Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands toured downtown Austin on a Gazelle electric-assist bike earlier today, September 8, 2022, as part of a working visit highlighting the economic ties between the Netherlands and the United States.

She joined City officials – including Austin Mayor Steve Adler – on a scenic ride from City Hall, along the Hike and Bike Trail on Ladybird Lake, and up to the Central Library.

The royal visit coincides with the 10-year anniversary of the City’s commitment to incorporating the core tenets of Dutch bikeway network design into its own mobility infrastructure. A ThinkBike workshop with Dutch experts in 2012 informed Austin’s Bicycle Plan and today Austin is seen as an urban mobility innovator among its peer cities in North America.

Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
– Austin’s Dutch-Inspired Cycle Network Playlist: https://bit.ly/AustinDutchBikePlaylist

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Credits: Video and audio production by John Simmerman

Music via Epidemic Sound: https://bit.ly/3rFLErD

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Background:
Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 30 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.

Since 2010, I’ve been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a “Culture of Activity” for “All Ages & Abilities.”

The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.

Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful.

Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022

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36 Comments

  1. Maxima is awesome and always on point at the job.

    And to prove she is a natural cyclist: she's obviously comfortable stepping on the bike, even in a nice dress and heels, but at 4:14 when they ride the bikes and turn on the intersection out of reflex she does the hand turn signal indication. There is police escort, a blocked road and dignitaries following her as the VIP and press and everything, but you just got to do the wavy hand thing, it is the way.

  2. Hmmmm, all those so-called high-ranking people who meet Maxima. Why didn't you meet her John? At least you really promote cycling! And you occasionally come to the Netherlands. I think you should have been at the top of the guest list for a meeting.

  3. Amazing how the Queen just hopped on a bike like she has been riding since she was a little girl. Oh wait. She has been riding since she was a little girl. Love it. Thanks for sharing.

  4. Sounds like the proclamation is promising a great bicycle infrastructure for Austin, surely to become a true cycling city, if it isn't already. Something to look forward to!.
    BTW, it seems that nobody in Austin knew about the queen's visit. There was this guy working out with his shirt off, wondering what was going on. Oh, and a great workout for the police too, some needed it.

  5. Congratulations to every participant on the achievements for safer walkability and building cycling infrastructure in Austin! What a way to go for honoring this amazing work and with none the less than Queen Maxima! Bravo!
    These news are just awesome and heartwarming, I hope to read in the future less about traffic accidents and deaths.
    Have a great day!

  6. Wow. This really made my day. We can have hope that the USA will see its own potential to adopt a Dutch bicycling mindset.

    Thank you Mayor Adler and Queen Maxima for your exceptional leadership.

    I’m going to have to go out and bike ride right now just to honor them with action.

  7. These silly cops with full face helmets, followed by the Dutch Queen (from Argentina) in a long dress and high heels. Hilarious ! Another thing, by departure, she was the only one who stuck out her arm, indicating she wanted to go left ! Well done, Maxima.

  8. Proud on Queen Maxima. And so good to hear this 10 year anniversary.

    And you know . We Dutch dress for the occasion, even when go by bike first. Long dress.. no problem.

    And .. yes . Even with high heels

  9. Wow so awesome, great video! You know you are doing something right when designing your bike network when Queen Maxima comes for a visit! We need more and more cities in North America to follow in Austin’s footsteps and show that creating an all-abilities network is possible and will absolutely increase active transportation use and healthy lifestyles.

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