Advocacy & Safety - To all of you who wax moronic about how Amsterdam is a cycling paradise...

it isn't.

http://www.rtvnh.nl/cmsroot/Nieuwsfotos/Gemeenten/Amsterdam/Gebeurtenissen2009/ongeluk1bigthumb0.JPGhttp://www.rtvnh.nl/cmsroot/Nieuwsfotos/Gemeenten/Amsterdam/Gebeurtenissen2009/ongeluk3500w0.JPGhttp://www.rtvnh.nl/cmsroot/Nieuwsfotos/Gemeenten/Amsterdam/Gebeurtenissen2009/ongeluk5500w0.JPGhttp://www.rtvnh.nl/cmsroot/upload/8174-0882963578318236500w0.jpg


Toerist onder vrachtwagen (http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/4032353/__Toerist_onder_vrachtwagen__.html)

AMSTERDAM - Een 21-jarige Duitse toeriste is donderdagavond overleden door een ongeval in de Kinkerstraat in Amsterdam. Dat heeft de politie bekendgemaakt.

De vrouw kwam rond half zeven met haar fiets terecht onder een vrachtwagen die rechtsaf sloeg. Ze overleed korte tijd later in het ziekenhuis aan haar verwondingen.

Op de kruising Kinkerstraat/Bilderdijkstraat in Amsterdam Oud-West kwam het slachtoffer, die deel uitmaakte van een groepje toeristen op gehuurde MacBike-fietsen, onder de wielen van de afslaande betonmortelwagen. De traumahelikopter kwam ter plaatse om hulp te bieden. De chauffeur van de vrachtwagen is aangehouden en overgebracht naar het politiebureau.

and


'Opgeknapt kruispunt nu nog onveiliger' (http://www.at5.nl/artikelen/17827/opgeknapt-kruispunt-nu-nog-gevaarlijker)

Pas opgeknapt, maar daardoor levensgevaarlijk. Dat vinden tientallen ouders en kinderen van het kruispunt Stadshouderskade-Hemonystraat.

Kleine kinderen kunnen nauwelijks de nieuw aangelegde opritten opkomen. De verontruste ouders, die hun kinderen dagelijks naar school op het Fredriksplein brengen, hebben inmiddels bij de raadscommissie Verkeer ingesproken, om de gemeente erop attent te maken dat de situatie nu verslechterd is.

Sinds een aantal weken is de Stadhouderskade weer open voor auto's, overstekende fietsers en voetgangers. Na een lange herprofilering zou de drukke verkeersader veiliger moeten zijn. Verantwoordelijk wethouder Gerson wil nog niet reageren omdat hij eerst wil kijken naar een aantal mogelijke oplossingen.

Don't think I've seen any claim that the Netherlands are immune from any fatal bicycle crashes (although their safety record for cyclists is far better than most countries). Similarly, those who write that the US caters to motorized traffic are under no illusion that fatalities don't happen to car and truck drivers and passengers.

But I note that the story about the fatal crash ends with the comment that the truck driver was apprehended and taken to the police station. Such a statement is rare in stories about such crashes in the US unless the driver is intoxicated. Here it is more common to see the phrase "no charges were filed."

Would someone mind translating that into english so we can all read it.

Would someone mind translating that into english so we can all read it.

Don't be so lazy, Google is your friend.

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraaf.nl%2Fbinnenland%2F4032353%2F__Toerist_onder_vrachtwagen__.html&sl=nl&tl=en&history_state0=

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.at5.nl%2Fartikelen%2F17827%2Fopgeknapt-kruispunt-nu-nog-gevaarlijker&sl=nl&tl=en&history_state0=

it isn't.


I don't know about that. From the translated article:

The driver of the lorry was arrested and taken to the police station.

Seems like paradise to me.

Speedo

I don't know about that. From the translated article:

The driver of the lorry was arrested and taken to the police station.

Seems like paradise to me.

Speedo

I don't think the dead guy, who may now actually be in paradise, would agree.

Don't think I've seen any claim that the Netherlands are immune from any fatal bicycle crashes (although their safety record for cyclists is far better than most countries). Similarly, those who write that the US caters to motorized traffic are under no illusion that fatalities don't happen to car and truck drivers and passengers.

But I note that the story about the fatal crash ends with the comment that the truck driver was apprehended and taken to the police station. Such a statement is rare in stories about such crashes in the US unless the driver is intoxicated. Here it is more common to see the phrase "no charges were filed."

he didn't flee the scene.


Would someone mind translating that into english so we can all read it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/botto/bf/ultimatefacepalm.gif


Don't be so lazy, Google is your friend.

ht tp://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraaf.nl%2Fbinnenland%2F4032353%2F__Toerist_onder_vrachtwagen__.html&sl=nl&tl=en&history_state0=

ht tp://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.at5.nl%2Fartikelen%2F17827%2Fopgeknapt-kruispunt-nu-nog-gevaarlijker&sl=nl&tl=en&history_state0=

:thumb:

I don't know about that. From the translated article:

The driver of the lorry was arrested and taken to the police station.

Seems like paradise to me.

Speedo

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/botto/bf/1232550426_worffacepalm.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/botto/bf/1232550426_worffacepalm.gif

Is Worf just checking to see if his ridges are still there?

he didn't flee the scene.

