Junction design for safer cycling (Netherlands)

Separate bicycle infrastructure makes traffic safer but only if it is designed right. The Netherlands has the highest percentage of trips made by bicycle and its streets are the safest in the world*. It is doing something right. Many years of experience have eliminated design flaws in cycle infrastructure and the high use of it has resulted in a type of design that has proven to be much safer. Other countries are now developing their own bicycle infrastructure and could make good use of the expertise the Netherlands obtained over decades.

In this video a closer look at the design of large junctions with separate bicycle paths. The position of waiting cyclists: in view of drivers, the way green cycles work, and the separation of types of traffic also on the junction itself, make all the difference.

* See: http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2009/05/worlds-safest-roads.html

Category:

Education

Tags:

• junction
• design
• cycle
• infrastructure
• separate
• safe
• safety
• road
• cycling
• path
• track
• lane
• Netherlands
• intersection
• cyclist
• bicycle
• bike
• biking
• biker
• bicyclist
• traffic
• expertise
• experience
• Holland
• fiets
• fietsen

[aussiekwv]

At 2.33 isn't the black and white traffic light pole in the middle of the path leading onto pedestrian crossing? So could a disabled person say in a wheel chair still use this part or use the bike crossing?

[markenlei]

@aussiekwv there is no traffic light pole in the middle of the cycle path. The path is red, the pedestrian area is light gray. People in wheel chairs can use the pedestrian area or the cycle path, depends on what type of wheel chair or scooter they use. The traffic light should indeed not have been positioned in the pedestrian area. But the junction was being reconstructed so it may have been changed later.

[LaPingvino]

@ZmapperSC4 the Netherlands has those cases too, we just make the max speed very low there, and more things to have as few cars as possible there. Access roads should be big enough for this techniques to work.

[C64b]

This should be standard in the larger North American cities, especially at high volume intersections. Junctions like this should literally be endorsed as the "new cloverleaf". Great video.

[civilmonkey7]

@jeremyhull most likely both, combined with the fact most drivers are also riders, which greatly increases the understanding between the two.

If you speak dutch or you are really interested you might be interested in some writings of the CROW (crow.nl). This is the dutch organisation which develops, researches and maintains the design of the dutch road infrastructure. Who knows, you might be the one to introduce it in your country :)

[christhebull]

Something about the UK "Stupidhighways" - the video implies right turning cyclists will perform a hook turn manouvre, but the only places this is officially supported is where there is a "toucan crossing" shared with pedestrians. Cyclists can sometimes perform such turns unofficially, but they are usually expected to manouvre to the right hand lane even when there is some vague gesture at a cycle lane along the gutter.

[JobLeonard]

Another option - one that is implemented in most junctions with traffic lights in Groningen for example - is to have all cycling and pedestrian traffic lights be green at the same time, with all other traffic lights red (obviously). Because they take up much less space and are more maneuverable than cars it's easy for groups of cyclists to pass through each other from all sides simultaneously at large junctions. It also means that cars never have to worry about cyclists, and vice versa.

[svetoslav80]

respect

[jpev94]

in spain we dont have this espectacular designs. only semaphore and cars

[cyclenut]

This video makes American road engineers look not very inteligente.