YouTube has started showing me videos of Americans coming to the Netherlands and cycling around, and I can't stop cringing.
They have no idea where they're going, they ride like they're in the Tour de France, and they very obviously don't know the rules of the road.
They mean well, but holy shit do some basic research before showing up. You're not in Portland anymore.
I have been putting it off for ages, but I'm really going to have to make a video about how to visit the Netherlands.
@notjustbikes Do they wear helmets too? Based on my own experience, wearing one while riding a non-racing bicycle in the Netherlands will attract sneering comments from other people, saying “val niet” (don’t fall!) or something like that.
@x0r no, they do not typically wear helmets, but they do still ride 30+ km/h like they're trying to keep up with American traffic.
One of these guys is going to get somebody seriously injured because they have no idea of how to cycle in the Netherlands and arrogantly assume it's the same as the US.
@notjustbikes @x0r
Bicycle laws are relevant to the US but aren't heavily enforced because they're less priority than ongoing crime.
https://bikeleague.org/bike-laws/traffic-laws/
Although many cities have slapped together bike registration systems - they're highly ineffective and bicycles are frequently stolen.
As to why many Americans don't wear helmets, it's usually because it's deemed cumbersome or unfashionable. Serious bicyclists will actually wear their helmets though. They also will bring their bikes inside their apartments to keep them from being stolen.
