Devin Franklin
Greening Buffalo
Greenway Assignment Final Paper
Due: 10/10/13
Cycling in the Netherlands: An Example for the Niagara River
Greenway
Introduction
In a high-speed world focused on advanced automobiles, the intricate cycling
infrastructure of the Netherlands is a breath of fresh air. The Dutch began implementing
cycling routes in the 1940s. After WWII, the Netherlands had to be reconstructed and
restored. i As a result, the country underwent various positive changes. One significant
change was the steady growth of the average national income.i This allowed more
citizens to purchase cars; a novel trend in a country where, prior to the war, almost every
citizen traveled only by bicycle. Suddenly, cars and bicycles began sharing the narrow
roads.i This lead to record traffic deaths; hundreds of which involved young children.i
Thus, the need for safe bicycling routes emerged.i
Today, transportation policies reflect the fact that cycling is, without a doubt, the
most preferred transportation option in almost all Dutch cities and towns.ii Cycling
projects, whether in urban areas or throughout the countryside, are so meticulously
included in transportation policies that cycling is rendered as equally important and
valuable as motorized and public transport.ii As a result, almost every Dutch region has a
series of interconnected cycling systems that allow people to safely travel huge distances
on a single route.i
While the Netherlands’ cycle route infrastructure was not necessarily created with
an environmental focus, the Niagara River Greenway Commission (“Commission”) can
1
learn a great deal from this system when carrying out the plan for the Niagara River
Greenway (“Greenway”). The focus of this paper is to illustrate a comprehensive picture
of exactly how the Commission can target and accommodate cyclists, both recreational
and professional. The following sections describe various aspects of the Netherlands’
cycling systems that could provide a beneficial example for the Commission to evaluate
and consider in the future.
Cycle Paths
“Cycle path” is the general term used in the Netherlands to describe pathways that
run parallel to larger roadways.iii These paths are designated for cycling only and are
physically separate and distinct from the roadways by way of things like hedges or
shrubbery.iii The cycle paths’ pavement, most commonly black or red, helps to highlight
their locations and accentuate their independence from normal roadways.iii The
Netherlands’ cycle path infrastructure has grown to be extremely intricate in many
places. A number of Dutch cities have even created “bidirectional” cycle paths, equipped
with two lanes that direct traffic flow to and from any given area.iii
The Dutch cycle paths infrastructure also includes “free-running” paths that are
not associated with any particular roadway.iii While these paths often provide short cuts
through smaller towns and cities, they also exist for recreational purposes. In such
instances, free-running cycle paths run through countryside landscapes and parks.iii
Although the Greenway is already made up of a series of partially interconnected
pathways, there is still a lot to be learned from the cycle paths that exist in the
Netherlands. Whereas the Greenway paths are currently designated for both pedestrians
and cyclists, the Dutch cycle paths are intended solely for cyclists. It would be
2
impractical to suggest that the Commission agree to build an entirely separate cycle path
that runs along the whole Greenway, but it certainly could be beneficial to widen the path
in narrow areas where bicycles and pedestrians have a hard time simultaneously using the
path. Once the Greenway is wide enough, the Commission can consider using various
pavement markings to designate a clear cycle path. Whether the paths run along
roadways or through a stretch of open field, the Greenway would be enhanced by the
presence of distinct paths intended for cycling.
Methods for Crossing Waterways and Roads
Because Dutch cities and towns had been well established before the creation of
cycle routes, creativity was key when it came to planning exactly how to implement cycle
route systems. This, however, did not hinder Dutch engineers and city planners.
For example, the City of Haarlem created a passage along a riverbank where a
main automobile route and a main cycle route along crossed could cross each other’s
paths.iv This proved to be a
rather difficult task to
successfully implement.
Because of the existing road
and the inability to create a
working overpass, engineers
and designers opted to lower
the cycle path below water
level.iv In order to ensure the
submerged path’s durability given fluctuating water levels, Dutch civil engineers
3
designed this portion of the path to be a waterproof box-like structure made out of steel.iv
This particularly innovative section of the Netherlands’ cycle path cost €2,310,000,
which is just over $3,1400,000.iv The province of North-Holland provided 80% of the
funds and the City of Haarlem contributed the remaining 20%.iv While costly, the City of
Haarlem is proud to have successfully created yet another “barrier free cycle route” in the
Netherlands.iv The completed project is heavily used by people of all ages who cycle for
a wide variety of reasons.iv
Another clear display of Dutch cycle route ingenuity is the Nijmegen Cycle
Bridge.v This structure is best described as a sort of attachment latched onto the side of a
historic railway bridge that had been there since 1879.v
The original, historic Nijmegen Bridge in the late 1800s
The Nijmegen Cycle Bridge attachment, today
The cycle bridge connects the cities of Nijmegen and Lent and makes it possible for
cyclists to cross the Waal River on a separate, safe path without interfering with railway
functions.v One of the most intriguing aspects of the Nijmegen Cycle Bridge is that the
engineers who created it went above and beyond to accommodate the needs of cyclists.v
The bridge includes protective windscreens to shield cyclists from the elements,
4
regardless of the season. Additionally, the bridge is wide and extremely well lit.v This
ensures that users can safely use the bridge both day and night.v Today, the bridge is one
of the largest cycle bridges in the country.v
The Nijmegen Cycle bridge cost the city of Nijmegen more than €40,000,000,
which amounts to over $54,000,000.v Moreover, the city has a maintenance contract
worth €15,000 per year (more than $20,000) that covers repairs and other safeguarding
procedures.v While costly, the people of Nijmegen are extremely proud of this structure
and it is highly used on a daily basis.v
Both the City of Haarlem’s semi-underwater cycle path and the Nijmegen Cycle
Bridge are excellent examples of just how much can be done with cycle routes. The
Netherlands did not abandon their goal of cycle route implementation when it
encountered various issues that halted the flow of cycling traffic. Instead, the country
devised brilliant engineering plans, gathered resources, and created solutions. There is no
better way to realize that varying degrees of adversity can be overcome if time and effort
are put into careful planning and decision-making. There are particular areas of the
Greenway that would become much more accessible, for pedestrians and cyclists alike, if
the Netherlands’ ingenious methods for crossing waterways and roads were mimicked to
some extent.
