Utrecht is an incredible city for cyclists. It has been named the best cycling city in the world several times (2019 and 2022), based on the Global Bicycle Cities Index. Utrecht is home to the first bike path in the Netherlands, the world's largest bike park and has hosted all three of the biggest cycling races (Tour de France, Giro and Vuelta). Below are 5 examples of bicycle innovations in Utrecht.

An impressive bike path runs through the parking connecting the different levels. Wouldn't this also be the longest covered bike path? Remember well where you parked your bike, otherwise you can spend a very long time searching.

The first bicycle path in the Netherlands was built at the Maliebaan, a beautiful wide lane. This was in 1885. It was the time when people rode bicycles with a huge front wheel and a small rear wheel. These bicycles were pricey but could achieve a relatively high speed. They were especially popular among Utrecht's wealthy daredevils. To reduce the number of accidents involving these bicycles, the city council decided to provide a path specifically for cyclists. It was a real bike lane, as cyclists had right of way over other traffic.

On the west side of Utrecht, we find a special bicycle bridge connecting the Utrecht neighborhoods of Oog in Al and Leidsche Rijn. This bridge spans the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal (busiest navigated canal in Europe) and is named after the 2015 and 2017 world sprint champion, Daphne Schippers (from Utrecht).

What makes this bridge special is its ramp. Because of the limited space at the city side, the bike path there first had to make a specific turn to get to height. Because there also had to be room for a school, the bike path runs partially over the school roof. A fine piece of bicycle infrastructure.

Utrecht's most beautiful and colorful bike path can be found in the Uithof (now called the Utrecht Science Park). Like a cheerful ribbon, 7 lanes stretch through the heart of the University Center.

In the spirit of acceptance of everyone, regardless of your sexual preference, the bike path has been turned into an elongated rainbow. I don't know why, but personally, the bike path invites me to choose a color and then cycle across it as fast as possible without leaving your lane.

Years back in time we find the construction of traffic junction De Berekuil. This was the first flyover traffic junction in the Netherlands, where bicycle traffic was separated from car traffic! Cyclists pass underneath through the pit, car traffic travels above it. An additional tunnel was added in 2001, so that buses can also pass unhindered.

A somewhat incovenient truth is that the junction was designed by Anton Mussert. The leader of the Dutch National-Socialist party (NSB) during World War 2. In addition to being leader of the NSB, he was chief engineer of the Department of Public Works in Utrecht for some time. The Berekuil junction was opened in 1944 (!)and still functions incredibly well, despite increased flows of bicycle and car traffic.