I went for a ride through the countryside yesterday. It took just an hour and a half to make a ride from home, through one of the heaths nearby, and back again. In Drenthe, it's very easy to find somewhere quiet to go for a few minutes:
There are many stiltegebieden or "silent areas" within easy cycling distance of Assen. Even though they are just a short distance from the city, they are about as quiet as it is possible for anywhere to be. The cycle paths don't stop at the city boundary, but continue in all directions through the countryside, so every location can be reached without having to ride on busy roads.
On the way out of Assen I came across a bridge which was opening for a boat. There was soon a queue.
Heading into the heath. This is the start of the stiltegebied. When you stop, you have only the sounds of nature to listen to.
If passing cyclists make the cycle path not quite quiet enough, there are places to walk to and seats to sit on where it is even quieter.
It's like being in the middle of no-where
It was a very nice day, so lots of people were cycling.
Cycling is something the entire population does. On average, Dutch people use bicycles just short of 6 times a week.
Even though this is only a 15 km ride from Assen, it feels remote, as if it is much further away.
The building in the background is in the city.
Some of the cycle paths in nature areas are made of crushed shells. When you read of the 29000 km of cycle paths in the Netherlands, note that recreational paths like this are not included in the total.
Some have been upgraded to concrete.
All sorts of people ride. Here a group of women on racing bikes have stopped at a cafe.
My bike on the other side of a field full of poppies
We came to live in this part of the Netherlands because we found it to be both beautiful and wonderful to cycle through. Our routes go through all the most scenic parts of the area. Book a holiday and you can experience it for yourself.
Crushed shells? I hope they are obtained by cruelty free means! I always avoid snails when I'm out riding: there' s a good chance their relatives could catch up with me and exact their revenge!
I like the vast numbers of cyclists: I was thinking I'd seen a lot of cyclists when I passed half a dozen or so last weekend...
Hercule: It matters to me too. I'm vegan. I think they come from a shell beach. I've no idea how sustainable that is, but the coastline in the Netherlands is very well protected.
The mobility afforded to the disabled by decent cycling infrastructure is so very important. Here they would be lucky to get out of their front doors in a wheel chair.
I remember how stress free & relaxed we felt when we cycled on those paths in May. It can only be good for your physical & mental health.
These shells are most likely extracted from the bottom of the Waddenzee. Only empty shells are collected and extraction is only allowed at certain places where it causes the least amount of damage (like near shipping routes). There is some information on the Ecomare website, but it looks a bit outdated (the laws regarding shell extraction were changed in 2005).
That bridge shows something which I consider a crucial part of Dutch cycling culture, something I like to call level crossing chicken. At a level crossing, a movable bridge or a big junction cyclists will line up across the full width of a bidirectional path in great numbers, so that when the barriers are raised and/or the lights turn green, both sides have to scramble to get everyone back in their own lane by the time the two streams of traffic meet halfway. It takes a little experience to pull that off safely.
@severin: The quiet zones exist because part of this province is covered with "ears" of a gigantic radio telescope - which in turn was located here because of the sparse population. Electromagnetic intrusion from "earthly" sources is prevented as much as possible. I always wonder what the effect of the ever growing electric assist bikes will be: too little to be noticed? (the word verification code under this item says "accusnon" - the answer to my question?)
Actually, Frits, this area isn't connected with any of the radiotelescopes in Drenthe (not even the big one). There is no restriction on using a mobile 'phone here, for instance. This is a stiltegebied purely for the pleasantness of it. There are now 650000 hectares of stiltegebied spread all across the Netherlands.
Sounds wonderful. How lovely to escape the roar of the traffic. With only the sound of the wind in one's ears, the clicking of a free-wheel and the occasional rattle of mudguards.
