Why do the Dutch use red asphalt for all of their cycle lanes, streets, and intersections? “A result of using the materials around them, a desire for a cohesive road network in an attractive urban environment, and most importantly a willingness to invest in safety.” dutchcycling.nl/knowledge/cy... - ThreadSky

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modacitylife.com • 81 days ago

Why do the Dutch use red asphalt for all of their cycle lanes, streets, and intersections?

“A result of using the materials around them, a desire for a cohesive road network in an attractive urban environment, and most importantly a willingness to invest in safety.”

https://dutchcycling.nl/knowledge/cycling-news/the-story-behind-red-asphalt-why-the-dutch-have-red-cycling-infrastructure/

Comments

carltonreid.com•81 days ago

Often the same naturally red aggregates that are used for the Mall, down from Buckingham Palace in London; from Northumberland’s Harden quarry: https://roadswerenotbuiltforcars.com/northern-englands-cycle-infrastructure-is-the-best-in-europe/

ethnographer.bsky.social•81 days ago

City of Edmonton staffer tried to source asphalt colouring in the early optimistic days of implementing the bike plan. Green and red were astronomically pricey. Blue unavailable. Local materials (sand, gravel) are grey or beige. Not exactly distrinct from the road surface 🫤

wouterrinos.bsky.social•81 days ago

It's so much more visible than just a sign. In the same way that graphs and tables are easier to read with some colours, the roads are easier to read as well.

tsotate.bsky.social•81 days ago

The red asphalt is actually my one big problem with the otherwise fantastic Dutch system. That red is essentially indistinguishable from the nearby grey for people with reduced color vision.

jbambury.bsky.social•81 days ago

Options like green or blue look cold, harsh & uninviting however plus tend to 'dirty' more easily. They're also not available as natural aggregate so don't last. Plus still missed by the less common forms of colour blindness anyway.

tsotate.bsky.social•81 days ago

That said, I'd still take their system over the complete lack of one in the US, even if I couldn't distinguish the colors at all.

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