In entertainment districts of Dutch cities, parked bicycles block emergency exits and prevent passage for emergency services

  • Soort:Nieuws Fietsberaad
  • Datum:09-06-2014

Dutch cities like Amersfoort and Amsterdam are taking measures.


Amersfoort is starting an experiment: every Friday and Saturday night, a red carpet is rolled out to indicate that no bikes may be parked. Amersfoort prefers this approach to towing the bikes away. “On weekend nights, with lots of bar and café visitors, that would be asking for trouble”.

Amsterdam is another city where the same problem occurs: lots of outdoor café terraces, large numbers of bicycles and only limited parking space. On the Leidseplein, a new rule has come into effect, limiting the time a bike can be left in parking facility to a maximum of 7 days. Stickers are used to enforce the rule. Another change is that mopeds and bikes must be parked in a designated facility (rack, garage or square). Parking facilities have been added. An information campaign, using the slogan “Take part! Park your bike OK” (in Dutch, this rhymes) aims to make it clear to cyclists that new rules apply in the district. Bars, restaurants and theatres on and around the Leidseplein have met with local authorities and are supporting the campaign with posters, banners on entrance tickets and on social media.

Signposts on and around the Leidseplein and bike coaches guide cyclists and moped riders to the facilities. At the same time, parking offenders are being fined more heavily. The rules are in effect on weekdays (Monday to Friday) between 08.00 and 18.00 hours. The thinking is that space will be cleared during the week for the weekend peak. The rules do not apply in the evening, in particular Thursday, Friday and Saturday. At those times, there is not enough space for all visitors.

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In entertainment districts of Dutch cities, parked bicycles block emergency exits and prevent passag

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