Dutch Countryside Cycling is the Best in the World: 5 Reasons Why

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CHAPTERS:
0:00 Introduction
0:05 CLEAR SIGNAGE, ROUTE MAKING AND WAYMARKING
1:09 ROAD PSYCHOLOGY / INFRASTRUCTURE QUALITY
2:44 INNOVATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING
3:39 PLACES TO RELAX
4:22 ACCESSIBILITY
5:09 CONCLUSION

TRANSCRIPT:
1 – CLEAR SIGNAGE, ROUTE MAKING AND WAYMARKING

Across the entirety of The Netherlands, there is a path network which extends for over 35,000km. Named ‘Fietsknoop’, which translates to ‘Bike Node’, there is a mobile app which allows you to plot an extensive route connecting numbered nodes, all you need to do is list out your numbered route. On arrival at a node the direction of your next numbered point is shown from where you are. Using GPS in the app you can also track your position on your ride and find useful places along the way, such as picnic benches, places to eat and toilets. There is also a map at most nodes so you can plan your route without the app if you wish. Fietsknoop is mostly for casual relaxed cycles away from high traffic routes. As, there are many cycle paths not even included on the map which if travelling longer distances, are more efficient but they are mostly alongside roads so are typically noisier and less scenic.

2 – ROAD PSYCHOLOGY / INFRASTRUCTURE QUALITY

On arrival at a small village, the cycle path often joins with the road, sharing with motor vehicles. However, the road into the village is narrowed with a raised speedbump and is usually block-paved, slowing vehicles down by making it uncomfortable to drive fast. Similarly, it is typical within villages that there is a raised section at every junction, which are often continuations of the pavement or cycle paths, slowing down cars and reinforcing pedestrian priority. Beyond the fast main roads and dual carriageways, where cycling is not permitted and the high quality off-road cycle routes, the road network acknowledges that vehicles, in some instances, have to share the highway with cyclists. Roads with central markings only indicate car superiority, which means that a cyclist’s safety is dependent on the individual care of each driver. Whereas this alternative, where red tarmac cycle paths line both sides of the road, does the thinking for them, as the road markings indicate that the road is a shared space. This means that for two cars to pass each other, the vehicles must partly enter into the cycle paths. This decreases average car speed and increases driver awareness which makes the road safer for all users. In conclusion, this relatively cheap solution drastically increases the connectivity of cycle networks, without needing to compromise safety.

3 – INNOVATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING

At intersections the Dutch principle of ‘Ontvlechten’, which roughly translates as ‘to unbraid’ or ‘to disentangle’, applies. This concept aims to reduce intersections between foot, cycle and road traffic to improve flow and safety. At quieter roundabouts, cycle traffic can be combined to reduce intersections between cars and cycles. Like this roundabout, near Balk. A different problem they have, is that The Netherlands is criss-crossed by many canals and waterways. Often a bridge is provided, many just for cyclists. But sometimes a bridge isn’t viable as, on busy boating routes, a frequent boat service is provided, enabling ramp on and off access for all at an affordable cost. The boat provision is all mapped on the Fietsknoop app, linking to a nationwide ferries website.

4 – PLACES TO RELAX

The Dutch are very welcoming, particularly to cyclists. And so much so that linked to the cycle paths is a widespread network of ‘Rustpunts’. These are points to rest with toilets, seating and honesty boxes for snacks, drinks and local ice cream. Rustpunts are typically provided by homeowners, farmers or campsites. They appear as interactive nodes on the Fietsknoop app which allows them to be planned into longer journeys. In addition, the Netherlands is ample with bike friendly campsites, hotels, shops and cafes. And sitting outside a café with a coffee and cake is the perfect way to end a ride.

5 – ACCESSIBILITY

Cycling in the Netherlands has very few barriers to entry, so the cycle path network is for everyone, of whatever age, ability or purpose. The Netherlands is so accessible due to the smooth and wide concrete / asphalt paths which connect up the entirety of the Netherlands with safe and efficient routes away from dangerous road traffic. But easy accessibility doesn’t stop there, as it is commonplace for good paths to not exclusively be for efficient routes between named places but to also maintain the same quality for leisure routes. This means that its wonderfully simple for anyone and everyone to explore nature areas such as forests, meadows and wetlands, with no overgrown routes, rutted paths or obstructed access.

