Designing for people by erasing a car friendly past
Utrecht has reconstructed a complicated five-arm junction. While it had been designed to suit the needs of the car for decades, it has now been reconstructed to be a place … Continue reading
Crowded cycleways lead to new urban design approach
It was in the news again: Dutch cycleways are getting overcrowded. It was not the first time this made headlines. I have shown you “bicycle traffic jams” before. In 2014 … Continue reading
Cycling as a key to better cities
“Cycling is one of the keys to cultivating a healthy urban living environment.” This is a line from the British magazine “The New Economy” in their article about Utrecht. The … Continue reading
The redesign of the Utrecht Sint Jacobsstraat
City streets used to be designed with only the private car in mind, but that has changed (in The Netherlands at least). In many Dutch city centres the car is … Continue reading
Attention for cycling in major infrastructure works
Even in the Netherlands decision makers and planners must often be reminded that the needs for people cycling should be taken into account when major infrastructure is to be reconstructed. … Continue reading
Main cycle route in a city expansion
Cycling in the newest parts of cities and towns in The Netherlands is almost always very convenient. That is because these areas were designed with cycling in mind from the … Continue reading
Car free city centre in Utrecht
In recent years we could see trials with pedestrian zones in cities around the world. The New York “Plaza’s” are very successful and spreading. Other cities are lagging behind, or … Continue reading
Cycling in the Utrecht Science Park
The Utrecht University Area (or Utrecht Science Park) lies to the east of the city of Utrecht. It measures about 2 kilometres from east to west and about 1.5 kilometres … Continue reading
Jodenbreestraat in Amsterdam: given back to people
Most people are cycling and walking in Amsterdam’s Jodenbreestraat today. But the street could have been so different if the 4 lane motorway of the 1970s would have been further … Continue reading
A trip to Sydney, Australia
The people who follow me on Twitter already know that I returned from Australia earlier this week. I went there with my mother to visit some of our relatives. When … Continue reading
Before and After ʼs-Hertogenbosch (4)
What was a four lane road with separated cycle lanes just six months ago, is now a street with only two lanes for motor traffic (one for each direction) and completely protected … Continue reading
Making a 1960s street grid fit for the 21st century
Today’s Sustainable Safety policies demand a type of street design that is completely different from what was actually built in the 1960s, also in the Netherlands. So can you re-design … Continue reading
