Why Utrecht removed cycle paths to improve a street

[869] The Utrecht Nachtegaalstraat (which means Nightingale street) was redesigned. Since bicycles outnumber motor vehicles by over 4 to 1 it was time to remove the protected cycleways that had reached their maximum capacity. More information in the blog post: bicycledutch.w...

[@fwtxbevo2226]

Cities aren't noisy, cars and trucks are.

[@greenmachine5600]

True!

[@DanielFokker]

Agree! Nice quote of NotJustBikes! Some people also can be noisy though.

[@KubicaMr]

of course they are noisy, trams are noisy, ppl sitting in restaurants and pubs are noisy as hell when you try to sleep

[@philbear2185]

I’m trying to imagine how quiet would major roads be will all cars electric.

[@DanielFokker]

@@philbear2185 It seems when driving over 30km/h the car tires are generating most of the the noise, below ICE cars are indeed more noisier than electric cars. But it also depends on how big the tires are.

[@Froboymike]

Love it! Your videos are great and they inspire American planners like myself to do better design. We are working on designing a couple continuous sidewalks as a pilot and I have your channel and Not Just Bikes to thank for that! There are many other features we would like to do as well, but it will be some time before those improvements are carried out city-wide.

[@stanwever3829]

That's awesome!

[@wernerrietveld]

Cool! Which city are you working in?

[@Froboymike]

@@wernerrietveld I work for Lehi, UT! We aren’t the most bike friendly city at the moment but have made some great improvements and continue to try and implement new sustainable safety type principles.

[@pappy9473]

Think ' plant an acorn'.. The best of luck.

[@mourlyvold7655]

Continous sidewalks are so clever. Not only for pedestrian and cyclists' safety, in general they also kind of 'mark' the edge of a neighborhood. One of many sensible principles in Christopher Alexander's book 'A Pattern Language', well worth reading (if you haven't already).

[@canadianlady777]

If I were there ..I would feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven....One of my former lives must have been living in Holland...Thank you for this lovely reminder of my trip to Holland a few years ago...

[@xMithras]

Utrecht isn't in Holland ;)

[@ingridwatsup9671]

@@xMithras Be nice please. Abroad the difference hasn’t been made since the 17th century, which the Dutch promoted!

[@canadianlady777]

@@xMithras ...where is it?

[@mourlyvold7655]

@@canadianlady777 He's sort of pulling your leg. The official name of our country is 'the Netherlands' (Nederland). In which we have two provinces called North(Noord) and South (Zuid) Holland. For all purposes the names are used exchangeable, really. (the city in this video is Utrecht, in the province by the same name, Utrecht) Some of us are a bit hung up on the correct use of the name for our country, most of us don't care if you call it Holland or the Netherlands. As long as you come and visit (and eat a 'stroopwafel')

[@JasperJanssen]

@@ingridwatsup9671 well… the Hollanders promoted it abroad! For the rest of us in this country (I live quite near this street) it’s a little like when foreigners call the city of Edinburgh an English city. It’s not entirely unjustified and yes everybody knows what you mean, but ask a Glaswegian some time how he responds to being called English. Make sure you have good health insurance. Detroit, right, I’ve heard of that, that’s in California.

[@buddy1155]

Rest of the world: We want protected cycle paths like in the Netherlands. The Netherlands: Let's get rid of protected cycle paths.

[@steemlenn8797]

It's called progress. And that is even true. The world is funny.

[@ifer1280]

The protected cycle paths are only there to get people cycling; at some point the number of cyclists reach a critical mass that they can dominate the road and a redesign like this is needed for further growth of the urban environment.

