Construction of a new neighborhood is set to begin in Utrecht next week. The neighborhood, called Merwede, is scheduled to be the largest car-free district in the Netherlands, with 6,000 homes. The area will be between the Merwedekanaal and Park Transwijk, in the southwestern part of the city, and will be able to house an estimated 12,000 people.The area consists of 1,800 social rental homes, 1,500 mid-range rental and affordable owner-occupied homes, and 2,700 private sector rental and owner-occupied homes, according to the municipality.
I’m not sure! It’s not just Utrecht, the Netherlands as a whole has arguably the best bicycle infrastructure in the world.
There is a very successful “Fietsersbond” (bicyclists’ union) that’s been around since the fifties, I believe, which probably helped. And the country is very flat, though that shouldn’t be an excuse for cities.
I suppose in the past we must’ve had quite progressive governments, too. Though these days the biggest centre-right party would rather form a coalition with nazis than anything left-wing…