way to tackle this issue, according to Iréne, is to have your transporter offer their sweater to sit on. This is also a good measure to prevent overheating.
Although you (as a passenger) might experience some level of discomfort, you should remain considerate of your transporter. “It is very important not to have your legs everywhere and your arms everywhere. Keep your balance please,” states Geira firmly. She also mentions that it is the passenger’s duty to keep the transporter entertained and occupied. “You know, keep a fun conversation going on, so it is not awkward.” Iréne adds that all encouragement is greatly appreciated. “Just get my mind distracted from all the physical effort I am putting in.” In Geira’s words, the perfect ride should be like “listening to a podcast in real life.” The passenger could also help by giving hand signals to indicate turns. In short, the passenger is responsible for the same things a car might provide: a radio to keep the transporter engaged and turn signals to lead by good example.
Unlike a car’s GPS system, however, you should not boss your biker around. “Do not tell me what to do,” Geira explains. Although helpful criticism is welcomed, your biker is most likely doing their best to bike safely. The 15th “be careful!” will do neither you nor the biker a favor.
Cycling with passengers on the back is a normal sight in the Venice of the North. So, if you ever need a favor from a friend or classmate, you should not be scared to take them up on that offer. “Jump on, my friend!” Geira exclaims with a fitting hand motion. Just bear in mind that your transporter might need the occasional encouragement or technical assistance on the ride. Secondly, make sure that if you do end up purchasing a bike, it has a luggage carrier in the back. Who knows, maybe your friend is in dire need of a ride at some point. Or maybe, you might have the chance to give a newcomer a glimpse into the city life, leaving them with their own questions about this strange commute.
“…you might have the chance to give a newcomer a glimpse into the city life, leaving them with their own questions about this strange commute.” — Embla Waage
Embla Waage is a university student in Amsterdam. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Amsterdammer.
