Dutch Bicycle Roads Eliminate Car Conflicts Through Grade Separation

The Best Kind of Dutch Cycling Infrastructure — Not Just Bikes

Not Just Bikes

Grade-separated bicycle corridors turn cycling into the fastest and lowest-stress transit mode by eliminating traffic signals and motor vehicle conflicts entirely.

AI-assisted summary of The Best Kind of Dutch Cycling Infrastructure — original source. Check the original for full context.

Source published:

Key ideas

  • Unlike opportunistic multi-use trails built along abandoned rail corridors or through parks in other global cities, Dutch bicycle roads are deliberately planned utility networks connecting essential destinations like schools, hospitals, and transit hubs. (0:02)
  • Dutch cycle highways adhere to strict technical specifications, incorporating seamless red asphalt, generous lane widths, windbreaks, and extensive grade separation to maintain continuous cyclist movement. (2:12)
  • By eliminating automobile interaction, traffic lights, and stop signs, bicycle roads remove the constant cognitive stress of defensive cycling, turning routine commuting into an effortless leisure experience. (2:40)
  • The convenience and tranquility of bicycle roads frequently shift route selection, prompting riders to take longer paths just to enjoy quiet corridors that even serve as direct frontages for residential housing. (4:10)

Detailed notes

## Background Published on YouTube on June 15, 2020, by the channel Not Just Bikes, this video explores the uniquely transformative nature of Dutch bicycle-only roads. According to the video description, discovering these dedicated corridors after moving to the Netherlands completely changed cycling for the creator, transforming it from a mere necessity into a genuinely enjoyable way to travel long distances without automobile interference.

## TL;DR The video highlights how Dutch bicycle-only roads differ fundamentally from recreational trails or painted lanes elsewhere, acting as direct utility corridors linking vital destinations like schools, hospitals, and transit hubs. Designed to rigorous standards with wide red asphalt, gentle curves, wind protection, and grade-separated crossings over or under car traffic, they allow riders to maintain momentum without traffic lights or stop signs. This seamless infrastructure eliminated the creator's constant vigilance around cars, shifting his view of cycling from a utilitarian chore to an effortless, peaceful commute. The host concludes by reminding viewers not to take such deliberate, high-quality urban engineering for granted.

## Atmosphere & style The presentation is candid, analytical, and quietly enthusiastic, punctuated by the host's trademark dry humor and pointed critiques of foreign infrastructure like London's 'Cycle Superhighways.' There is an emotional arc of rediscovered appreciation, as the creator actively pushes past the everyday complacency of living in Amsterdam to rekindle his initial awe of the Dutch transit network. Watching it feels like a calm, restorative glide along a scenic cycle path, offering a stark and compelling contrast to the high-stress vigilance usually associated with urban commuting.

## Bulletin - [00:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=2s) Unlike opportunistic multi-use trails built along abandoned rail corridors or through parks in other global cities, Dutch bicycle roads are deliberately planned utility networks connecting essential destinations like schools, hospitals, and transit hubs. - [02:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=132s) Dutch cycle highways adhere to strict technical specifications, incorporating seamless red asphalt, generous lane widths, windbreaks, and extensive grade separation to maintain continuous cyclist movement. - [02:40](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=160s) By eliminating automobile interaction, traffic lights, and stop signs, bicycle roads remove the constant cognitive stress of defensive cycling, turning routine commuting into an effortless leisure experience. - [04:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=250s) The convenience and tranquility of bicycle roads frequently shift route selection, prompting riders to take longer paths just to enjoy quiet corridors that even serve as direct frontages for residential housing.

