If you are visiting Amsterdam on a budget and don't mind being in close proximity to strangers, this scheme allows you to get a free bike ride. Yellow Backie lets people essentially hitchhike by sitting on the luggage rack of a local's bicycle.
Getting a ride on the back of a cyclist's luggage rack is a Dutch practice often referred to as 'Backie.' In a way, this encourages tourists and visitors to experience Amsterdam in a more authentic (not to mention eco-friendly) way, especially considering the bicycle-favoring culture there.
Those wishing to get a free bike ride through Yellow Backie should keep an eye out for the specially marked bright yellow luggage racks. Then you simply yell 'Backie' to hail one down.
Cyclists interested in getting involved can apply online through Yellow Bike.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Bike Hitchhiking
- Opportunity to create platforms and apps that connect cyclists with travelers who need a ride.
- Authentic Experiences
- Opportunity to create unique travel experiences that allow tourists to immerse themselves in local cultures and traditions.
- Eco-friendly Transportation
- Opportunity to develop sustainable transportation solutions that reduce carbon emissions and promote cycling.
Where This Applies
- Transportation
- Disruptive innovation opportunities in shared mobility services and bike-sharing platforms.
- Tourism
- Opportunity to create tourism experiences that offer alternative and eco-friendly modes of transportation.
- Technology
- Opportunity to develop mobile apps and platforms that facilitate bike hitchhiking and connect cyclists with travelers.
