More space for cyclists and pedestrians on Van Woustraat
No more through traffic, wider cycle lanes, more space for pedestrians and a new tram stop. The northern part of Van Woustraat has been thoroughly renovated. Before, Van Woustraat was one of most stressful streets for cyclists in Amsterdam.
Safer
The main purpose was to create a safer street, says Hans Groot, neighbourhood manager with the municipality of Amsterdam. ‘There was far too little space for cyclists on the very narrow cycle lanes here.’ In addition, there were of course other interests to take into account, such as those of shop owners. Groot: ‘The street needed to remain accessible, so we created loading and unloading areas.’ Cars that need to be there can come, but it is no longer a through route for cars. All of this combined means a major improvement for cyclists and pedestrians.
Puzzle
This result took some doing, for about ten years there has been talk about adjustments. In 2015, city council adopted a motion to make the street car-quiet and to introduce a filter (knip)) for car traffic. How to achieve this was quite a puzzle, says Groot. ‘We couldn’t make a physical filter, because the tram needs to pass. We couldn’t install speed bumps, because of the tram tracks, or move the pavement.
Preventing through traffic
The ban on through traffic was initially enforced only with signs. But even a few months after the opening of the renovated street, not all motorists (and their navigation devices) had realized this. Traffic controllers needed to be present regularly. Since this summer, there are bollards on the section where cars are not allowed to pass. That is a trial for a year. It seems to work reasonably well.
In addition to the ‘filter’ on the Van Woustraat, there is also no more through traffic possible on adjacent Hemonylaan. Groot: ‘These measures fit into the larger plan to give the entire northern part of the neighbourhood (de Pijp) a car-quiet design.’ Through traffic should use the main car routes, Hobbemakade and Amsteldijk
Filter only with traffic signs
Filter with bollards and traffic signs
Stressful
For decades, Van Woustraat was at the top of the list of most stressful streets for cyclists in Amsterdam. The narrow northern part with many cars, both moving and parked, was particularly notorious. The street is an important bicycle connection between the south of the city and the city centre. To move around (wrongly) parked cars, cyclists needed to cross the tram rails. That is risky as the wheels of a bicycle can end up in them, resulting in a fall. And that is extra stressful when cars are coming.
In the renovated Van Woustraat, there is mostly still room, even if a car is wrongly parked on the bicycle lane, so that swerving over the tram rails is no longer necessary.
Swerving over the tramtracks
Location
Van Woustraat
Amsterdam
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