Eindhoven area gains five express cycle routes in one fell swoop

Over 51 million euros, more than 50 kilometers of bike path, 10 different municipalities. The network of express bicycle routes around Eindhoven is being gigantically expanded in one fell swoop. Via five new connections thousands of commuters will soon reach their destinations much faster. Never before has such a large investment in express cycle routes been made in the Netherlands.

For years, Brabant has been investing in a network of express bicycle routes that lead from A to B safely and with as few obstacles as possible. So now five routes are being added to that network in one go. This unique opportunity arises because money is available in the package of short-term measures to make the Brainport region more accessible.

Three new bridges, four underpasses

These are routes F2 (Eindhoven-Best), the Pendelroute (also Eindhoven-Best), the Green Corridor (Eindhoven-Oirschot), Hovenring-De Run (Veldhoven) and F58 (Tilburg-Lieshout). A total of three new bicycle bridges and four new bicycle underpasses will be added to the network. The most radical is the adaptation at the Wilhelminakanaal in Best. There will be three new bicycle tunnels under the freeways, plus a new bicycle bridge over the water.

This summer, the province and all ten municipalities involved put their signatures under the administrative agreements that should lead to the construction of the five routes. These are Eindhoven, Veldhoven, Best, Oirschot, Son en Breugel, Laarbeek, Nuenen, Tilburg, Oisterwijk and Hilvarenbeek. At the first location, even the shovel has already gone into the ground. In the course of next year the construction of all new routes should have started.

More bikes after construction express bike path

Research in 2023 shows that 1 in 5 users of already constructed express bike paths previously traveled the same route (in part) by car or public transport. Moreover, some 35 percent of users say they cycle more now than before the arrival of the express bike path. Results that exceeded the province's expectations.

"Those results are a great motivation to continue on this path," said Delegate Smeulders. "Because it does prove that express bicycle routes can help tremendously in the fight against traffic jams. With our network growing so rapidly, it becomes attractive for even more Brabanders to travel by bicycle. Thus, cycling is crucial to keeping our province accessible in the future as well."