[@Coolsomeone234]

Lol

[@zaired]

It's more like make the whole road a bike lane

[@LisaBeergutHolst]

Edgy

[@Reinkarnati0n]

what the title of the video says: "Why Utrecht removed cycle paths to improve a street" what the video actually shows: "Why Utrecht removed a street to improve cycle paths"

[@paolagrando5079]

"This crossing is made safe for small children ... And for guys pushing a load of beer" 😸🍻

[@marcvanderwee]

Hold my beer... ;-)

[@paolagrando5079]

@@marcvanderwee If I'll hold it, I'll drink it 😉

[@micheltibon6552]

Children and beer are to be protected and treasured😏

[@2009heyhow]

Another reason why bikes are better then cars. With alcohol you're not allowed to drive. But no problem on a bike. It's just a challenge to not fall if you're really drunk. (PS. Being drunk in public actually is not allowed in the Netherlands, but it's very likely that police won't arrest you for that. Unless you're causing trouble.)

[@Arjay404]

@@2009heyhow Cycling drunk is also not allowed,but like you said unless you are wasted and creating a dangerous situation cops won't really bother you.

[@MikeVanDalen1996]

Keep it up, I really like your videos, they are like mini documentaries of the Netherlands with regards to cycling.

[@swedneck]

agreed, i'm honestly surprised the dutch state isn't sponsoring this channel since it's probably the best advertisement for the country.

[@peterslegers6121]

Hear hear!

[@SomePotato]

Here in Germany, we are still mostly hoping for bike infrastructure like this street had before the improvement. It always blows my mind how little we learn from our lovely neighbors.

[@nicolasblume1046]

Something similar is happening with Venloer Straße in Cologne! The old cycle Lanes have become too narrow, so the whole street will get traffic calming (20km/h), and through traffic will get reduced

[@Snowshowslow]

That's cool! :-) I hadn't come across any of these in Germany yet, but I love that they are popping up!

[@isaiasdossantos143]

Let’s hope that cycle lanes will also get widened and it becomes a one-way street

[@Arjay404]

American clickbait title: Even the Dutch are removing annoying cycle paths!

[@Georgeth-kb6rg]

LOL

[@Coolsomeone234]

Accurate

[@codex4046]

As Dutch person I thought after seeing the title: "ah they gave the pedestrians more room, moved the bicycles to the street, and removed cars from the street" since this happens in a lot of places.

[@LaidbackLuc9]

Even the socialist Dutch are becoming less bike friendly!1!1

[@Arjay404]

@@LaidbackLuc9 There you go, that one also works!

[@alctalks1487]

They really took advantage of the covid crisis, since the University was closed and this is one of the main cycle routes between the train station + University (centre) and the University Science Park. Usually this road would be loaded with students, but everyone had to study digitally, so it was possible to do some road maintenance 👏

[@piccolo917]

As Cruijf said: Every disadvantage has its advantages.

[@lowgrasswhite]

Watching these videos always make me wanna get on my bike and just ride across countries to go and see the Netherlands in person. :D

[@mysurlytrucker7510]

Love the narrated videos so much more informative 👌

[@ulaquin]

So interesting what you are documenting for the world! It's very worthy and important :)

[@ThalassTKynn]

So the Netherlands is almost coming full circle in its road design, but are leaving the worst parts in the past. Must be nice haha

[@etiennebaree6176]

almost avery one in the netherlands is on the "wiet" also :-)

[@yusthavinfun]

@@etiennebaree6176 this is not true, pot usage here is relatively low and most of the coffee shops are full of tourists.

[@OllieV__nl]

To be fair, delivery vans and trucks are such an accepted part of city life I'm not even annoyed at them as a cyclist. But I do tend to avoid shared spaces, because here, cars (and buses) are definitely not the guest. Or at least, don't behave like one.

[@Welgeldiguniekalias]

Mostly buses.

[@jlammetje]

I get what you mean. Luckily, this particular street is so busy with bicycles that they really dominate the street. Which makes it practically impossible for drivers to behave as anything but a guest (unless they are deliberately trying to kill cyclists, in which case I’d argue there are no measures you can take against that)

[@iamadrien460]

I agree with you especially in Sarphatistraat in A’dam!

[@markmeyer-delvendahl9766]

My desire to move to Utrecht increases with every video you publish about it, thank you :)

[@kannkanny]

Good to see Utrecht fixing herself

[@MikeVanDalen1996]

Bro ga slapen

[@kannkanny]

@@MikeVanDalen1996 Ja zo mattie

[@mourlyvold7655]

@@kannkanny Hé, WAKKER WORRUH!

