Take a bike
On this page you can find the most important things to keep in mind about bikes in Utrecht– everything from getting a bike to some important tips to consider while using one to get around with your daily life. These tips are gathered by exchange students from Utrecht University of Applied Sciences to make integration of the next flow of international students a little bit easier.
The following tips are gathered from a survey made for international students in Utrecht. With the help of the survey answers we listed all the things that these students found important to know about cycling in Utrecht. Everyone who answered the survey would recommend having a bike in Utrecht. So hopefully you will find something useful for yourself from this article.
How and where do I get a bike?
A platform that seems to be the most popular among international students is Swapfiets. Swapfiets seems to be easy and flexible option for students staying short-term. On the website you can choose a bike that fits your preferences, get it from the nearest Swapfiets store or get it delivered and get help in case of problems which is also included in the monthly fee. Subscription can be cancelled any time.
Some students took the advantage of the bikes offered by the universities through Student Mobility. Through Student Mobility you can either buy a refurbished second-hand bike or lease it for a monthly fee. Leasing a bike for a monthly fee seems to be popular among international students because it gives them freedom and flexibility since you can return it at any moment and don’t have to stress about extra costs in case of something breaking down for example.
Some people said to have used Marktplaats website to buy their second-hand bike. Another good option and you can try to sell your bike at the end of your exchange period. However, keep in mind that it is not guaranteed that you will manage to resell it in time before you have to leave back home. Other places mentioned in the survey answers – in case you would prefer to buy a bike instead of leasing it were Facebook and bike shops in town like for example WillemstraatBike and many others. You can easily find the nearest bike shop for you by googling.
According to the survey some international students took their own bike from home with them – if that is possible and comfortable in your situation, we would highly recommend it since it will save you some time, it’s sustainable and it will enable you to focus on other (probably more fun) things during the busy first days in your new city.
Do’s and Don’ts:
Do get a bike – Everyone who answered our survey recommends getting a bike in Utrecht. It’s the fastest, cheapest and easiest way to get around the city.
Do get a raincoat – Dutch weather can be very unpredictable and it’s raining a lot especially during the colder months. If you don’t want to get soaked, we recommend getting a coat that is rainproof and with a hood!
Do lock your bike properly – If you lease your bike from a place like Swapfiets or StudentMobility, the locks are included in the price. But in case you decide to purchase your own bike, it is highly advisable to get two locks for your bike – for example a wheel lock and a chain lock. Bike thefts are unfortunately common.
Do consider other road users – The smartest and safest way to use the road is to take other cyclists, vehicles and pedestrians into consideration. Everybody makes mistakes sometimes so stay alert while riding your bike.
Do take care of your bike – Good condition will last longer, you will save on repair expenses, and it is safer. More information on maintenance tips further down the article.
Don’t park in the wrong place – We’ll give you the most important tips on parking in Utrecht further down in the article. Keep them in mind otherwise you may get your bike taken away by the municipality and you’ll have to pay a fee to get it back.
Don’t act unpredictably – We also listed some important traffic rules further down. Important thing to remember is to indicate the direction you’re turning and expressing your intentions to other road users. Let others know you’re passing by using a bell. Be predictable and you’ll avoid surprises and in the worst case, crashes.
Don’t cause trouble for yourself or others – Focus on the road, don’t use your phone or ride under influence – you can get fined. Give way, be considerate and drive safely.
Don’t be scared – Even if you aren’t a very experienced cyclist, don’t worry, you’ll learn fast. The Netherlands is made for biking <3
Q&A:
Do I need gears?
Having gears on your bike will make it probably easier and more comfortable for you to bike but we wouldn’t say it’s a necessity. Especially when going on a hilly route or when carrying heavy things, gears will probably make riding easier.
Weather tips
The most important tip we can give you regarding weather is to use weather appropriate clothing. Turtleneck/polo shirts are good to protect your neck from the wind. You will probably be cycling a lot no matter if it’s raining or shining since it’s the easiest way to get around the city. Since Dutch weather can be so unpredictable, having a raincoat and rainpants is highly advisable to protect you from getting soaked. If you don’t feel like investing in rainclothes during your stay or bringing it all the way from home – one easy alternative would be to buy a rain poncho – they are cheaper and can be used again later.
In a rainy or foggy weather, it’s good to put your bike lights on so you are more visible to other road users. Same applies to driving in the dark, obviously. Especially during the colder months of the year and that’s also usually the darkest time of the year we highly recommend having reflectors on your bike and/or your clothes.
Speaking of dark and cold, beware that when temperature drops near zero degrees Celsius, the roads might get very slippery. So be extra careful, slow down or think twice before going if it looks very slippery and consider taking another form of transportation.
