THE NATIONAL BICYCLE POLICY AND THE ROLE OF THE BICYCLE IN THE URBAN TRANSPORT SYSTEM

This paper deals with the Dutch bicycle policy and the role of the bicycle in the traffic and transport system. There has been an increasing awareness that that there are limits to growth, and this affects traffic and transport as well. This realisation is expressed in the Netherlands' traffic and transport policy for the period to the year 2010. The main outlines of this policy are briefly presented. The implementation of this policy affects more than just the link between environmental policy and traffic and transport policy. The link between traffic and transport and land use planning is also recognized. Despite the many aspects which benefit the individual, society and environment and the great number of Dutch people that cycle, the use of the bike is always under pressure even in the Netherlands. Attempts to encourage the use of the bicycle are always being made, but did not always appear to be sufficient. The role of the bicycle in the Netherlands' traffic and transport policy can be defined as follows: 'The bicycle provides a good alternative for short trips by car and by public transport. The bike may provide an alternative to long car trips when combined with public transport.' Besides, it is shown how the role of the bike in traffic and transport policy in the Netherlands is developed in the Master Plan Bicycle. The main objectives of this plan are: (1) to get more people onto bicycles: at least 30% more kilometres by bike in 2010 than in 1986; and (2) to get more people onto public transport by improving the bicycle/public transport chain: at least 15% more kilometres by train than in 1990 by improving cycling to and from the transportation points. In this respect, it has to be taken into account that the functioning of the entire traffic and transport system is at stake. The Master Plan Bicycle has three main themes: a) creating the right conditions; b) encouraging demonstration projects and experiments; and c) encouraging cycling. This paper was presented at the VELO-CITY Conference, Milano, 1991. For the covering abstract see IRRD 851851.