Nieuwegein wants to give cyclists space, Fietsersbond criticizes plans

Written by

Michiel van Ooijen

NEWEGEIN / NEWEGEIN – The municipal executive wants to improve public transport in the municipality of Nieuwegein and offer more bicycle parking spaces at bus and tram stations. This should stimulate the use of the bicycle.

In its final vision of mobility, the municipal executive offers more space for cycling. He wants to focus on more direct and comfortable cycle links. Cyclists should be given right of way more often. Smart traffic lights allow certain traffic flows to be prioritized over others, based on location and time of day. The Commission notes that, in part due to the popularity of electric bicycles, there are possibilities to allow Nieuwegeiners to travel longer distances to get to work.

Cycle route

Municipal plans to boost cycling coincide with a provincial plan for a fast cycle route from IJselstein via Nieuwegein to Utrecht. The province of Utrecht has made a preliminary project for this route. There are three busy intersections on the Nieuwegein part of the route. The Commission writes that cyclists and public transport using these important routes will be given priority “as far as possible”. It is about weighing the flow and the safety of all road users.

The Fietsersbond criticizes these plans because the Commission does not put the interests of the cyclist first when examining the flow of all road users. Clarion Wegerif, President of Fietsersbond Nieuwegein: “The cyclist will go nowhere with the promise that he will have priority, if the flow of the car is ultimately more important in the plans.” In addition, she believes that the bicycle should have priority over passing buses. “Relatively few people in Nieuwegein use public transport. And you don’t always have right of way on a motorway?”

Councilor Kelly Vizee (VVD) does not understand the discontent at Fietsersbond. Vizee: “There are certainly still bottlenecks on cycle highways that need to be addressed. But in this vision there is a lot of room for bicycles and it is about moving from car use to cycling and pedestrian traffic, the spatial integration of intersections is difficult in a densified city. “In addition, she points out that the plans, the” what and where “, have not yet been developed. Wegerif states that the starting points have to be clear for a good effect.

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