WHY A BICYCLE POLICY IN THE NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands is considered by many to be a cyclists' paradise: the flat country is densely populated, many distances are short. Cycling is the second most used transport mode and there are many facilities for cyclists. This favourable position is threatened by increasing car ownership and usage. Concern about both the environment and the accessibility of economic centres has made it imperative to find alternatives to the motor car. The bicycle, readily available in large numbers, is an excellent alternative. Optimal usage of bicycles, however, does not come just like that. The Bicycle Master Plan establishes the bicycle again in central government's policy. An integral approach should strengthen the position of the bicycle in the traffic and transport system. This paper presents the backgrounds, the origin and the principal goals of the Master Plan, and generally describes the approach and the current status. (A) For the covering abstract see IRRD 860086.