Parking information
Because riding a bike is so popular in the Netherlands there is also lots of space where you can park your bike. There are designated parking areas in the city such as parking racks and halls. General rule is that you are allowed to park your bike on the sidewalks, footpaths or in the verge unless there is a no parking sign – so keep an eye on that. Most parking halls are free for the first 24 hours. Bicycle parking Stationsplein which is also the world’s largest, is located right next to the central station so it’s very easy to leave your bike there while you go and run your errands or hang out in the city.
If you park your bike wrong – meaning next to a no parking sign, blocking an entrance to somewhere or otherwise causing trouble for other road users – it may get removed by municipality to Municipal Bicycle Depot. For getting it back you must go to https://www.verlorenofgevonden.nl/ and enter some details about your bike to find it first. Then you take a registration number and your ID and go to Depot to get your bike back after paying a fee.
Traffic rules
It can feel overwhelming to ride a bicycle in a busy traffic of the city but in the end it’s not that complicated. It wouldn’t hurt anyone to go slow and steady at first until you feel comfortable with the traffic rules. The most important rule is obviously to cycle and behave without setting yourself or other road users in danger. When changing direction, you must indicate by extending your hand, either left or right depending on the direction in which you’re about to go. One thing that apparently isn’t very common to know according to the survey is the meaning of “shark teeth” on the roads. Shark teeth are white triangles drawn on the road next to an intersection. If you see shark teeth on your road that means you must watch out for other road users on the street you’re about to cross and stop to give them way. The other way around it wouldn’t hurt to check if the others have shark teeth and have to wait for you. At equivalent intersections, one must give way to drivers coming from the right.
Every bike must have a well-functioning bell, properly working brakes, a red reflector on the back, white or yellow reflectors on the wheels, reflectors on the pedals and lights.
Remember to keep an eye on the other users of the road – cars, other cyclists, pedestrians etc. Cyclists must stop for pedestrians crossing a road at a zebra crossing. Remember also to watch out for the trams, as a cyclist you must give them way.
There are a bunch of things you cannot do while riding a bicycle to ensure safety of yourself and others. Breaking these rules can get you fined. For example, it is not allowed to ride under the influence (fine up to 200 euros), to use your phone while riding a bike (95-140 euros) or to not use lights/reflectors (40-60 euros).
Maintenance tips
Another thing that our survey revealed is that international students would have wished for some tips for maintenance of the bike during the first weeks from getting one. Maintenance is important to help you keep your bike in a good condition and safe to drive.
It’s important to lubricate the chain, mechs and cables (basically all the parts that are moving while cycling) regularly by applying appropriate oil on them. Remember to check regularly that your tires have enough air in them. Pump them if needed.
One of the most common issues students are having with their bikes according to the survey is a flat tire. Riding a bike with a flat tire is not recommended since it will cause damage not only to the tire but also the inner tube and rim. It’s possible that the whole tire will fall off which will probably cause injuries for you and your bike so it’s better to walk your bike to the nearest bike shop to get it fixed.
If you need to get your bike checked or fixed and you’re unsure if you are able to fix it yourself, it might be better to bring your bike to a local bike shop for a mechanic to check it out and fix the problem for you. That’s also another good thing about companies like Swapfiets or MobilityOnline, as we have already mentioned previously, is that you don’t have to worry about trying to fix your bike yourself and deal with the extra costs from that. Maintenance is included in the monthly fee, and you can bring your bike to get checked practically at any moment.
Destinations on the map
We have put some important spots on the map for your first days in Utrecht. These are our recommendations. Starting point for the map is in the centre of Science Park where the universities are but adjust the route depending on your location.
Supermarkets (Albert Heijn in Bunnik ~ 11 minutes and Jumbo in Western Centre ~ 12 minutes) – There are grocery stores (Spar) in Science Park but they are more expensive compared to other supermarkets. We suggest that you go to a Jumbo on Ina Boudier-Bakkerlaan or Albert Heijn in Bunnik on Van Hardenbroeklaan.
Nice places to go (Forest of Amelisweerd ~ 10 minutes and Neude ~ 17 minutes) – Amelisweerd is perfect for a nice, leisure bike ride. You can easily ride your bike there, have a break from a busy city life and enjoy peace and quiet of the woods. Neude is a square in the centre of Utrecht. It’s surrounded by cafes, restaurants, bars and shops. You will for sure find something to do in surroundings of Neude.
Shopping mall Hoog Catharijne (~ 18 minutes) – you can park your bike in the world’s largest bicycle parking in Stationsplein.
Transportation (Utrecht Centraal ~ 19 minutes) – you can leave your bike in Stationsplein parking hall and continue your journey by train, bus or tram from the biggest train station in the Netherlands.
Sports centres (Olympos and Krommer Rijn, both ~ 4 minutes)
By scanning this QR code you can join a WhatsApp group where you can find other students like yourself if you would like some company for a bike ride!
