Background info to non-stop relaxed cycling, Utrecht Netherlands

Background information to a bicycle friendly junction in the historic city center of Utrecht in the Netherlands. A main hub for cyclists going to the city shopping center and back to its suburbs. Actually a bridge with a junction on either side.

A motorway was planned on this very spot in the 1950s and 60s. When building for that road began, there were increasing protests against it and all the demolitions that went with it. The opposition became so strong, that in the 1970s the works were stopped and the road was never finished. Building was stopped just before this area was reached. That is why the bridge stayed as it was.

Since then motorized traffic was diverted and it has decreased so much that even this 1930s bridge became too wide. Half of the bridge is now side walk. The other half is mainly used by bicycles. Cars driving here really have to be in the area.

The unfinished city ring road never really served a purpose. It took the city 30 years to realize that it was best to reverse the situation. After bringing the water back to a place where the road was never built (there the old city moat had been a parking lot for 30 years) it was clear to everybody that this was really what should be done. It took yet another 10 years for the works to start to bring back all the water. Soon the 1970s inner city ring road that should never have been built in the first place will be completely removed.

There is another video showing cyclists at this bridge with junctions on either side of it. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nfOPcwObls

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[andrew097]

Always amazed how quite Dutch towns are compared to the place where I live

[markenlei]

@andrew097 this is not a town! It is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands! :-)

[andrew097]

The one thing I noticed in Amsterdam was that I could hear people and tiny sounds I never hear because of the cars. Bet you guys notice the sound quality when you go elsewhere

[andrew097]

When I said town was thinking of Amsterdam I live in a city the same size and the difference is unreal. The difference between the road intersection and the bridge is marked, people don't realise how loud traffic is until it's not there. This lack of traffic noise brings a real quality this brings to every

[reaperexpress]

The Netherlands is inspirational because it does great things such as restoring the canals. Here in Toronto, Canada, there is tons and tons of protest when there are talks of taking away even one lane from car traffic to give to bikes and trams.

[TemiZee]

Thanks for the informative video!!! I haven't been to Utrecht for 6 years and I can see a lot is changing. I appreciate the historic information you have shared about the area I used to live in. Thank you.