The Netherlands is and will remain a cycling country. In 2021, the Dutch made a total of approximately 700 million recreational cycling trips: long or short trips, both from home and during their holidays. There are many cycling options, but the quality of the recreational offer differs per province. In the Quality Monitor, the Cycling Platform maps out the differences and rewards provinces with a number of stars. Friesland, Drenthe, Zeeland and North Brabant score the highest this year with 4½ stars. The maximum 5 stars is another status to grow to. The Quality Monitor has been updated and has been given a broader scope.
“The monitor no longer focuses solely on bicycle route networks. We also look at recreational cycling opportunities in general. The study focuses more emphatically on the infrastructure and opening up the route on offer. And to choices that have been made to be able to cycle safely and attractively. The value judgment of the cyclist also weighs more heavily. Recent results of the ANWB recreational cycling public survey form important input for this. This has been supplemented with public research into the appreciation of the route networks. Data from the Fietsersbond provides input on the quality of the infrastructure.”
Changed starscape
Friesland, Drenthe, Zeeland and North Brabant lead the way with 4½ stars. Followed by Groningen, Utrecht and Limburg with 4 stars. Flevoland receives 3½ stars. The changed design means that the star landscape has been redesigned and that growing to 5 stars is a new challenge. Five stars were achieved in certain areas, especially in terms of organization and policy. That is also what the monitor wants to achieve: to provide provinces with insight into what is going well and where there are opportunities for improvement.
Room for improvement
Profit can be made mainly in the provinces of Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland, with 3 and 2½ stars respectively, although there are large regional differences. Additional investments in bicycle options will be necessary.
“The knife cuts on several sides. Investing in good recreational facilities contributes to a pleasant living and residential environment. We have seen over the past two years how important it is to be able to relax and exercise in the open air. Investments also pay for themselves. The Dutch spend a total of approximately 3 billion euros annually on recreational cycling and cycling holidays in their own country. About half of it is spent en route in the region.”
About the Quality Monitor
The Fietsplatform, the national knowledge and coordination point for recreational cycling, carries out the Quality monitor since 2012. This year ten provinces have been assessed on the basis of four categories. Overijssel and Gelderland did not participate. The national survey appears to be effective in encouraging quality retention and improvement of the recreational bicycle offer. The timing now in the run-up to the Provincial Council elections of 2023 means that new councils will soon be able to really start working on points for improvement, according to the Bicycle platform.
Photo above: Image bank Bicycle platform.
