Hundreds of buses drive into Amsterdam each day to bring students, tourists, group outings and company employees to the city.  With a significant change in parking regulations on the horizon, the city wanted to know more about the different types of  drivers and how they got their information to design more effective communication.

The research looked into:

• What types of bus drivers, trips and routes are there?
• How do needs differ across the different trip types?
• For each group,  do bus drivers decide where to stop and park?
• Which problems do they experience when parking and waiting?
• What ideas do they have to help ease traffic and parking inside the city ring?

This research journeyed across the city from the Rijksmuseum to Amsterdam Noord, capturing drivers’ real-world experiences on the road. Key insights:

• Drivers say working in Amsterdam is getting harder. They carefully plan routes to avoid issues, but alternative options are limited when it gets busy.
• Drivers often resort to creative parking due to a lack of suitable, official spots. They want affordable, accessible parking and larger stopping areas.
• There’s no standard tour bus driver or route. Each company and trip has unique needs, and drivers vary in local knowledge, habits, and information sources.
• Many rely on unofficial rules and personal experience to navigate the city.