Over 60 new cycling projects in the Amersfoort region
The bicycle must become the alternative to the car in the Amersfoort region for journeys of up to 15 kilometers. On Thursday, December 9, 2021, the province of Utrecht and the municipalities of Amersfoort, Baarn, Bunschoten, Eemnes, Leusden, Soest, and Woudenberg signed a letter of intent to implement more than 60 new regional bicycle projects over the next 10 years.
The first 20 projects are already planned for the next two years. The signing marks the start of cooperation between the seven municipalities to improve the regional bicycle network, ranging from the construction of bicycle streets to improving bicycle traffic safety. The municipalities will receive practical and financial support from the province of Utrecht.
Cycling is part of the region
Cycling in the beautiful Amersfoort region is already a joy, and we will be making major improvements in the coming years. The number of residents and visitors to our region will grow significantly in the coming decades. To keep our province accessible, green, and healthy, we are therefore encouraging the use of bicycles. Cycling is healthy, good for the environment, and takes up less space than cars in our busy province. Cycling is part of the province of Utrecht and certainly also part of the Amersfoort region. In order to enable residents to cycle smoothly, safely, and comfortably, cooperation with municipalities is necessary. Only together can we ensure good regional cycling connections," says Arne Schaddelee, deputy for the province of Utrecht.
Bicycle routes (set styling to h4)
See the website of fietsnetwerk.nl
Bicycle improvement goes beyond municipal boundaries
In the coming years, the municipalities involved will be working on asphalting cycle paths, constructing cycle streets, and making roundabouts safer, among other things. In order to improve the regional cycle network, it is important that municipalities also work together. After all, a cycle route does not stop at a municipal boundary. An example of this is a new bicycle connection from Koningsweg in Soest to Hilversumsestraatweg in the municipality of Baarn. Both municipalities are working together on this. The municipality of Baarn is constructing a new cycle path and the municipality of Soest is widening the existing cycle path along Koningsweg, between Jachthuislaan and Beckeringhstraat, to create a two-way cycle path. This includes an improved cycle crossing on Beckeringhstraat. Both projects are expected to be completed in 2022. These measures will make the cycle route between Soest and Hilversum both shorter and more attractive.