Marnixstraat Intersection

The intersection at Elandsgracht and Marnixstraat uses almost no signage to manage pedestrians, bikes, trams, buses, cars. Generally bikes have priority, followed by trams, and cars are clearly the lowest; tram drivers get visibly aggravated at bikers who try to yield to them.

Biking in Amsterdam is different than in Copenhagen, the other city held up as a paragon of bike-friendliness. In Copenhagen, the bike lanes are well marked (with turn lanes, signals, and clear signage), and most folks there seem to follow the rules. So, while it may be a bit confusing at first, once one learns the rules, it is smooth sailing. Amsterdam, in contrast, is  more chaotic. The city is revamping bike lanes, adding markings and signals in a way reminiscent of Copenhagen. But there is a lot more improvisation involved in biking in Amsterdam. There are a lot of unspoken norms and much less signage for guidance. Sometimes it is ok to bend or break the rules (e.g., not giving the right away when pedaling up a steep hill). The result is a more improvised choreography. It can be intimidating. I am a pretty confident biker, but it took me several years to feel comfortable biking in Amsterdam. I felt like I had made it when I could confidently bike through this intersection!