## Key takeaways - [00:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=2s) Bicycle-only roads were the primary infrastructure highlight that inspired the creator's channel upon moving to the Netherlands, though their ubiquity in Amsterdam eventually made them feel routine. - [00:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=30s) The Dutch CROW design manual officially designates these paths as 'bicycle highways' (snelfietsroutes), though the creator uses the term 'bicycle roads' for urban routes. - [00:55](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=55s) London's branded 'Cycle Superhighways' are largely comparable to ordinary Dutch roadside bike paths rather than fully segregated, car-free trunk routes. - [01:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=80s) In most global cities, bike trails are constructed opportunistically wherever land is easy to acquire, whereas Dutch bicycle roads directly link major utilitarian hubs. - [02:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=132s) Design standards require wide lanes of at least one meter in each direction, seamless red asphalt, sweeping turns, and natural windbreaks to shelter riders from headwinds. - [02:40](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=160s) Even protected on-street cycle tracks force riders to watch for driveways, turning vehicles, and delivery vans, whereas bicycle roads remove automobile conflicts entirely. - [03:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=190s) Engineers prioritize vertical grade separation at crossings, routing car traffic onto overpasses while cyclists pass smoothly underneath. - [03:35](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=215s) Intersections between cycle roads rely on simple yield controls rather than traffic lights and stop signs, which primarily exist to regulate automobile conflicts. - [02:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=150s) Eliminating stops and car-related hazards shifts cycling from a tense, utilitarian chore into a genuinely relaxing, momentum-driven commute. - [04:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=250s) Bicycle roads link seamlessly into major public transit hubs, offering direct approaches to central train stations and massive bicycle parking facilities. - [04:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=270s) Residential homes in some neighborhoods front directly onto bicycle roads, replacing street noise and parked cars with a quiet, motor-free front yard environment. - [04:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=285s) Cyclists frequently detour to use bicycle roads over shorter mixed-traffic routes because the peaceful, continuous ride outweighs the extra distance.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=2s) Introduction to Bicycle-Only Roads in Amsterdam

When compiling an initial list of topics to cover on the channel after moving to the Netherlands, the creator made bicycle-only roads the absolute first entry. Even after visiting the country half a dozen times and regularly watching videos from channels like *Bicycle Dutch*, he was still genuinely surprised by how remarkable this infrastructure turned out to be in everyday life. However, after living in Amsterdam for an extended period, the novelty gradually wore off to the point where the topic almost felt too mundane to cover. Because he rides along these dedicated corridors multiple times a week and expects them everywhere he goes, the video serves as an effort to recapture the excitement he originally felt before they simply blended into his daily routine.

The Dutch CROW design manual officially classifies these paths as "bicycle highways" (*snelfietsroutes* or cycle highways). Because that term is typically reserved for long intercity routes rather than urban corridors, he opts to use the informal label "bicycle roads" instead, joking that viewers can register their terminology complaints in the comments section. He highlights that while nearly every city he has ever lived in features recreational or multi-use trails, Dutch bicycle roads are fundamentally different. They also differ substantially from London's branded "Cycle Superhighways," which he dismisses as "the stupidest name for any bicycle infrastructure ever," noting that London's iterations are essentially identical to ordinary Dutch roadside cycle paths rather than truly segregated thoroughfares.

```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Recreational Paths vs. Dutch Bicycle Roads accDescr: Diagram comparing typical opportunistic paths in other cities with intentionally planned Dutch bicycle roads.

subgraph OtherCities["Typical Multi-Use Trails Elsewhere"] A["Built where convenient"] --> B["Former rail lines & parks"] B --> C["Disconnected from everyday utility"] end

subgraph DutchNetwork["Dutch Bicycle Roads"] D["Integrated direct network"] --> E["Built intentionally between destinations"] E --> F["Schools, hospitals, arenas, transit"] end ```

- In other global cities, bike paths are typically built opportunistically where construction is simple, such as through public parks or along abandoned rail corridors. - Dutch bicycle roads are deliberately engineered as a coherent utility network connecting places people genuinely need to reach, such as schools, sports arenas, parks, swimming pools, and hospitals. - Because of their direct routing, these paths serve as the fastest, most practical transport option rather than merely recreational trails.

[02:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=132s) Design Standards and the Shift from Utility to Enjoyment

Dutch bicycle roads are built to the highest possible technical specifications. They feature a generous width of at least one meter in each direction, laid with seamless red asphalt, and designed without barriers or sharp turns. Planners even account for environmental factors like windbreaks along the corridors to shelter cyclists from heavy headwinds. These stringent design rules make the infrastructure remarkably safe, even when judged against already high Dutch traffic standards.

This infrastructure completely altered the narrator's personal relationship with cycling. Having always preferred trains and trams over riding a bike, he never identified as a cycling enthusiast; in other cities, he only cycled out of utility to escape public transit trapped in gridlock. In Amsterdam, while cycling remains the quickest way to get around, the experience on dedicated bicycle roads turns into genuine leisure. As Not Just Bikes explains:

> “I never realized how much of my time cycling was spent worrying about cars.”

Even on standard protected cycle lanes, riders must constantly anticipate hazards like side streets, private driveways, junctions, and double-parked delivery vans. On an uninterrupted bicycle road, cyclists can travel between destinations without ever crossing paths with motor vehicles. When these cycle routes encounter automobile traffic, grade separation is prioritized: cars are frequently routed onto overpasses while cyclists glide underneath without conflict.

