I lived in the Netherlands for 9 months in Groningen, working at an architecture firm. Dutch design/architecture are also leaders in the world in those fields as well. As attractive as it was to live in the Netherlands and work in Dutch architecture firm, I saw the true value in bringing those Dutch design ideas back to the USA where they are needed. The Netherlands already has these fields established. Design / architecture / infrastructure / cargo bikes are needed more in the USA!
Great points and perspectives Kyle! I do think there is value in immersing yourself in that experience though. Even if just for a time. I know I always learn so much even in my short trips
Omg Kyle, please fix the US so it'd be a nice enough country for me to ever visit. Currently, it's still so far down the list, it's absurd how many countries are currently better at almost every single thing I find important (and the things you mentioned)
@@Propelbikes I'm not trying to make too many assumptions here, but as a business owner you probably have the luxury to visit the Netherlands for a week (or two even) and experience it from a more Dutch perspective by getting into an AirBnB and do a facsimile of what everyday life here is like. Going to the grocery store on foot or by bicycle every other day for a week or so for example is an experience in itself. ps. Loving the content.
As a Dutchie these videos make us realize how special it is what we consider completely normal. We are often surprised there is none or no safe way to bike from A to B in many places. Unimaginable here.
I live in the south (limburg)..we're really too lazy to go by bike. Most households have 1 or more cars..we even drive to the supermarket 300 meters from our house by car 🤣
Please emigrate everywhere and remind the local municipalities of this very same fact. We all need the support. I've given up on the idea of ramming BMW's with my bike to let them know they are not welcome on the same roads as me.
Just after WW2 the Dutch all dreamed they could travel by car like the Americans. Nowadays it seems for many Americans it is a dream to travel like the Dutch, on bike 😉
@L M In the two decades after WW2 the USA was definitely the Netherlands' greatest role model. From the consumer goods and the car culture, to the music and even the cowboys-and-indians books teenage boys would read, the Dutch looked up to America. Only during the 1960s did this start to change (especially during the Vietnam War).
I love the Netherlands and have an incredible respect for their bike culture, although I have never been there(but plan to go as soon as possible), I want to do everything I can to help Americans and other car-centric societies. I don’t hold it against anyone for moving or wanting to move there, but your presence in America is making a HUGE difference. Your channel does so much informing and changing minds toward making the places we live healthier and safer.
@@Propelbikes I almost got the impression that there are allready a lot of US citizens living in the Netherlands or Europe for that matter. Watching youtube video's of some disturbing issues in the states that are hitting me and turn my stomach around, I get the feeling that abandoning the US is the only way to go and build-up a new and better life in a more humane society such as the Netherlands, and that besides bikes our country is having a liberating and eye-opening effect on the minds of people from the states, being here for the first time! Welcome to the Netherlands and experience our bikes and stroopwafels and much more!!
We first went to the Netherlands thirty years ago, and the revelation of what a safe cycle-orientated environment could be has motivated us ever since. We go every year if we can, usually to different cities to see and experience the cycling, but also the people and culture. Hopefully we’ll be in Amsterdam in July.
moved there in "95. I still love every single day. Nothing beats the Netherlands. I cycle about 1000 km a month (commute, groceries, weekend trips, e--bike, road-bike, whatever) the sheer freedom about bike lanes. Best country on the globe. And I love the dutchies, just love them.
I'm Dutch (Nijmegen is my hometown), and watching Not Just Bikes made me realise how privileged we are when it comes to bike infrastructure. And I learned a lot about how towns are made for cars in North America, it was shocking to me to see how difficult it is to get around without a car there.
I'm a bike nut, moved from London to delft 5 years ago and cannot recommend it enough. Every morning when I get up and ride somewhere, the planning , cleanliness and ease of it all reminds me why. Then yoh have the great cities, people and beer and you have the icing on the cake.
To really experience what the Dutch infrastructure can do for you, you should live here for at least a while. Its all about things getting a habit so that you stop thinking about it. Like parking your bike right in front of the supermarket entrance on your way home and literally getting your shopping done in 5 minutes. Like getting used to just going to the train station when you need to travel without having to even check a schedual because in the worst case you'll be waiting like 15 minutes for the next one. To experience to not own a car and really realise you dont even miss it because that one or two times you do need one, you just order a taxi, an uber or rent one for the day through one of the many car sharing companies. Once all these things become normal you can go back and really experience the difference in life style in North American cities now that you actually lived in The Netherlands instead of just looking at it from the sidelines if you like. Edit: Not that I'm claiming that The Netherlands is some kind of utopian society. The personal space North Americans enjoy like a free standing house on your own land surrounded by your own garden is considered luxury over here and you have to be very wealthy to be able to afford a typical middle class American suburban home. But like many things, great things are born out of necessity and the scarcity of space really forced the Dutch to innovate in areas that haven't been issues in North America at all. We have never lived with such an abundance of sheer space and natural resources, the American dream lifestyle is simply not possible here. But these limitations might prove to have created valuable solutions which only become relevant now to the US when climate change and the limitations of fossile fuel become more and more of a challenge.
quick comment on those large single family homes - technically they also would be a luxury in the US, if their maintenance wasnt massively subsidized by the cities - if i recall right notjustbikes also had a video on that in his strongtowns series essentially those properties are massively undertaxed for the amount of expenditure thats necessary to keep them supplied with clean water, roads, power etc...
You forgot to mention one little point. Without mentioning the company name: the yellow cargo bikes you used are rented by the minute with an app on your phone. Many people that do not need a cargo bike on a regular basis but need one punctually use the service. In our case we have normal bikes, but occasionally we will rent it for some hour to carry our daughter and friends or just go shopping or to the beach within the city. Is a great invention, we basically barely use the car in the city. You just get close to one, select it on the app and then rent it. This is what you need to copy there. Occasional no long term obligation to start convincing people to swap their second car for a bike or cargo bike.
Please don't leave the USA completely. We need people like you to educate and promote the biking culture here in America. I just purchased a Gazelle locally, from Covered Bridge in Ct. based on your reviews. Such an awesome bike! I love your videos, Tara is a natural cinematographer, and some fun content with great info!
12:16, you called it a skirt guard, the fender-thing, also said it was unique to the gazelle. It's really common on all Dutch regular bikes, and called in Dutch a "jacket-protector" or "coat protector" Only racebikes and mountainbikes will not have them. Remember, bikes were/are a mode of transport, and particularly in earlier decades men and women would often wear long coats, because of your upright position, without them your coat will trail in between the spokes, damaging bike, coats and possible even person cycling.
Much like Jason, I emigrated from North America, in 2019, and haven't regretted a day of it. I'm a 20-year New Yorker, and this is as great or greater for certain.
This is SO FUN!! Seeing all of our friends in one video made me so happy!! How far we've come as a community, globally, that the Gezelligheid - translating to English [from Dutch] indirectly as "organic coziness and genuineness created by sub-conscious actions" - can be felt even if people here have never met completely in real life. I, for one, cannot wait for the day we finally do. That day will be unexplainably awesome, at least in my opinion. :)
Love the Netherlands, and especially Delft. While staying in a hotel in Delft, watching people going to church on Sunday morning, saw a couple in their Sunday best go by on a bike. He was up front pedaling, and she was sitting side-saddle on the back rack. It really made me aware just how much bikes are part of the culture there.
Damn it! You're living my dream 😉 It absolutely is amazing cycling infrastructure. Not just inside towns and city, but town to town and to city. You can ride ALL over the country and be segregated from the road. They have fantastic security too, especially in the city
THIS is the content I want to see! I love your bike reviews. The conferences/expos are alright, but the interviews with people like NotJustBikes Guy (Jason Slaughter) and others who are advocating for a better world with better infrastructure are the RUclips GOLD! I will be watching this space for these videos.
