From time to time I read about interest in the US or other places about how Europe does it’s traffic engineering. For example I’ve heard a number of US cities are adopting traffic circles modelled after those in the UK.
A few Dutch cities with particularly dangerous and complicated intersections have apparently pretty successfully implemented the ‘hands off’ approach, and removed all signals and warning signs. This is in the theory that everyone approaching a dangerous situation tends to see it, slow down and be more careful. Apparently having too many signs is a distraction. A lot of attention has been paid to these recently.
Anyway, the question comes up from time to time, how did the Dutch get their amazing network of bicycle paths, which can be found everywhere in the country? If you’re like me perhaps you might think it’s just a natural thing, because the country is so flat or because cycling is so popular. Actually, there’s a story about this, and a lesson to be learned. Here’s a video I found recently.
Nice!