More about me: https://www.heritageandleisure.co.uk/cycling/
Filmed in Friesland, The Netherlands – July 2022

Five reasons why Countryside cycling in benevolence is the best in the world one clear signage rout making and way marking across the entirety of benevolence there is a path Network which extends for over 35,000 km named fnob which translates to bike node there is a mobile app which allows you to plot

An extensive route connecting numbered nodes all you need to do is list out your numbered route on arrival at a node the direction of your next numbered point is shown from where you are using QPS in the app you can also track your position on your ride and find useful

Places along the way such as picnic benches places to eat and toilets there is also a map at most nodes so you can plan your route without the app if you wish fatn is mostly for casual relaxed Cycles away from high traffic routes as there are many cycle paths not even

Included on the map we if traveling longer distances are more efficient but they are mostly alongside roads so are typically noisier and less Scenic two Road psychology and infrastructure quality on arrival at a small village the cycle paath often joins with the road sharing with Motor Vehicles however

The road into the village is narrowed with a raised speed bump and is usually block paved slowing Vehicles down by making it uncomfortable to drive fast similarly it is typical within Villages that there is a ray section at every Junction which are often continuations of the pavement or cycle paths slowing

Down cars and reinforcing pedestrian priority beyond the fast main roads and your carriageways where cycling is not permitted and the high quality off-road cycle routes a road Network acknowledges that vehicles in some instances have to share the highway with cyclists roads with sentual markings only indicate car superiority which means that a cyclist

Safety is dependent on the individual care of each driver whereas this alternative where red tarmac cycle paths line both sides of the road does a thinking for them as the road markings indicate that the road is a shared space this means that for two cars to pass each other the vehicles must partly

Enter into the cycle paaths this decreases average car speed and increases driver awareness which makes the road safer for all users in conclusion this relatively cheap solution drastically increases the connectivity of cycle networks without needing to compromise safety three Innovative problem solving at intersections the Dutch principle of on

Flexon which roughly translates as to unbraid or to disentangle applies this concept aims to reduce intersections between foot cycle and road traffic to improve flow and safety at quieter roundabouts cycle traffic can be combined to reduce intersections between cars and Cycles like this roundabout near Bulk a different problem they have

Is that the Netherlands is crisscrossed by many canals and waterways and often a break is provided many just for cyclists but sometimes a break isn’t viable as on busy boating routes a frequent boat service is provide enable ramp on and off access for all at an affordable cost

The boat provision is all mapped on the Feats canob app linking to a Nationwide fairies website four places to relax the ducts are very welcoming particularly to cyclists and so much so but linked to the cycle paths is a widespread network of rusant these are points to rest with

Toilet seating and honesty boxes for snacks drink and local ice cream rant are specifically provided by homeowners Farmers or campsites they appear as interactive nodes on the feat canob app which allows them to be planned into longer Journeys in addition the Netherlands is ample with bike friendly campsites hotels shops and cafes and

Sitting outside a cafe with a coffee and cake is the perfect way to end a ride five accessibility cycling in benevolence has very few barriers to anchy so the cycle paath Network is for for everyone of whatever age ability or purpose the Netherlands is so accessible cus smooth

And wide concrete asphalt paths which connect up the entirety of lence with safe and efficient routes away from dangerous road traffic but easy accessibility doesn’t stop there as it’s common place for good paths to not exclusively be for efficient routes between name places but to also maintain

The same quality for leisure routs this means that it’s wonderfully simple for anyone and everyone to explore naked areas such as forests Meadows and wetlands with no overgrown routes rutted paths or obstructed access conclusion even after all of that the duck are still set on improving pledging to

Invest at fur 1.1 billion EUR into cyclopaths and networks over the next decade having visited Ben Netherlands many times from the UK it would be incredible if more countries could think about public Mobility the way the Dutch do if you only take away one thing from

This video go and see it for yourself it won’t disappoint