I really appreciate the feedback. It's very helpful and valuable. You can count on more to come. I think we are going to do some stuff at CES this year, but aside from that it should be more bike reviews, interviews, etc. Stay tuned and thanks for your comment
The expos aren’t bad. They are good videos with lots of fun tech and I enjoy those as well. But you bring a certain personality to the e-bike space and it’s nice when you spend your time interviewing people and making content that makes biking feel more accessible and hopeful for the future. I’m in Atlanta and we are basically a barren wasteland for biking. I commute by bike and my family bikes to our downtown area for leisure multiple times a week, but we live in the most bike-friendly community in atlanta and it’s still extremely hard. I hope one day we can catch up to the rest of the world.
take it from an older person - do it while you are relatively young as you have time should it not work out to try something else, but hopefully you will continue to have your shops in the US as the bike movement here needs those types of shops
God willing my shops aren't going anywhere. They'll likely change form in someways, but I hope they will continue to be useful in this world. That being said, I've got a lot more I would like to accomplish for sure
I also lived 1 year in the Netherlands, back in 2007. It was great and after 2 month I went with my car to germany and handed the keys to my mum and went back with the train and spent 10 month with some 200€ used Gazelle holland bike. The other thing netherlands shines is the absolutely friendly work environment. In my company barely someone spend their lunch break alone, we did all sit together chatting and eating with the whole team including management. What I noticed though, their car driving style... As soon it turns green they accellerate full power just to stop at the next traffic light. So it is really a good thing, most of them stick with bikes 🙂
Great video! I'm from Holland and love your perspective on our great little (did I say tiny) country. I'm very greatful for how livable how country is. Thanks so much for helping me remember and re-appreciate it even more.
Watching channels like this does me realise how lucky we are to have this kind of bicycle infrastructure. It's so normal for me to travel larger distances by bike, mostly on separated bikelanes, that I would know how to do this without ... Btw. Not sure what if you have decided yet.. but you're welcome 😁
All those little details you noticed on the Gazelle bikes are standard for regular Dutch bikes: lights, frame locks, mud guards (fenders), jacket (or skirt) protectors, elastic straps over the cargo rack, etc. Those are things you need when your bike is your daily transport instead of just recreation. Except that I don't need the jacket protectors because I have large bags hanging off my cargo rack, saddle-bag style. Gazelle does make excellent bikes, though.
I biked in the Netherlands. In summer it's one of my go to countries. I cycle over the border from Germany and it is so advanced in the Netherlands, even compared to Germany. It's so enjoyable and forward thinking. You should definitely consider moving if you can. Quality of life is not something you can buy.
Even for me as a German it's often impressive to see Dutch bike infrastructure - while we have a lot of the same concepts, it's the absolutely consequent implementation and the level of detail. And as a result of this the giant numbers of cyclists. I can only imagine, how this must feel for somebody from a city where they don't even have sidewalks along their "stroads".
Nice video! As a true Dutchie, I must confirm that we take our bike infra 'for granted'. But this does not mean, that there isn't a somewhat polarizing 'challenge' between car and alternative bike traffic! Most of the videos around biking in the Netherlands are about de big urban area's (A'dam, Utrecht, etc.), but there is also a large, more rural part in NL ;-) There are loads of bikelanes for both commuting and lesuire there, but cars still dominate the day-to-day use. I used to bike commute 10 miles/15 km (single ride - Pre Corona) to work. But above all....love to cycle for leisure/sport!
Hi Chris, I'm relatively new to your channel but loving this type of content. I'm working my way through your videos and I find the infrastucture videos and 'ride with me' interviews more interesting than the bike pure bike videos. I ride a normal non-electric Brompton and am thinking of getting rid of our second car and using my Brompton as my main mode of transport. I'd like to revisit the Netherlands now, but on bike. I'd love to see a video from you exploring what the future of ebikes and bikes looks like in 10-20 years, especially in cities like NY, London, Paris, etc.
Thanks a bunch! Funny enough we are actually planning a bike of the future video at CES next week. Let me know if there is any tech or ideas you think you would like to see implemented?
Hi Chris, I recently got a purchased a bike from your shop in Long Beach facilitated with your Matchmaker Nancy. I’m a long time cyclist, old school and this is my first Ebike. Bulls Iconic tr1 speed. I can’t stand it!! Too much fun! I’m seventy and back with a vengeance! Love your videos and feel so inspired, Amsterdam is firmly on the top of my bucket list. Thanks for everything!
I know that I want to spend at least a bit of my life living in the Netherlands, but I’ve yet to visit! Thanks for a wonderful video talking about your trip :) seems like a fun time!
Thanks Chris for another great video. I lived in Leiden for 6 months some 30 years ago. It was a great experience and your video is reminding me that it’s time to go back.
I live in Denmark and Denmark still has a long way to go in order to reach the level of bike infrastructure that The Netherlands has. Bikes are good for everybody: the environment, the health of the people, the traffic and the government.
As a dutchie your channel (among others) was certainly an eyeopener into infrastructure being a big part of daily life, and how (even within the Netherlands) different approaches make a huge impact on the joy of life. While we still have challenges and some hurdles to take, I think we are on the right path, advocated by people, enforced by law(makers), and implemented by city planners. Not sure where you might end up living, but I think your fight for more bike-friendliness is more effective in where you are now; preaching for your own church gets dull, and pretty sure you're not at an age where that is what you are aiming for ;)
Wherever I go I will continue to travel I'm sure. But these are fair points for sure. I'd like to share more of what I have experienced there though for sure
The Bicycle Duych channel is kegendary too, and already there for years! Amd its fukky in Enhlish... Marc is my personal hero, cause he made me interested in pur Dutch infrastructure. Now I am hooked!
as a Dutch person biking is pretty normal, but when i see the amount of channels/videos on the Dutch infrastructure and in particular about bikes.....its amazing. I'm blessed to live here. its a jamaican saying but I can project it on our country too likkle but we tallawah (we are small but huge)
A growing problem here in the Netherlands (at least in the bigger cities) seems to be the lack of craftmanship. My local Gazelle-dealer who has been in business for over fifty years and does good business, is closing because he can't find good technicians for repairing bicycles or people who want to be trained for this. He told me that he doesn't want the 60 - 70 hour workingweeks anymore and closes the shop and start working for a 'competitor'now...
That's a problem in every industrialized country. Manufacturing jobs have been outsourced, good old technician jobs are not (yet) appreciated for how necessary they are and the education system props up employment in the service economy.
You'll love it and be frustrated by it in many ways. Give it a try? the rest of Europe is on your doorstep and you can escape to the sun in an hour or two (you will need to). housing is so expensive 😭. but we came for a year and stayed 15. feel free to contact/call for a chat if you want to hear our experience, and/or if you need a local videographer when you are not in town with Tara. great video.
Do it Chris! Given your business is your passion, and the Netherlands is a world center for that passion, it should be enriching on many tangible and more so on intangible levels.
Chris, what a completely beautiful video. Such a great way to capture and condense down what was obviously an experience of a lifetime. I couldn’t stop smiling all the way through. All those truly special people. All my heroes in one place! If you do spend a period of your life in NL, the goal has to be getting N America to go Dutch, to get that political will that is so lacking throughout the English speaking nations. It somehow feels like there is so much pent up desire round the world to live a more Dutch life… a life less subservient to the motor car. The Netherlands manages to achieve the tranquility and beauty and buzz of life designed for people not machines. You said it, “just a nice place to be”.
Thanks Mike! Always appreciate your supportive words. I definitely plan to share all I experience and learn. I'm not going anywhere anytime real soon, but I did want to put my interest out there
What an amazing video man! You just definitely consider moving to the Netherlands. It took me only two visits to convince myself this is the place to be. Again, quality content and really helpful. Congrats!
How nice to hear you talk about the Netherlands. I have to say that I really like your videos about the development of cycling in the US. The Netherlands is a real cycling country. You already knew that, but you have now seen it for the second time. Nice to hear that you met Melissa, Chris and Jason. They have become real bicycle ambassadors. Yes, you will not easily find the cycling infrastructure that you encounter here in the Netherlands elsewhere. Do you have to come and live in the Netherlands for a while? There is a lot to do here and everything is very well organized. Good luck with your decision. By the way, you've been close to my house. I live next to Amsterdam Airport :-)
I left the Netherlands 6 months ago and miss it every day! Amsterdam was the best city i ever lived in. The only thing lacking was easy access to proper nature.
No proper nature in the Netherlands. The country is one huge city of which its districts are seperated by larger or smaller landscaped parks and of course loads of asphalt.
Moving to the Netherlands from Seattle, WA is one of my long term goals. I know that there is a housing crisis over there, but same goes for Seattle as well. I don't care.
@Jordie Oh that's interesting. Thanks for your input. I'll reconsider Amsterdam when I'm ready to move. I had previously resolved to move to any Dutch city but Amsterdam that still has a pretty short train route to Amsterdam.
