Infrastructure which works in the Netherlands

[davidhembrow]

Examples of infrastructure which works well for cycling in the Netherlands. All is accessible to and usable by children. All imparts a high degree of subjective safety as well as removing the conflict which can result in injuries:

http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/se ... at%20works

[schrodingers_cat]

Might I also add this link to my "picture posts" from 2012?



Plenty of people of all ages and abilities using the safe infrastructure!

[MJRay]

Other than subjective safety, are there other common themes which we should be trying to drum into our highway engineers, or is it a pick-and-mix of solutions?

[davidhembrow]

MJRay: If you follow the link at the post above you'll see there are a wide range of different things which work in the Netherlands and the high modal share for cycling relies on all these things.

A feeling of subjective safety is always important because this is what encourages people to cycle. The main reason why people give up cycling is that they've had an unpleasant experience. If you manage to convince someone to try it at all, there's a fair chance they'll pack it in as soon as something unpleasant happens.

In order to keep people cycling the experience has to be pleasant and unpleasant experiences have to be eliminated. This is what the Dutch infrastructure does. It's also why it's so important .

Of course, by eliminating all those unpleasant near misses you also greatly reduce the injury and death rates. That is why Dutch cyclists are the safest in the world.

[Andre Engels]