[@reueljames4914]

My my, wonderful country, as i said, i wish new delhi also lick that.... Lord have mercy. Richard James. Sir please keep up lording more videos.. Regards. Richard james. New Delhi India...

[@benjamin1108]

Magnifique !!! C’est le genre de rue qui fait RÊVER !!!

[@pappy9473]

zzzzz mmmmm dream street 😌👍

[@TomGeller]

At 2:23 there's a confusing Dutchism. "What looks like a brick surface in the centre is really a strip of printed asphalt." You were probably thinking "gedrukte", which could be translated as either "printed" or (in this case) "pressed". (If it was "printed", it would be smooth, without ridges between the "bricks".)

[@Harry_PP030]

It's not that wrong if you think of letterpress printing technique, but 'embossed' might be a better expression.

[@Adderkleet]

If it was made of concrete, the common English name would be "printed concrete". "Textured asphalt" would be a less confusing term, and might translate better.

[@NetroYT]

You are such an inspiration for me! Your videos help me to persuade people to change design of our city streets.

[@benheaton4486]

Will have to visit soon. Great work

[@thebogdan900]

This is so beautiful! Cities for people not for cars!

[@anastasialukyanova5609]

Amazing transformation! Thank you for sharing this story.

[@mariadebake5483]

Zoals gewoonlijk weer een goede, interessante video! Ik geniet er altijd van. Mooi om te zien, de Nachtegaalstraat nu

[@mfaizsyahmi]

Watching the cityscape of the Netherlands today is like watching a people-centric futurama for some places, or a fever dream in many others.

[@ognjenpavlovic670]

The Weteringschans street in Amsterdam has now been also turned to "Bike priority ways", and they're planing to make a ring of bike ways around Amsterdam center. Can't wait

[@arrrafat_6443]

Nice video once again, wanna make an small arguement about package delivery truck. As a delivery driver myself for DHL, we got like 150-200 package average daily, about 130-180 stop we need to make. It's nearly impossible to park legally every single stop, or park at parking place, it's really time consuming and not possible, especially in an busy area. Not to mention, I do get really heavy package to deliver dailly. I have to park right next to the delivery adres to keep it up with time and package and for my spine. Company are trying their best to switch to electric car or to bicycle. There is still a huge personnel shortage for delivery driver, only by bike are just not an option when online shopping are growing and growing. Really no need to be so against car in every aspect, sometime they park there cuz they have to. It's just sounded like an car people complaining everything about bike in other country.

[@peterslegers6121]

It's more like cyclists everywhere complaining about cars double parking and obstructing the bike lane... Remember this oldie from Casey Neistat? kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKuoXnyDlsqasLM I think delivery personnel should be paid more, which attracts more employees, and enables smaller delivery vehicles. You guys are too often being exploited by the Amazons of this world, and that puts the stress on the job. It wasn't this way in the old times of PTT and Van Gendt & Loos.

[@PGraveDigger1]

Why not join a union and collectively decide to only park legally? If your company is forcing you to break the law to keep up with their ridiculous demands, fight them. There is no way to be fired by obeying the law.

[@GordoGambler]

@@PGraveDigger1 🤡🤡🤡

[@chattenmetchad]

I used to work a near the Nachtegaalstraat. Getting lunch from te supermarket was hellish. Lots of peasants using a half a meter sidewalk. Lots and lots and lots of bikers on the cycle path next tot it. It was pretty usual to walk on the cycle path and just pray some cyclist wasn’t gonna hit you. Its really nice to see how they improved this street!

[@christill]

This is a great example of what I’ve been thinking about a lot recently. Which is that we need to ban private cars (except for disabled people) in urban areas in countries like the UK that have no real bike network. Give towns and cities back to people. No money required for new infrastructure, immediate emission and pollution cuts, people would be happier and healthier etc.

[@_Madfly]

An outright ban just makes people angry. You need to design the infrastructure so that walking, cycling and public transport are the easiest methods of getting about.