Traffic Signal System
Because cycling routes in the Netherlands are consistently in and heavily used,
the Dutch have created a traffic signal system specifically geared toward cycling.iii
Traffic signals are typically found at intersections; especially those that require cyclists
and cars to cross paths.iii Depending on the density of traffic, various regions in the
5
Netherlands have installed both miniature and large-scale versions of cycling traffic
signals.iii
Installing similar traffic signals on parts of the Greenway could prove to be highly
beneficial, especially if the Commission decides to target cyclists. The more cyclists that
are drawn to the Greenway, the more traffic there will be. There are a number of sections
that have already proven to be problematic due to the fact that the Greenway runs so
close to many major roadways. Traffic signals are not necessary everywhere, though.
Targeting major problems areas where cars and bicycles meet most often and installing
miniature traffic signal systems there would achieve this goal of safety and sufficiency,
without digging too deep into the Commision’s pocket.
Signage System
Along the same lines of the traffic signal system, the Netherlands has also created
a signage system for its many cycle routes.iii While this may seem simple at first, the
signage system has proven to be highly effective with regard to efficiency of travel and,
of course, safety.iii Signposts not only point cyclists in specific directions but they also
state the distances to neighboring cities and towns.iii Varying forms of signage can be
found in cities, smaller towns, and the countryside.iii
A signage system would be an extremely plausible element to add to the
Greenway, whereas many of the other aspects discussed thus far are more complex and
costly. The Commission could, at fairly low cost, install signposts at intermittent areas of
the Greenway. This would inform users of their exact location, help them decide where to
go next, and, ultimately, would make the using the Greenway a safer experience for
everyone.
6
Parking Areas
The prevalence of cycling in the Netherlands has, naturally, created the need for
frequent cycling parking areas.iii These areas most typically come in the form of cycle
stands; an idea not unfamiliar to Americans.iii A more novel idea employed by the Dutch,
though, are cycle parking lots.iii Functioning just like car parking lots, these areas can be
found throughout almost every region in the Netherlands.iii The sizes of these lots vary
depending on the particular region and its needs, but some lots can hold thousands of
bicycles.iii Many of the lots are called “watched lots,” meaning that there is a guard who
ensures parked bicycles remain safe from theft and other misconduct.iii Ultimately, these
parking lots have proven to be an excellent addition to the Dutch cycling route system.iii
They make cycling journeys more convenient while preventing sidewalks from being
cluttered with bicycles.iii
The Commission will definitely need to consider implementing designated
parking areas for bicycles if it plans to try to draw in more cyclists. Like the signage
system, creating these areas will not be extremely costly. To create “watched lots” like
the ones in the Netherlands, though, is probably not particularly necessary. Numerous
benefits would still stem from the creation of simpler parking areas. Increased
convenience and decreased clutter will make the Greenway even more appealing to those
who use it.
Conclusion
The Netherlands’ cycling infrastructure provides an ideal model for the
Commission to consider when developing methods to improve the Greenway. Designated
cycle paths would create space for cyclists and pedestrians to use the Greenway
7
simultaneously and safely. The Netherlands’ creative design infrastructures provide an
example of how the Commission can cope with obstacles created by waterways and road
systems. This would help to achieve the Commission’s overall goal of designing a truly
continuous, interconnected Greenway. Implementation of a traffic signal system and a
signage system would both go toward improving the safety and efficiency of the
Greenway. Finally, periodic parking areas would allow cyclists to stop, rest, and safely
park their bicycles.
In summation, implementing any number of these elements would further the
goals of the Commission. More users will be drawn to take advantage the newly
enhanced Greenway experience and the entire Buffalo-Niagara region will reap the
benefits.
i
“How the Dutch got their Cycle Paths,” posted by Bicycle Dutch on Oct. 9, 2011.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuBdf9jYj7o
ii Article on A View from the Cycle Path (a Dutch blog), posted on Dec. 22, 2011.
http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/search/label/mark
iii
“Cycling in the Netherlands.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycling_in_the_Netherlands
iv “Submerged Bicycle Bridge in Haarlem,” posted on Bicycle Dutch (date not available)
http://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2013/09/19/submerged-bicycle-bridge-in-haarlem/
8
“The Nijmegen Cycle Bridge Revisited,” posted on Bicycle Dutch (date not available)
http://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2013/05/16/nijmegen-cycle-bridge-revisited/
v
9