@Jordie There's plenty of nice places outside of Amsterdam, and housing there will be more affordable. In fact Amsterdam has turned into some sort of weird theme park, and (to me) has lost much of its charm.
@@peet4921 The housing crisis refers to the private sector. Refugees aren’t eligible for those houses. As for social housing: the number of social housing dropped by 50% in the past 10 years under the Rutte administration, the issue isn’t necessarily more people but rather less houses. Refugees aren’t the cause.
Lovin the pro-human energy of all these places :) Def planning to visit Ultrecht asap So was great to hear the names of these other lesser known cities with similar vibes and infrastructure -also nice to see and hear all these new names of people and companies involved in the movement - for this new tribe that’s forming these people are likes aunts and uncles of a growing family :) def hope to see more vids like this !!
We visited, and planning to go back on a bike packing trip, all around NL, really putting our bikes and ourselves to the test for the whole summer. We could just go back, and cycle round, but the point of the great infrastructure is to get somewhere on it. We could follow our interests like bird migration, bicycle shows, botanical gardens etc. Sure you’d find something to follow and connect with that’s not just bikes. Love to see you make a journey video sponsored by Urban Arrow
Well as a former military brat my dad and are family was station and Rammstein Germany. Live for four years. I miss it alot. Now as biker motorcycle s and now a e bike riding. Oh yeah. To visit is one thing to live in there is whole different experience. To get to know how different we as Americans do things have the Europeans do things but yet there are things that we do the same. I will say this once you move there you get home sick. But you will always want to go back. Well I feel. I love my job and the city I live in. It's like half of me is still there. My second home.
Thank you for this video. I lived for years in Delft and fully agree with your impressions and assessment of the place. Ever since I left I want to go back ...
Love the cycling infrastructure in place having travelled over many times from the UK , did a full circuit of Holland plus other nostalgic routes to take in the world War 2 parachute operation Market Garden sites mainly around the famous bridge at Arnhem , the well defined and well marked routes make it so easy to get around , with route markers and maps at main points plus the country park markers are easy to follow , camp sites are a bit dearer than Germany and other places, but still plenty of wild camping spots ! folks are so friendly and the best part being you can count on the majority of car drivers owning and thinking bikes ! note Holland is linked into all the main routes out into the rest of the EuropeanVelo routes , my favourite being the river Rhine North down to Switzerland or just hanger left before you get their and up to the River Danube cycle way and on to Vienna etc
I still remember the first "fiets route" in Tilburg which was early 80's I think. So it indeed wasn't always like that, but my takeaway from this : changing infrastructure CAN be done in a lifetime.
If you do go back to the Netherlands, I would suggest going to a factory/shop known as Velomobiel in Dronten, they make and sell an HPV (Human Powered Vehicle) known as a velomobile or bike car. Velomobiles are fully enclosed recumbent trike or quad and are considered to be very safe. Many velos, as they are sometimes called, come standard with: Headlights, Taillights, Brake lights, Turn signals, and a Horn.
@@Propelbikes Thanks so much - Doing good. We were in Brooklyn for the first snow - super busy. It was good and exhausting. Wow, that was some marathon trip you made. Florida and the Netherlands. Good thing you have a lot of endurance. Now hopefully you have a little time to repair. :) And Tara - excellent edit. Great open.
Nice! I actually haven't seen any snow yet this year oddly enough. I was in AZ for the eBike summit then TX then FL. Heading home from CA today and then I'll chill until CES I think. I'm enjoying it right now though. Hopefully we can connect in person before Sea Otter this year, we'll figure it out eventually
Don't know if anyone said it already but your first pronunciation of Nijmegen was actually very good. Gazelle is probably the best Dutch bike brand, closely followed by Batavus and Sparta. The "Spartamet" was one of the first e-bikes that made it relatively big here.
One has not travelled far and wide, but have been to Amsterdam many times. The bike culture was very influential on me and I hold much respect for Dutch society in general. Make that move! 🌴🚲
Heeeey haha, I have cycled my whole life. Never needed a car. My bike has a part that Porsch made haha. I also charge my phone battery on my bicycle while I am cycling. I also went from Maastricht to Rome with that same bicycle
Great upload Chris! Thanks to you Tara for the education and adventure! I'd love move to the Netherlands but I'm too old and set in my ways. But I must say, with all the bullshit and the way things are going downhill here , moving is becoming more and more attractive.
The Netherlands! Really looks like a bikefriendly Utopia from an outsiders perspective. Would like to live there myself, for this reason alone. Looking forward to your conversations with all those cool people you met there!
The one ting that is important is "how to use a bike for daily use" And i take my bike (or walk) for groceries, i know in the US it is mostly not possible. That part from gazelle is a basic for a Dutch (city) bike, look at how the chain is covered on every bike. Maybe electric bikes is the way to go for the US
My band and I just got back to the US from a tour in Europe, a week of which was in the Netherlands. I love going there and really appreciate that bike culture is not a fringe element of society, but highly integrated into every day life. It's hard to explain unless you've seen it. One question about something new I saw this time: How do you feel about the Vespa-sized scooters being allowed in the bike lanes? I saw them everywhere and it seems nuts. I kept thinking "That can't be legal...". Combining the speed and weight of those with the lack of helmets seems like a disaster waiting to happen.
They are allowing two wheels up to about 50cc motorbikes. And those handicap mini cars also. Denmark Copenhagen for sure. I think has better implemented cycling structure
There's a difference. We've got snorscooters, which can only go to 25 kmph, and you don't need a helmet. And then there's the normal scooter, which reaches 50 kmph, and you need a helmet. These have to share the road with cars typically, except outside the city.
Nijmegen was pronounced correctly the first time, incorrectly the second time in the train. By the way, one of our oldest cities, dating back to the Romans. But nothing left from that period.
It's the oldest city in the Netherlands and there is a small part of Roman wall that remained (behind the Holland Casino at the Waalkade) that is just over 2000 years old.
@8:00 you talk about that most Dutch people take our bike infrastructure for granted. And yes.. watching RUclips channels like yours and Active Towns and ofcourse Not Just Bikes, are indeed eye-openers how lucky we are..
When I saw the first shot of Nijmegen I was v shocked! Your first pronunciation of Nijmegen was perfect. I worked with a lot of international students on the uni there and most never reached that level of pronunciation hahaha
As a Dutchy it is always good to see the biking culture from a different perspective. Curious about the channel will follow it and scroll down to your other video’s! Little side note, although not very bike friendly infrastructure I loved to bike in NY al the way from Brooklyn to Harlem. It felt quite natural coming from Amsterdam biking in “New Amsterdam”.
Great video and moving to Amsterdam would be a growth experience. summer of '72, there were quite a few bikes on the streets when I was there back then.
Hi Propel fantastic video again. Amsterdam has the name, but the rest of the Netherlands is ten times better and more beautiful. The rest of the Netherlands is fantastic for cycling. While Amsterdam is a wasp's nest.
Enjoyed your dutch video. Id love to go to the gazzal factory :) The uk goverment have annouced some major new hyway laws where BIKES WILL HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY!! im excited about this. Starts 29th jan 2022.
At 9:40 you talk about the supply chain and how one missing piece can put the whole line in jeopardy. This is exactly what's happening to a client of my dad, as they're currently waiting for block breaks to arrive from China. This causes the production line to idle for days/weeks, which is incredibly expensive.
At 4:40 in vid you're discussing the speed limits, and 30mph requiring separated bike paths. I live in San Diego, CA and a six lane highway, three lanes on each side, the city raised the speed limit to 60 mph, AND it has a bike lane on it. No kidding.
Next time you should visit de 'achterhoek'. over here we have Van Raam with some really specialty bikes and the surrounding area of Winterswijk is considered one of the most beautiful places for cycling and walking in the Netherlands for years! And when you're in Winterswijk, it's only ten minutes away from Biketown Rose. Technically it is in Germany (1,5km over the border in Bocholt) but many dutch people go there for bikes and the store itself is also very dutch orientated!
AWESOME! Great great video. Move. As soon as I am able, I am moving back to the Czech Republic where I lived for 11 years. Though, half of my ancestry is Dutch. I've visited Nederland twice and it was so awesome. And, to live in a bike-centric country?! Yes!