[@christill]

@@_Madfly As it becomes more and more obvious how much trouble humanity is in with the climate crisis, people will be open to it. It’s either huge changes for a better life, or we all roast to death or starve.

[@_Madfly]

@@christill Electric vehicles solve the climate problem so no they will not

[@christill]

@@_Madfly I drove an electric car for 4 years between 2016 and last year. No, they don’t. They are a lot better, but no where near enough to be the solution.

[@gabrielhoezen500]

@@_Madfly Electric cars will not solve the city space problems, nor the problems with city road safety. And still the pollution from the dust from car tyres will continue. Electric car development is only a small part of the solution.

[@srinip]

Love all your videos. The world can learn a lot from the Dutch, that's for sure.

[@braindump1446]

Every time I see small kids peddling like a boss on a tiny bike ... my heart makes a little jump for joy.

[@tomvogels3565]

Ah yes, a 'Bicycle street'. I start to see them more often each year in my city as well. Good development.

[@Jerbod2]

What an improvement!

[@marcosd.b.9018]

A country that i would very much like to meet in person.

[@burgerpommes2001]

I think that isn't possible

[@Snowshowslow]

Welcome :-)

[@jessezet]

The speed limit is still 30 kmph at 2:56 it’s only recommended to drive 15 kmph

[@jacoolckers6465]

Nederland is cutch a beautiful country. I would love to one day be part of that. South Africa is falling.

[@Jgrvo]

My thoughts are with SA.

[@jacoolckers6465]

@@Jgrvo Thanks. Thankfully the violence is only in the Durban area and Alexanda Near Johannesburg. The community in Pretoria where I am, stand ready. so far no one dared to loot and plunder.

[@chriss687]

Stay strong brother. You can always come back to your roots (Nederland)

[@vincenzodigrande2070]

I would like Hilversum to take cycling and walking a bit more serious.

[@AutomatedChaos]

I don’t think they know where to start, so many flaws here. Even closing “De Kleine Spoorbomen” for cars seems to be too revolutionary

[@vincenzodigrande2070]

@@AutomatedChaos Yes and letting a trail that is just barely paved pass as a 'ring' I find it horrible of endless streams of cars interrupt the beautiful market place from the center.

[@smeetsnoud1]

Het Gooi love their cars too much

[@M7Expos]

Bicycle Dutch had us in the first half not gon lie.

[@MrI-Johno47]

looks amazing. 👌

[@peterjones3557]

Wonderful!

[@KEIO-qd1zx]

Non-Dutch engineers: instructions unclear, road is even worse now

[@Buildbeautiful]

Great city this should be the future for all city centres

[@LisaBeergutHolst]

Now add some trees, and it will be a real nice street ;)

[@rodrigosouto9502]

Lovely place!

[@Freedom_and_Acceptance]

Of course this is only possible because biking is the main forum of transport in cities in the Netherlands, in other countries this would be too dangerous due to lack of familiarity with daily biking. I think biking lanes are a good way to start, as they did here.

[@mourlyvold64]

Totally agree!

[@xieulong]

Beautiful city.

[@hennyverweij1007]

I love your videos and in this case your optimistic view on the reconstruction of the Nachtegaalstraat where I drive weekly. Can't resist to realize that actually this is a reconstruction to a situation to the previous century, especially when I need to go around a(n) (illegally) parked car or a legally stopped bus, looking over my shoulder for approaching cars from behind (who, as always, is driving to fast). Dunno. The whole "improvement" reminds me of the fairy tale about the new (non existing) clothes of the emperor. They say it's better, so it must be better. True, the bicycle paths were too narrow and so was the pedestrian area, but now I feel as a cyclist very exposed to cars (again). Very mixed feelings. Time will tell.

[@mdhazeldine]

Thanks for adding a balanced viewpoint. It's always good to hear both sides of a story.

[@tatianatub]

with a speed limit of 15km/h does that mean that you can get a ticket for biking too fast?