If you like this blog please support us so that it can continue. We're are not supported by grants and we do not ask for charity. We sell quality bicycle components and organize cycling holidays:
The next open study tour is in August 2013. Book a place in order to experience for yourself how policy and infrastructure in Assen and Groningen have led to the high cycling modal share in this area.:
The positive stuff Three types of safety - As well as preventing injuries and death, high quality cycling infrastructure addresses both subjective safety and social safety which are of vital importance in encouraging people to cycle. Dutch Safety Figures - Cyclists in the Netherlands are the safest in the world, but it has little if anything to do with "safety in numbers". Sustainable safety - the principles which have lead to Dutch roads, streets and cycle-paths being safe. A million per hour - The scale of cycling in the Netherlands is enormous. Dutch people make more cycle journeys each day than the entire English speaking world put together. Campaigning - a collection of posts about how to campaign for more cycling, including reference to "Stop the child murder", a successful campaign from the 1970s. What Works - examples of policy, infrastructure and campaigning which have made a different in the Netherlands. Superhighways - "Cycling superhighways" are not a new idea in the Netherlands Cycle Paths - Well designed cycle paths benefit all cyclists, regardless of experience or speed Segregation without cycle paths - you don't always need a cycle path to keep cyclists safe from motorists Unravelling of routes is vitally important History - how the Netherlands got to where it is now. See especially "Stop the child murder" Before and After - views of places before and after they have been transformed for cycling Directness - examples of prioritising cycling Traffic Lights - examples of how cyclists can be prioritised and kept safe at traffic light junctions. Note that it's almost always possible to turn right on a red light when cycling in the Netherlands. Roundabouts - roundabouts in the Netherlands have one very important feature to learn from: They keep cyclists away from motor vehicles. This is far more important than the differences in geometry vs. roundabouts in other countries. Exceptional infrastructure is always nice to see, but remember that a dense network of mundane routes is far more important to boost cycling modal share Gritting of cycle paths - dealing with snow and ice. Children - It may seem hackneyed, but children really are the future. If they can't cycle safely then where will future adult cyclists come from ? This is why children should be the primary focus of campaigners. Note also that according to UNICEF, Dutch children are the happiest in the world. School travel - Everyone knows that Dutch children cycle to school, but it's a surprise to many people that school trips are also usually by bike. Cycle Parking - including our favourite design of stand. Cycle Parking at railway stations, see in particular Groningen and Assen as each have multiple posts showing how the cycle parking has grown over time. Health effects of cycling Road Works - It's important that cyclists are thought of when there are road works. If the environment becomes hostile for cyclists then they may stop cycling and never start again. Commuting - Commuting cyclists are interesting, but they're not the only people who should ride bikes. Anatomy of a reliable everyday bicycle - the common features of bikes used by nearly every person every day in the Netherlands. Speed - Some people have the idea that Dutch cyclists are slow. This isn't true. It is just that in the Netherlands, everyone cycles, including the slow people. Fast cyclists are as fast as anywhere. These posts show people who ride faster than average, using the same infrastructure as those who ride slower.
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A cyclist in a cycling family living in the capital of the cycling province of the world's greatest cycling country.
I was born in the UK, lived for over 8 years in New Zealand and have lived in the Netherlands since 2007.
I organise cycling infrastructure study tours, run an online bicycle shop, arrange cycling holidays and write a popular blog about cycling.
My email address is avftcp@hembrow.eu
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10 comments:
Very nice.
Most civilised.
Crushed shells? I hope they are obtained by cruelty free means! I always avoid snails when I'm out riding: there' s a good chance their relatives could catch up with me and exact their revenge!
I like the vast numbers of cyclists: I was thinking I'd seen a lot of cyclists when I passed half a dozen or so last weekend...
Hercule: It matters to me too. I'm vegan. I think they come from a shell beach. I've no idea how sustainable that is, but the coastline in the Netherlands is very well protected.
Cyclists are basically continuous here, at all times, everywhere.
Wonderful.
The mobility afforded to the disabled by decent cycling infrastructure is so very important. Here they would be lucky to get out of their front doors in a wheel chair.
I remember how stress free & relaxed we felt when we cycled on those paths in May. It can only be good for your physical & mental health.
Thanks David.
These shells are most likely extracted from the bottom of the Waddenzee. Only empty shells are collected and extraction is only allowed at certain places where it causes the least amount of damage (like near shipping routes). There is some information on the Ecomare website, but it looks a bit outdated (the laws regarding shell extraction were changed in 2005).
That bridge shows something which I consider a crucial part of Dutch cycling culture, something I like to call level crossing chicken. At a level crossing, a movable bridge or a big junction cyclists will line up across the full width of a bidirectional path in great numbers, so that when the barriers are raised and/or the lights turn green, both sides have to scramble to get everyone back in their own lane by the time the two streams of traffic meet halfway. It takes a little experience to pull that off safely.
David, you're vegan? In the Netherlands?! In any event, that's pretty cool!
And posts like this amaze me, the quiet zones are rather fascinating.
@severin: The quiet zones exist because part of this province is covered with "ears" of a gigantic radio telescope - which in turn was located here because of the sparse population. Electromagnetic intrusion from "earthly" sources is prevented as much as possible. I always wonder what the effect of the ever growing electric assist bikes will be: too little to be noticed?
(the word verification code under this item says "accusnon" - the answer to my question?)
Actually, Frits, this area isn't connected with any of the radiotelescopes in Drenthe (not even the big one). There is no restriction on using a mobile 'phone here, for instance. This is a stiltegebied purely for the pleasantness of it. There are now 650000 hectares of stiltegebied spread all across the Netherlands.
Sounds wonderful. How lovely to escape the roar of the traffic. With only the sound of the wind in one's ears, the clicking of a free-wheel and the occasional rattle of mudguards.
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