Urban planning

Decisions in traffic planning, traffic structures in neighbourhoods and towns, greatly affect the competitive positions of transport modalities and hence the modal split. Several concepts for traffic structures have been offered in the past and implemented in new residential neighbourhoods - as well as new towns. Examples of bicycle-friendly residential neighbourhoods, among others in Emmen, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Lelystad (Real-life examples). The structures in the recent large residential developments (VINEX) are clearly different as well (Traffic livable district structures).

Well-known, even internationally, is the structure of the town of Houten. See a.o. Houten - success story of a bicycle butterfly (Houten - het succesverhaal van een fietsvlinder) and Traffic structure Houten (Verkeersstructuur Houten). In the latest large residential development in Houten attempts have been made to preserve the good features of the concept as well: Houten traffic principles in a Vinex coating (Houtense verkeersprincipes verpakt in Vinex vorm). The radical choices in Houten do have their drawbacks, however. In urban planning and, according to some, in traffic engineering as well. There are also town planners opting for the almost opposite: a neighbourhood where car and bicycle have to mix completely - see Finely meshed network in Culemborg (Fijnmazig netwerk in Culemborg). As a rule good solutions require a better amalgamation of traffic engineering and urban planning: Traffic engineers’ sole desire: NETWORKING (Verkeerskundigen willen maar één ding: NETWERKEN).