3rd of October 1960
cyclists were banned from Leidsestraat for the first time ever, and Amsterdam
was moving towards becoming more of a car loving city. Between 1960 and 1970
the number of cars quadrupled. This had a negative effect on road safety and
fatality rates climbed. For a short while the outlook for cycling in Amsterdam
seemed bleak. However, the Amsterdam residents were determined not to let this
happen. During the late sixties and early seventies, a cyclist protest movement
gathered momentum, gradually forcing the city council to take more action. In
1978 a new traffic circulation plan was introduced by the city council, promising
to allocate more space for cyclists and pedestrians by reducing space for cars
and car parking. Today the city recognises the importance of the bicycle as the
most valuable part of its mobility. In comparison to motorised traffic, it
requires very little space, it’s cheap and clean, it’s convenient and quick and
it keeps us healthy. Cycle policy has therefore become an integral part of the
Amsterdam mobility policy. What would happen if all these people would drive a car or
use public transport for that matter? There simply wouldn't be enough room! The City of Amsterdam composed a wonderful booklet entitled: 'Cycling policy and design; Putting knowledge into practice'. It is the best from the best!
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