Podcast
Internationals, let's talk about cycling in Groningen in our new IG podcast! Joining our host Anastasija Zihareva this episode are Alexandra Rykachevskaia & Saskia Zwiers.
How to start?
(04:45-06:50)
Lots of the information about cycling in the Netherlands is in Dutch; to make it available for internationals there is a program called FietsFriend. They give presentations, organise activities and create routes for practice. Attending one of these events is a great way to start your cycling journey in the Netherlands.
Other ways to familiarize yourself with the rules and techniques of cycling is to look up videos on youtube or ask your Dutch friends/colleagues for help.
Saskia: "Having no confidence and being unpredictable, that's where it goes wrong. When people are insecure on their bikes and start wobbling on the road, then accidents happen."
Parking
(08:40-12:25)
You should be careful when parking your bicycle. When parked wrong, the municipality has the right to take your bicycle and bring it to a collective place. Rules of thumb for parking your bicycle are:
- Use proper bicycle racks
- Shorttime parking in front of shops is allowed, but park where multiple bicycles stand. (Don't park it longer than a day)
- Use parking garages (find them on the Groningen Fietsstad website)
- Outside of the city centre, the rules are less strict. Look around how multiple other bicycles are parked, parking in the same way should be fine for your bicycles too.
If your bicycle is taken, it will be brought to het Damsterplein. Here you can collect your bicycle within the first 24 hours for free. After that, your bicycle is brought to a depot outside of the city where you have to pay 25 euro's to get it out within 4 weeks. At that point your bicycle can also be found on the lost and found webpage of the municipality.
How to get a bicycle
(12:26 - 16:25) & (20:20 - 21:48)
You can get hold of a bicycle in many ways;, one thing you should decide beforehand is if you want to buy a bicycle or rent one for your stay.
Renting a bicycle can be done at Swapfiets, here you can rent different kinds of bicycles for different prices per month. A nice thing about renting is that a company such as Swapfiets will always be there to fix your lights or flat tire, you don't have to go to a bicycle shop and pay for it again. To rent a bicycle for only a day or two, you can go to NS (at the main station) and rent a bicycle with your OV card. More information on this is written on their website.
However, buying a bicycle is in most cases less expensive. You can buy a new one at one of the many bicycle shops in Groningen or buy one second hand. For example by searching on the online platform Marktplaats, you can buy various secondhand items, bicycle included. You can also buy the bicycle which were taken by the municipality and not claimed within half a year at the deposit. More information about this can be found on the Stallingen website. There are also some facebook groups in which you can find bicycles and other secondhand stuff. Or you can look up bicycles online, where you will find many options!
Bicycle theft
(16:25 - 18:00)
If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation in which your bicycle is stolen, report it to the police! They won't help you search for it but it is always a good idea to share information about your bicycle and the place where the theft took place.
How to keep your bicycle safe? Lock it properly! (with 2 locks)
How to lock your bicycle
(18:00- 19:20)
Start by always locking your bicycle with the primary lock which is attached to the bicycle. Even for the short stops it is necessary to always use this one. For the longer stops and stays it is recommended to buy a second lock. This second lock should be used to lock your bicycle to something solid outside like a fence, a bicycle rack or a streetlight. If this is not possible, you should use the second lock to go through your front wheel and the bicycle frame. This way, it gets harder to walk away with the bicycle.
Traffic signs and rules
(31:00 - 40:50)
The crossroads in Groningen are different from any other in the Netherlands. If you see the sign on the right, you will be able to cross together with all the other cyclists. In this case you should stay calm, carefully look around while cycling to the side you need to go. There are no rules applying to this situation, you should only be aware of your surroundings. A gentleman's agreement in this situation is to give people coming from your right priority.
The signs on the street itself are not applied in the situation where the traffic lights are on. At night when the traffic lights are off, the signs on the street do apply. An important sign on the streets are the shark teeth, they show you who has to stop and who can go. When the shark teeth point towards you, 'they bite you' and you should stop for others.
Lights
(41:00-42:35)
Make sure your bicycle has lights that work properly. It's for your own safety, so other traffic members can see you. The police will also give you a fine if they see you cycle at night without proper lights. Your bicycle must have light sources attached to it, make sure they're working or buy rechargeable / attachable lights
Where can you cycle?
(43:18-47:45)
You are allowed to cycle almost everywhere in Groningen but stay away from the highway! It is strictly forbidden to cycle in between cars on the highway. ONLY on bicycle lanes and quiet streets are you allowed to cycle. Please have a good look where you are cycling and if there is space for bicycles. Another tip is to look closely at your settings on google maps. Put it on walking or cycling mode, in that way you will not end up on the highway, in the car setting you might.
Be aware! You are not allowed to use your phone while cycling, put your google maps directions on your headphones or make a stop to look at your phone. You can also buy a special holder for your bicycle, this allows you to look at your phone while you cycle.
Kids and bicycles
(50:40-55:40)
If you cycle with your children in a bakfiets or on your bicycle, you should use the belts of the attachments on the bicycle or in the bak. Keep in mind that if you have a kid on your bicycle, the weight is differently distributed. This creates the need to make turns differently too. You should only use your steering wheel while turning, do not use your body weight as well.
If you want to teach your kid how to cycle, start in the quiet neighbourhoods. Get the right bicycle or some advice on the right bicycle in one of the bicycle shops around the city. In that way you get to know what is best for your child.
Sascha: "If the kid is super young, super small, then have something to give to this person. Young kids have tantrums, especially on the bike and then they can start to move and get outside of the bike. This is really scary, so you can lose control of the bike."
Rules of thumb
There are a couple rules and some expected behaviour regulations in traffic for cyclist in the Netherlands:
- Cycle on the right of the street and to the right of the bicycle lane, this allows people who cycle faster to overtake you on the left.
- When you want to take a turn, stick your arm out and point to that side. In this way you use your arm and hand as a blinker/indicator for others.
- Use the bell on your bicycle to ring when someone is in the way and you want to pass them. The Dutch will also use it in this way, don't worry if you hear a ring. Just carefully make some room and move to the right of the lane.
- Be aware of the people around you, not only will bicycles be close to you but so will other traffic. So look around you when you want to make a stop, turn or make any change in behaviour while cycling. Look over your shoulder!
Read more about cycling in our article: (Pretty much) all you need to know about cycling!
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