He says with a musing voice, “Amsterdam, Amsterdam”

I LOVE AMSTERDAM! I love it so much I bought a shirt stating my love of Amsterdam. I’ve tried to understand why this city clicks for me, besides the incredible bicycle infrastructure of course.

Mindy compared Amsterdam to an organism and I think this metaphor is one of the reasons it clicks for me. As someone with a significant biology and ecology academic background, this comparison helped me understand that within chaos, there is an organized and intentional flow, similar to a cell, organism, or ecosystem. The large overview may seem chaotic, but close up it’s organized and the relationships between people are key to this organized chaos. The best example of this was my favorite stop on Meredith’s PUMA exercise (a full debrief coming soon!). The intersection Alexandersplein was missing what I assumed was key safety infrastructure and traffic lights. However, while observing with Naomi I noticed that the relationships and silent communication between bikers, drivers, pedestrians, and trams created a slow but efficient and SAFE intersection. We observed the following behavior:

• Silent communication, people make eye contact and use hand signals 
  
• Cars drive slower
  
• Cars do not use their horns
  
• Cars yield to bicycles and pedestrians 
  
• Very little stopping, continuous flow
  
• Trams do not yield to cars, bikes, or pedestrians 
  
• Bikes and pedestrians accommodate each other when interacting (speeding up, slowing down, or slightly changing direction to go around each other)

These interactions show how mutual respect and relationships while commuting facilitate the famous “Dutch Flow”. The behavior is encouraged through the design of the infrastructure which also improves and maintains the aesthetic of the area by negating the need for prohibitive signage. One example is the bumps on the road if you are on the route that yields to the oncoming cross street. This is a visual and physical indicator reminding cyclists to be aware of the intersecting route they are approaching and physically slows them down, continuing a safe and sustainable flow of high-volume traffic. The attention to detail in design and the micro-infrastructure to encourage behavior is one aspect of the Dutch Model I did not see as much in Copenhagen and I think is important to bring back to the States. Non-intrusive design and infrastructure will help facilitate a transition from a car-oriented transit system to ones designed for bikes and people by naturally making biking more pleasant and fun.

super fun bike!

The pleasantry of the infrastructure was emphasized by the diversity of its use and the diversity of ability types and ages I noticed in public space. The park behind the hostel regularly had incredible children playing near their tiny bikes they left next to their parents who watched them from the benches. I saw a group of old women, all in wheelchairs or mobility scooters chatting and enjoying the warm day together. The access to public space that children and the elderly have in Amsterdam was astounding. I used to work in a retirement home and many of the residents rarely left the facility because they could no longer drive. There were several parks nearby but none of them felt comfortable traversing to them, since they would have to cross a busy road. Imagine the access they would have if the infrastructure in the area was designed for bikes and people not cars! I believe that focusing on access by bike and accessible infrastructure for schools and retirement homes is key to integrating and reintegrating people back into public space and giving them the access they deserve and need. This will allow them to build and maintain relationships with their friends, family, and community. Children and the elderly are so often excluded from the public and I think sustainable infrastructure will play a huge role in encouraging that inclusion.

One question or issue I noticed in Amsterdam was their storm infrastructure, specifically what their plan is for climate change mitigation. Several areas of the bicycle infrastructure, and infrastructure in general, became unusable when it rained and stormed. I understand that we were there for a truly unprecedented storm event but this caliber of storm is likely to occur again under the current turbulent climate conditions. I would like to know more about how Amsterdam and the Netherlands are preparing for the climate crisis as it increases in severity. The Netherlands is particularly vulnerable to flooding and other climate change effects due to being below sea level and the beautiful canal system. Walking back from the Metro station after the storm on the final day we saw a car reversing up a highway entrance because it could not go through the two feet of water that had pooled in the 30 minutes it had been raining. Bike lanes and sidewalks were similarly flooded. I hope there are solutions in the works for addressing this issue in the infrastructure and plans to mitigate the effects climate change will have on the city.

Amsterdam in Pictures:

My mom's favorite Van Gogh painting

Delicious Dutch pancakes with Angie after a very meaningful experience at the Anne Frank House

Gorgeous views post worst summer storm in recorded history

Rijks Museum aka the coolest bike route

Classic Amsterdam

The most dutch thing I've ever seen...

Beautiful gazebo and sunset

Dutch storm aftermath!

On a canal in Amsterdam!

Exhibit on 1900-Present Jewish History in the Great Synagogue, the historic synagogue for Amsterdam's Ashkenazi community, now a part of the Jewish Museum.

Women's gallery in the Portuguese Synagogue, the current home of Amsterdams Sephardic community and the 2nd oldest functioning synagogue in Europe.

Winter Synagogue in the Portuguese Synagogue, names on the walls listing congregants dating from 5488/1728

Canals at night

Alleyways at night with a cool view. 

Friends!

ok, this might be one of the most Dutch things I've ever seen...

PUMA exercise stop and the origin of this posts title

Classic Amsterdam buildings and a Eurasian Coot (birds) couple in the water. I enjoyed practicing my bird ID skills, an unexpected aspect of Amsterdam parks.