In the context of `sustainably safe' design of Dutch rural residential roads with a speed limit of 60 km/h, non-compulsory cycle lanes have been constructed or proposed by various road authorities. At various locations studies have been carried out in order to gain an insight into the effects of these provisions. This study describes a pilot study into the effects of red non-compulsory cycle lanes in combination with speed bumps on the `Slootweg' in the borough of Zoetermeer. The study is aimed at the behaviour of cyclists and car drivers before and after the construction of both measures. Speed measurements (combination of both measures) and behaviour observations (red non-compulsory cycle lanes) were carried out. The combination of both facilities appears to have had a limited, positive effect because: (i) the average speed declined considerably, by 17.9 km/h. Seeing there were also new speed bumps in the vicinity of the speed measurements, the effect cannot only be attributed to the cycle lanes; and (ii) the behaviour observations showed that, after the red non-compulsory cycle lanes had been introduced, the unhindered motor vehicles moved more to the middle of the road. On the other hand, cyclists were overtaken by cars allowing less room than before this measure.
Samenvatting