Dutch Expertise at ICMA’s Global Best Practices in Mobility Planning

During the recent ICMA (International City/County Management Association) webinar on Global Best Practices in Mobility Planning on June 23, Marco Mulder of Arcadis and incoming board member at the Dutch Cycling Embassy, shared insights on how the Netherlands successfully integrates cycling and public transport.

He began with a short introduction to the work of the Dutch Cycling Embassy and then explored what makes the Dutch mobility mix so effective. A standout example is the “magical bike-train combination”: nearly half of all train journeys in the Netherlands begin with a bicycle ride to the station, accounting for approximately 650,000 trips per day.

This combination not only boosts ridership but also reduces car dependency. As Marco pointed out, nearly a quarter of all kilometers cycled in Dutch cities are to or from a train station. The system works because of key ingredients: local access, bike parking, Park & Ride facilities, a strong user experience, and smart mobility services.

The webinar allowed to share the Dutch experience in shaping more integrated and accessible mobility systems worldwide and the value thereof.