Cycling infrastructure:
adaptation needed due to expected growth
Local governments at home and abroad are working hard to create attractive and liveable cities that promote sustainable mobility. They therefore adopt a low-traffic approach, encouraging public transport, walking and the use of (electric) bicycles. Cycling is not only a sustainable form of mobility, but it also promotes health through exercise and fresh air.
This does, however, mean that local authorities need to adapt their cycling infrastructure to provide a good cycling network and meet current and future growth in bicycle traffic. If they don’t, bicycle routes and/or bicycle parking facilities will congest, causing inconvenience. Safe cycling infrastructure promotes bicycle use and helps reduce accidents and injuries. In addition, bicycle lanes and paths can provide more efficient traffic flows, reducing journey times.
Witteveen+Bos contributes to the design of safe cycling infrastructure for several municipalities and provinces. We apply our knowledge of road design and road safety to arrive at a good design that cyclists can use comfortably and safely. We also deploy smart digital tools (such as our Bicycle Traffic Monitor) to advise governments on the design of cycling networks and to provide the right cycling infrastructure to different bicycle traffic flows in an area.
Future traffic situation mapped
Over the years, Witteveen+Bos has gained extensive experience with exploratory studies, plan developments, designs and the construction of cycling networks at home and abroad. For instance, we advised the municipality of Zoetermeer in the Netherlands on improving the proposed design of the cycling infrastructure in and around the Entree. We also advised Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) on a cycling network in Ang Mo Kio district.
Bicycle Traffic Monitor
Unique to our approach is the spatial analysis in which we map how bicycle flows run and how they develop in the future. One way we have to do this is by using the Bicycle Traffic Monitor, a tool we have developed.
This tool maps aspects such as bicycle flows (intensities and direction) on the cycle network, the quality of the cycling infrastructure (flow and comfort) and safety (accident locations involving cyclists). Local governments can set their policies based on this data, supplemented by other insights.
Safety
Adequate maintenance is vital to ensure the safety of our cycle path network. Witteveen+Bos is involved in these projects, including the construction of a safe cycle path and the prevention of root pressure for the coming years.
The result is a comfortable uniform cycle path that is also less intensive in terms of maintenance. Combination opportunities for drainage and utilities have been incorporated into the design.
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