How shortcuts link everything together for cyclists and strollers
With smart shortcuts, you can make it much easier and safer for cyclists and pedestrians to move through the city or village centre. With these 3 tips, you'll immediately know how to go about it.
A small bridge, a passage through an office complex or shopping centre, an open path across private land... these are all examples of clever ways to eliminate missing links in the network for pedestrians and cyclists. They eliminate barriers, shortening routes for active road users. As a result, cycling and walking become natural and pleasant again. If key public transport destinations and stops are also easily accessible via slow roads, the picture is complete.
1. Know your slow ways
In the Tragewegenregister you will find all known slow roads in Flanders. However, that map is not always complete, so it is definitely a good idea to check for your territory where some are still missing.
This can be done by making a traverse map that brings out the knowledge of your inhabitants. Through a participation process, you let people put the routes they know and use on a map. They also indicate the missing links and immediately make proposals to eliminate them.
Finally, be sure to also look at spontaneous routes, so-called elephant paths that arise naturally because people use them frequently. Such paths are always interesting to make 'official' in your mobility plans.
Are you already familiar with OpenStreetMap (OSM)?
OpenStreetMap, kortweg OSM, is een open sourceproject dat vrij beschikbare en bewerkbare landkaarten maakt. het verzamelt wereldwijd informatie over straten, rivieren, grenzen en gebieden. Allemaal te raadplegen via een open database waar ook jij aan kan meewerken. Een Wikipedia, maar dan in atlasvorm.
2. Respect the 4 basic criteria
Directness and connectivity
Make the connection part of a finely woven and coherent network for pedestrians and cyclists. Make the route as little of a diversion for users as possible.
User comfort
Ensure that the connection meets the minimum quality requirements, as provided for in the vade mecums pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Comfort also assumes good maintenance and no unauthorised use by motorised traffic, e.g. as a shortcut or car park.
Road safety
A succession of shortcuts with cycle and footpaths often offers a safe alternative to a route along a busy road. So consider a conflict-free, slow link and feel free to give priority to active road users.
Quality of experience
A crossing should not only be pleasant to use, but also to stay on. Think of landscape elements with water and greenery, sufficient resting points with benches or a play area for children. Attractive routes also increase the willingness to make a small diversions. Good lighting gives a safe feeling and ensures that people use the connection in the evening too.
3. Include cut-throughs in your mobility policy
Get into the habit of screening opportunities to eliminate missing links in the cycling and pedestrian network with every new project. Through the municipal spatial structure plan, you can also impose an urban development permit with guidelines for thoroughfares in construction projects. As a policy-maker, pedestrian and neighbourhood roads, as well as public easements of passage, also provide you with an enforceable framework to realise shortcuts.
If you have questions about regulations, procedures, construction and maintenance or are looking for resources and maps. Organisation Slow Roads has a handy Q&A on its website. Definitely worth checking out.
Need help creating more shortcuts?
Our colleague Glenn Godin is here to support you. Contact him using the form below.
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