Second Study Trip to Electric Mobility Model Regions in the Netherlands
May 8th, 2013
The group of 21 participants from Poland and Germany (representatives of local self-governments and project partners respectively) attended second study trip on 15-18 April 2013. This time the study trip took place in the Netherlands and allowed to visit two towns: Utrecht and Houten.
The study trip was kicked off with a visit to the Utrecht Railway Station and a brief overview on mobility vision of the region provided by the study trip’s host, Tony Daggers from the International Bicycle Consulting. While picking up the electric bikes, the participants had a chance to learn more about existing parking facilities for bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters located in close vicinity of the platforms and how they complement the overall active mobility approach of the region.
The visit at the Utrecht Railway Station was followed by a 6km cycling tour to the town of Houten with
a stop at Utrecht University Campus. The cycling ride was concluded with a presentation on cycling policy of the Houten Municipality delivered by Remco Stinissen, Traffic and Transit Policy Advisor at the Town Hall of Houten. After a relaxing lunch break and a cycling tour across Houten, during which different aspects of cycling infrastructure were presented, the participants visited an ultramodern railway station and its underground bike parking facilities and headed back to the hotel in Utrecht.
The second day of the program provided the participants with yet another opportunity to experience electric bikes themselves as well as spot various aspects of cycling infrastructure such as different types of intersections, parking facilities, 30 km zones, bicycle highways and parking facilities. The day began with
a visit at the bicycle courier company triggering a discussion on how cargo bikes can stimulate micro entrepreneurship in Polish communes. Then, the participants cycled to the city center of Utrecht to meet the owner of ‘the Cargo City Hopper’ driving on solar energy and green electricity and delivering parcels and pallets to shops and restaurants located at inner cities' cramped streets. Given its almost zero emission, it was described as the answer to every environmentally restricted area and a universal commercial concept for every city center. Following the presentation of this concept as well as that
of 'the Beer Boat,' an electrically propelled boat delivering goods to pubs and restaurants situated along the waterways, a representative of Utrecht Municipality discussed Utrecht’s cycling policy and promotional campaigns. Final highlight of the program included a possibility to test cycling on different types of cargo bikes. After a friendly farewell with our host Tony Daggers and his assistants, the participants of the study trip were free to enjoy and observe a whole range of Utrecht’s friendly public spaces and its leisure time industry.