We’ve been in Amsterdam less than 24 hours but I’ve already realized that to be a walker here means you must be always on your guard. From cars, yes, sure, as with any city. From trucks, of course, there are the usual complement.

But mostly from bicycles. It’s hard to tell from the sweet photo above how quickly these two-wheelers glide along the street, how they appear from out of nowhere on bike lanes and sidewalks, and how quickly we must scurry to get out of their way.

Bicycles appear in every form here, outfitted with cunning child-carriers and big baskets. I saw a woman yesterday about to pedal away with a potted plant as tall as she was. Bicycles are the ride of choice in Amsterdam, and good for the Dutch that they have such a fun and healthy way to get around.

But for the visitors, they pose a small (okay, not a small) problem. All I want to do is wander the lanes and ogle the canals and houses, the parks and churches. But along with all that I must always look for a bicycle to come barreling around the corner. In Amsterdam, you must walk defensively.