Pfft! I lived in Amsterdam for almost a decade and it took me just a day to learn that stepping off the kerb straight into a cycle lane without looking is not a smart thing to do. We're all used to looking for cars, less so for bikes in this country, but it's not rocket science to remember there's an extra lane that needs checking too before you cross the road.

Yes, some Dutch cyclists will whizz through red lights but only if it's safe to do so - I know because I used to do it myself and I'm a very cautious cyclist. By contrast, Dutch drivers are more dangerous and show scant regard for either cyclists or pedestrians as they hurtle through narrow streets fronted by far wider canals. Amsterdam was not built for cars - the city centre is 400 years old - but it's ideal for cyclists. And you really wouldn't want to have a fight with a tram - it's always tourists who end up in hospital after being struck by one and it happens surprisingly often. Why? Because they don't look or they don't get out of the way in time.

And there's a reason cyclists have bells on their bikes - it's to give you faire warning to get out of the way. Nothing angry about it, just common sense.

Good grief, woman, you're an adult. You should be able to cross a street by now without mummy holding your hand.