ABSTRACT
Cycling in the Netherlands is healthy, clean and essential for accessibility. It is also a challenge because high volumes of cyclists interact with cars, trams, pedestrians, mopeds and other cyclists. Therefore, the cycling infrastructure was adapted in the last decades and many separate cycle paths were introduced. Cycling fatalities were reduced but not serious injuries. The Netherlands has more serious road traffic injuries than ever (21,300 in 2015), and around 2/3rd are cyclists. Half of all seriously injured are cyclists who were not hit by a motor vehicle. The injury rate has increased as well, so it is less safe now. The main reasons seem to be the quality of the cycling infrastructure: around 50% of all cycling crashes is related to kerbstones, road surface, shoulders etc. Separating cars and bicycles is not enough, attention must be given to making cycling infrastructure safe, including wider cycle paths with no obstacles.
