Synopsis

The bicycle is very competitive to the car as a transport mode in the city of Groningen. For 25 years Groningen has had a consistent transport policy aiming at encouraging the use of the bicycle and discouraging the use of the car for short distances. In addition, a historic city like Groningen has limited possibilities in terms of extending car infrastructure. That makes cycling even a necessity. The city wants to reserve the existing car infrastructure for car traffic that is necessary from an economic perspective. Groningen's cycling policy was initiated in 1977, with the introduction of the traffic circulation plan. As from that moment, the inner city shifted its focus more towards the bicycle and away from the car. A lot of time, money and energy were invested in qualitative cycling infrastructure and the inner city was transformed into a pleasant living area. As a result of this consequent policy, the leading American magazine Bicycle named Groningen as 'Number One Bicycle City' of the world in 1993. In 2002, Groningen was awarded as 'Bicycle City' by the Dutch cyclist organisation Fietsersbond.

Target groups: all citizens
Fields: cycling

This case study is one of 175 projects from the Smile Project Local Experiences Database listed on this website.