Bicycle Mania
Everyone knows the Dutch are bicycle-mad, cycling to work not just on the sunny days but the wet and windy days, the cold and icy days. Amsterdam's bike culture has inspired American journalist Shirley Agudo to show her love for her adopted city's famous mode of transportation in her new book, Bicycle Mania.
World's most bike-friendly capital
Amsterdam's title as the most bike-friendly capital in the world, according to Virgin Travel, is indeed well-deserved and something worth boasting about.
The approximately 600,000 fietsen (bicycles) in perpetual motion has instilled a bike culture that sets the city on the right track for a greener, more environmentally sustainable lifestyle, not to mention improved personal health.
Amsterdam's bike culture
Celebrating Amsterdam's bike culture is new book Bicycle Mania by Shirley Agudo. Agudo, an American-born, long-term resident of the Netherlands and reporter for Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions has compiled an excellent collection of photographs with bikes of every type and the characters who ride them.
Great fiets
Expect the elegant and traditional Dutch bike, the black oma-fiets (grandma-bike) with its low slung bar, covered chain-guard, white tyres and white-tipped back mud guard, as well as the comfy cruisers, mountain bikes, beat up racers, and of course the family bike, the bakfiets (bucket bike) with the children sitting in front.
Agudo however goes beyond the everyday and photographs those cyclists that really make Amsterdam the capital of two wheels: the hilarious - Amsterdammers moving house by bike, with mattresses and tables balanced perfectly; the bizarre - impractical bike designs and tourists dressed to impress; and even the breezy - nude cyclists lapping up some summer sun in all their glory.
Practical tips
As well as the pictures comes practical tips with 'rules of the road' and the 'Lowdown on fines' not to mention the history, infrastructure and mentality that has helped to produce Amsterdam's Bicycle Mania.
For more information visit Bicycle Mania or Shirley Agudo
- Tell a friend
You can also reach us by phone:
+31 (0)20 254 79 99