```mermaid flowchart LR accTitle: Grade-Separated Bicycle Junction accDescr: Flow diagram showing how cars and bikes are separated vertically at intersections.

subgraph GradeSeparation["Vertical Route Separation"] Car["Automobile Traffic"] -->|"Rerouted via"| Bridge["Overpass"] Bike["Cycle Path"] -->|"Continuous glide"| Underpass["Underneath Overpass"] end ```

- When intersecting another bicycle road, junction control is minimal, typically requiring nothing more than a simple yield sign. - The absence of stop signs and traffic lights—which the host stresses exist purely to manage automobile conflicts—allows cyclists to sustain continuous momentum over long distances without stopping.

[04:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=250s) Everyday Integration and Valuing Dutch Urban Engineering

In addition to acting as arterial trunk routes across long distances, bicycle roads are intentionally lined with practical destinations and amenities. Some routes connect directly into primary railway stations or provide straightforward access to high-capacity bicycle parking facilities. In other areas, residential houses front directly onto the bicycle road, replacing noisy automobile lanes with a tranquil, motor-free front yard environment.

This level of comfort frequently alters route choices: the host often goes out of his way to ride on a bicycle road instead of taking a slightly shorter street route simply because the ride is so peaceful and effortless. Reflecting on this convenience, he resolves never to take the infrastructure for granted again, emphasizing the deliberate planning that underpins it. As Not Just Bikes concludes:

> “And when I ride on them, I’m going to appreciate the hard work of the Dutch planners and engineers who have gone out of their way to make my everyday trips as easy and stress-free as possible.”

## Notable quotes > [02:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA&t=132s) I never realized how much of my time cycling was spent worrying about cars. — Not Just Bikes

## Mentioned Not Just Bikes, Bicycle Dutch, CROW, Amsterdam, London

## Video description Watch this video ad-free on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/videos/not-just-bikes-the-best-way-to-cycle-bicycle-only-roads-in-the-netherlands

When we first moved to the Netherlands, the most amazing thing to us was bicycle-only roads. Using these, we could go long distances in and out of the city without ever needing to stop, and with almost no interaction with cars.

This kind of road totally changed cycling for me, making me actually enjoy cycling, instead of just doing it because it was the fastest way to get around.

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Patreon: https://patreon.com/notjustbikes Twitter: https://twitter.com/notjustbikes Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/notjustbikes One-time donations: https://notjustbikes.com/donate

NJB Live (my bicycle livestream channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9v57F4xz46KaDsvWfCv8yw

Subtitles by Casper de With

[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJaMy-0ChA)

