Amsterdam is a city in which no one hurries anywhere. Then, as in Moscow, in the metro at the rush hour, they simply do not push back, in Amsterdam, in the subway, mostly those who need to get to the far end of the city.
Amsterdam is a city of bicycles.
When I was in Amsterdam, from such a huge number of bicycles on the streets, bicycles parked against the fences, railing of bridges, bicycles, waiting for owners near shopping centers and shops, and just who brings their owners on the streets, I was, to gently say, shocked .
It is very cool, it is advisable from the point of view of ecology and sports. We pleased the business woman in strict costumes, with briefcases, even on heels (!) And ... on Velikya.
Or Mama, pushing the little carts in front, in which joyful kids are sitting two years old, in helmets.
In short, you realized that in Amsterdam you need either walking on foot, or moving around the bike.
So, to rent a great rent (unless, of course, you do not decide to take a bike with you), boldly step in the BloemGracht area and look for a house 70. Find the sign "Bike City" and go inside.
In this box office, you will be offered a variety of bikes with 1, 3 or 7 speeds and different brake systems. True, there is their own trick in this agency: you can rent greatly either for a week and longer, or rent 5 Great immediately. From such businessmen! The cost of rental is € 15-16 per day (depending on the species is large), plus insurance from the hijack per day € 2.50 for each is great. In addition, you can order a children's seat on a bike that can be attached to the steering wheel or on the back seat.
Hire of such seats costs € 3.50 per day. You can also rent a bag-pocket from a waterproof material that will be attached to a bike on the side.
There you can throw a bottle with water, food and some things. Rental of such a handbag stands also € 3.50 per day. You can rent a children's trolley called "bakfires". Such a cart is fastened in the middle of a cycling frame, we can plant anyone weighing up to 35 kg, this cart is equipped with straps and soft seats for children.
Excellent alternative for a break of two ever tanning kids. For groups from 10 people, or if you take a big rent for more than 2 weeks, there are discounts in the store.
There is another bicycle rental company, very popular in Amsterdam. It is called "Macbike".
There are several such rental points in the capital, and near the station on StationSplein Street, 33 there is a division of the same company engaged in the repair of bicycles.
Also on StationSplein, 12 and the waterlooplein 289 can be repaired and buy a bike.
So, rentals of Velikov "Macbike" are located at: waterlooplein 199 (in a pair of meters from the house-museum of Rembrandt), Marnixstraat, 220 (near the house of Anna Frank), WETERINGSCHANS 2 (next to the Paradiso club), Oosterdokskade 149 (not far from the station , near the Public Library of Amsterdam) and StationsPlein 5 (at the railway station). Rental offices work every day from 9.00 to 17.45.
In these rentals, the neurogenous number of bicycles of a variety of species: bicycles with a pedal brake, with a hand brake, children's great, cycling, tandems with children's pedals, electric bicycles, bicycles with buffats, then you mean, with trolleys, hybrids bicycles and others.
The cost of rental, of course, depends on the type of large. For example, rental for a day of the most common large with a foot brake costs € 9,75+ € 3 (insurance). For each next day you have to pay extra € 6 + € 3 insurance.
Great with manual brake costs € 14.75 per day and € 8 every next day. It can be taken in all locations. Children are great taken in all rolled products, except for rent on Marnixstraat, and it costs a large € 9.75 per day and € 6 for each next day.
Tandem costs € 25, for each next day it is € 25 (such great can be rented in all points, except for Marnixstraat, 220). Electric Greats take only in the office on Oosterdokskade, and it is worth the pleasure of € 35 per day.
You can also take these bikes for 3 hours, it costs it, by the way, not much cheaper (sometimes, only 2-3 euros), so it makes sense to take a large for the whole day.
We strongly recommend insurance, because, anything happens, and in the case of the theft you will have to pay € 450 and € 1500 per tandem loss (while insurance covers such cases). Together with each bike you will give you two locks that can be fastened to the bike to the fence (in the office of the rental you will be shown, how to fasten the castle to you).
It is necessary to return great to the same point where you took it, even despite the fact that the rental of one network is spread throughout the city. To take the unit for rent, you will require a passport + € 50 pledge for one great. Or you can leave a copy of the credit card. Russian driver's license instead of a passport will not hide. By the way, for tourists are offered to take great red color so that the locals seize from afar that you are, actually a tourist, and there were indulgent with you.
It is very convenient that all over Amsterdam has tracks for cyclists. You will immediately see them: they are marked with a bike icon and painted in red. There are also marking on the tracks indicating where you can collapse (convenient, for example, on complex developments).
And on the traffic light there is a separate light bulb that lights up when the cyclist can go (yes, the same rules that for motorists).
The rules are almost the same as for motorists! Great can be carried in the subway in a special car. It is possible to park a great everywhere, but .. almost everywhere. The main thing, do not forget to fix the castle, and remember where they parked! Where there are no parking, you will see a prohibiting icon. City trip-core parking lots is at the station, and is called "FIETSFLAT".
If you plan to drive around for long distances or for the city, I advise you to rent a scooter.
For example, we lived far enough from the center, and on the scooter got in 10 minutes! (on great it would saw from an hour). With the wind! Rent a scooter for a day costs about € 45, rent for 3 hours - € 20, half a day - € 22, for 3 days - € 105, week - € 185. (Plus Insurance - € 10-12).
To rent a scooter, you will ask you a copy of the driver's license or passports, as well as deposit in the amount of € 450 (with a credit card). Scooters can be hired, for example, in the office "Scooter Zuid" at CeintuourBaan 252 (near the Van Gogh Museum, the Salon is open from 9:30 to 18:00), after a couple of houses in Amsterdam's ScooterCity on Cornelis Trooststraat 19-23 (from 10:00 to 18:00), "ScooterPlanet" on Derde Hugo de Grootstraat 2II, "Scooter Service Amsterdam" on Tugelaweg 1, Wannascoot on OverToom 186, etc.
Pleasant pokatushek!