The Municipality of Ede has started extra maintenance on frequently used bike paths in the rural area. Currently, work is being done on three routes: Hoge Valkseweg, Vijfsprongweg, and Immenweg. In total, eight kilometers of bike path are involved. With these activities, the municipality aims to improve safety and comfort for cyclists, while considering the surrounding nature.
Maintenance needed for comfort and safety
The bike paths in the rural area of Ede are intensively used by residents and visitors. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of recreational users of the paths. The municipality regularly receives signals about the state of maintenance. Alderman Versteeg recognizes these signals: “Sometimes I receive emails from residents or visitors indicating that they feel the condition of some bike paths is not good enough, which is of course not the intention. We want our bike paths to be safe and pleasant to use.”
According to the alderman, a conscious choice has been made to take a first step now in extra maintenance.
Consideration for nature
During the work, special attention is paid to nature. The bike paths lie in a beautiful and ecologically valuable area, which brings extra challenges. The municipality therefore works closely with ecologists and applies full ecological supervision during the work. In addition, a machine is used that performs multiple actions at once, to limit the burden on nature. Any disturbance of verges is restored after the work.
It was also a conscious choice to use concrete instead of asphalt. When constructing bike paths with concrete, fewer harmful substances are released. Concrete also has a longer lifespan, so less maintenance will be needed on these routes in the future.
“I am proud of the good cooperation with our colleagues from ecology and the executing parties,” says alderman Versteeg. “This way we ensure that we carry out maintenance carefully and at the same time disturb nature as little as possible. In this way, residents and visitors can continue to enjoy safe cycling kilometers in our municipality.”