Transport in Amsterdam

Transport in Amsterdam is largely restricted to bicycles and trams. Trams are electric trains that are operated by three different countries. They are fast and convenient for commuting around the city. However, since bicycles are readily available at affordable prices from second hand dealers, it is advisable to get a bicycle for convenience purposes. It is advisable to chain the bicycle always when you park it, as there are a large number of bicycle thefts reported in Amsterdam and areas around the country due to the popularity of this mode of transport.

The Amsterdam authorities try and discourage the use of vehicles in the city center, which is done by charging extremely high charges, and this makes people prefer using bikes and trams. For long distances, there are buses that are fast and the trams that are even faster. For the people who want to cross to the other side of the shore, there are three ferries, two on the south. These are ideal since they charge cheap fares although they are not fast. There are people who offer speedboats for private hire while others offer canal cruise services. There are water taxis and buses for the people who are crossing the canals.

The bicycles, that are a common mode of transport, differ with the purchasing ability. There are special paths made for the bicycles as well. They are flat and well carpeted and these ensure that there are no accidents on the lanes. In 2008, there were only 18 accidents on the bicycle lanes, in a city with over 200,000 bike riders. This shows that it is safe to ride a bicycle in Amsterdam. The authorities encourage car sharing where a number of individuals use one car into the city center instead of using personal cars. This is very convenient and it serves as a way of reducing traffic snarl-ups.

Tram and bus fares are cheap and this is mainly because there is competition between the providers of the transport services and this makes most of the commuters to prefer the cheapest way of transport. The road network in Amsterdam is superb and there is a major point that links the roads out of the city to one major highway that leads into the city. Eighteen freeways act as feeder highways into the city. There are nine railway stations and an international airport in Amsterdam. These together serve as the efficient transport backbone of this city.