Recreational bicycle use has been growing for years. Cyclists are hindered by the crowds and would like more safety and comfort from cycle paths and roads.
The interests of recreational connections often remain underexposed in urban and area developments and major infrastructural works, despite their enormous popularity and great social significance. According to umbrella organization Fietsplatform, this creates new barriers, often unintentionally. Or connections become less attractive due to the cluttering of the landscape or an increase in cut-through traffic. Together with ANWB, Fietsersbond and cycling sports association NTFU, the Cycling Platform speaks out against this.
Protection of what's there
Road, water and rail barriers can be prevented in several ways: protect the fine-meshed nature of the recreational cycling and walking network, maintain and expand the range of ferries, do not close level crossings without a good alternative, and construct tunnels or bicycle viaducts at important points and in road widening of provincial roads. According to the organizations that are committed to recreational cycling, it is therefore important in environmental policy to include both the protection of what is there and the potential for further development of the network of paths and roads at the front.
“Ferries are a special point of attention. These are attractions in themselves that provide a typical Dutch experience. A theme that is currently very topical in the province of Gelderland”.
Preserve the Gelderse feathers!
After 2023, the spring fund in Gelderland will be empty; the province intends to no longer make any financial contributions. This threatens a rate increase, less sailing and even the closure of ferries. Ferries are of great importance for cycling and walking connections.
“Not only as a link in a recreational route, such as the bicycle junctions and the LF routes, but also for the fastest route to school and work. In Gelderland there are thousands of students who use the ferry every day. Without ferries, they have to detour for miles.”
Campaign #ikveeropjou
Together with a coalition of walking parties and the Friends of the Veerponten, the four organizations started a campaign to preserve the Gelderland ferries. A large number of ferries run into problems due to the disappearance of the Gelderse Verenfonds, which supported ailing ferry connections. Not only in Gelderland, but throughout the country, the prospects are poor due to high energy prices, rising salary costs and the need to invest in sustainable ships. The petition 'I love feathers', which calls on the province of Gelderland to continue to support the feathers, has already been signed more than 16.000 times. In addition to signing the petition, the parties are calling on people to share a hymn about the feathers via social media. This may be in word or image. This underlines the importance of the ferries for residents, students, cyclists and walkers.
Top 10 recreational cycling
Recreational bicycle use has been growing for years. Cyclists are hindered by the crowds and would like more safety and comfort from cycle paths and roads. The government has an important role to play here. There will be parliamentary elections again in March. This offers the opportunity to set new priorities. The umbrella organization Fietsplatform therefore drew up a Top 10 for recreational cycling together with ANWB, Fietsersbond and cycling sports association NTFU. This offers concrete tools with recommendations on the way to the elections. The joint request: include the points in the election programs and then in the forthcoming municipal council agreement.
