The cycling and innovation experts started in the House of the Province of Utrecht where representatives from Utrecht presented how they worked with cycling as background to an in-depth discussion on how to use social cost benefit analysis (bikeonomics) in understanding the benefits of cycling and investments in cycling, and relative benefits compared to other modes of transport. The region has an extremely high modal share of cycling (60 % of trips within the city of Utrecht are by bike), and ambitious plans to both increase cycling and improve conditions for cyclists. Frameworks for understanding the benefits of cycling and valuing them in economic terms are lacking, and the discussions and exchange of experience support the adaptation of new methods.

Focus on innovations

Following this, the participants took to their bikes and – led by Herbert Tiemens, who works as a cycling policy advisor at Province Utrecht – toured the city, focusing on the innovations that Utrecht have implemented. These include: bicycle streets (where cars are “guests” on the road, and the speed is set by cyclists), the education centre Bike masters (Fietsmeesters) and the world’s largest cycling garage situated at the train station.

The following day, participants cycled around the city by themselves to experience the infrastructure and identify innovations that could be implemented back home. Representatives from the Dutch Cycling Embassy later presented how they worked with transferring experience from the Netherlands to other countries.

Next meeting in Malmö and Copenhagen

Continuing on from this, a meeting will be held in January in Malmö and Copenhagen, where representatives from Utrecht will join Swedish and Danish counterparts to discuss and experience cycling innovations in both Nordic cities.

Results from the project including description of selected cycling innovations and how they can be scaled up will be published in February.

More information

If you are interested in the upcoming workshop or the project as a whole, please contact Caroline Ljungberg, 010-456 56 19.