While often considered an afterthought and a niche in the United States, cycling plays an integral role in the daily lives of the Dutch. Emphasizing the necessity of providing adequate bicycle infrastructure for travel to shopping, work, school, and recreation, the Dutch have created an unparalleled system of sustainable infrastructure capable of serving the needs of their population in a safe, clean manner. In Dutch transportation planning, there is a pressing obligation to consider the needs of all people and all modes, serving the belief that everyone should be comfortable walking or bicycling to wherever they need to go. This almost instinctual tendency to create spatial relationships serving the needs of bicyclists is radically different than any planning practice found in the United States. With every planning body mandated to improve multimodal service, this ground-up approach to sustainable transportation creates a far more effective solution than the often tacked-on nature of bicycle planning in other countries. The end result is a system that caters to the needs of all members of the population, removing almost all actual and perceived obstacles to participation in said system. With Dutch design, the fundamental difference between American and Dutch cycling infrastructure is the separation of traffic modes, with bicyclists being given dedicated, buffered right of way to travel. Along with the Netherlands, many European countries increase the separation of modes with increased danger, whereas American design recommendations almost never advocate for separation; that anathema to separated bicycle facilities continues to haunt the collective urban experience for millions of people across the country. The Dutch provide quality infrastructure from origin to destination, prioritizing bicycle traffic at nearly all conflict points and instituting clever, effective solutions to bike infrastructure issues. The Dutch idea of transportation is intrinsically intertwined with the bicycle, providing the mobility to travelers day-to-day, and serving the Netherlands’ national interests of sustainability and economic competitiveness. And while in comparison, the United States’ awareness of, interest in, and implementation of similar ideals is woeful, it is also clear that many cities are waking up and heeding the lessons of the Dutch.
790 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