You have to come to the city of Houten when visiting the Netherlands next time. This is the cycling capital of the Netherlands, which is al about cycling. The urban planning is great. It did begin bij a circel-highway around our city for cars and every neighborhood connect to this highway…. for only the cars. For our biking everything is connected with well planned tubes (without traffic-lights) and so on. It’s faster to go by bike than getting the car in Houten. We have also a bike highway to Utrecht which is great (with the biggest bike parking of the world). You could take a look on google maps to see how great it is. You should also plan a visit to a place called: “De Fietser” which is located in Ede. Great place for experiencing different bikes of different bike company. Nice to see you’re interrest in our tiny “bike-country” with a great historical connection in what is become known as New York nowadays 😉
Do not believe this person. Houten is a gruesome place. There is an evil presence which eats people's soul. Loathsome deeds are performed. Do not go there.
You may see parts of some cities embark on a building more friendly bicycle routes, but a wide spread movement. I'm sixty now and have rode my bike everywhere I go for my whole life basically in a large city of 5 million and it was only in my last few years there that I got to enjoy those bike lanes and trails. Now in my retirement I've moved to a small town, I still try and ride my bike, having to ride 5 KM in either directions to fulfill all my shopping needs with no bike paths or trails....it's the open road for me again, thrown in with the racing cars, smelly diesel pickup trucks, logging trucks, ATVers and snowmobilers in winter all racing passed me everywhere I go. The only safe and quiet place in this town is the local cemetery down the road, funny, that's where I'll eventually end up with or without their help.
I share the dream of moving to NL/DEN, but trying to encourage these ideas is the US as I'd miss my mountains too much. : P Appreciate the great videos.
How strange it is for me that our infrastructure and ways of moving around is special to others. We cycle, yes we do! In the weekend we go downtown on our bikes and during the workweek we want to go to work on it. For me the main reason is to be outdoors in the fresh air and also have some excercise.
You definitely check out the cycle infrastructure in the city of Enschede. This city became the national bike city of 2020 because they changed there whole infrastructure in 4 years. They really tried to make it worth it to take the bike more often and because the center is now less car accessable it's sometimes even faster to go by bike from A to B. They also made bikinghighways, -bridges, -storages and a a lot of inovative things for example an app for cyclers that if you use it in traffic, the traffic light will get green faster. I'll try to find some overview of all the improvements they made and try to contact someone from the bicycle campaign they did called "Fietsstad Enschede 2020" within the local government here. People are always talking about Amsterdam so maybe it's interesting to show people how the rest of the Netherlands is. I think your already doing that so far so good. So please keep doing that 😁 Let me know what you think about all of this. Greetings Dylan from Enschede! ☺✌ And love your video's. Keep up the good work!
you should absolutely move to the netherlands ! pro's: beautiful building - east transportation -good roads -highways everywhere - shops at every corner of the streets - very good infrastructure cons: -pricy taxes -pretty hot -tight roads - you need to be cautious for the bikes (first time being in the netherlands there were lots of people that were gonna crash into me and idk why. be cautious)
Tara has a ten million dollar smile! I have friends who have moved there... and refuse to come home. Be careful you might not be able to escape... just saying!
Her smile is definitely infectious and I'm fortunate to be able to work with her! I definitely see the dangers of moving and never wanting to leave lol
You picked the worst weather to come to the Netherlands. You should really visit the Netherlands a bit longer with better weather and go outside the cities, that is where our nicest bike infrastructure is.
@@Propelbikes 😂 you are welcome to visit any time, but as a Dutch person I must warn you, weather is pretty bad, most of the time. It's one of the things we haven't (yet) designed.
No. I live next to the border (Germany) and often they say: Let’s do it the dutch way. This is difficult as a) the culture is pro cycle for decades b) the dutch have legally preserved city centres (Not shopping malls) and c) Netherlands are small with short distances and d) the Netherlands are super Rich. Despite claiming how normal they are, they are wealthy above european average which helps. So what works there is interesting, but difficult to Transfer. US has a ruined public infrastructure, to look at Netherlands is like a tour to Disneyland…
If the US spent just one full yearly budget for its military on it's infrastructure, just one single year, things would be so much different. But it won't because it doesn't have any priority.
I thought I recognised some things from Nijmegen before you mentioned it, but then I saw the view from Doesburg hotel, (sadly on a misty day, otherwise you could have literally seen my house) you were so close! :P
Chris, I am a 60 year old commercial driver. I would like to get out of driving a Truck and ride a bike for a living. But I'm not sure which direction the industry is moving as far as riding a bike for a career is going. It would be very helpful if you could give your knowledge on which way and how long you think it will take to be able have a legitimate job riding a bike for a career. Cheers, Thanks Mate
are used to drive trucks in the army actually. I think most of the work for biking these days professionally as in cities. Not sure where you live now, but if I was considering something that you are, I would look for a city that has really safe biking infrastructure. You could consider working for some of the apps, but if I was to do it myself I’d probably get a bike specifically a cargo bike and go to some local businesses that don’t have specific time dependent deliveries for example, in New York there’s a company that sells bread to different restaurants and stuff like that and they basically have regularly planned deliveries. I’ve also seen similar scenarios with coffee companies. I would look into the gourmet food sector. And you could also create your own business all together. I thought about a lot of different ones that could potentially work well. Perhaps an exterminator or maybe some thing like delivering firewood. There’s lots of ideas if you open your mind up to it. I will look at some of the more developed biking cities in the world and see some of the businesses that might exist doing this already, and try to bring it to your city or nearby one.
Moving the the Netherlands?! Quitter!! 🤣
Lol! I learned it from watching you...
Not sure if you got the reference but it's from an anti-drug commercial in the 90s
@@Propelbikes lol, I definitely remember.
"This is your brain. This is your brain on cars. Any questions?"
Lol! Love it!
This country is filled with quitters! And we are proud of it! :) Greetz from Amsterdam xxx
You're welcome. Always room for a couple more! 😎
I lived in the Netherlands for 9 months in Groningen, working at an architecture firm. Dutch design/architecture are also leaders in the world in those fields as well. As attractive as it was to live in the Netherlands and work in Dutch architecture firm, I saw the true value in bringing those Dutch design ideas back to the USA where they are needed. The Netherlands already has these fields established. Design / architecture / infrastructure / cargo bikes are needed more in the USA!
Great points and perspectives Kyle! I do think there is value in immersing yourself in that experience though. Even if just for a time. I know I always learn so much even in my short trips
Go Kyle!!
Omg Kyle, please fix the US so it'd be a nice enough country for me to ever visit. Currently, it's still so far down the list, it's absurd how many countries are currently better at almost every single thing I find important (and the things you mentioned)
@@Propelbikes I'm not trying to make too many assumptions here, but as a business owner you probably have the luxury to visit the Netherlands for a week (or two even) and experience it from a more Dutch perspective by getting into an AirBnB and do a facsimile of what everyday life here is like. Going to the grocery store on foot or by bicycle every other day for a week or so for example is an experience in itself.
ps. Loving the content.
Spy detected :P
As a Dutchie these videos make us realize how special it is what we consider completely normal. We are often surprised there is none or no safe way to bike from A to B in many places. Unimaginable here.
I live in the south (limburg)..we're really too lazy to go by bike. Most households have 1 or more cars..we even drive to the supermarket 300 meters from our house by car 🤣
@@tiqo8549 waarom? T is toch veel sneller en makkelijker om even op de fiets te springen.??
Please emigrate everywhere and remind the local municipalities of this very same fact. We all need the support. I've given up on the idea of ramming BMW's with my bike to let them know they are not welcome on the same roads as me.
@@marijkeoord6776 je supermarkt zou eens op de top van een heuvel liggen dan kan je toch niet op de fiets? ;-)
@@michielvdvlies3315 Nu met bikes vlieg je zo die heuvel op. Maar als je niet oplet race je de andere kant naar beneden..
Just after WW2 the Dutch all dreamed they could travel by car like the Americans. Nowadays it seems for many Americans it is a dream to travel like the Dutch, on bike 😉
Lol! Great point
They did achieve that but came to to the conclusion they didn't want car infested cities.
Now the dutch dream of being able to afford a place to live ever again...
@L M In the two decades after WW2 the USA was definitely the Netherlands' greatest role model. From the consumer goods and the car culture, to the music and even the cowboys-and-indians books teenage boys would read, the Dutch looked up to America. Only during the 1960s did this start to change (especially during the Vietnam War).
