Trams, taxis, and bikes

Tram Tricks
The introduction of the OV chipcard, while good for locals, is awful for tourists. Because tourists basically can’t get the good cards, tram prices have defacto more than doubled. Don’t mourn the end of the cheaper strippenkaart, blame the regional governments. They set the prices and don’t seem to care about visitors.

For a good raping, buy a one-hour ticket on a tram and pay €2,60 (children too). The one day pass (€7) is a good value only by comparison, although 2, 3, and 4 day passes (€11,50/€15/€18) combine convenience and a good price.

Check in and out of each vehicle by tapping your card at the sensors by the doors. You can also put up your whole wallet (with a card in it) up to the sensor which is pretty cool. If you buy a one hour ticket on the tram, don’t forget to check out. If you don’t, it is blocked for additional use (for no good reason). The trams themselves are quite convenient and go everywhere. The biggest improvement is the next stop is displayed on the screens and called out clearly.


Tramcast and Virals
The GVB, Amsterdam’s tram authority, turns out to be quite the technological innovator. I know. We were surprised too! In order to get the word out about its 1, 2, 3, and 4 day passes, the GVB developed iPhone apps, iTunes podcasts, viral videos and a modern social networking campaign. How very 2010!

They enlisted the “Amsterdam passion, local’s knowledge and sharp comedy” of Boom Chicago to develop content for the project. The synched audio presentations combine cool destinations, urban issues, and Amsterdam stories with a funny touch. They’re great; it’s like the friend you wish you had in town. We want this in every city!

The GVB also commissioned comedy viral videos and, it appears from the result, took a delightfully hands off approach. Not bad for a public transport authority. Watch online and download to your mobile devices at www.gvb.nl/english. Then head out to someplace fun with Boom Chicago in your ear.


Get out of town
A regular tourist doesn’t need the metro except to see a concert, an Ajax game, or an IMAX movie. But the thoughtful visitor who likes the unbeaten path should head out to Gaasperplas (end of the line, 20 min).

Walk or bike around the multi-cultural “neighborhood of the future” (1970’s thinking) and marvel at the urban planning successes and failures in a beautiful mix of high rises and green, open spaces. Lake Gaasperplas itself is a beautiful nature area with swimming in the summer.

Officially you are supposed to pay extra for your bike on the metro, but then you would be the first person to ever do so.

Taxi Tricks
Don’t get us started. Poor government decisions at every turn almost ensure that many tourists will have a bad taxi experience. To be fair, things have gotten better, but it is still hard to get a cab driver at a taxi stand to take you a short distance on the meter.

We understand why. Since there are too many taxis, drivers need to maximize the few fares they get. No driver wants to wait for more than an hour in line fora short fare. Perhaps by the time you read this, things will be better. Perhaps the city will have set up a different line for short fares to end this nonsense. If they haven’t, then Alderman Hans Gerson is as ineffective as his predecessors and as stupid as his colleagues in The Hague that made these dumb rules.

To avoid problems, call or get in a TCA taxi (tel: 020 777 7777). There you will find an honest driver who speaks English and Dutch. If there are no TCA cabs, pick the nicest car. The better the car -- usually -- the more reliable the driver.

Get ready for sticker shock. You pay €7,50 to step into anAmsterdam cab (gasp!), but that includes the first 2km of travel and the meter never moves in traffic. Why the Netherlands invented this system that neither the drivers nor customers want, is an unanswered question.

Before you get into a van, make sure he is not charging €12,50 to start. If you have a short ride, skip the taxi line altogether. If a driver hasn’t waited for an hour, he will probably welcome your €7,50 fare. At the airport, don’t pick the first taxi in line, but choose a branded taxi.

One final quirk is not all cabs have a permit to ride on the tram tracks, which is essential during rush hour. Look for the permit on their dashboard; it is a card with writing and traffic signs. All TCA taxis have this permit.


Get on the Bike Path!

Here is the best advice in this article: Rent a bike (fiets) and explore on your own. The beautiful countryside filled with windmills really exists. It’s only 30 minutes away by bike.

MacBike rents bright red bikes. The bad news is you look like a tourist. The good news is people know you’re a tourist and give you a bit more space. They work with Sandeman’s New Amsterdam guides to give bike tours. Mike’s Bikes rents incognito bikes and also gives good tours of city and surroundings, and leaves from near the Leidseplein.

Thanks to a police crackdown and a gradual shift in attitudes, there are fewer junkies selling stolen bikes on the street these days. Despite the bad karma, however, many young people still buy their bikes this way for about €15. If a shady-looking type peddles slowly by asking “Fiets?” you can be sure he’s not proposing an ecologically friendly solution to Amsterdam’s traffic problem.

MacBike (€9,50 or €14,50/day + €3 optional insur, Leidseplein, 528 7688 + other locations. 2.5hr tours €15, minus €3 with own bike. Tours leave from the Central Station branch. Mike’s Bikes (€10 or €12/day + €3 optional insur. Kerkstraat 134, near Leidseplein 622 7970. 4hr countryside tour 11am, €21, students €19, minus €5 with own bike. 3hr city tour 4pm €18/€16/minus €5. Keep the bike for the day for €5 more (incl insurance).


To Real Amsterdam
To Homepage