Due to the growth of Rijswijk in the coming years, many residents will be added. This growth comes together with the challenge of keeping the city livable, accessible and safe with those extra residents. Rijswijk has therefore drawn up a bicycle plan. This plan was on the agenda for discussion on Tuesday. “Cycling is a clean and healthy mode of transport that takes up little space and is therefore an important part of the future mobility of Rijswijk and the surrounding municipalities. It is therefore essential to focus on increasing the share of cycling in Rijswijk’s mobility. Then all traffic in Rijswijk can continue to flow,” according to the council proposal.
Points for improvement for more bicycle use
The bicycle plan includes a study into what Rijswijkers need to use the bicycle more. The two most important points are better quality traffic paths and shorter waiting times on cycle paths. It also appears that bicycle parking spaces are often overcrowded. This must also improve according to the plan. The full plan can be viewed here.
Draw up a priority list
During the discussion of the council proposal, the necessary requests were submitted to adjust the council proposal on certain points. GroenLinks and D66 requested the council to draw up a priority list for the 2025 budget with required budgets, financing and timetable. This allows the council to determine which projects will be carried out in the coming years, which in any case assume that the busiest routes will be asphalted unless there is a complex underground infrastructure. The parties VVD, PvdA, PG&R and Wij. supported this request. Only Rijswijks Belang voted against this change to the proposal.
Invest faster
The bicycle plan and the additional proposals from D66 Rijswijk and GroenLinks mean that more and faster investments will be made in cycling in and through Rijswijk. There will be good, mostly asphalted routes, and there will be more and better bicycle sheds and crossing points.
Other requests
D66 Rijswijk and GroenLinks have jointly made several proposals to make it even more pleasant for cyclists. For example, it has been proposed to improve the positioning of cyclists at intersections and to give cyclists the green light more often. Why should you have to wait at a traffic light if there is no driver in sight? With the new traffic lights (i-VRIs), this and the experiences in other cities can show that it becomes much more pleasant to cycle.
Investment in cycle paths is necessary
“We can do that too,” says Maarten van ‘t Eind. “It is time that cyclists also enjoy spending time on the cycle paths in Rijswijk and this requires investments in our cycle paths.” Wemke van der Weij of D66 adds: “And not only a pleasant cycle path deserves attention, but also a safe and good crossing, for example by improving the parking spaces. And the latter helps all road users, how wonderful is that.”
Council proposal adopted
the council proposal Bicycle Plan 2040 was adopted by a majority. Only Rijswijks Belang and CDA Rijswijk voted against the proposal.