@L M which country are you from? I've never heard of an entire country being bombed.
I love the Netherlands and have an incredible respect for their bike culture, although I have never been there(but plan to go as soon as possible), I want to do everything I can to help Americans and other car-centric societies. I don’t hold it against anyone for moving or wanting to move there, but your presence in America is making a HUGE difference. Your channel does so much informing and changing minds toward making the places we live healthier and safer.
This is very kind of you to say! I'm definitely not abandoning the US, but wow it seems like it would be really nice!
I am dutch, and I couldn't say it better
@@Propelbikes I almost got the impression that there are allready a lot of US citizens living in the Netherlands or Europe for that matter. Watching youtube video's of some disturbing issues in the states that are hitting me and turn my stomach around, I get the feeling that abandoning the US is the only way to go and build-up a new and better life in a more humane society such as the Netherlands, and that besides bikes our country is having a liberating and eye-opening effect on the minds of people from the states, being here for the first time! Welcome to the Netherlands and experience our bikes and stroopwafels and much more!!
We first went to the Netherlands thirty years ago, and the revelation of what a safe cycle-orientated environment could be has motivated us ever since. We go every year if we can, usually to different cities to see and experience the cycling, but also the people and culture. Hopefully we’ll be in Amsterdam in July.
It's nice to see what's possible in real life. I think to be able to share more of that is important
moved there in "95. I still love every single day. Nothing beats the Netherlands. I cycle about 1000 km a month (commute, groceries, weekend trips, e--bike, road-bike, whatever) the sheer freedom about bike lanes. Best country on the globe. And I love the dutchies, just love them.
I'm Dutch (Nijmegen is my hometown), and watching Not Just Bikes made me realise how privileged we are when it comes to bike infrastructure. And I learned a lot about how towns are made for cars in North America, it was shocking to me to see how difficult it is to get around without a car there.
Yes. When I cycle or run here (Kansas City, MO), I have to be ready for death at any moment. It's not hyperbole, either.
I have done the Nijmegen marches a few times and lived on the German Dutch border. Love the Netherlands. Wish I could move there.
I'm a bike nut, moved from London to delft 5 years ago and cannot recommend it enough.
Every morning when I get up and ride somewhere, the planning , cleanliness and ease of it all reminds me why. Then yoh have the great cities, people and beer and you have the icing on the cake.
you need ice on the canals then you experienced the real dutch life with ice skating ;-)
To really experience what the Dutch infrastructure can do for you, you should live here for at least a while. Its all about things getting a habit so that you stop thinking about it. Like parking your bike right in front of the supermarket entrance on your way home and literally getting your shopping done in 5 minutes. Like getting used to just going to the train station when you need to travel without having to even check a schedual because in the worst case you'll be waiting like 15 minutes for the next one.
To experience to not own a car and really realise you dont even miss it because that one or two times you do need one, you just order a taxi, an uber or rent one for the day through one of the many car sharing companies. Once all these things become normal you can go back and really experience the difference in life style in North American cities now that you actually lived in The Netherlands instead of just looking at it from the sidelines if you like.
Edit: Not that I'm claiming that The Netherlands is some kind of utopian society. The personal space North Americans enjoy like a free standing house on your own land surrounded by your own garden is considered luxury over here and you have to be very wealthy to be able to afford a typical middle class American suburban home. But like many things, great things are born out of necessity and the scarcity of space really forced the Dutch to innovate in areas that haven't been issues in North America at all. We have never lived with such an abundance of sheer space and natural resources, the American dream lifestyle is simply not possible here. But these limitations might prove to have created valuable solutions which only become relevant now to the US when climate change and the limitations of fossile fuel become more and more of a challenge.
quick comment on those large single family homes - technically they also would be a luxury in the US, if their maintenance wasnt massively subsidized by the cities - if i recall right notjustbikes also had a video on that in his strongtowns series
essentially those properties are massively undertaxed for the amount of expenditure thats necessary to keep them supplied with clean water, roads, power etc...
You forgot to mention one little point. Without mentioning the company name: the yellow cargo bikes you used are rented by the minute with an app on your phone. Many people that do not need a cargo bike on a regular basis but need one punctually use the service. In our case we have normal bikes, but occasionally we will rent it for some hour to carry our daughter and friends or just go shopping or to the beach within the city. Is a great invention, we basically barely use the car in the city. You just get close to one, select it on the app and then rent it. This is what you need to copy there. Occasional no long term obligation to start convincing people to swap their second car for a bike or cargo bike.
Please don't leave the USA completely. We need people like you to educate and promote the biking culture here in America. I just purchased a Gazelle locally, from Covered Bridge in Ct. based on your reviews. Such an awesome bike! I love your videos, Tara is a natural cinematographer, and some fun content with great info!
12:16, you called it a skirt guard, the fender-thing, also said it was unique to the gazelle. It's really common on all Dutch regular bikes, and called in Dutch a "jacket-protector" or "coat protector" Only racebikes and mountainbikes will not have them. Remember, bikes were/are a mode of transport, and particularly in earlier decades men and women would often wear long coats, because of your upright position, without them your coat will trail in between the spokes, damaging bike, coats and possible even person cycling.
Ik wilde dit net gaan zeggen. Zo bijzonder is dat toch niet hahaha en zeker niet uniek van gazelle. 🤣
Maybe this design is uniquely Gazelle.
From top to bottem.
Spatbord = Fender
Jas beschermer = Skirtguard
Kettingkast = Chain.......guard?
A chain guard is not only to protect your clothes, it is also to protect your chain from dirt and water.
Much like Jason, I emigrated from North America, in 2019, and haven't regretted a day of it. I'm a 20-year New Yorker, and this is as great or greater for certain.
So cool! Not just bikes isone of my fave channels as well! Holland is one of my dream places to live in!
NJB rocks!
This is SO FUN!! Seeing all of our friends in one video made me so happy!! How far we've come as a community, globally, that the Gezelligheid - translating to English [from Dutch] indirectly as "organic coziness and genuineness created by sub-conscious actions" - can be felt even if people here have never met completely in real life.
I, for one, cannot wait for the day we finally do. That day will be unexplainably awesome, at least in my opinion. :)
I'm very much looking forward to that as well! I look forward to connecting soon virtually as well
Love the Netherlands, and especially Delft. While staying in a hotel in Delft, watching people going to church on Sunday morning, saw a couple in their Sunday best go by on a bike. He was up front pedaling, and she was sitting side-saddle on the back rack. It really made me aware just how much bikes are part of the culture there.
Probably the most surprising thing for foreigners is that the prime minister travels by bike very often.
Damn it! You're living my dream 😉
It absolutely is amazing cycling infrastructure. Not just inside towns and city, but town to town and to city. You can ride ALL over the country and be segregated from the road.
They have fantastic security too, especially in the city
I do have to pinch myself sometimes for sure
It is getting time to live your own dream.
THIS is the content I want to see! I love your bike reviews. The conferences/expos are alright, but the interviews with people like NotJustBikes Guy (Jason Slaughter) and others who are advocating for a better world with better infrastructure are the RUclips GOLD! I will be watching this space for these videos.
I really appreciate the feedback. It's very helpful and valuable. You can count on more to come. I think we are going to do some stuff at CES this year, but aside from that it should be more bike reviews, interviews, etc. Stay tuned and thanks for your comment
The expos aren’t bad. They are good videos with lots of fun tech and I enjoy those as well. But you bring a certain personality to the e-bike space and it’s nice when you spend your time interviewing people and making content that makes biking feel more accessible and hopeful for the future.
I’m in Atlanta and we are basically a barren wasteland for biking. I commute by bike and my family bikes to our downtown area for leisure multiple times a week, but we live in the most bike-friendly community in atlanta and it’s still extremely hard. I hope one day we can catch up to the rest of the world.