中文简报

荷兰自行车专用路通过立体交叉消除机动车冲突 立体交叉自行车走廊彻底消除了交通信号灯和机动车冲突,使骑行成为最快捷、压力最小的出行方式。 视频强调了荷兰自行车专用路与其他地区的休闲绿道或地面划线车道有着本质区别,它们是连接学校、医院和交通枢纽等重要目的地的直达实用走廊。这些道路遵循严格的标准设计,铺设宽阔的红色沥青,拥有平缓弯道、防风林,并通过上跨或下穿汽车交通的立体交叉设计,让骑行者无需面对红绿灯或停车标志即可保持骑行惯性。这种无缝衔接的基础设施彻底消除了创作者对汽车时刻保持警惕的顾虑,使他对骑行的认知从一项功利性的苦差事转变为轻松而平静的通勤。主持人最后提醒观众,不要将这种精心规划、高品质的城市工程视作理所当然。 与全球其他城市利用废弃铁路走廊或穿过公园修建的偶发性多功能步道不同,荷兰自行车路是经过精心规划的实用网络,连接着学校、医院和交通枢纽等核心目的地。 (0:02) 荷兰自行车高速公路遵循严格的技术规范,采用平整的红色沥青、充裕的车道宽度、防风屏障以及广泛的立体交叉,以维持骑行者的持续行进。 (2:12) 通过消除与机动车的交叉干扰、交通信号灯和停车标志,自行车路排除了防御性骑行带来的持续认知压力,将日常通勤转变为轻松惬意的休闲体验。 (2:40) 自行车路的便捷与宁静常常会改变骑行者的路线选择,促使他们宁愿绕远也要享受这些安静的走廊,这些走廊甚至直接作为住宅楼的门前通道。 (4:10)

Reading summary

According to Not Just Bikes, dedicated Dutch bicycle roads—formally categorized as cycle highways (snelfietsroutes) under the CROW manual—represent the premier model of cycling infrastructure by serving as direct utility networks engineered to eliminate motor vehicle conflict. Utility Planning Versus Recreational Trails (0:02) Unlike typical multi-use trails in other global cities, which are built opportunistically through parks or along abandoned rail corridors, Dutch bicycle roads are deliberately engineered to link critical everyday destinations. These corridors directly connect schools, hospitals, transit hubs, sports facilities, and swimming pools, making cycling the fastest and most practical mode of transportation rather than a purely recreational activity. The host also distinguishes these routes from initiatives like London's Cycle Superhighways, which he contends are merely conventional roadside cycle tracks rather than genuine, segregated thoroughfares. Engineering Standards and Conflict Separation (2:12) Dutch cycle corridors adhere to rigorous technical specifications: they feature seamless red asphalt, provide a minimum width of one meter per travel direction, eliminate sharp turns or barriers, and integrate environmental windbreaks against heavy headwinds. Crucially, they remove conflicts with motor traffic through vertical grade separation. Motor vehicles are rerouted onto bridges and overpasses while cyclists travel beneath, avoiding intersections, driveways, and delivery vehicles. Because traffic lights and stop signs exist primarily to arbitrate automobile conflicts, bicycle road junctions rely instead on simple yield signs. The host observes that this infrastructure fundamentally alters the cycling experience; removing the constant vigilance required around cars allows riders to maintain unbroken momentum and transforms functional transport into genuine leisure. Everyday Urban Integration and Behavioral Shifts (4:10) These corridors integrate directly into municipal destinations, funneling riders straight into central railway stations and high-capacity bike parking garages. In some neighborhoods, residential houses front directly onto the bicycle road, substituting motor traffic noise with calm frontage. This convenience alters route selection: the host notes he often bypasses shorter road routes to take a bicycle road because the uninterrupted, vehicle-free journey is significantly more peaceful. Although residents can easily begin taking such infrastructure for granted once it becomes routine, Not Just Bikes emphasizes that this effortless mobility is the intentional product of planners and engineers who purposefully prioritize stress-free everyday travel over vehicular expedience.

