Cycling Amsterdamsestraatweg, Utrecht, Netherlands

Good cycling infrastructure is also possible in old streets. This street in Utrecht (Netherlands) was designed by Napoleon when the Netherlands were part of the French Empire in 1812. It was part of the "Route Impériale no. 2" which connected Paris via paved direct roads with Amsterdam (515 kilometers or 320 miles).

The street design was changed several times in 200 years. It got the separate cycle paths that exist today around the year 2000.

If you would like to see this from the driver's seat; then the passing bicyles look like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc2hEBUgLNM

Category:

Education

Tags:

• cycling
• Utrecht
• Netherlands
• Amsterdamsestraatweg
• Route
• Impériale
• No.
• French
• Empire
• Napoleon
• bikes
• bicycle
• biking
• Holland
• separate
• bike
• track
• lane
• cycle
• superhighways
• fiets
• fietsen
• fietspad

[happilyjaded]

I stumbled across this by accident and was like "I take this route everyday!" And my next thought - pass those slow people!!!!

[markenlei]

:-) I would have were it not for the camera in one hand and the fact that it is a bit nicer to see other cyclists than an open cycle path.

[stealth1692]

@markenlei if people are cycling the wrong way do you tell them or leave them??

[markenlei]

@stealth1692 Never tell them! The Dutch don't like to be told what they can or cannot do. Even to a police officer they will always reply 'Yeah but...' All Dutch feel equal so nobody tells anybody.

[bshanteau]

At 1:28, you pass a car with its passenger door sticking into the cycle track. Wouldn't you be at risk of being doored if you had been. say, passing other cyclists and riding in the left part of the cycle track at the instant that the door was opened?

[markenlei]

It is not impossible but very unlikely for a number of reasons. The path is so wide that you would not often ride to the far left even when overtaking, a door only barely reaches the path, and it is the passenger side that doesn't open as much as the driver's door would.

It is a lot more likely to be doored when you ride on the road.

[JoachimderZweite]

The Dutch are so lucky.

[92Fishman92]

I remember that cycle repair shop, I used to go there all the time cause my tire used to go flat cause of broken glass. I remember my dad being pissed but he got a discount cause my dad was a frequent customer and a bargain hunter. If i remember correctly there should be an Edah around the corner from there!

[Teddiehoi]

Yay, the street where i live in. :)

[MsRobinlove]

if i go to school in the netherlands in the winter, i always want with the car , but my parents always says that it is not heathy and rhat i must go on bike! i agree with them but it is always so cold. although i love it in the spring and summer!

[evlsurgeon]

I cannot wait to go.

- syd Australia.

[toldosdavid]

2005 - 2007 mis penas y alegrías esa calle las marco!

[Hals]

@ty3165 All day every day

[Ikke999]

Ontzettend leuk om de Amsterdamsestraatweg zo maar af te fietsen! Woonden niet ver van de watertoren. Nu vanuit Nieuw Zeeland kan ik het weer doen!! Bedankt voor het initiatief.

[engelsman75]

Your video's are really informative, excellent !!

[stealth1692]

@markenlei and if you do im guessing you would upset and offend them am i right