Ministry of Transport and Public Works

Evaluation of the Delft Bicycle Network Plan

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FOREWORD

In 1979 Delft Municipality developed a bicycle network scheme for the entire town. The Ministry of Transport and Public Works gave a subsidy for this plan. At this moment the bicycle network plan has been implemented to a large extent. The implementation was monitored by an extensive evaluation study. Specific studies were carried out into two new large-scale facilities, Plantage 0ridge and Station Tunnel.
The majority of the evaluation studies refer to the part of the bicycle network within districts 13 and 14 (Delft North- West). The district Wippolder was chosen as the control area. The bicycle route between Tanthof and Delft city centre was selected as a representative major corridor between a residential district and the city centre.

The before-study, carried out in 1983 and 1984, was reported on extensively in individual reports. In addition, a summary report contains the results in a brief and coherent manner. Spring 1987 all after-studies were completed, except the investigation into safety aspects. Again, several extensive reports on these studies were published. This report presents an integral evaluation of the Delft bicycle network plan.

From the evaluation study extensive new insights were gained with respect to the performance of urban bicycle networks. The effects measured in districts 13 and 14 (Delft North-West) give indications about the effect of a complete network. Furthermore, this research showed that the circumstances in Delft are such that the findings of this evaluation may be transferred to other Dutch medium-sized towns (population 50,000 - 200,000). The findings and recommendations therefore provide many useful elements end ideas with respect to the role of the bicycle for a comprehensive transport policy of medium-sized cities.

This integral final report offers a condensed description of the objectives and set up of the evaluation study and summarizes briefly the main results of the various investigations. Conclusions are drawn with respect to the effects of the Delft bicycle network and the significance of the findings to urban transport policy concerning the slow modes.

Chairman of the research team,
ir A. Wilmink
(Ministry of Transport and Public Works)

Project leader,
ing J.B. Hartman
(Ministry of Transport and Public Works)