I saw something in the news today that the gemeente has earmarked €100m for the bridge, 1/3rd of the total (another 100m coming from another source, and the remaining to be raised.) Bike tunnels under the IJ apparently (so I recall reading, anyway) also have the issue that to have not too steep slopes at the end, the entry/exit points will have to be a reasonable distance from the water itself.
Haha but yeah they always have some sort of plan. Not long ago, maybe 5 years ago, a bicycle bridge was pretty close, I created the site where the people living could vote on different options of the bridge, but they also needed approvement from the national governemnt because it affects the water way and they didn't approve: https://www.at5.nl/artikelen/207386/javabrug-definitief-van-...
It wasn't the best plan anyway, was too far from CS close to Pakhuis de Zwager.
But the new plan is even more ridiculous, they want to create it at Azartplein now.
But keeps happening. Too many stakeholders, and lack of urgency.
Yeah the steepness is also a problem, few designs proposed had a spiral down from the station, looked pretty cool. Others had a sort of bike lift, and indeed others made it start between Dam square and Central station.
Btw bridge also deal with steepness issues, since they have to be pretty high, and in most cases also have to be able to open.
https://nltimes.nl/2023/04/28/amsterdam-pushing-eu100-millio...