精炼阅读摘要

频道 Not Just Bikes 指出,荷兰专用的“自行车路”(设计规范中称为“自行车高速公路”)并非其他城市常见的休闲绿道,而是系统性直连关键日常设施的实用交通网络;通过消除机动车冲突与频繁停顿,该基础设施将骑行从令人焦虑的代步手段转变为轻松纯粹的日常享受。 实用网络与机会主义路径的本质区别 (0:02) 创作者指出,荷兰 CROW 设计手册官方将此类专用廊道界定为“自行车高速公路”(snelfietsroutes),但因该术语多用于长途城际路线,他在日常讨论中更倾向称其为“自行车路”。与其他城市将骑行道视为机会主义产物(例如仅利用废弃铁路线或城市公园边角料地块铺设、与日常交通需求脱节的多功能步道)截然不同,荷兰的自行车路是有预谋、成体系规划的实用交通干线。该网络直接且高效地连通学校、医院、体育场馆、公共泳池与公共交通枢纽等市民日常刚需目的地,使其成为城市中最直接、最快捷的交通方式,而非单纯的周末游憩设施。 创作者还将荷兰的独立自行车路与伦敦命名的“自行车超高速公路”(Cycle Superhighways)进行了对比,批评伦敦的项目名称言过其实,其形态本质上仍等同于荷兰普通的沿街自行车道,并未建立起真正独立的隔离路权。这种以直达真实目的地为导向的网络布局,构成了荷兰骑行环境区别于其他国际城市的核心根基。 严格工程规范与立体交叉的无干扰设计 (2:12) 在物理规格层面,荷兰自行车路遵循极高的工程标准。道路双向宽度均至少达到一米,全线铺设平整无缝的红色沥青,并严格消除人为障碍与急转弯;规划人员甚至会在廊道两侧设计防风林等天然屏障,以降低骑行者面临强劲逆风的阻力。即使对照荷兰本土严苛的交通安全基准,这类自行车路的安全性依然极为突出。 更深层的突破在于对机动车潜在威胁的彻底消除。创作者观察到,即便在常规受物理保护的街道自行车道上,骑行者仍需持续防范支路汇入、私人车道盲区、交叉路口以及双排违停的配送货车;但在全封闭的自行车路上,骑行者全程无需与机动车交会。当与机动车道路交叉时,规划优先采用立体分流设计,将汽车引流至跨线立交桥上方,自行车则在下方平稳穿行。此外,自行车路彼此交汇时仅需极简的让行标志,完全取消了红绿灯与停车标志。创作者强调,红绿灯与停让标志的设立本质上是为了管理汽车冲突,剥离这些阻碍后,骑行者能够长时间保持惯性滑行,无需频繁减速与蹬踏起步。 社区无缝集成与出行心理的根本重塑 (4:10) 除了承担远距离的干线通行功能,自行车路还深度嵌入城市居住与公共配套之中。部分廊道直接连接核心铁路客运站并直通大容量自行车停车库,实现多模式出行的无缝衔接;在部分居住区,住宅正门直接面向自行车路,用安宁且无引擎轰鸣的环境替代了传统的汽车道路。 这种极致的舒适性深刻改变了创作者的出行习惯与心理状态。创作者回顾道,自己以往更偏好乘坐火车与有轨电车,在其他城市骑行仅仅是为了逃避陷入拥堵的地面公交,从未自视为骑行爱好者;但在阿姆斯特丹,骑行转变为真正的休闲体验。由于消除了对汽车碰撞的防御性焦虑,创作者经常为了享受这种从容平稳的骑行过程,宁可绕远选择自行车路,也不愿走距离更短但混入汽车交通的街道。专用基础设施由此将通勤过程从精神内耗重塑为恢复精力的过程。 创作者总结指出,长居阿姆斯特丹后,这种卓越的骑行基础设施很容易因日常习惯而被视作理所当然;但他决意不再忽视其背后的制度价值,高度赞誉荷兰规划师与工程师通过精心设计将市民日常出行变得极致轻松与零压力。

Source quotes

[2:12] Not Just Bikes: I never realized how much of my time cycling was spent worrying about cars.

