Amsterdam is the "bicycle capital" of Europe, the two (the other is in Copenhagen, Denmark), the number of bicycles fast to catch the city's total population, a lot of people cycling trip is the preferred means of transport.

But this does not mean that this is a paradise for cyclists - bicycle paths and parking seems increasingly inadequate during peak hours on the road is blocked mess, and faster, bigger, heavier motorcycles and electric bicycles shuttle which also interfere with a family bike trip.

Faced with new problems emerge, the city of Amsterdam this year established semi-official "bicycle mayor" of the post, to specifically address the "bicycle capital" of trouble.

[] Is not a cyclist's paradise

Amsterdam bike is a business card, the streets, everywhere.

The city retains many medieval narrow streets, plus more than 160 criss-crossing waterways and more than 1,000 bridges of all sizes, the objective inconvenience popular cars, and environmental protection and the promotion of the concept of government in road planning and traffic management rules, etc. policies, so that residents for decades to develop a habit of traveling by bicycle.

However, authoritative organizations in the Netherlands, "Dutch cyclist union" rating, the capital really is the most convenient and comfortable cycling city. The same city, The Hague, Eindhoven and Almere do better than that. With the British "Guardian" as saying in the Dutch capital, at noon traffic flow rider comes in to say, to the peak travel or tourists densely, like a bicycle army blocking gruel, no shortage of people rampage, while the trunk is almost every intersection will be blocked.

"For the people of Amsterdam, it is too hurt people," the newly appointed "mayor bike" Anna Lu Tena said, "the city is too crowded in some places - bike too much, too many motorcycles, cars too more, too many pedestrians simply do not have space. "

Amsterdam has a population of 1.1 million, the number of bicycles is estimated at 1 million. Both young and old, rich and poor officials and businessmen, travelers can see their rider figure. Data show that the public bicycle usage increased by 40% over the past 20 years, the city people riding a total of approximately two million kilometers per day. However, so many people ride, but in the city, especially downtown, can not find enough of the traffic lane and parking.

According to "The Guardian" saying 68% of downtown way to travel by bicycle, but only 11% allocated to bicycle transportation infrastructure space. In contrast, the infrastructure of an automobile is occupied by four times the bicycle. And faster motorcycles and electric bicycles in recent years have sprung up everywhere, together with the bikes are less crowded enough on this lane, on the one hand and further squeeze the space for bicycles family travel, it also brings new security risks .

As for parking, even more so the town hall every lift to a splitting headache. From the day dedicated to promoting cycling travel, governments are to increase parking spaces per year. In about the past, "2012-2016 term Bicycle Plan", the government invested 200 million euros in addition to 15 kilometers by paved bike paths, but for the whole city's largest transportation hub - the central railway station and the surrounding ground Add 40000 bicycle parking spaces. But these seats obviously can not meet the growing needs of the people. Currently, the government plans to 2030, near the central railway station and added more than 30,000 bicycle parking spaces, including parking and Ai River dock underwater plurality of artificial floating island parking.

"Visitors love the locks in the canal bridge to take pictures of the bike," Lute Na smile, "but this town hall but get bored."

Birth [ "bicycle mayor" of]

With urban development, issues surrounding the bicycle produce more and more and more serious, bicycle advocacy organization "ride space" proposed the establishment of "bicycle mayor" of the post, to specifically address these issues.

The idea is that the semi-official "night mayor" inspired. Amsterdam is known for its nightlife with debauchery, all kinds of clubs and raves in the evening especially greedily, fun people often middle of the night all the way out of the store is still noisy, even defecate seriously interfere with the surrounding residents.

In 2014, at the initiative of non-governmental organizations, well versed in the nightclub doorway meters Legislative Branch as Milan's first "night mayor" coordination between City Hall, the public and nightclubs. He pioneered a series of measures, such as the part of the club issued a 24-hour license, etc., to minimize disturbance to the surrounding community, but not to delay the nightclub business, with great success.

Currently, the "night mayor" model in Europe to promote. NGO "ride space" is in April this year, organized by the "night mayor Summit" announced the launch of "bicycle mayor" program.

"Cycling space" presentation, the "mayor" independent of the government, in fact, employed by non-governmental organizations, there is no direct executive power, but is responsible for communication with the government and people, listen to all opinions and suggestions for the promotion of cycling travel advice.

After a series of video applications and public vote, a panel of experts from the Amsterdam genuine mayors, municipal officials and bicycle enthusiasts in July to elect the world's first "Bike mayor" - a well-known bicycle brand manager Lut satisfied.

When a reporter asked in the "bicycle capital" to promote bike to have difficulty, she smiled: "For us cyclists too common, usually have to let us get bored, we forgot why we ride ...... although this than the advance in many cities, but we still have a lot of work to do - to maintain the status of a bike, cycling for the next generation to improve the environment. "

Lute Na cited an example. Downtown shopping streets to road reconstruction, but many shops against the government to broaden the bike lanes, traffic-free. Even in bicycles dominated the Amsterdam "shopkeepers still think customers will drive to visit, even if it is not true. They ingrained this concept, we need to change them."

[ "Green" travel New Challenges]

Lute Na grew up riding a bike. In her view, different from the past and now Amsterdam, to get more people to carefree riding, there are many new problems to solve.

The first is for the residents to develop a new habit. In the outer suburbs or the new West and other places frequented by migrants, many people do not have the habit of riding a bicycle, adults often drove their children to school.

"Many people think these parents are cycling danger, the child is over 16 years old, they get a motorcycle or scooter, bicycle instead of" one "space ride" founder Maud de Vries said, "let the kids ride there is a feeling of freedom, of course, but also conducive to good health, culture happiness, reduce stress, but in some places it did not think so good, we need to strive for this."

Second generation of urban development is accompanied by new road planning issues. For example, it is currently a lot of people how to ride smoothly reach new headache northeast from the city center. And the city where the body across a broad winding river Ai, the current in order to ride in the past, you have to detour several kilometers, from just east of the bridge across the river through, then all the way north about half a day. Otherwise, you have the bike onto the free ferry ride to go, the scenery along the way very well, but unfortunately too time-consuming, in terms of commuters unrealistic. It was suggested that dedicated to bike dig tunnels, but the cost is too high, and then build a new bridge, port managers who will stand up against, fearing new bridge will seriously affect their business.

"These are big problems," Lu Tena said, "sometimes there will be some small problems, such as the now popular wide tires, when parking is not put into old racks. Typically, you want to change anything, as the individual does not sound easy, but now people come to me with a problem, I will listen with ears ...... I can not everything can be solved, but this relates to the exchange, the town hall is very welcome to participate. we need to be innovative, or you will fall behind. "

Lu Tena received varied recommendations, such as the addition of ceiling in the bike lane, so that workers will not get wet ride rain; setting identification, telling visitors where to go street rider safety. "Bicycle mayor," said she would not listen to speak freely with prejudice, because the plan "the most critical is willing to try."