Thanks Joe! This means a lot to me
take it from an older person - do it while you are relatively young as you have time should it not work out to try something else, but hopefully you will continue to have your shops in the US as the bike movement here needs those types of shops
God willing my shops aren't going anywhere. They'll likely change form in someways, but I hope they will continue to be useful in this world. That being said, I've got a lot more I would like to accomplish for sure
I also lived 1 year in the Netherlands, back in 2007. It was great and after 2 month I went with my car to germany and handed the keys to my mum and went back with the train and spent 10 month with some 200€ used Gazelle holland bike. The other thing netherlands shines is the absolutely friendly work environment. In my company barely someone spend their lunch break alone, we did all sit together chatting and eating with the whole team including management. What I noticed though, their car driving style... As soon it turns green they accellerate full power just to stop at the next traffic light. So it is really a good thing, most of them stick with bikes 🙂
Great video! I'm from Holland and love your perspective on our great little (did I say tiny) country. I'm very greatful for how livable how country is. Thanks so much for helping me remember and re-appreciate it even more.
Watching channels like this does me realise how lucky we are to have this kind of bicycle infrastructure. It's so normal for me to travel larger distances by bike, mostly on separated bikelanes, that I would know how to do this without ...
Btw. Not sure what if you have decided yet.. but you're welcome 😁
All those little details you noticed on the Gazelle bikes are standard for regular Dutch bikes: lights, frame locks, mud guards (fenders), jacket (or skirt) protectors, elastic straps over the cargo rack, etc. Those are things you need when your bike is your daily transport instead of just recreation. Except that I don't need the jacket protectors because I have large bags hanging off my cargo rack, saddle-bag style.
Gazelle does make excellent bikes, though.
I biked in the Netherlands. In summer it's one of my go to countries. I cycle over the border from Germany and it is so advanced in the Netherlands, even compared to Germany. It's so enjoyable and forward thinking. You should definitely consider moving if you can. Quality of life is not something you can buy.
Even for me as a German it's often impressive to see Dutch bike infrastructure - while we have a lot of the same concepts, it's the absolutely consequent implementation and the level of detail. And as a result of this the giant numbers of cyclists.
I can only imagine, how this must feel for somebody from a city where they don't even have sidewalks along their "stroads".
Nice video!
As a true Dutchie, I must confirm that we take our bike infra 'for granted'. But this does not mean, that there isn't a somewhat polarizing 'challenge' between car and alternative bike traffic!
Most of the videos around biking in the Netherlands are about de big urban area's (A'dam, Utrecht, etc.), but there is also a large, more rural part in NL ;-)
There are loads of bikelanes for both commuting and lesuire there, but cars still dominate the day-to-day use. I used to bike commute 10 miles/15 km (single ride - Pre Corona) to work. But above all....love to cycle for leisure/sport!
Hi Chris, I'm relatively new to your channel but loving this type of content. I'm working my way through your videos and I find the infrastucture videos and 'ride with me' interviews more interesting than the bike pure bike videos. I ride a normal non-electric Brompton and am thinking of getting rid of our second car and using my Brompton as my main mode of transport. I'd like to revisit the Netherlands now, but on bike. I'd love to see a video from you exploring what the future of ebikes and bikes looks like in 10-20 years, especially in cities like NY, London, Paris, etc.
Thanks a bunch! Funny enough we are actually planning a bike of the future video at CES next week. Let me know if there is any tech or ideas you think you would like to see implemented?
Hi Chris,
I recently got a purchased a bike from your shop in Long Beach facilitated with your Matchmaker Nancy. I’m a long time cyclist, old school and this is my first Ebike. Bulls Iconic tr1 speed. I can’t stand it!! Too much fun! I’m seventy and back with a vengeance! Love your videos and feel so inspired, Amsterdam is firmly on the top of my bucket list.
Thanks for everything!
I know that I want to spend at least a bit of my life living in the Netherlands, but I’ve yet to visit! Thanks for a wonderful video talking about your trip :) seems like a fun time!
It was loads of fun! Glad you enjoyed the video. Who knows maybe one day we’ll cross paths in that fine country
Great clip, I look forward to seeing each of the videos from the trip
Us too! We had lots of fun and we're looking forward to sharing
Thanks Chris for another great video. I lived in Leiden for 6 months some 30 years ago. It was a great experience and your video is reminding me that it’s time to go back.
I live in Denmark and Denmark still has a long way to go in order to reach the level of bike infrastructure that The Netherlands has. Bikes are good for everybody: the environment, the health of the people, the traffic and the government.
As a dutchie your channel (among others) was certainly an eyeopener into infrastructure being a big part of daily life, and how (even within the Netherlands) different approaches make a huge impact on the joy of life. While we still have challenges and some hurdles to take, I think we are on the right path, advocated by people, enforced by law(makers), and implemented by city planners.
Not sure where you might end up living, but I think your fight for more bike-friendliness is more effective in where you are now; preaching for your own church gets dull, and pretty sure you're not at an age where that is what you are aiming for ;)
Wherever I go I will continue to travel I'm sure. But these are fair points for sure. I'd like to share more of what I have experienced there though for sure
The Bicycle Duych channel is kegendary too, and already there for years! Amd its fukky in Enhlish... Marc is my personal hero, cause he made me interested in pur Dutch infrastructure. Now I am hooked!
as a Dutch person biking is pretty normal, but when i see the amount of channels/videos on the Dutch infrastructure and in particular about bikes.....its amazing. I'm blessed to live here. its a jamaican saying but I can project it on our country too likkle but we tallawah (we are small but huge)
A growing problem here in the Netherlands (at least in the bigger cities) seems to be the lack of craftmanship. My local Gazelle-dealer who has been in business for over fifty years and does good business, is closing because he can't find good technicians for repairing bicycles or people who want to be trained for this. He told me that he doesn't want the 60 - 70 hour workingweeks anymore and closes the shop and start working for a 'competitor'now...
That's a problem in every industrialized country. Manufacturing jobs have been outsourced, good old technician jobs are not (yet) appreciated for how necessary they are and the education system props up employment in the service economy.
You'll love it and be frustrated by it in many ways. Give it a try? the rest of Europe is on your doorstep and you can escape to the sun in an hour or two (you will need to). housing is so expensive 😭. but we came for a year and stayed 15.
feel free to contact/call for a chat if you want to hear our experience, and/or if you need a local videographer when you are not in town with Tara.
great video.
Do it Chris! Given your business is your passion, and the Netherlands is a world center for that passion, it should be enriching on many tangible and more so on intangible levels.
Chris, what a completely beautiful video. Such a great way to capture and condense down what was obviously an experience of a lifetime. I couldn’t stop smiling all the way through. All those truly special people. All my heroes in one place!
If you do spend a period of your life in NL, the goal has to be getting N America to go Dutch, to get that political will that is so lacking throughout the English speaking nations. It somehow feels like there is so much pent up desire round the world to live a more Dutch life… a life less subservient to the motor car. The Netherlands manages to achieve the tranquility and beauty and buzz of life designed for people not machines.
You said it, “just a nice place to be”.
Thanks Mike! Always appreciate your supportive words. I definitely plan to share all I experience and learn. I'm not going anywhere anytime real soon, but I did want to put my interest out there
What an amazing video man! You just definitely consider moving to the Netherlands.
It took me only two visits to convince myself this is the place to be.
Again, quality content and really helpful. Congrats!
Much appreciated! This was my second visit so I totally get it!
These uploads are getting more and more interesting, had to subscribe (at last 🤣) ! Do whatever you have to do, youre doing good Chris!
How nice to hear you talk about the Netherlands. I have to say that I really like your videos about the development of cycling in the US.
The Netherlands is a real cycling country. You already knew that, but you have now seen it for the second time.
Nice to hear that you met Melissa, Chris and Jason. They have become real bicycle ambassadors.
Yes, you will not easily find the cycling infrastructure that you encounter here in the Netherlands elsewhere.
Do you have to come and live in the Netherlands for a while? There is a lot to do here and everything is very well organized. Good luck with your decision.
By the way, you've been close to my house. I live next to Amsterdam Airport :-)
If you ride a bike there that isn't the Dutch city or upright cargo variety, you'll be treated like garbage there.
@@shannontrainer5857 Wauw
Thanks for your thoughtful comment Bert! I really enjoyed visiting your country
I left the Netherlands 6 months ago and miss it every day! Amsterdam was the best city i ever lived in. The only thing lacking was easy access to proper nature.
No proper nature in the Netherlands. The country is one huge city of which its districts are seperated by larger or smaller landscaped parks and of course loads of asphalt.
Moving to the Netherlands from Seattle, WA is one of my long term goals. I know that there is a housing crisis over there, but same goes for Seattle as well. I don't care.
