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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| 'Beer bikes': Amsterdam calls time on drunken, urinating processions | 'Beer bikes': Amsterdam calls time on drunken, urinating processions |
| (3 months later) | |
| Mobile bar tables pedalled along canals by rowdy groups have been deemed too much of a nuisance by city council and courts | |
| Agence France-Presse | |
| Wed 1 Nov 2017 00.27 GMT | |
| Last modified on Wed 1 Nov 2017 07.36 GMT | |
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| Amsterdam has banned “beer bikes” after years of complaints by local people about rowdy tourists getting drunk and disorderly while pedalling along the city’s famous canals. | Amsterdam has banned “beer bikes” after years of complaints by local people about rowdy tourists getting drunk and disorderly while pedalling along the city’s famous canals. |
| As from Wednesday “the beer bicycle may be banned from the city centre to stop it from being a nuisance”, the Amsterdam district court said in a statement. | As from Wednesday “the beer bicycle may be banned from the city centre to stop it from being a nuisance”, the Amsterdam district court said in a statement. |
| “The court agrees with the city council that the combination of traffic disruptions, anti-social behaviour and the busy city centre justifies a ban.” | “The court agrees with the city council that the combination of traffic disruptions, anti-social behaviour and the busy city centre justifies a ban.” |
| Beer bicycles have become popular way in Amsterdam, especially for tourists celebrating group events such as stag parties. | Beer bicycles have become popular way in Amsterdam, especially for tourists celebrating group events such as stag parties. |
| The contraption is a small cart fitted out with bicycle seats arranged around a bar table. Patrons pedal it along the inner city’s historic canals. | The contraption is a small cart fitted out with bicycle seats arranged around a bar table. Patrons pedal it along the inner city’s historic canals. |
| They have become a huge headache, even for Amsterdammers who are known for their tolerance. Last year some 6,000 residents, many of them living in the inner city, handed the council a petition to ban the “terrible phenomenon”. | They have become a huge headache, even for Amsterdammers who are known for their tolerance. Last year some 6,000 residents, many of them living in the inner city, handed the council a petition to ban the “terrible phenomenon”. |
| “Our city’s become a giant attraction park,” one resident told NOS news at the time. | “Our city’s become a giant attraction park,” one resident told NOS news at the time. |
| Amsterdam’s late mayor, Eberhard van der Laan, agreed and instituted a ban but was taken to court last year by four beer bicycle operators, who accused the city of “imposing on people’s freedom”. | Amsterdam’s late mayor, Eberhard van der Laan, agreed and instituted a ban but was taken to court last year by four beer bicycle operators, who accused the city of “imposing on people’s freedom”. |
| At the time judges struck down the mayor’s decision, saying it was not properly motivated. | At the time judges struck down the mayor’s decision, saying it was not properly motivated. |
| In Tuesday’s ruling, however, the judges agreed that problems caused by the beer bike including shouting, public drunkenness and lewd behaviour such as urinating in public were enough to ban the bikes. | In Tuesday’s ruling, however, the judges agreed that problems caused by the beer bike including shouting, public drunkenness and lewd behaviour such as urinating in public were enough to ban the bikes. |
| Once a small fishing village, Amsterdam in the 16th and 17th centuries grew into a major trading hub. It has now has become a victim of its own success, with authorities looking to tame the yearly deluge of some 17 million tourists into a city of 830,000 residents. Every year the number of sightseers flocking to the city’s 165 canals increases by 5%. | Once a small fishing village, Amsterdam in the 16th and 17th centuries grew into a major trading hub. It has now has become a victim of its own success, with authorities looking to tame the yearly deluge of some 17 million tourists into a city of 830,000 residents. Every year the number of sightseers flocking to the city’s 165 canals increases by 5%. |
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