Did anyone ever claim that he did?
"Apprehend: to take into custody; arrest"
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/apprehend

Don't be so lazy, Google is your friend.

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraaf.nl%2Fbinnenland%2F4032353%2F__Toerist_onder_vrachtwagen__.html&sl=nl&tl=en&history_state0=

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.at5.nl%2Fartikelen%2F17827%2Fopgeknapt-kruispunt-nu-nog-gevaarlijker&sl=nl&tl=en&history_state0=

Uh the links don't work and its not on my end! Now can we get an english translation posted to the thread instead of a non-working link?

Did anyone ever claim that he did?
"Apprehend: to take into custody; arrest"
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/apprehend

:thumb:

Uh the links don't work and its not on my end! Now can we get an english translation posted to the thread instead of a non-working link?

They work fine here...if they don't work for you I imagine it's because the CIA has tapped your Internet connection. You may actually have to take the urls botto originally posted and go to Google yourself...if they don't arrest and water board you first.

ZOMG!
A single fatal accident and Amsterdam is all of a sudden not Cycling friendly anymore.
Next someone will claim that one Toyota Prius will end global warming.

ZOMG!
A single fatal accident and Amsterdam is all of a sudden not Cycling friendly anymore.
Next someone will claim that one Toyota Prius will end global warming.

looky here, a clueless A&S poster. who would have ever thought?

next time, pay attention to the entire post (http://www.at5.nl/artikelen/17827/opgeknapt-kruispunt-nu-nog-gevaarlijker). :thumb:

Sadly this is a simple case of a tourist getting right hooked by a large cement truck... result the cyclists lost her life. There is no detail in the article on which direct the cyclist was riding, but from the pictures you can see the truck was heading East and turning South into the Bilderdijkstraat. You can see this on Street view in Google maps. It mentions that the girl was with a group that had rented bikes. don't want to speculate. All it states is that the driver was taken to the police station. There is no mention of jail.

Yes, people to die every so often in cycling accidents in Holland. Amersterdam traffic is quite busy, so accidents are inevitable, thankfully most are minor. No matter what the cyclists did, the driver is 100% at fault under Dutch road rules, so even if she accidentally cut in front of him, he is still responsible to stop in time.

There is also a link to a local TV station article about an intersection that was recently upgraded, but it turns out that now it is even less safe for cyclists. That article however is regarding a different road.

Happy riding,
André

Sadly this is a simple case of a tourist getting right hooked by a large cement truck... result the cyclists lost her life. There is no detail in the article on which direct the cyclist was riding, but from the pictures you can see the truck was heading East and turning South into the Bilderdijkstraat.

incorrect.

the truck was heading north, and turned east.


You can see this on Street view in Google maps. It mentions that the girl was with a group that had rented bikes. don't want to speculate. All it states is that the driver was taken to the police station. There is no mention of jail.

Yes, people to die every so often in cycling accidents in Holland.
Amersterdam traffic is quite busy, so accidents are inevitable, thankfully most are minor. No matter what the cyclists did, the driver is 100% at fault under Dutch road rules, so even if she accidentally cut in front of him, he is still responsible to stop in time.

There is also a link to a local TV station article about an intersection that was recently upgraded, but it turns out that now it is even less safe for cyclists. That article however is regarding a different road.

Happy riding,
André

compared to a real city, not really.

I don't think the dead guy, who may now actually be in paradise, would agree.

Yes. I'm sorry for her. I was too flippant given the nature of the crash.

Speedo

looky here, a clueless A&S poster. who would have ever thought?

next time, pay attention to the entire post (http://www.at5.nl/artikelen/17827/opgeknapt-kruispunt-nu-nog-gevaarlijker). :thumb:

Responsible alderman Gerson does not respond because he first wants to look at a number of possible solutions.

Is that what you're upset about?

Are you bothered by the fact that their news articles are written in Nederlands?

Speedo

Yes. I'm sorry for her. I was too flippant given the nature of the crash.

Speedo

Forgive me for mistaking her for a him, based on the pics. :o

http://www.bakfiets-en-meer.nl/2008/10/16/bicycle-death-statistics-in-amsterdam-and-the-netherlands/

despite extremely high rates of cycling, the odds of being killed while cycling in the Netherlands are extremely low.

16 million Dutch own 18 million bikes and half the population of the NL rides a bike once a day.

Overall traffic safety in NL is the best in Europe with 45 deaths per million inhabitants per year while the US has 147 deaths per million inhabitants per year.

In 2006, there were about 465,000 bicycles in Amsterdam (http://www.os.amsterdam.nl/feitenencijfers/24106/) (pop. 742,000) and about 6 people die in bike-related accidents yearly

I'll be headed over the the road forum for the "un-ban botto" thread fun...

I hope someone follows up this thread with what happens to the driver who killed her. If he gets away with a small fine, then the situation is no different there than here. He should spend some time for that accident.

I still think the cities in Holland are much safer for cyclists, than most American cities are. I think the biggest concern for most cyclists in Amsterdam, is getting their bike stolen.

I've never been there, but I understand bike theft is a HUGE problem.