This seems to be a common thread between many comments here
@Jordie Oh that's interesting. Thanks for your input. I'll reconsider Amsterdam when I'm ready to move. I had previously resolved to move to any Dutch city but Amsterdam that still has a pretty short train route to Amsterdam.
''housing crisis'' ?
You mean a huge influx of 'refugees'.
Meanwhile the Dutch themselves have to wait 10 years or more to get any place possible.
@Jordie There's plenty of nice places outside of Amsterdam, and housing there will be more affordable. In fact Amsterdam has turned into some sort of weird theme park, and (to me) has lost much of its charm.
@@peet4921 The housing crisis refers to the private sector. Refugees aren’t eligible for those houses.
As for social housing: the number of social housing dropped by 50% in the past 10 years under the Rutte administration, the issue isn’t necessarily more people but rather less houses. Refugees aren’t the cause.
Awesome! Can’t wait to see all those videos. 😊
Thanks!! We're excited to share with everyone :)
Lovin the pro-human energy of all these places :) Def planning to visit Ultrecht asap So was great to hear the names of these other lesser known cities with similar vibes and infrastructure -also nice to see and hear all these new names of people and companies involved in the movement - for this new tribe that’s forming these people are likes aunts and uncles of a growing family :) def hope to see more vids like this !!
We visited, and planning to go back on a bike packing trip, all around NL, really putting our bikes and ourselves to the test for the whole summer. We could just go back, and cycle round, but the point of the great infrastructure is to get somewhere on it. We could follow our interests like bird migration, bicycle shows, botanical gardens etc. Sure you’d find something to follow and connect with that’s not just bikes. Love to see you make a journey video sponsored by Urban Arrow
Well as a former military brat my dad and are family was station and Rammstein Germany. Live for four years. I miss it alot. Now as biker motorcycle s and now a e bike riding. Oh yeah. To visit is one thing to live in there is whole different experience. To get to know how different we as Americans do things have the Europeans do things but yet there are things that we do the same. I will say this once you move there you get home sick. But you will always want to go back. Well I feel. I love my job and the city I live in. It's like half of me is still there. My second home.
Thank you for this video. I lived for years in Delft and fully agree with your impressions and assessment of the place. Ever since I left I want to go back ...
Love the cycling infrastructure in place having travelled over many times from the UK , did a full circuit of Holland plus other nostalgic routes to take in the world War 2 parachute operation Market Garden sites mainly around the famous bridge at Arnhem , the well defined and well marked routes make it so easy to get around , with route markers and maps at main points plus the country park markers are easy to follow , camp sites are a bit dearer than Germany and other places, but still plenty of wild camping spots ! folks are so friendly and the best part being you can count on the majority of car drivers owning and thinking bikes ! note Holland is linked into all the main routes out into the rest of the EuropeanVelo routes , my favourite being the river Rhine North down to Switzerland or just hanger left before you get their and up to the River Danube cycle way and on to Vienna etc
Looking forward to seeing all your videos from your trip!
Thanks Karl!
I still remember the first "fiets route" in Tilburg which was early 80's I think. So it indeed wasn't always like that, but my takeaway from this : changing infrastructure CAN be done in a lifetime.
Another great video Chris, I bought the Mustache e-bike Friday 27 2019,great ride!
If you do go back to the Netherlands, I would suggest going to a factory/shop known as Velomobiel in Dronten, they make and sell an HPV (Human Powered Vehicle) known as a velomobile or bike car. Velomobiles are fully enclosed recumbent trike or quad and are considered to be very safe. Many velos, as they are sometimes called, come standard with: Headlights, Taillights, Brake lights, Turn signals, and a Horn.
Amazing video - Great work you two...so inspiring.
Much appreciated Mark! Hope you're doing well!
@@Propelbikes Thanks so much - Doing good. We were in Brooklyn for the first snow - super busy. It was good and exhausting. Wow, that was some marathon trip you made. Florida and the Netherlands. Good thing you have a lot of endurance. Now hopefully you have a little time to repair. :) And Tara - excellent edit. Great open.
Nice! I actually haven't seen any snow yet this year oddly enough. I was in AZ for the eBike summit then TX then FL. Heading home from CA today and then I'll chill until CES I think. I'm enjoying it right now though. Hopefully we can connect in person before Sea Otter this year, we'll figure it out eventually
Interesting perspective and trip, thanks for sharing...
Thanks Anthony!
Don't know if anyone said it already but your first pronunciation of Nijmegen was actually very good.
Gazelle is probably the best Dutch bike brand, closely followed by Batavus and Sparta. The "Spartamet" was one of the first e-bikes that made it relatively big here.
One has not travelled far and wide, but have been to Amsterdam many times. The bike culture was very influential on me and I hold much respect for Dutch society in general. Make that move! 🌴🚲
Heeeey haha, I have cycled my whole life. Never needed a car. My bike has a part that Porsch made haha. I also charge my phone battery on my bicycle while I am cycling. I also went from Maastricht to Rome with that same bicycle
Nice!
Great upload Chris! Thanks to you Tara for the education and adventure! I'd love move to the Netherlands but I'm too old and set in my ways. But I must say, with all the bullshit and the way things are going downhill here , moving is becoming more and more attractive.
Thanks Paul! Always appreciate your comments!
I may be developing a small crush on Tara and that beautiful smile of hers that lights up even the rainiest of days!
Compliments for the next level bike riding in Amsterdam. Connecting the world with knowledge is inspiring!
The Netherlands! Really looks like a bikefriendly Utopia from an outsiders perspective. Would like to live there myself, for this reason alone.
Looking forward to your conversations with all those cool people you met there!
I would agree with this for sure! Can't wait to share the videos from the trip
The one ting that is important is "how to use a bike for daily use"
And i take my bike (or walk) for groceries, i know in the US it is mostly not possible.
That part from gazelle is a basic for a Dutch (city) bike, look at how the chain is covered on every bike. Maybe electric bikes is the way to go for the US
Bink Bikes in Den Haag!!! We live there and always use them for our guests who want to rent ebikes while visiting. Their staff is GREAT!
Thank you so much for stopping by! :D
My band and I just got back to the US from a tour in Europe, a week of which was in the Netherlands. I love going there and really appreciate that bike culture is not a fringe element of society, but highly integrated into every day life. It's hard to explain unless you've seen it. One question about something new I saw this time: How do you feel about the Vespa-sized scooters being allowed in the bike lanes? I saw them everywhere and it seems nuts. I kept thinking "That can't be legal...". Combining the speed and weight of those with the lack of helmets seems like a disaster waiting to happen.
It's definitely quite special! But yes I hear you with the scooter thing, it's tough, but definitely not nearly as dangerous as cars can be
They are allowing two wheels up to about 50cc motorbikes. And those handicap mini cars also. Denmark Copenhagen for sure. I think has better implemented cycling structure
Sadly, road cyclists are treated as a fringe group there.
A week touring in NL? You must have played just about place you possibly could. ;)
There's a difference. We've got snorscooters, which can only go to 25 kmph, and you don't need a helmet. And then there's the normal scooter, which reaches 50 kmph, and you need a helmet. These have to share the road with cars typically, except outside the city.
Nijmegen was pronounced correctly the first time, incorrectly the second time in the train. By the way, one of our oldest cities, dating back to the Romans. But nothing left from that period.
Thanks! I'll probably mess it up again next time I try lol
It's the oldest city in the Netherlands and there is a small part of Roman wall that remained (behind the Holland Casino at the Waalkade) that is just over 2000 years old.
@8:00 you talk about that most Dutch people take our bike infrastructure for granted. And yes.. watching RUclips channels like yours and Active Towns and ofcourse Not Just Bikes, are indeed eye-openers how lucky we are..
When I saw the first shot of Nijmegen I was v shocked! Your first pronunciation of Nijmegen was perfect. I worked with a lot of international students on the uni there and most never reached that level of pronunciation hahaha
As a Dutchy it is always good to see the biking culture from a different perspective. Curious about the channel will follow it and scroll down to your other video’s!
Little side note, although not very bike friendly infrastructure I loved to bike in NY al the way from Brooklyn to Harlem. It felt quite natural coming from Amsterdam biking in “New Amsterdam”.
How easy is it to get around a city as a newcomer without a car is very telling who that city prioritize - ppl or the auto industry
Great video and moving to Amsterdam would be a growth experience. summer of '72, there were quite a few bikes on the streets when I was there back then.
