Could the Dutch Be Even More Bike-Friendly?

In Amsterdam, the bicycle rules. Free of fear and helmets, hordes of cyclists fill the streets at rush hour, using their numbers to dominate drivers and pedestrians. More trips in the Dutch capital are made by bike than by car, thanks to the city’s extensive web of cycling infrastructure. So ubiquitous are Amsterdam’s bicycles that they outnumber human beings.

And now, the two-wheelers have an elected leader. Anna Luten was selected as the city’s first “bike mayor” in late June by an online public vote and expert jury. Bike mayor is not an official position—the idea was initiated by a local advocacy group, CycleSpace, and the 28-year-old Luten will take on her volunteer duties on top of a day-job as a brand manager for Giant Bicycles. But the responsibilities are real: Luten will help mediate between city officials, urban planners, advocates, students, tourists, and Amsterdammers to address bike-related issues and take charge on improvements.