index hindernis-e

Obstacles in Amsterdam

updated 15-08-2003

The innercity of Amsterdam is small enough to go around on foot. Its extended tram-bus-metro system makes the entire city accessable until 12 o'clock at night, at least for the better-abled pedestrians (a bit less going to Amsterdam North because of the not forthcoming of a piece of metro direction north).

Great, if it wasn't for the problems our public space has with too little maintenance, many street upbreakings and sometimes lousy elaboration and co-ordination. On top of that comes the sometimes shocking anti-social behaviour of users of cars, scooters, bicycles and terrace and catering customers. Especially in leaving some space clear for essential walking space. Together with the everlasting absence of a stringent zero-enforce-policy it is a flagrant violation of the quality of life in this city for visitors as well as residents.

Besides that temporary closed off walkways in shopping streets sometimes take up entire days, there are also permanent, pedestrian unsafe situations, created by the city itself.

Shutting off the end of het Singel without taking any precautions because of some building activities is asking for trouble.

It is clear there are not enough bike racks in Amsterdam.

And it doesn't help when the city places them straight across the sidewalk.

Limited social behaviour is many times the cause of forced swervings into streets meant and used by bicycles and cars.

here I must be
Parking in front of the door of your destination is a habit. This girl went back and moved her bike after she saw me making a picture. Maybe she knew she did something rather anti-social?

ai, caught in public

a rope should go

"alone on the world"

Papeneiland is the bottleneck for car, bike and pedestrian to go to and leave the Noordermarkt, especially during the markets on Saturdays and Mondays.

The bench on the left is tolerated, but the fixed bench on the right just around the corner viewing the Prinsengracht had to go for safety reasons.

parking On the lively
Papeneiland
it is pleasant
sojourn.
pause

no passage market

persistent repair

It is striking that small jobs sometimes
leave just as long a mess as big ones.

exactly in the middle

permanent
Not that the rest of the traffic really bothers with pedestrian crossings, but to let them lead onto obstacles is extremely bad planning.

bluntly