Dutch Road Etiquette

There is none.

First of all, let's get Amsterdam traffic in perspective.  It makes Sydney's Pennant Hills Road look like a country lane.  Let's take the basics and work up, and I warn you there will be a practical as well  as a theory test at the end of this entry 

Let's imagine a zebra crossing going east west across a northbound southbound road.  You set off in Australia, and the northbound traffic stops.  After two or even three lanes crossed, you do the same for the other three southbound lanes of traffic until you reach the sanctuary of the far footpath.  If the crossing is controlled by lights, everything stops while pedestrians hurry across the tarmac.  Once the road has been crossed, the motor vehicles start once more, but not until after the lights have changed.

Not in Amsterdam.  Ignoring the fact that the sun goes clockwise and they (in theory) drive on the right, a much more interesting scenario develops.  This is what happens on the Amsterdam Pennanthillsstraat.

Looking north, next to the buildings, is a footpath of variable width (Omni directional)  It is usually (but not always), paved with 15 cm  concrete tiles.  Next, separated by either a white line or a low kerb is the southbound cycleway.  This is often made of the same 15 cm tiles, but set diagonally.  This is about 3 metres wide.  THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A SPEED LIMIT here and all sorts of two wheel traffic from motor scooters to tandems use this narrow way.  A larger kerb (or a white line) separates the cycle path from the two lanes of southbound traffic.  Then come the south and northbound tram tracks (sometimes with tram stop platforms).  This space is usually used by trams travelling in opposite directions, but sometimes buses and taxis use them too!  It's a bit disconcerting to be in a taxi with trams front and back, with another tram travelling in the opposite direction, boxing you in.

Then there's more of the same in the opposite direction.  Two lanes of cars and trucks travelling north, and the northbound cycleway, then the pavement and safety.

If you want to cross the road you can use a zebra, but you should know that these are really pedestrian avoidance zones.  While you are crossing, other vehicles up to and including 4 car trams, will cross the crossing in front and behind you.  If you use crossings with lights, it is unusual for all four sets of lights to be green at once, and again they seem to be advisory, with traffic going round pedestrians.  Sometimes the cycle ways and/or the tramways, go across to one side of the highway, for no apparent reason.

The overall result is that of a sinuous ballet, and somehow, somehow, nobody gets scathed.

Now you are all dying to know what you have to do if you are a cyclist turning left in front of a tram turning right.  It's actually quite easy, and that is your practical for today . . .