Knowledge Exploring Amsterdam’s Cycling Story with a Mexican Mobility Leader 2 July 2026 Cycling News On Thursday, July 2nd, 2026, Dutch Cycling Embassy International Relations Manager Chris Bruntlett had the pleasure of leading a cycling tour of Amsterdam for Luis Álvarez-Icaza Longoria, a senior researcher at Mexico’s National Autonomous University (UNAM) and advisor to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Travelling side-by-side on a VanRaam duofiets, the pair explored how Amsterdam’s streets have been transformed over the past half-century through deliberate choices that prioritize people over cars. The unique bicycle allowed for continuous conversation while experiencing the city’s cycling infrastructure firsthand. The tour began beneath Amsterdam Centraal Station at the underwater bicycle parking facility in Stationsplein, before tracing a route through several locations that illustrate the Dutch capital’s evolution. At Jodenbreestraat, they reflected on the historic citizen-led campaigns that successfully challenged plans for urban freeways in the 1970s. Nearby, Mr. Visserplein demonstrated how streets once dominated by traffic have been redesigned to better serve people walking and cycling. Continuing east, they visited Plantage Middenlaan, Alexanderplein, and Sarphatistraat, examining a variety of cycling infrastructure treatments and discussing how network design, traffic calming, and public space improvements work together to make cycling a safe, comfortable, and attractive option for people of all ages and abilities. The tour concluded at the Rijksmuseum, where one of Amsterdam’s most iconic public spaces serves as a powerful reminder that world-class cultural destinations can successfully prioritise active mobility while remaining vibrant, accessible, and welcoming. Throughout the morning, discussions focused not only on the physical infrastructure, but also on the governance, public engagement, and long-term political commitment required to create successful cycling cities. As many cities around the world, including those in Mexico, seek to expand opportunities for active mobility, exchanges like these help demonstrate that Amsterdam’s success is the result of sustained investment and policy choices that can inspire adaptation in different local contexts.