One of the busiest intersections of Amsterdam now has an “I-stopped-for-red” counter, which displays the number of good cyclists that stop at the red light.
This is Amsterdam’s way of gently nudging naughty Amsterdammers toward stopping at a red traffic light (because their life being at risk is not enough of an incentive). 🤷♀️
Good thing nothing works better than peer pressure.
You get a sticker!
In many ways, Amsterdam’s new counter is just like giving a child a sticker. It’s meant to encourage positive behaviour by making people’s efforts visible.
Amsterdam telt wachtende fietsers om door rood rijden te ontmoedigen.https://t.co/RP3zopiLxp
Op een van de drukste kruispunten van Amsterdam is een ‘gestopt-voor-rood-teller’ geplaatst. De teller toont precies hoeveel fietsers op het knopje drukken bij een rood verkeer… pic.twitter.com/5G64zXA3YM— NL Nieuws (@NieuwsNu123) February 9, 2023
The counter reads: “Waited for red,” followed by the number of cyclists who did, then menacingly asks, “you too, right?”
We don’t know about you, but we’re feeling the pressure. 😬
READ MORE | How the Netherlands became a cycling country
Cyclists patiently waiting at the red light are encouraged to press a button to increase the number on the counter, which gently nudges (and guilts) others to do the same.
Tested and approved, now it’s time to launch
After a three-month-long experiment, where the device was placed on the Kamerlingh Onneslaan in Amsterdam-Oost, the government saw that 20% more cyclists stopped and waited for the green light, writes the NOS. ✋🚦
As of yesterday, the good-citizen-counter is placed at the intersection between Parnassusweg and De Boelelaan in Amsterdam Zuid — also known as one of the busiest intersections in Amsterdam.
Crazy cyclists in the big city
According to the Amsterdam municipality, around one in four Amsterdammers regularly ignores a red light. Naughty! 🚴♀️
And indeed, it’s true that many cycling Dutchies see red lights as more of a well-intentioned suggestion, rather than a life-saving necessity.
Not stopping at red lights and other reckless biking behaviour is why Amsterdam is pushing for more measures to help (or force) cyclists to do the right thing. Let’s see if they’ll work! 👀
What do you think about Amsterdam’s new good cyclist counter? Tell us in the comments!
