Amsterdam to introduce Saturday car ban in part of city centre

The Labour party have promised £300m to mend the potholes in the roads, which is a drop in the ocean in comparison to the money needed to create an infrastructure needed to match the Dutch system. The Dutch people protested over 40 years ago to end the deaths of children on the roads and whilst we have built a system centred around the motor vehicle they have built what you see today. That doesn't mean to say they live in harmony as a result, far from it really and that is because of attitudes of the modern wo/man.
I admire your idea of attitudes being fluid and if local government followed those we might get there but today is all about how much things cost and they have a finite pot of money which is being eroded year on year by central government. so unless we start to tax every penny you earn, which is what the Dutch do by the way, then we will never have enough money to change attitudes. Living here in Holland for the last 6 years makes me appreciate what they have achieved in those 40 odd years but that comes at a price - tax. Whilst they don't tax the cyclist the motorist pays a heavy price - imagine adopting that in the UK given the current anomosity towards the cyclist in some quarters.
Unfortunately we may never reach a point where we live in harmony for many reasons, but we can live in hope.

"Everyone knows what needs to be done to ensure that the city remains accessible and to provide pleasant public areas: create more space for cyclists and pedestrians, park as many cars as possible underground and establish a better flow of traffic"

If only EVERYONE really did know that...

Though it's heartening to see that at least someone does.

Unfortunately I think it would cause more, not less, issues in the UK. Issues I see and have had fall in to two categories:

1) Bad driving and riding in general, the same people who cause issues on my bike do the same when I am in the car. Not looking, wrong lane, not indicating, etc. They do the same in cars and on bikes.

2) Those who have an issue with cyclists. Don't like filtering, give abuse for "getting in the way", shout things about "jumping red lights" (Which I never do). I seem to get the same type of behavior on my motorbike, people blocking me filtering etc. (And you see the same attitude in some cyclists, which just causes more anger on both sides).

The first lot will continue to drive badly and the second will, at the moment, be made more angry. For this to work you need an underlying respect for other road users right to do what they are doing, and not an "I'm right and will enforce the law with my bonnet" attitude. We need a change in attitude first, and this would just make those people more angry at cyclists "Why do they get special treatment".

We need more education all round before we can start doing things like this.

Oh, more cycle infrastructure would be good though. Less pointless paint (which makes things worse) and more good infrastructure, like a cycle and walking path along the Oxford canal all the way from the Kiddlington and the Park and Ride in to Oxford, joining up with NCR5 at Yarnton (for the purely selfish reason of making my ride to work a little better).

Sorry but I have lived in Amsterdam for 6 years and whilst there are a lot less 'visible' accidents than say London it doesn't make it any better. The presumed liabilty law makes the driver so wary of hitting a cyclist that a lot have become arrogant in their interuptation of the ruling. Jumping red lights is a common sight and not just at highly visible junctions but at blind ones too, plus riding without lights in the winter even though it is illegal to do so. Coupled with the fact that we share the cycle lanes with scooters, who are a law unto themselves, it is only by luck that there are not more accidents. Outside of the cities it is where you find the dedicated cycle lane infrastructure which is what people recognise about Holland. The most stressful part of my daily commute is through Amsterdam city itself but either side I am very lucky to have the huge Bos woodland park and 5kms of canal to ride along to get to work. The issue the UK has it is so far behind with infrastructure that making any new cycle lanes will be cost prohibitive to be high on any agenda despite the false promises every party is making!!

You're right it is a different city, but actually had very similar transport issues as London or Paris in the 60s and 70s. The citizens of Amsterdam campaigned for safer roads at that time and refused to allow the car to take priority. In 2015 we now see that, somewhat due to presumed liability, bikes take priority over cars.
London should follow the example of Amsterdam if it wants to increase cyling in the city, it's as simple as that. I have lived in Ams for 3 years, I have seen zero high-viz, and rarely see a helmet (about once a week). Bike accidents are about as rare as bike helmets in this city.

Obviously Amsterdam is a different city compared to say London or Paris, but it would be so good to see other cities follow this idea with bans on motor vehicles on Saturdays in city and town centres.