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Research
Heat stress and active travel, an eight-year national analysis in The Netherlands
Maarten Hogeweij, Coen Bongers, Kevin Raaphorst, Huub Ploegmakers · 2026 · Netherlands
This nationwide Dutch study investigates how heat stress affects walking and cycling behaviour using travel survey data from 178,247 respondents across eight summers (2016–2023). It examines how thermal conditions influence both the decision to travel and the duration of active travel, distinguishing between commuting and recreational journeys. The findings reveal that walking and cycling generally increase with warmer conditions but decline once heat stress becomes severe, particularly for recreational trips. Work-related active travel is less responsive to heat, suggesting that commuters may have fewer opportunities to adapt their travel behaviour. The study also explores whether urban tree canopy cover mitigates the negative effects of heat, finding limited and inconsistent evidence. The results highlight the importance of heat-resilient urban design and policies that support safe, accessible walking and cycling during increasingly frequent hot weather.
- Data & Monitoring
- Behaviour & Mobility Management
Dataset
Dutch National Cycling Winter Maintenance Routes Dataset
Fietsersbond; Rijkswaterstaat · 2025 · Netherlands
An open national geospatial dataset identifying cycling routes designated for winter gritting and snow or ice treatment across the Netherlands. Compiled using Fietsersbond cycling network data and linked to the Dutch National Road Database (NWB), it enables municipalities, researchers and developers to map winter maintenance coverage, analyse network continuity and identify potential service gaps. The data is available in GIS-compatible formats, including CSV, GeoPackage and Shapefile. It describes designated treatment routes rather than verified real-time road conditions
- Maintenance & Operations
- Data & Monitoring
ResearchReport
FinnCycle Research Project 2023–2025: Final Report and Recommendations for Finnish Cities
Harri Vaarala · 2025 · Finland, Denmark, Netherlands
A comparative research report examining how Finnish cities can strengthen cycling through long-term transport policy, integrated land-use planning, organisational development and sustained infrastructure investment. Drawing on practices from eight leading cycling cities in the Netherlands and Denmark, the study identifies structural barriers in Finnish cities and presents 13 recommendations for more systematic and effective cycling development, including improvements to winter maintenance.
- Planning & Design
- Policy, Strategy & Governance
Guideline
Dutch National Guidelines for Winter Maintenance
CROW · 2024 · Netherlands
The national guidelines, published by CROW, provides a comprehensive national framework for planning, organising and implementing winter maintenance and slipperiness prevention in the Netherlands. The guideline supports road authorities and municipalities in developing winter maintenance policies, operational plans, treatment strategies and prioritised maintenance networks. Of particular relevance to year-round active mobility, the guideline addresses the specific requirements of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. It considers how winter maintenance priorities should reflect travel patterns, including commuting and school journeys, and the accessibility needs of pedestrians, particularly vulnerable users. The guidance also covers the coordination of maintenance activities across different parts of the transport network. The publication addresses organisational responsibilities, operational procedures, equipment, treatment materials, environmental considerations and the management of winter maintenance under varying weather conditions. For municipalities developing year-round active mobility networks, the guideline provides a structured reference for integrating walking and cycling into winter maintenance planning rather than treating them as secondary transport modes. **Access note:** The full guideline is a paid publication. This summary is based on publicly available information about its scope and content.
- Maintenance & Operations
Research
Integrated weather effects on e-cycling in daily commuting
Joost de Kruijf, Peter van der Waerden, Tao Feng, Lars Böcker, Dea van Lierop, Dick Ettema, Martin Dijst · 2021 · Netherlands
This longitudinal study examines how weather conditions influence electric bicycle commuting in Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands. Combining nine months of GPS-based travel data, hourly meteorological observations and participant questionnaires, the researchers assess how snow and ice, precipitation, wind and temperature affect the likelihood of commuting by e-bike. Snow and ice show the strongest negative association, followed by precipitation and high wind speeds. The findings also reveal that commuting intentions and household car availability influence responses to adverse weather. The study provides empirical evidence for understanding seasonal variations in e-bike commuting and identifying barriers to year-round active mobility.
- Data & Monitoring
- Behaviour & Mobility Management
ResearchReport
Vitality from Walking and Cycling
Tuuli Rantala, Pasi Metsäpuro, Terhi Luukkonen, Kaisa Karhula, Kalle Vaismaa, Jorma Mäntynen · 2014 · 6 countries
The purpose of this book is to serve as stimulus for developing highquality walking and cycling conditions in Finnish cities. The book gathers diverse knowledge for instance on how improving pedestrian conditions affects businesses and how geographical data may be utilized in the designing of a cycling network. In addition, it provides concrete guidance for designing spaces for pedestrians and to improve cycling conditions year-round.
- Planning & Design
- Maintenance & Operations
- Data & Monitoring
- Policy, Strategy & Governance
Report
Winter Slipperiness Control on Dutch Cycle Paths, 2009–2010
Theo Zeegers · 2010 · Netherlands
This Dutch report examines the performance of winter maintenance on cycling infrastructure during the unusually snowy winter of 2009–2010. Drawing on cyclist experiences, survey findings and assessments of municipal maintenance practices, it identifies problems in snow clearance, slippery conditions and the prioritisation of cycling routes. The report discusses practical improvements, including giving priority to main cycling routes, using mechanical snow removal and brushing, setting operational response targets and communicating maintained routes to the public. It provides a valuable case study of how inadequate winter maintenance can affect cycling safety and network accessibility, and how municipalities can improve the reliability of cycling infrastructure during severe winter conditions.
- Maintenance & Operations
- Policy, Strategy & Governance
Toolkit
Fietsersbond Route Planner – Winter maintained routes
Fietsersbond · Netherlands
A winter-aware routing option within the Dutch Cyclists' Union's online bicycle route planner. The “Via Strooiroutes” profile prioritises roads and cycle paths designated by road authorities for gritting, sweeping or other winter slipperiness treatment. Where designated winter maintenance routes are unavailable, the planner also considers infrastructure characteristics such as pavement type and bridges. Users can display the mapped treatment routes and generate cycling journeys that favour infrastructure expected to receive winter maintenance. The tool demonstrates how winter maintenance information can be translated into a practical service for everyday cycling. However, the information may be incomplete and does not guarantee that a selected route has actually been cleared or treated.
- Maintenance & Operations
- Data & Monitoring
- Behaviour & Mobility Management