Yes I recommend visiting the NL too! Love it! Can't wait to go back.
Hi Propel fantastic video again. Amsterdam has the name, but the rest of the Netherlands is ten times better and more beautiful. The rest of the Netherlands is fantastic for cycling. While Amsterdam is a wasp's nest.
Fair perspective. I love it all but definitely more to see
Enjoyed your dutch video. Id love to go to the gazzal factory :)
The uk goverment have annouced some major new hyway laws where BIKES WILL HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY!! im excited about this. Starts 29th jan 2022.
You should give Tara a huge hug for the awesome videos she makes. Oh and as for moving to NL.... Go for it, you'll love it.
At 9:40 you talk about the supply chain and how one missing piece can put the whole line in jeopardy. This is exactly what's happening to a client of my dad, as they're currently waiting for block breaks to arrive from China. This causes the production line to idle for days/weeks, which is incredibly expensive.
Thanks for sharing. Love your videos!
Thabks Chris! Always enjoy your posts on IG and Twitter
At 4:40 in vid you're discussing the speed limits, and 30mph requiring separated bike paths. I live in San Diego, CA and a six lane highway, three lanes on each side, the city raised the speed limit to 60 mph, AND it has a bike lane on it. No kidding.
Lived in Amsterdam for 3 yrs. best city i have ever lived. Urban Utopia!
It really is a special place!
Tip: check out the city of lelystad in the Netherlands. It was build after the 70ties and designed from the go to have separate infrastructure
Next time you should visit de 'achterhoek'. over here we have Van Raam with some really specialty bikes and the surrounding area of Winterswijk is considered one of the most beautiful places for cycling and walking in the Netherlands for years! And when you're in Winterswijk, it's only ten minutes away from Biketown Rose. Technically it is in Germany (1,5km over the border in Bocholt) but many dutch people go there for bikes and the store itself is also very dutch orientated!
AWESOME! Great great video. Move. As soon as I am able, I am moving back to the Czech Republic where I lived for 11 years. Though, half of my ancestry is Dutch. I've visited Nederland twice and it was so awesome. And, to live in a bike-centric country?! Yes!
You have to come to the city of Houten when visiting the Netherlands next time. This is the cycling capital of the Netherlands, which is al about cycling. The urban planning is great. It did begin bij a circel-highway around our city for cars and every neighborhood connect to this highway…. for only the cars. For our biking everything is connected with well planned tubes (without traffic-lights) and so on. It’s faster to go by bike than getting the car in Houten. We have also a bike highway to Utrecht which is great (with the biggest bike parking of the world). You could take a look on google maps to see how great it is. You should also plan a visit to a place called: “De Fietser” which is located in Ede. Great place for experiencing different bikes of different bike company. Nice to see you’re interrest in our tiny “bike-country” with a great historical connection in what is become known as New York nowadays 😉
Do not believe this person. Houten is a gruesome place. There is an evil presence which eats people's soul. Loathsome deeds are performed. Do not go there.
That opening shot!!!
You may see parts of some cities embark on a building more friendly bicycle routes, but a wide spread movement. I'm sixty now and have rode my bike everywhere I go for my whole life basically in a large city of 5 million and it was only in my last few years there that I got to enjoy those bike lanes and trails. Now in my retirement I've moved to a small town, I still try and ride my bike, having to ride 5 KM in either directions to fulfill all my shopping needs with no bike paths or trails....it's the open road for me again, thrown in with the racing cars, smelly diesel pickup trucks, logging trucks, ATVers and snowmobilers in winter all racing passed me everywhere I go. The only safe and quiet place in this town is the local cemetery down the road, funny, that's where I'll eventually end up with or without their help.
Nijmegen is well known for its huge annual event... De 4 daagse van Nijmegen... which even attracts US and probably Canadian military
I share the dream of moving to NL/DEN, but trying to encourage these ideas is the US as I'd miss my mountains too much. : P Appreciate the great videos.
How strange it is for me that our infrastructure and ways of moving around is special to others. We cycle, yes we do!
In the weekend we go downtown on our bikes and during the workweek we want to go to work on it. For me the main reason is to be outdoors in the fresh air and also have some excercise.
You definitely check out the cycle infrastructure in the city of Enschede.
This city became the national bike city of 2020 because they changed there whole infrastructure in 4 years. They really tried to make it worth it to take the bike more often and because the center is now less car accessable it's sometimes even faster to go by bike from A to B. They also made bikinghighways, -bridges, -storages and a a lot of inovative things for example an app for cyclers that if you use it in traffic, the traffic light will get green faster.
I'll try to find some overview of all the improvements they made and try to contact someone from the bicycle campaign they did called "Fietsstad Enschede 2020" within the local government here.
People are always talking about Amsterdam so maybe it's interesting to show people how the rest of the Netherlands is. I think your already doing that so far so good. So please keep doing that 😁
Let me know what you think about all of this.
Greetings Dylan from Enschede! ☺✌
And love your video's. Keep up the good work!
Good video. To make the videos even better show more of Tara! She has such a beautiful smile!!!
you should absolutely move to the netherlands !
pro's: beautiful building
- east transportation
-good roads
-highways everywhere
- shops at every corner of the streets
- very good infrastructure
cons: -pricy taxes
-pretty hot
-tight roads
- you need to be cautious for the bikes (first time being in the netherlands there were lots of people that were gonna crash into me and idk why. be cautious)
Damn, Chris! Great video! I long to visit the Netherlands again, too.
You gotta do it! It's awesome!
Great shout out to The War on Cars podcast at 4 minutes 38 seconds into the video!
Tara has a ten million dollar smile! I have friends who have moved there... and refuse to come home. Be careful you might not be able to escape... just saying!
Her smile is definitely infectious and I'm fortunate to be able to work with her! I definitely see the dangers of moving and never wanting to leave lol
You picked the worst weather to come to the Netherlands. You should really visit the Netherlands a bit longer with better weather and go outside the cities, that is where our nicest bike infrastructure is.
Thanks for the tip! It's in the plans for sure. So much more to see and experience!
@@Propelbikes 😂 you are welcome to visit any time, but as a Dutch person I must warn you, weather is pretty bad, most of the time. It's one of the things we haven't (yet) designed.
No. I live next to the border (Germany) and often they say: Let’s do it the dutch way. This is difficult as a) the culture is pro cycle for decades b) the dutch have legally preserved city centres (Not shopping malls) and c) Netherlands are small with short distances and d) the Netherlands are super Rich. Despite claiming how normal they are, they are wealthy above european average which helps. So what works there is interesting, but difficult to Transfer. US has a ruined public infrastructure, to look at Netherlands is like a tour to Disneyland…
If the US spent just one full yearly budget for its military on it's infrastructure, just one single year, things would be so much different.
But it won't because it doesn't have any priority.
We are wealthy, because we take the bike and don't spend it all on petrol.
@@lkruijsw 🤣😂🤣 I like that
I thought I recognised some things from Nijmegen before you mentioned it, but then I saw the view from Doesburg hotel, (sadly on a misty day, otherwise you could have literally seen my house) you were so close! :P
Chris, I am a 60 year old commercial driver. I would like to get out of driving a Truck and ride a bike for a living. But I'm not sure which direction the industry is moving as far as riding a bike for a career is going. It would be very helpful if you could give your knowledge on which way and how long you think it will take to be able have a legitimate job riding a bike for a career. Cheers, Thanks Mate
are used to drive trucks in the army actually. I think most of the work for biking these days professionally as in cities. Not sure where you live now, but if I was considering something that you are, I would look for a city that has really safe biking infrastructure. You could consider working for some of the apps, but if I was to do it myself I’d probably get a bike specifically a cargo bike and go to some local businesses that don’t have specific time dependent deliveries for example, in New York there’s a company that sells bread to different restaurants and stuff like that and they basically have regularly planned deliveries. I’ve also seen similar scenarios with coffee companies. I would look into the gourmet food sector. And you could also create your own business all together. I thought about a lot of different ones that could potentially work well. Perhaps an exterminator or maybe some thing like delivering firewood. There’s lots of ideas if you open your mind up to it. I will look at some of the more developed biking cities in the world and see some of the businesses that might exist doing this already, and try to bring it to your city or nearby one.
I’m a Dutchy, but live in Belgium. The (safe) bike lanes is ‘the one’ thing I miss the most here.