[@burgerpommes2001]

no it is a suggestion

[@Amber-mv4dl]

Are you going to do a video in Leeuwarden too? With the Drachtsterplein that is completely redesigned and the crossing at the train station? Also will you make playlists of your videos for each province? Keep up the good work!!! 😘

[@JasperJanssen]

Making videos on a Utrecht is a lot easier for him though :)

[@amcaesar]

Wat een leuke straat!

[@Zoza15]

Echt he!.

[@andrewlikestrains4138]

You had me in the first half, not gonna lie.

[@GraffitiDulce]

about time they did this

[@beeniemen]

30 km/h seems to be the norm now more and more in cities centres

[@repelsteeltje90]

It should be the norm in every city center, since people are a LOT less likely to be killed by cars driving 30

[@bastiaan4129]

3.17 zal wel net voor het ingaan van de belachelijke nieuwe regels van 1 juli zijn gefilmd.

[@BicycleDutch]

Klopt! Had ik nog niet aan gedacht.

[@pokemonfreaky100]

Welke nieuwe regel?

[@buddy1155]

Vanaf 1 Juli mag er niet meer gestunt worden met bier prijzen.

[@FelixalPorto]

Studenten zullen altijd blijven zuipen, ongeacht de prijs

[@rutgerb]

3:17

[@bobbieboothroyd8531]

I wish the UK was more like that.

[@pappy9473]

... and the local traders thrive...

[@philbear2185]

I think many areas of big cities in Europe could benefit from being transformed into pedestrian and (small electric) personal mobility devices only. Like ‘long rectangular’ areas of a few blocks/streets. That way cars and trucks can still serve the area from outter roads.

[@asantaraliner]

I'm amazed they do that. In here, the police and a parliament member wants to get rid of a new protected cycling lane because it was "ineffective" and was "unfair" to motorcyclist. They claimed that motorcyclist club member will demand a motorcyclist lane for themselves, so they wanted the cycling lane to be removed.

[@JTF2402]

What a bs

[@MaQuGo119]

How do I get greencard?

[@burgerpommes2001]

Just get an EU passport of Bulgaria or Romania

[@FieldOptimizer]

Very comparable to the Fietsstraat (Dorpsstraat) in Castricum. Good job!

[@driesvanwijck]

1:40 wait you still have blokker in the Netherlands?? I'm jealous, they went bankrupt in Belgium.

[@Klont123]

You still got our Hema! (and also AH unfortunately).

[@skelitalmisfit12]

This is absolutely beautiful. I wish the US would follow Europeans example of how inner city travel can be handled.

[@VanessaNaomiR]

Many people in the comments are not understanding: they didn’t revert back to a road without cycle path. Now the entire road is a cycle path where cars are allowed to pass by, giving priority to bicycles. Inevitably this causes traffic to be very slow and tricky so unless absolutely necessary cars will most likely choose an alternative road. That’s why he says the “cars are guests” in this road. Maybe people need to pass by to get home or to deliver stuff to the many shops…but nobody will use it to get from a to b

[@driewiel]

No car paths?

[@Arjay404]

In low speed shared streets like this (which is the only time streets should be share, when the speed is low enough) there are no real lanes, the whole street can be used. The section that is "brick" in the center is used as the car "lane" for both directions, with cars moving over to the right when another car approaches, however, this is not required and you can simple stick to the right side of the road. An important aspect of a fietstraat is that cars are not allowed to overtake bicycles.

[@driewiel]

@@Arjay404 Well I thought it would be nice to give cyclists the most space and then two car paths on both sides for safety.

[@mourlyvold7655]

@@driewiel ...protected from murderous cyclists!

[@driewiel]

@@mourlyvold7655 Yes to protest poor Audi drivers from the grandmas on e-bikes with a basket.

[@mourlyvold7655]

@@driewiel Basterds, them grandmas. All of 'm!

[@KJSvitko]

Bicycles, ebikes and escooters are great options for last mile, short distance travel. All cities need to do more to encourage people to ride bicycles by providing safe, protected bike lanes and trails. Every adult and child should own a bicycle and ride it regularly. Bicycles are healthy exercise and fossil fuels free transportation. Electric bicycles are bringing many older adults back to cycling. Ride to work, ride to school or ride for fun.

