On Wednesday of the introduction week for new students (19-22 August), about 1,500 bikes had reportedly been parked at the intersection of Platielstraat and Vrijthof, where parking is prohibited. The Sociaal Actieve Burgerpartij asked whether the municipal executive would consider taking firm action in such cases in future to set an example. The executive responded last week, saying that students’ bicycles are treated no differently from other improperly parked bicycles: they are first given a warning label, and later removed if necessary.
More parking spaces
But enforcement alone isn’t the solution, explained Marijke Terpstra, the municipality’s project leader for Cycling Mobility, to Observant. There aren’t enough enforcement officers to fully address all problems, so they prioritise dangerous situations – bicycles blocking pushchairs and wheelchair users on pavements, or bus stops where passengers can’t disembark without tripping over bikes.
Creating more parking spaces goes some way towards addressing the problem. Since 2020, about 1,400 bicycle parking spaces have been added in the city centre and Wyck, and there are tentative plans to build a facility for at least 800 bikes in the Entre Deux shopping centre. But the growing student population and an overall increase in cycling have led to a rise in the number of bicycles in the city, including expensive e-bikes that people prefer to keep in sight and fat bikes that don’t fit in standard bicycle racks.
Students appear to be a major contributor, but Terpstra is reluctant to go into specifics. She points out that other residents also leave their bicycles where they shouldn’t. And, she notes, “Until 2015, it wasn’t mandatory to provide indoor bike storage when converting buildings into student housing, so many students have no choice but to park outside. The situation around the central station can be largely attributed to students, though. They aren’t always willing to pay for bicycle storage, and some leave their bikes anywhere in a rush to catch their train.”
Awareness
How can residents be encouraged to park their bicycles properly? According to Terpstra, awareness is key. “We need to make people understand they can’t just leave their bike wherever they need to be.” For several years, there have been awareness campaigns targeting students, both online and during INKOM, as well as information sessions for new Swapfiets users. UM is also part of a municipal think tank with local organisations to find ways to promote cycling and responsible bicycle parking. Has any of this made a difference? It’s hard to say, admits Terpstra. “Changing behaviour is a long-term process.”