Where are you from and why did you move to Amsterdam?
I was born in the UK, then my parents immigrated to Australia when I was 4 years old. I eventually decided to go back to my roots and check out Europe (and the world). After some time living in London (and Oman for a short stint) a friend suggested I would like Amsterdam..the rest is history.
What kept you here?
I arrived in Amsterdam intending to stay just for a year with the summer job I had on offer. Three years later that job ran out & I wondered what was next. I was convinced by someone that I could be a tour guide, which was interesting as I knew really very little about Dutch history, but I gave it a shot anyways. I started doing walking and bike history tours whilst studying myself and taking to the streets to find out more. I was hooked by the history and it continues to today.
How did you initially find the biking culture here?
My first few months in Amsterdam I was very scared to cycle. Eventually a friend forced a bike on me. I realized the bike was almost brakeless but I continued to ride it (Fred Flinstone style) until it died. After that bike, it was only onwards and upwards.
Being a bike tour guide gave me confidence in the end. After leading a pack of 20 tourists on most days around the crazy centre of Amsterdam, I became very acquainted with the city. But now, I am happily enjoying the ride without people following. Amsterdam and I have had our ups and downs, but in the end there is nowhere like it. And nowhere else to bike like it, with such a beautiful backdrop every day.
What interested you about joining the Amsterdam Cycle Chic team?
Living in this outdoor museum of a city, with all the comedy and life by bike going on, I started capturing funny or beautiful moments – just for fun. So Amsterdam Cycle Chic became kind of an extension for me to share with more people this brilliant bike culture here in our beautiful Amsterdam.
I love to go by people singing their hearts out, or carrying their dogs or their family or whatever it is that needs to be transported. I often sing a song myself when the mood hits.
And I think I might hold a record in this town – my bike and I have been together for around 8 years – through thick & thin. IF (if!) I ever do move back to Australia, she will be coming with me one way or another.
Welcome Amy!
52.367984
4.903561
November 21, 2018 | Categories: Bicycle accessories, Cycle Chic Spotlight, Cyclist of the month, Dutch bikes, Girls on bikes, Neighborhood cycling, Team, Transport by bike, Winter cycling | Tags: Amsterdam, amsterdam biking, bike culture, dutch cycling, Dutch cycling culture, expat | Leave a comment
Today it is the third birthday of our blog. Three years of promoting the Amsterdam way of cycling. Our believe that everyone around the world has the right to cycle safely in their own city, has motivated us to work on this voluntary blog. Amsterdam shows that all is possible on a bike: commute to work, go out for a drink, pick your kids up from school, take you dog for a run etc. etc.
All local politicians around the world have to do to create a bike friendly is to make cycling top priority; create a safe cycling infrastructure and encourage people young and old to use their bikes. Believe us, it is best for the health, fun and future of a city!
Please join us on our trip back through the past year:
Most popular posts (just click on the pictures to see the post):
The Lightbattle under the Rijksmuseum
Sunday Style on Utrechtsestraat
Daddy Day
Cyclist of the Month.. VANMOOF founder Taco
Cyclist of the Month… singer songwriter Andy
Articles in magazines:
Interview with Meredith and picture by Aude in Marie Claire Brazil
Article by Meredith and Joni and picture by Aude in Momentum Magazine
Article by Meredith and Joni and picture by Aude in travelguide 38hours in Amsterdam
Our visitors mostly came from:
and loads and loads more…
Thank you all for checking out our blogs, liking our pictures and spreading the word about how cool cycling is. We look forward to a new year full of ‘horses of steel’!
About Cycle Chic
Amsterdam Cycle Chic is part of the global Cycle Chic movement. It all started in Copenhagen in 2007 when journalist, film director and photographer Mikael Colville-Andersen started posting pictures of people in Copenhagen on their bikes. All over the world people found his blog and were inspired by the Danish bicycle culture. It seemed that a lot of people linked cycling to sports; to lycra, speed and sweat. Mikael Colville-Andersen showed the world that cycling can be very stylish and part of a daily life.
Check out the original Copenhagen Cycle Chic website
The foundation of the Cycle Chic movement is this manifesto. In short; style over speed and no helmets or visvests.
About Cycle Chic
December 12, 2014 | Categories: Cycle Chic Republic posts, event | Tags: amsterdam biking, Amsterdam cycle chic, Amsterdam cycling, aude de prelle, bike friendly city, bike promotion, Cycle Chic, cycle chic republic, Dutch bikes, joni uhlenbeck, Mel Whelan, Meredith Glaser, the netherlands cycling | 4 Comments
Amsterdam Cycle Chic 