[@eriklakeland3857]

Not just last mile provided the city allows businesses and residences to mix. The strict separation of uses in cities in the United States is a massive contributor to the dependence on private cars because it increases the length of the average trip.

[@mbos14]

@@eriklakeland3857 Also doesnt help that busses dont get priority there. So why take a bus if you can afford a car.

[@mourlyvold7655]

Ride, Forest! Ride!

[@PaxV]

The last mile? In the Netherlands it's generally accepted most trips below 5 miles are bikerides, and commutes 15 miles or less can be achieved by bike/Ebike or speedpedelac easily, provided there is adequate infrastructure. In most cases the trips below 5 miles will take longer by car. And unless you are going out to buy a fridge or washingmachine you do not need the car. You can pack a lot of volume of groceries on a bike. With electrical assistance hills and wind do not matter much anymore. And rain is refreshing in the summer, or easily defeated by modern breathing rainwear, if you prefer to stay dry.

[@utopistmsoc]

Up to three miles is the amazing solution. Always nice. With electric bikes up to five miles is very comfortable and quick. Of course the Dutch would double these distances as 'normal'

[@michaelh.gerloff3659]

In Germany: "Good idea. But wait! Where should we park our cars? And 30 km/h makes no sense."

[@dream-67]

Very nice what they are doing in Utrecht, but please be considerate of delivery drivers, their job is never easy and could be even harder now - remember they are essential workers doing a stressful job

[@JM-ti2ii]

We need this in brussels

[@wouldyoudomeakindnes]

life is too precious to be stuck in traffic

[@shaunwright3719]

Love the video

[@nillehessy]

80s let´s build bicyclepaths everywhere building sector: YEAH 20s let´s get rid of all the bicyclepaths building sector: HELL YEAH

[@ezandman6804]

Yeps, always keep that fact in the back of your head.

[@burgerpommes2001]

they are only getting rid of some bikephaths where they dont make sense and resurfacing the road after 40 years isnt that special

[@nillehessy]

@@burgerpommes2001nah nothing to see here .. only the implementation of smart roads full of sensors..streetlights with camara+s and high sens.microphones and high freq. light bombardement of the roads and surroundings and motion detectors.. that and the reacting nano-bots and the nano-netting in peoples brains with also a high freq. signal-pulsating modem in everyone´s home...and slowly but surely we´ll be welcome´d in ´a brave new world´ also known as ´a slave new world´

[@burgerpommes2001]

@@nillehessy as i don't like big companies think i am not affected by now

[@nillehessy]

@@burgerpommes2001 yehyehyeaaah most people and i mean the ones who survive the eugenics most won´t be able to grap the manipulation they already hobble hobble through life and it might be a very sneaky ´n shady progression vaxxed or not vaxxed is not the question it´s in the food and the water and medicine and if needed in all consume-able things they can let certain manipulating neuron genetics piggy-back on the common cold or another wide-spread virus and with the promess of being happy not owning anything look that is straight outta ´a brave new world´ where they gave the drones (the people) a drug called soma people we´re high on something connected to ´the machine´ and with developing technologies the grip getting tighter

[@tardvandecluntproductions1278]

The 15km/h in the (any) school zone is not a law but a advise! Round with red circle is max speed, blue square is advise.

[@Robbedem]

ah, that's good. No need to go 15 km/h in the night when no school kids are around.

[@kelseyp9956]

that dude on the bike in front of the AH at 1:40 had a flat tire i think haha

[@steemlenn8797]

I just read that 2/3 of deadly bike accidents are older people. I guess it is because they are less robust - both in skills and bones. Maybe tricycle should be more advertised to them? Harder to just tilt and easier to carry your shopping in the back basket. And probably easier to fit electric assistance, too. Anyone knows accident/crash test stats? Are they safer compared to 2-wheel bikes if hit by a car?

[@driewiel]

After crash tests with older people they all have 3 or 4 wheels now.

[@tardvandecluntproductions1278]

Worse, now they have electric bikes. Elderly that couldn't do a (long) trip on their own power, now can. Accidents with them have been rising. I don't know about the 3 wheel bikes, those are quite rare. Mostly see disabled using them.

