Sharing insights on cycling friendly cities with Hungarian delegation

On the 20^th and 21^st of October, the Dutch Cycling Embassy welcomed a Hungarian delegation to Houten and Utrecht for a two-day study visit. The central themes of the visit were how to make cities more cycling-friendly and to explore what changes are needed to extend these efforts, making cycling a more integral part of transport planning and everyday life across the entire country.

The delegation brought together representatives from across the public sector, including the State Secretary for Transport, members of the Ministry of Transport and Investment, as well as delegates from the Centre for Budapest Transport (BKK) and the Active Hungary Development Centre, among others.

Exploring Houten

The first day kicked off at the Houten train station where the group experienced Dutch cycling for the first time, pedalling the streets of Houten to the historic city centre. The first presentation was held by Arjan Breider from Hart voor Verkeer, which highlighted infrastructure and intersection design in the Netherlands.

Next, Nils Steinhäuser from Goudappel shared a presentation on the topic of the cycling network planning and motor traffic management. The goal was to inspire the delegation and create a clear view of how implementation takes place in the Netherlands. An open discussion followed about a project in Budapest, where the municipality is planning to remove the tram and introduce bicycle lanes. here, one of the main takeaways was the importance of creating a priority hierarchy and analysis of the target audience before embarking on such projects.

After lunch, the group joined Ivan and Maaike from Hart voor Verkeer in a cycling tour in and around Houten. The tour showcased the cycling nature that Houten is known for, separation of cycling infrastructure from cars and for the division between highly congested streets and cycling paths, showcasing a first-hand experience of all the cycling infrastructure within the city.

The day concluded with an explanation of the bicycle parking inside the Houten Centraal station, which was a great first interaction with these elements to end on as it gave the delegation a first glance into tomorrow’s presentation.

Practical insights from Utrecht

On the second day, the delegation was welcomed at the Dutch Cycling Embassy’s office for presentations and discussions on bicycle–transit integration and bicycle parking, introduced by Simone Jorink from Movares. She highlighted the importance of providing bicycle parking that reflects the demand and specific location of each station. This includes offering a range of parking facilities to accommodate different types of bicycles, as well as public transport bike rental services (OV-fiets). Drawing on examples from Utrecht, she discussed both successful bicycle parking solutions and the challenges that remain. remain. remain.

Next, Mirjam Borsboom form Movida Transport Solutions shared examples of successful cycling infrastructure projects in Rotterdam, focusing on temporary-to-permanent solutions. She also addressed the challenges municipalities face when adapting infrastructure and the importance of involving local communities in transforming streets and neighbourhoods. Discussions revolved around how pilot projects can demonstrate that new approaches work in practice, even if there is initially limited support among local communities or political decision-makers. This was taken even further, highlighting that continued advocacy and persistence can help build support over time and ultimately contribute to projects being implemented, even if new ideas may not always receive immediate support from decision-makers.

After lunch, the group joined a guided cycling tour through Utrecht, led by Simone Jorink and Lisette Willems. The tour showcased practical examples of bicycle–transit integration, including connections between cycling infrastructure and suburban railway stations. Following the cycling tour, the group walked to the Movares office, which offered further opportunities to explore Dutch cycling infrastructure and exchange ideas on how these approaches could be applied elsewhere.

These two days provided a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange between Hungary and the Netherlands, combining practical examples, expert insights and first-hand experiences to explore how cycling can become a more integral part of urban mobility. As members of the newly elected government, the delegation’s motivation for the study visit was strongly shaped by their ambition to raise awareness on cycling and explore how Dutch expertise could support safer and more accessible cycling in their local context. Throughout the visit, Dutch experts emphasised that transforming urban mobility takes time, both in infrastructure development and changing mindsets. At the same time, the delegation is keen to translate these insights into action within its four-year political term. Their motivation was clear throughout the visit, and we look forward to seeing how these ambitions develop.