Key facts
- The Netherlands is trialing a 12mph (20km/h) speed limit for cyclists.
- The trial is taking place in Houten and aims to improve road safety.
- Last year, 80,900 cyclists required A&E treatment, and cyclist deaths rose 14% to 281.
- The increase in accidents is attributed to more diverse road users on bike paths, including e-bikes and speed pedelecs.
- Measures like banning fat bikes and requiring helmets for young e-bike riders are also being considered.
The Netherlands is experimenting with a 12mph (20km/h) speed limit for cyclists in an effort to curb a rise in road accidents and improve safety on increasingly crowded bike paths. The trial, which began in Houten, near Utrecht, involves monitoring cyclist speeds on a specific road and assessing public reaction.
Road safety has become a growing concern, with an estimated 80,900 cyclists requiring emergency room visits last year and a 14% increase in cyclist fatalities, reaching 281. Houten's transport chief, Wouter van den Berg, highlighted the challenge of accommodating a diverse range of road users, including speed pedelecs, fat bikes, and even golf carts, on shared paths.
The trial on Fossa Iberica, a 130-meter road with a busy crossroads, will measure speeds before and after the introduction of speed limit signs. The results will be analyzed by a research team.
While the Netherlands boasts extensive cycling infrastructure, with bikes used for 27% of all journeys, adapting existing urban environments to prioritize slower traffic is difficult. Some cyclists have expressed reservations about the feasibility and fairness of a universal speed limit, questioning how they would accurately gauge their speed on standard bicycles and suggesting that measures should target motorized cyclists specifically.
This speed limit initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance road safety. Other proposed measures include bans on wide-tyre fat bikes in certain urban areas and parks, and the introduction of mandatory helmets for individuals under 18 riding electric vehicles. Advocates like Marcel Aries from Doctors for Safe Cycling emphasize a comprehensive approach, including a minimum age of 16 for e-bike riders, registration, licensing, improved infrastructure, and increased helmet use.