Integrated Transport

We hear a lot about integrated transport, but what does it mean ? I've always assumed this referred to being able to switch between modes as convenient. So, it's useful if train stations and bus stations are in the same place. It's also rather useful if you can leave your bike somewhere sensible if you wish to take a train or bus.

This is done wonderfully well in the Netherlands. In virtually every town, the train station is located in the same place as the bus station. There is also nearly always a bicycle shop including cycle hire of two kinds - OV-fiets (public transport bike) for regular commuters to take each day they arrive in the city and the regular kind for people who just rarely hire bikes and want one for a few days when visiting.

You'll also find plenty of cycle parking at the railway stations, and also at bus-stops in town - the bikes shown in the picture are at a large bus-stop in a residential part of Assen - and even at bus-stops out in the country.

The same large bus stop on google maps streetview:

Grotere kaart weergeven
And as seen from above:

Click to see on Google Maps Since this blog post was written, more car parking spaces have been converted into cycle-parking. The greenish area in the centre top of this image and the cars parked to the top left of that area are now areas of extra cycle-parking.

For more examples of ample bicycle parking so that bikes can be used with other forms of transport see my videos of cycle parking at Assen Station and at Groningen Station, or see all the Integrated Transport, bus, Cycle Parking or Commuting stories.

There are also some examples of parking on the photos page.