Facilities Assignment #2










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City Cycling

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Bicyclists wait to cross a canal bridge, which has rotated to allow a boat through. In the Netherlands, bicyclist safety and comfort is developed through a series of low-stress bicycle routes which separate bicyclists from vehicular traffic on arterials or mix bicyclists with traffic on low speed, low volume roads where vehicles are treated as the "guest". These design choices are implemented to make bicycling appealing and comfortable for all potential bicyclists, including the old and the young. And indeed, some cities that have implemented such designs have achieved cycling mode shares of over 25%. I like the picture above because it demonstrates the sheer quantity of how many people use the bike facilities in the Netherlands. Here, bicyclists wait on a dedicated cycle track to cross a canal bridge which has rotated to let a boat pass through. The grey pavers to the right indicate the presence of a pedestrian walkway. Vehicles may also use the bridge. However, only one veh...
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Facilities Assignment #1

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This is a roundabout in Delft, the Netherlands. The roundabout is designed to accommodate a variety of transportation modes, including bicyclists, pedestrians, vehicles, trams, buses, and emergency vehicles. Bicyclists approach the roundabout by cycle track or fietsstraat, a special type of street where space is shared and bicyclists have priority. A cycle track comprises the outer ring of the roundabout, separated from an inner one-way vehicle ring by segments of green space. Vehicles must yield to cyclists when entering and exiting the roundabout. A pedestrian walkway is located on all sides of the roundabout to the outside of the cycle track, with wide pedestrian markings provided on all crossings. Tram lines, a bus lane, and emergency vehicles using the bus lane all pass directly through the center of the roundabout, bisecting the vehicle and cycle track rings at 3 points. Vehicle signals and bicycle signals are located at each point to stop traffic for modes which take priority: t...
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First Impressions

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Bicycle parking near the Delft train station, underneath The Social Hub. The 2023 Netherlands study abroad pod arrived in Delft the morning of June 21, and by that evening had biked on rented bikes all the way to the coast. When I could think something other than, THIS IS SO COOL, I thought, this is the community I want to live in. First, I noticed the lack of cars. Then, how the number of bicyclists significantly exceeded the number of cars. I noticed how, even though vehicle access was provided everywhere, less vehicles meant more space could be dedicated to bicyclists or other uses, and that these communities felt more walkable and more comfortable simply for the lack of vehicles to worry about. More gradually, I noticed the lack of exhaust fumes and car noise. I noticed the greenery integrated into the transportation network, and a greater sense of peace, and ease. These were my initial impressions of the Netherlands. If there's one picture I keep coming back to to sum up my in...
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