The Amsterdam Nesciobrug (Nescio Bridge) features in the promotional video for the Dutch Cycling Embassy. The longest cycle bridge of the Netherlands* was completed in the summer of 2006 and has since been on my must-see list. The responses to the video and the beautiful weather we have had in the Netherlands at the beginning of Autumn were reason to finally go there and ride the bridge. Of course I took my camera with me so you can join in the fun.
Nescio Bridge Amsterdam (Netherlands)
The bridge, named after a Dutch writer, is of an overwhelming beauty. The blue sky, bright sunlight and the white construction helped a lot the day I visited. But the bridge is magnificently elegant by design. It is huge, spanning 163.5 meters (536.4Ft) over the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal which makes it the longest one cable suspension bridge in the Netherlands. It has a 10 meter (33Ft) clearance over the canal so large ships can easily pass it. The total length of the bridge is 779 meters (almost half a mile). The long approaches at either end provide a conveniently shallow gradient for cyclists.
The award-winning bridge was designed by British -London based- WilkinsonEyre architects. And it is -in their own words- "the result of a close collaboration between architects and engineers. The Nescio Bridge provides a vital connection for residents of IJburg, a suburb built on recently reclaimed land north of the city, with the ‘mainland’. Simultaneously, it provides access to the extensive green space of the Diemerpark for the people of Amsterdam." The engineers did a great job. Since the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal is a vital connection from the Amsterdam port to the German hinterland the canal could only be closed for 12 hours. It was in this timeframe that the main bridge part was placed. According to the architects the budget for this bridge was 6.5 million pounds in 2005. At the exchange rates of the time that would have been about 9.5 million euros or 11.4 million US dollar. For one cycle bridge to be paid by the city of Amsterdam.
The main bridge part was positioned in under 12 hours.
I made two videos. One to show the bridge and the cyclists using it in all its glory and one with rides over the bridge. The first ride is from North to South (from IJburg to Amsterdam) and then from South to North (Amsterdam to IJburg).
Video showing the bridge and the people cycling on it.
Rides over the bridge.
* The Netherlands has more 'long' bridges, so you can argue which one is "longest". The Nijmegen 'Snelbinder' bridge is a lot longer than this one. But it is attached to an existing railroad bridge and as such not a specific cycle bridge.
As I've always said, British engineers could design fantastic cycle infrastructure – if only UK politicians would ask for it (and provide the money of course).
A pity we have to go to the Netherlands to see great British cycle engineering.
Snap! This was the bridge on Sunday lunchtime: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOYieYsencQ
Having looked around Google Maps, it seems the next bridge up the canal is also a bicycle bridge -- this one: http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2010/04/another-new-bridge.html
I wish I'd looked these things up earlier, I'd have taken a look at that one too...
This is one beautiful bridge. One of it's brilliant design features is the way the stairs for pedestrians are made safe for cyclists that accidentally take the wrong exit. Instead of a lot of warning signs that probably will be missed anyways, the path makes a U-turn just before the stairs begin. Simple yet very effective!
It would be interesting to know if or how much the local government is in debt, paying for all this on top of all the other "regular" stuff. Here in Toronto the city government is in a hole and looks for ways to "tighten the belt", yet (at least) I cannot see any special projects they spend their (actually our) money on. So how can Amsterdam afford to pay for all this? As an extension of this, I wonder how your country can pay for all the cycling infrastructure when in Canada, one of the G8 countries, this seems to be impossible. Yes, I know, Dave, you have already mentioned that per capita it doesn't cost that much extra, but it is extra money that the government has to come up with. The Dutch government can, and one of the richest countries in the world can't. I'm scratching my head...
Michael: It's been shown many times that building cycle infrastructure is cheaper than the alternative. i.e. that of not building cycle infrastructure. This applies even for the less crowded intercity cycle paths.