Original transcript

[0:02] [Not Just Bikes] [0:03] [bicycle bell] [0:07] I have a list of topics [0:08] that I want to cover on this YouTube channel. [0:10] The very first thing I ever put on that list [0:13] after moving here, was bicycle-only roads. [0:16] Because despite visiting the Netherlands [0:18] a half dozen times, [0:19] and, of course, watching lots of Bicycle Dutch videos, [0:22] it still surprised me how great these are. [0:26] Now that we’ve been living in Amsterdam for a while, [0:28] this topic seems almost too boring to cover. [0:32] I take these routes several times per week, [0:34] and I’ve come to expect them wherever I travel. [0:39] So for this video, [0:40] I’m going to try to remember how excited I used to be [0:43] before this became just another part [0:45] of my everyday experience. [0:47] I mean, seriously, isn’t this great‽ [0:54] The CROW manual refers to these as ‘bicycle highways’. [0:57] But that word is almost always used [0:59] to talk about national cycle routes between cities, [1:02] not roads within the city. [1:04] So for the purposes of this video, [1:06] I’m going to incorrectly refer to these as ‘bicycle roads’. [1:10] You can register your complaint about my incorrect terminology [1:12] in the comments below. [1:15] Now, every city I’ve ever lived in [1:17] had recreational trails or multi-use trails, [1:20] but these bicycle roads are different. [1:23] And these aren’t like the London cycle super highways either, [1:27] which are, of course, the stupidest name [1:28] for any bicycle infrastructure ever. [1:31] Those ‘super highways’ are pretty much just the same [1:34] as regular old Dutch cycle paths that you’ll find [1:36] along any major road in the Netherlands. [1:40] The biggest difference is that, [1:41] while other cities put bicycle trails [1:43] where they’re easy to build, [1:45] such as along a former rail line or through a park, [1:48] these bicycle roads are part of a wider network [1:51] and are explicitly built [1:52] to connect to destinations you’d actually want to go to, [1:55] such as a sports arena, a park, a school, [2:00] a swimming pool, or a hospital. [2:03] So I find myself using them regularly, [2:05] because they’re the fastest and most convenient way [2:07] to get to where I need to be. [2:12] Bicycle roads are designed [2:13] to the highest standard wherever possible. [2:16] That means that they’re at least [one metre] wide [2:18] in each direction, with smooth red asphalt [2:20] and without any barriers or sharp turns. [2:23] This makes them extremely safe, even by Dutch standards. [2:27] They even take into consideration breaking the wind, [2:29] so that it doesn’t get too windy along the route. [2:33] It doesn’t get any better than this for cycling. [2:37] This kind of network totally changed cycling for me. [2:40] I never considered myself much of a cyclist. [2:43] I prefer trams and trains. [2:46] I’ve ridden bicycles in many of the places I’ve lived, [2:48] but I never really enjoyed it very much. [2:51] I mean, I like the exercise. Sure. [2:53] But I generally did it because it was faster [2:55] than the painfully slow public transportation [2:58] that was always stuck in traffic. [3:01] When I ride a bicycle in Amsterdam, [3:03] it’s still because it’s the fastest way to get around. [3:05] But when I’m on a bicycle road, I actually enjoy it. [3:10] I never realized how much of my time cycling [3:12] was spent worrying about cars. [3:14] Even if you’re in a protected bicycle lane, [3:16] there’s still side streets, [3:18] driveways, parked vans, and junctions. [3:22] But on a bicycle road, you can quickly and easily [3:24] get from point A to point B and never cross paths with a car. [3:30] When a bicycle road meets up with a car road, [3:32] the cars will often go in an overpass, [3:34] allowing people to cycle underneath, [3:35] without every worrying about motor vehicles at all. [3:39] This is all part of the Dutch approach [3:40] to separating routes taken by cars from those taken by bicycles. [3:44] But I’ll talk about that in a little more detail [3:46] in a future video. [3:49] When you get to a junction with another bicycle road, [3:51] there’s never more than a yield sign. [3:53] Because traffic lights and stop signs are stupid [3:55] and we only need them because of cars! [3:57] Ugh, I hate stop signs! [4:02] This means that when you’re on a bicycle-road network, [4:04] you never need to stop, [4:05] making it trivially easy to travel long distances. [4:10] While bicycle roads are designed primarily [4:12] to connect between significant places [4:14] across long distances, [4:15] there is usually an effort [4:17] to put other useful destinations along the line. [4:20] Like this bicycle road [4:21] that connects directly to a train station. [4:24] Or this one that has easy access to bicycle parking. [4:28] There are even some bicycle roads [4:29] that have people’s houses directly off of them, [4:31] which makes for a very peaceful front yard. [4:35] Sometimes I find myself going out of my way [4:38] to take a bicycle road, [4:39] even if there’s a slightly faster route along a regular street, [4:42] just because of how pleasant they are. [4:47] So, from now on, I’m going to try [4:49] not to take bicycle roads for granted. [4:51] And when I ride on them, I’m going to appreciate [4:53] the hard work of the Dutch planners and engineers [4:55] who have gone out of their way [4:56] to make my everyday trips [4:58] as easy and stress-free as possible.