Dutch travelers' assoc. calls for more attention to cyclists' safety

Dutch municipalities should pay more attention to the safety of cyclists, according to travelers' association ANWB. Cyclists' safety can be improved by, among other things, implementing more restrictive measures on car traffic in the big cities, ANWB director Frits van Bruggen said to newspaper AD.

A recent survey among 22 thousand ANWB members showed that 27 percent feel unsafe on the bicycle. In Amsterdam that is even 44 percent. That's very high, according to Van Bruggen.

The ANWB calls for more 30 km/h speed limit zones in Dutch cities and towns. "Not every car owner is happy with that", Van Bruggen said to the newspaper. "We also get discussions about that. But it's not about bullying cars or bullying bicycles, it's about safety."

He hopes that traffic safety will play a role in the municipal elections. "Road safety has fallen into oblivion. We note insufficient urgency in the municipal councils. It is time for a wake up call", the ANWB director said.