Nationwide
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Basic accessibility Inland partial transport sustainability Economy infrastructure Politics TransportDecisiveness: cooperation and financing essential for future transport
The Mobility Alliance, the VNG and the IPO urgently appeal to the intended coalition to make mobility an inseparable part of new policy.
In the current political climate, with a new cabinet on the horizon, the pressure to achieve substantial and sustainable investments in the mobility sector is increasing. The Netherlands faces significant challenges in the areas of housing construction, sustainability and quality of life, in which mobility plays a crucial role. This theme, referred to as the 'lifeblood of our society', requires structural investments to keep the Netherlands accessible, affordable and liveable, according to the Mobility Alliance, the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) and the Interprovincial Consultation (IPO).
Marga de Jager, chairman of the ANWB and also chairman of the Mobility Alliance, emphasizes the importance of mobility not as an end in itself, but as an essential condition for social participation. “Accessibility and affordability are crucial,” she says, pointing out the importance of an infrastructure that includes motorways, cycle and walking paths, waterways, and a dense public transport network.
mobility policy
The need for action is clear. The collaborating parties note that the Netherlands will become silted up without a strong mobility policy from the incoming cabinet. There is an annual need for an additional 2 to 3 billion euros just for management and maintenance, apart from the necessary investments in expansion and renewal of the infrastructure. Representative Harry van der Maas of the IPO puts it this way: “This can be prevented by dealing smarter with what is already there, in combination with more money.”
Politicians must also continue to pay attention to the affordability of both traveling by public transport and the car. Marga de Jager adds that it is important that the forming parties not only look ahead, but also take into account previously made agreements and ongoing or already planned projects. “Faltering management and maintenance of national roads, for example, leads to extra pressure on provincial and local roads,” says De Jager.
Photo: Jan van Burgsteden “It is important for our residents that affordable and equivalent alternatives to the car are available, such as good public transport in every region.”
Jan van Burgsteden, councilor of the municipality of Meierijstad and VNG committee member
The councilor emphasizes the importance of accessibility at a regional level. This is especially important for the accessibility of essential services such as hospitals and new residential areas, even for people who do not own a car. The Mobility Alliance, consisting of various leading organizations such as ANWB, Arriva, BOVAG, and many others, offers broad support for these issues. Despite the differences within the supporters of these organizations, there is a common pursuit of accessible, affordable and sustainable mobility that supports both society and the economy.
The Mobility Alliance, a powerful one partnership within the Dutch mobility sector, represents a remarkable spectrum of organizations, from interest groups to major players in public transport and road construction. This collective strives for important improvements and innovations that will promote the accessibility, affordability and sustainability of transport in the Netherlands.
The alliance includes some of the most influential and recognizable names in the mobility sector. Among them is the ANWB, which, in addition to its role in providing assistance to road users, also offers tourist services. Arriva and Dutch Railways (NS) are prominent members that provide bus and train transport respectively, crucial for the daily functioning of public transport in the Netherlands.
Companies such as Bouwend Nederland and MKB Infra represent the construction and infrastructure sector, and play an essential role in the development of the physical mobility infrastructure. In addition, the RAI Association plays an important role as a representative of the bicycle and automotive industries, which highlights the breadth of the alliance that includes both bicycles and cars.
The interests of specific user groups are not overlooked. The Cyclists' Union promotes the interests of cyclists, while the Association of Dutch Car Leasing Companies (VNA) and the Association of Business Drivers represent the interests of business motorists and leasing companies.
In terms of public transport, the alliance is well represented with companies such as GVB, HTM, Keolis, Qbuzz, RET and Transdev that provide services in various urban areas of the Netherlands, such as Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and beyond. OV NL bundles all these companies under a common denominator, which ensures streamlined communication and policy development within the sector.
Schiphol International Airport is also a member of the alliance, connecting the aviation sector with the broader goals of mobility innovation and development in the Netherlands. Schiphol plays a crucial role in facilitating both national and international connections.
Regional
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Sustainable: the cargo bike is conquering the city, although local rules are slowing down growth
The cargo bike, often seen as a symbol of sustainable city logistics, offers numerous advantages.
More and more companies and self-employed people in large cities are exchanging their traditional vans for cargo bikes. This shift is mainly driven by increasing mobility problems and parking pressure in urban areas. Entrepreneurs choose cargo bikes not only for practical reasons, but also for ecological considerations, where a significant reduction in CO2 emissions is an important motivator.
For small self-employed people such as plumbers and handymen, the cargo bike offers an efficient solution to navigate quickly and flexibly in the city. The package and meal delivery sector has also discovered the benefits. For example, an electric cargo bike can find a parking space more easily than a car and is often faster in city traffic.
Despite these benefits, there are also challenges. The dimensions of the cargo bike, although more compact than those of vans, still require significant space on the often narrow urban sidewalks. This can lead to obstructions that are not only impractical, but can also damage the image of the company in question.
The urban infrastructure sometimes lags behind this trend. Although the cargo bike offers many advantages, such as always parking close by and no fuel costs, it is sometimes a puzzle to find a suitable parking spot without hindering pedestrians.
Photo: © Pitane Blue – Cargoroo However, the challenge remains to adapt urban infrastructure to new forms of transport and to ensure a level playing field in the competition between providers of these innovative services.
Another interesting aspect of the rise of the cargo bike is the increase in shared cargo bikes, such as those from Cargoroo. These services offer residents the opportunity to use cargo bikes in a flexible and sustainable way without having to be the owners themselves. However, the path to acceptance and integration in city districts is not always self-evident.
matter
In a matter of licensing for shared cargo bikes, the preliminary relief judge has to find a delicate balance between the interests of the parties involved. The core of the conflict concerns the rejection of a permit application by a company, referred to in this context as the applicant, against the interests of the municipality, here referred to as the defendant, and a competing company, Baqme.
The judge emphasized that the suspension of the refusal to grant a permit does not automatically mean that the permit would still be issued to the applicant. This is an important legal nuance, because simply suspending a negative decision does not immediately lead to a positive outcome for the applicant.
The applicant has mainly justified its request for interim measures with the argument that this is necessary to offer investors a 'ray of hope'. She claims that the municipality's decisions could cause her financial problems within two months, which would have a serious impact on business operations. However, the preliminary relief judge found that these allegations were not sufficiently substantiated, especially because the applicant chose not to share business-sensitive information that could substantiate its financial situation.
This decision by the preliminary relief judge illustrates the complexity of legal decision-making in situations where the interests of multiple parties are at stake. The judge pointed out that the applicant's current permit is still valid until June 15, 2024, and that the company could and should have reasonably anticipated the possibility that it would not automatically receive a new permit. This suggests an expectation of proactive risk management from companies in their business strategies.
Furthermore, the judge ruled that compliance with the Additional Rules and the General Local Ordinance (APV) by the municipality is an important interest that serves to protect legal certainty. This importance is further reinforced by the involvement of a third party, in this case Baqme, whose rights and interests must also be safeguarded.
