How is transportation design and planning different in the Netherlands?
In the Netherlands, transportation is designed for every user to have their own path. The bicycle path, sidewalks, and roads are all separated from one another. The bicycle paths are protected and separated from motor traffic by a raised mediums or bollards. Whereas sidewalks are separated by landscape items. These separations of the users, arise from the “Sustainable Safety” program. This program wanted to ensure safety for cyclists, to increase the number of cyclist. The way Netherlands design encourages people to bike more verses in Atlanta people are encouraged to carpool, or take public transportation.
What is the impact of those differences?
When safety was addressed, more people started cycling. In the Netherlands, you tend to see a variety of ages taking a part of cycling. More and more people started to incorporate cycling into their daily lifestyle, such are going to work, school, visit a friend, or just riding for fun. It became a ripple effect, when more people started cycling, more business started making money on bike holding stations, and bike sales. Also, the more people who ride bikes to help decrease noise pollution, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase social ability. The Netherlands even have bike and training courses for all ages. I think this makes everyone aware of the designs and things about traffic on how it can impact them cycling.
