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11/1 Jurists want to stay in Oudemanhuispoort

8/2 Mayor’s portrait

8/2 Websites for social cohesion

7/2 Spreading tourism proceeds with difficulty

7/2 GroenLinks on districts: Be a man

6/2 Zuideramstel opens new office on Sabbath

5/2 The truth about integration

4/2 Wilders has little support on Amsterdam

3/2 Elite involved in neighbourhood

2/2 Johnnie Walker avoids taxes in Amsterdam

1/2 Rotterdam to tinker with district councils as well

31/1 Wooden rowing boats to disappear from Amstel

31/1 ZeeburgTV launched

27/1 Privacy activists to mess up loyalty card system

27/1 A few were still coughing, but that was an act

27/1 Chrisis in de Baarsjes

26/1 Youth have positive view of districts

24/1 Action groups call for Carmel and Jaffa boycott

24/1 PvdA members dismiss plan for districts

23/1 KLM takes on crisis with new uniform

23/1 District office not squatted

21/1 Merge districts

20/1 Closing squat bar Vrankrijk not necessary

20/1 Cleaners welcome new Schiphol director

18/1 Palestine at the Jewish Historical Museum

18/1 What is the right size for a district?

17/1 PvdA Oost against fewer districts

16/1 Committee: 7 districts by 2010

15/1 Soldiers may attend Afghanistan debate after all

15/1 Bait bike leads to arrest

14/1 Youth for Christ to republish vacancies

13/1 Paintings of the Zuidas

13/1 New Youth for Christ contoversy

11/1 Social cohesion initiative raises eyebrows

10/1 Fewer districts in 2010

10/1 Zuidas: People feel that we are losers

9/1 Fun on the ice - but not for all

9/1 Supermarket coupon fraud thwarted

9/1 I Amsterdam must remain exclusive

8/1 Use term Apartheid in every discussion

8/1 No city kiosk in Amsterdam yet

7/1 Snow

7/1 Fatima Elatik to run Zeeburg

7/1 Municipal managers to return to shop floor

4/1 Police: take photo of strange people

3/1 Gaza protest criticises politicians

1/1 Thousands to protest against attacks on Gaza

1/1 Mustapha Laboui leaves district council

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White bicycle: Amsterdam awaits Utrecht

9 April 2008 - The municipality is discussing the possible introduction of cheap rental bicycles in Amsterdam with businesses and organisations. However, it awaits the outcome of a feasibility study in Utrecht, where a variant for commuters and tourists is being considered.

The municipality wants to promote Amsterdam internationally as a sustainable mobility city. This issue is being discussed with the RAI exhibition centre, advertising firm JCDecaux, cyclists' organisation Fietsersbond and the Amsterdam Tourism and Convention Board.

One of the options being considered is the introduction of a white bicycle plan. Because of the success of initiatives such as Vélib' in Paris, it is frequently suggested that Amsterdam should introduce a similar cheap rental bicycle scheme.

However, the municipality points out that most Amsterdammers already have a bicycle of their own and that the room for rental stations is scarce. It therefore wants to await a feasibility study that is being conducted by the municipality of Utrecht, at the request of the city council.

By the end of April, the Utrecht city government will decide on the steps to be taken. Since public space is scarce in Utrecht as well, the Utrecht proposal will probably focus on commuters and tourists. The reason is that people living in the city are unlikely to give up their own bicycle when a rental scheme is introduced. Therefore, most can be gained by focussing on people who visit the city. Cheap rental bicycles should then become available at railway stations, popular destinations such as museums and industrial estates.

Such a scheme could be created by expanding on the OV fiets, the bicycles available at railway stations. However, it is not certain that this solution will be opted for. If the plans get the green light, there will be an open procedure for companies interested in running the system. At present it is unknown whether a deal will be considered which allows the operator of the bicycles to put up advertising in the city, as is the case in cities such as Lyon.

Image: Vélib' (photo Edson SØÅ®ES / Flickr)

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