March 1, 2021
It is regularly mentioned in the same breath: cycling offers a solution for a positive effect on air quality, traffic jams, space problems in inner cities, livability, sustainability and cycling also contributes to the economy. This contribution to the economy is usually explained by the positive social effect of cycling: cyclists are healthier, more productive and every bicycle kilometer that replaces a car kilometer is better for the environment, air and noise quality.
In the years 2010 to 2015, Utrecht municipality invested an average of €15.5 million annually in bicycle infrastructure. The municipality had the ambition to make Utrecht the world cycling city. An ambitious action plan 'Utrecht fietst' was developed to stimulate cycling. At the same time, the municipality had set itself the task of making the bicycle benefits versus the bicycle investments visible: the Gross Utrecht Bicycle Product (BUF). The BUF was the first analysis, conducted by the economic research and consultancy firm Decisio, to provide insight into what cycling provided to the city of Utrecht in terms of social and thus economic effects.
Cycling has been shown to strengthen the local economy by:
- The health benefits of cycling within health care;
- the cheaper traffic infrastructure for bicycles than for cars;
- greater popularity of pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly neighborhoods;
- higher spending by cyclists and pedestrians at local stores;
- lower absence from work: cyclists drop out less due to illness than car-driving colleagues;
- more employment: employment in the bicycle industry is a factor of three higher than in auto industry.
For Utrecht, the conclusion was clear: anno 2021, the municipality will continue the action plan to make Utrecht a world cycling city. Utrecht will continue to invest in comfortable and fast bicycle routes, more frequent green at traffic lights, easily accessible and sufficient parking facilities and smart, innovative solutions for cyclists in the city.
Multisensors is currently conducting a pilot iVRI (intelligent traffic control installation) in Utrecht in cooperation with the municipality of Utrecht, where the i-Signum is being linked to iVRI with the aim of improving the flow of cyclists.
