On this page you'll find some introductory information about who we are and what we do.
If you want to know more about us, please contact us:
Phone: 020-6854794
Email: Amsterdam@Fietsersbond.nl

Who we are, what we do, and how we do it
The Cyclists' Union is a national non-governmental organisation that protects and promotes the interests of cyclists all over the country. Cyclists are encouraged to become a member of the Union, so that the Union grows bigger and can do more to make the life of cyclists safer and more agreeable. At this moment there are 30.000 members nation-wide. In the major cities local departments take care of the things we do.

Amsterdam has the largest local department, with over 4.000 members. Some of these members are actively engaged in protecting the interests of the cyclists. They do this by participating in traffic-committees of local governmental organisations, by actively doing research at notoriously dangerous cross-points in the city, by collaborating on our local magazine „De OEK”, or by doing lots of other useful things.

At our local office two full-paid employees are the technical backbone of our department, our local back-office. They engage in contacting politicians and civil servants of various governmental organisations, mostly about technical traffic-issues. Due to our involvement many cycle-lanes have been built, traffic-lights installed and, on the whole, the conditions for cyclists have considerably been improved.

Facts of Cycling in Amsterdam
More than 70% of the local population of 12 years and up has a bike and is using it. Highly qualified, working Amsterdammers, age 30 to 45 years, use their bikes most frequently. Women use their bikes more than men. The fact that people possess a car does not mean that they won't use a bike.

In the inner city the bike is used the most. Research has shown that in this area the bike is a more efficient means of transportation than a car. The number of movements by bike has increased with 20% since 1986. At the moment this growth is stagnating, reason why the Cyclists' Union is still fighting for a more direct and assertive policy for „better biking”. The core of the policy of the city-council is to ensure the coherent implementation of measures to improve the infrastructure and increase road safety, thus encouraging the use of the bicycle. The Cyclists' Union is stimulating and supporting this policy in every way it sees fit. A potential growing market is the non-indiginous population of Amsterdam, now 45% of the total population. Especially young people and women need to be encouraged to cycle more.

Theft is a very negative point about bikes in Amsterdam. Until recently between 70.000 and 100.000 bikes were being stolen every year, duping 16% of the Amsterdam population (for comparison: on a national level it was 5,5%). The bulk of the stolen bikes dissapear: they either remain in possession of the thief, or they are discarded after use or being sold to other people. Fencing is a criminal act, but on the streets of Amsterdam it is hard to refuse the offer of a good bike for only 12 euro's.

At the moment the city council and the police are activiely engaged in a campaign of informing people about the risks of buying a stolen bike. The Cyclists' Union thinks that we need good parking facilities to stop bike-theft. The city council has built and opened four guarded parking facilities this year (called „Lockers”).

More information about Amsterdam and bicycles at:

• Amsterdam Cycle Routes
• City site
• Tips on how to prevent your bike from being stolen