I for one am very impressed with the cycling infrastructure I see posted here. I've not traveled much outside of the US but do live in a bike friendly region and it pales in comparison. Thanks for sharing
1.Gotta change those scooter laws. Are people concerned they will use cars instead? 2. Helmets! But by not using the helmet filter in his camera David saved over 23 tons of Co2! 3. There have been budget cuts in Amsterdam since 2008, so I suppose a good question to ask was that IF this bridge was destroyed somehow and then cleared as a shipping hazard, how long would it take to be replaced? Is there some law mandating it or would it be done simply because it makes sense and keeps people voting for you?
I've only gone over this bridge once but it's bloody fun to do, especially on a recumbent and especially north-to-south (then you get the spiral on the decent). Luckily, even in Amsterdam (where there are very few rules about cycling), cyclists always stick to the right of a cycleway; so there's a very slim chance of hitting anyone at 35+ km/h on the tight spiral downwards.
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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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11 comments:
As I've always said, British engineers could design fantastic cycle infrastructure – if only UK politicians would ask for it (and provide the money of course).
A pity we have to go to the Netherlands to see great British cycle engineering.
David
Vole o'Speed
Snap! This was the bridge on Sunday lunchtime: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOYieYsencQ
Having looked around Google Maps, it seems the next bridge up the canal is also a bicycle bridge -- this one: http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2010/04/another-new-bridge.html
I wish I'd looked these things up earlier, I'd have taken a look at that one too...
Well that was fast. Thank you.
This is one beautiful bridge. One of it's brilliant design features is the way the stairs for pedestrians are made safe for cyclists that accidentally take the wrong exit. Instead of a lot of warning signs that probably will be missed anyways, the path makes a U-turn just before the stairs begin. Simple yet very effective!
It would be interesting to know if or how much the local government is in debt, paying for all this on top of all the other "regular" stuff. Here in Toronto the city government is in a hole and looks for ways to "tighten the belt", yet (at least) I cannot see any special projects they spend their (actually our) money on. So how can Amsterdam afford to pay for all this? As an extension of this, I wonder how your country can pay for all the cycling infrastructure when in Canada, one of the G8 countries, this seems to be impossible. Yes, I know, Dave, you have already mentioned that per capita it doesn't cost that much extra, but it is extra money that the government has to come up with. The Dutch government can, and one of the richest countries in the world can't. I'm scratching my head...
@Michael Blue - In the same way that buying a car and a bicycle costs less than buying just the car.
There is more involved in spending money wisely than just counting what you've got and getting rid of it.
Michael: It's been shown many times that building cycle infrastructure is cheaper than the alternative. i.e. that of not building cycle infrastructure. This applies even for the less crowded intercity cycle paths.
All those countries which claim not to have enough money do of course still have enough for lots of other things. I wrote about this before in the context of the UK, but it's the same in many other countries.
Oh, and I'm not sure how you define "rich", but please take a look here: Some countries operate at a profit and are in credit, some others are not and are accumulating a deficit.
I was brought up to live within my means.
We have some very similar bridges for bikes fairly close to here, but unfortunately they're often on cycle lanes about 300m longer than the bridge...
I for one am very impressed with the cycling infrastructure I see posted here. I've not traveled much outside of the US but do live in a bike friendly region and it pales in comparison. Thanks for sharing
Rainfish
1.Gotta change those scooter laws. Are people concerned they will use cars instead? 2. Helmets! But by not using the helmet filter in his camera David saved over 23 tons of Co2! 3. There have been budget cuts in Amsterdam since 2008, so I suppose a good question to ask was that IF this bridge was destroyed somehow and then cleared as a shipping hazard, how long would it take to be replaced? Is there some law mandating it or would it be done simply because it makes sense and keeps people voting for you?
I've only gone over this bridge once but it's bloody fun to do, especially on a recumbent and especially north-to-south (then you get the spiral on the decent). Luckily, even in Amsterdam (where there are very few rules about cycling), cyclists always stick to the right of a cycleway; so there's a very slim chance of hitting anyone at 35+ km/h on the tight spiral downwards.
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