[@driewiel]

Dutch people are actually very conservative when it comes to bicycles. For example there are relatively more recumbent trikes in the USA than in the Netherlands. And upright tricycles are considered for disabled people only.

[@mourlyvold7655]

@@driewiel I'd love to get myself a 'Whike'. (not for the city, though)

[@driewiel]

@@mourlyvold7655 www.pterosail.com/

[@michaelzhuhovitsky3889]

Wow I'm jealous

[@plattcriceta1719]

Are scooters alowed on this street? Do they obey the speed limit? What is the refuge space in the middle of the street for, against cyclists? So the (mostly) cyclists at 15km/h are a danger to pedestrians??

[@repelsteeltje90]

Yes scooters are allowed here. No, many scooters don’t obey the speed limit. Scooters are a problem in the Netherlands - deliberately created by the government when it decided to classify scooters as bicycles (snorfiets). The space in the middle of the street is just a soft separation between the two ‘lanes’, and everybody can drive over and across it when needed. Many electric cyclists drive 20-25km/h and that could be dangerous for pedestrians.

[@baggiefc]

Utrecht the best city in the Netherlands utreg my home town

[@GhostOnTheHalfShell]

If only more roads simply had people on foot and bike.

[@yukko_parra]

if there is an end goal in mind for cycling advocates, having cycling so good you remove cycling protection is probably the end goal.

[@ThatRoadrunner]

Nitpicking on details; The 'speed limit' signs in BLUE are ADVISORY speed limits. Nobody is required to follow them, but they serve as an advisory speed, to better handle the local situation. You may find these in sharp turns, or, like in the video, in a school zone. Actual speed limits are marked with a red outline. Under dutch traffic law, delivery vans and trucks and such are allowed to stop in the middle of the road if they need to make a delivery. A privilege they gladly abuse to do their job as quick as possible. Point is that they don't need to use a parking space to do this. Loading/unloading and letting someone get in or out of your car are the ONLY situations in which it is allowed to park on the road.

[@paxundpeace9970]

I think that they can and should even get more restrictive with cars.

[@GravellordNito]

Aha

[@MaartenOtto]

For the average American this must be true horror.... Glad I live in a place (Almere) where going to the City means a 30 minute walk through a park via walk and cycle lanes without crossing ANY road.

[@utopistmsoc]

Counterpoint: you're still in Almere. Countercounterpoint: the park is nice, and the center, an open shopping mall, it's like a small Rotterdam.

[@陳秉軒-c9b]

That moped though.....

[@Jeff_P-1988]

2:01 I'ts not that hard to enforce not parking in the loading bays. Just put up signs with a phone number and start taking them away. Collect your bicycle for a storage fee and a parking fine.

[@timba1181]

Im pretty sure they rerouted most car traffic aswell

[@burgerpommes2001]

likely in the netherlands

[@mdhazeldine]

This is an interesting case study. Can you tell us, was anything done around this street to actively discourage car traffic other than changing the street type itself and the speed limit? Are cars directed away from the street at the end of it? Were any routes blocked off to cars? If not, it seems like the only thing making this work is the fact that you have a culture of cycling already, and so the sheer number of cyclists warrants it, and you have drivers that are already educated to what this "cars are guests" thing means. In the UK this wouldn't work so well. Drivers would probably ignore it because they're not used to it. The only places this works are in very low traffic streets. I live next to a high-street where it's a single lane one way street. There is a bypass around the high street and so the street itself is only really used for people who actually need to access it. There are bollards at the entrance making it very narrow to get through and speed bumps. Also parking is not allowed (except for unloading). It works great in that scenario, but it wouldn't if it was a street that people used to actually go somewhere else.

[@allws9683]

The bike paths became somewhat narrow to process 18.000 cyclist a day. So they made it primarily cycle street to give those 18k more space. With so many bikes the street becomes unpleasant for cars. Almost like 'driving on eggshells', because in an accident , even when a cyclist is at fault, a car driver can only max 50% of the damage of the vehicle on the insurance of the cyclists ! It likely will make drivers to make other choices than to use this street .. (Enfordced) iability laws can be effective..

