Cycle street

A cycle street is one designed to handle large volumes of cycling, but very low volumes of motor traffic. Typically in the Netherlands it will consist of a cycle track (indicated by colouring and markings) on which motor vehicles are permitted to drive.

Cycle street Utrecht

Crucially, a cycle street should not be a through-route for motor vehicles, and should be access-only, usually to residential properties, while remaining a useful through route for cycle traffic.

It should have a low speed limit and very few motor vehicle movements. The Dutch CROW manual recommends no more than 2000 PCUs per day, and/or a ratio of four bicycles to every vehicle. In practice this ratio can lead to streets with too much motor traffic for comfort and safety, if cycling levels are very high.

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