[@derkhaslol]

Nice but only works if the cars have another faster route to go. If there is only one way for the cars to go through and you make it a bicycle road then it's actually a lot more dangerous.

[@yannisbaeyens]

3:16

[@burtleboeuf1429]

Yet, they tell us that we can't afford public spending like this in the UK. Every debate about improving the country in any way (except for stupid royal yachts that will benefit nobody) is met with "Who's going to pay for it?". Well either you believe that we can afford it or you believe that the Dutch are wealthier and more industrious than us. I certainly believe the Durch are smarter and more progressive as a society than us, but we work just as hard but are let down by our leadership and our abysmal lack of collective imagination. We like to bang on about the Empire and the war but have little time or inclination to put any effort into improving our civil spaces or transport infrastructure and God, it shows. Planning in britain is half-arsed and half-hearted and there doesn't seem any appetite amongst voters for anything different.

[@mikedamat]

I feel like this would only work in the Netherlands Anywhere else motorists would start harassing and assaulting anyone riding a bike on the road because "THE ROAD IF FUR DA CAHS!"

[@themadsamplist]

This is what they tried to achieve in the Steenstraat in Arnhem but that failed miserably. That's not a nice street to bike because of the enormous amount of cars going through.

[@Klont123]

It’s exactly the same here in Utrecht. First they tried it with the Burg. Reigerstraat (which is an extension of the Nachtegaalstraat), and it failed horribly. There were much more traffic accidents. They’ve also recently done the same with the Voorstraat, which has become a racing track for cars because the street is so wide. But of course in this video it doesn’t show the danger when a cars in a hurry to pass cyclists. Or trucks unloading and blocking one side of the road.

[@scootosan]

Seems a bit much to not expect to ride around a delivery/service vehicle doing their job. When noted both Bicyclist and Vehicles are extending their lack of manner.

[@tardvandecluntproductions1278]

Most of the times they try to put their car at little of a nuisance as possible, so I don't see it as that big of an issue. It's always a short park.

[@kyh148]

>remove bike path >give cyclists the entire road

[@robertdegroot8302]

Next challenge: getting rid of scooters!

[@SikhiArt]

It's more like ... Rest of the World - We want protected bike lanes but can we at least have sidewalks and painted bike lanes? Netherlands - We want the whole road for bikes! MOAR BIKES!

[@mourlyvold7655]

No trees planted on the northeast side? If trees with the right habitus were chosen there'd be ample space for 'm. Also: In Amsterdam I saw hedges planted on the street side of bike parking. It helps greatly for a more tranquil visual appearance. (please forgive this old green-freak's mumblings...) 😎

[@rescuemod]

Correct me, if I am wrong. I got the feeling, the Dutchs don't hate car. They know, where it makes sense to allow car's and where not. So got every type of transportation his own room and can safe drive. That's the reason, why the durch build's big car rings around there cities. So every car ride on this instead of small streets in the city center. I live in Germany, local NGOs and the Greens telling me, how beautiful the cities in the Netherlands are. They say, we must change our cities to this and banned all car's from the city. I don't think, that's the right way and not the way, which the Netherlands going...

[@repelsteeltje90]

Many Dutch cities don’t ban cars, but instead make the city center ‘autoluw’ (less car-dense) via a combination of measures such as speed limits, fewer car lanes, more room for bicycles, no through-roads for cars, fewer parking spaces in the center, designated parking areas outside the center etc. This makes it less attractive (but still possible) to enter the city center by car, and more attractive to walk or cycle there.

[@burgerpommes2001]

that depends ond the definiton of city the greens wont get rid of the motorway ring around big cities but they want to reduce cars in the dense parts like the netherlands

[@mirelmasic8555]

Clickbaity title - Yes, the *protected* cycle path was removed, but not the infrastructure itself for the cyclist. The car-centric road + separate cycle paths were turned into one shared "autoluwe" road for bicycles and cars, where the car driver is considered lower priority than the cyclist.