2026 Mobility Annual Plan: From Planning to Visible Implementation

The municipal executive has adopted the 2026 Annual Plan of the Mobility Implementation Programme 2040. With this plan, the focus shifts from research and planning to concrete implementation. This year, among other initiatives, the construction of through-cycle routes and priority roads will begin, 30 km/h measures will be prepared and implemented, and projects in the areas of traffic safety, active mobility, and accessibility will become visible in the city. In doing so, Hilversum is taking the next concrete step towards a green, safe, and accessible city.

2025 Review: Preparation and Decision-Making

In 2025, the emphasis was on research, exploration, and drafting project plans. For example, designs for through-cycle routes and priority roads were developed, policies for shared mobility and logistics were prepared, and work began on addressing pedestrian needs. Important decisions were also made. For instance, it was decided not to introduce a zero-emission zone in the city centre. However, the impact of mobility measures on air quality and CO₂ emissions was investigated.

Step by Step Towards 2040

In 2026, the focus shifts to implementation. Approximately twenty projects, including those related to traffic safety, active mobility (physical activity), shared mobility, and accessibility, will transition from planning to realization. Edwin Göbbels, Alderman for Mobility: “The 2026 Mobility Annual Plan shows the concrete steps we are taking towards a green, safe, and accessible city. By carefully preparing and executing projects, we are working towards the ambitions set out in the Mobility Vision 2040, with more space for walking and cycling, improved accessibility, and a liveable city for everyone.”

Hospitable City Centre and 30 km/h Zones

The city centre will be made increasingly car-free in phases. All streets within the City Ring will have a maximum speed limit of 30 km/h. This is outlined in the proposal ‘Hospitable City Centre’, combined with measures to expand bicycle parking and make the public space more attractive and safer.

Establishing and Investigating 30 km/h Zones in the City Ring

To enhance traffic safety, liveability, and a healthy living environment, research has been conducted into the conditions under which a 30 km/h speed limit can be introduced throughout the City Ring and what the traffic implications would be. Implementing a 30 km/h speed limit on the City Ring would negatively affect the bus service schedule. The transport operator has requested annual financial compensation amounting to several hundred thousand euros for this. To avoid these costs, the aim is to align the introduction of the 30 km/h limit on the City Ring with revised agreements in the new public transport concession.

Through-Cycle Routes and Cycling Facilities

Work has already begun on the construction of the through-cycle route towards Wijdemeren. Routes to Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Amersfoort are being further prepared. In addition, efforts are underway to install extra bicycle parking spaces in the city centre; improvements to cycle paths, including in Kerkelanden; the redesign of parts of the City Ring, including Oude Torenstraat and ’s-Gravelandseweg; and further development of plans in the Station area and near Oostspoorplein.

Traffic Safety and Liveability

The municipality is continuing its work to make priority roads and crossings safer. In 2026, the implementation of measures will begin at several locations. Efforts are also being made to improve traffic safety around schools and sports parks; further development of plans for Minckelersstraat, where traffic safety is being combined with climate-adaptive measures; and optimisation of intersections and roundabouts where safety and traffic flow converge.

More Space for Pedestrians

The first components of the Pedestrian Policy are expected to be submitted to the municipal council this year. This policy outlines how Hilversum will structurally work towards better sidewalks, safer pedestrian crossings, and obstacle-free routes. Concrete improvements to pavements and crossings will be implemented between 2026 and 2029.

Parking, Charging Points, and Public Transport

The expansion of paid parking up to the outer ring will be completed this year. An evaluation of the introduction will be published in June. Additionally, the municipality will continue to expand charging facilities in public spaces. The goal of realising approximately 1,000 charging points by 2035 remains ambitious, partly due to spatial integration and grid congestion. For residents on lower incomes, bus use is being encouraged through a special arrangement, ‘Free Bus Travel for Over-67s’.

Smart Mobility and Monitoring

Hilversum is investing in smart mobility and data-driven operations. By using data, the air quality network will be further expanded, and a noise monitoring point will be installed near the Beatrix Tunnel. Permanent bicycle counters will also be placed at 16 locations, and traffic flows will be continuously monitored using digital systems. This data will help to better substantiate mobility policy and make timely adjustments. The deployment of intelligent traffic light systems (iVRI) with sensors in the coming years will ultimately lead to better traffic flow at intersections for pedestrians, cyclists, scooters, and cars. The average waiting time for pedestrians and cyclists will decrease, making these clean, active forms of mobility more attractive. By 2028, existing traffic light systems (VRI) will be replaced with iVRI systems.

Collaboration with Businesses

In collaboration with businesses, an action plan is being developed to promote hybrid working, thereby reducing commuting. In 2025, many preparations were made to structurally shape the so-called ‘employer approach’. The development of an action plan will take shape steadily this and next year. The importance of commuting by public transport will also be discussed with employers.

Shared Mobility Policy

The municipal executive has made a positive decision on the vision and implementation plan for shared mobility. This gives car, bicycle, and scooter sharing a fixed place in Hilversum’s mobility system. In this way, the municipality aims to reduce parking pressure, promote sustainable mobility, and improve accessibility for as many residents as possible. One of the components of the shared mobility policy is the expansion of shared mobility (bicycles and scooters) around public transport hubs (by 2028). By encouraging the use of public transport and shared mobility, cars will remain parked more often. Over the coming years, work will be done on a plan to make public transport hubs more attractive. Additionally, the municipality is collaborating regionally with the Province of North Holland on mobility hubs in the ‘Hub Strategy Gooicorridor’.

The chain mobility project plan addresses behavioural change by offering mobility solutions throughout the entire chain, where transfer options and modes of transport seamlessly connect. This encourages combining at least two modes of transport for journeys from A to B, such as the car and bicycle, the car and bus, or the bicycle and public transport. The project plan will be submitted to the municipal executive in 2028.

Implementation Within Existing Frameworks

The 2026 Annual Plan has been developed within the content and financial frameworks of the Mobility Implementation Programme 2040. Where possible, opportunities for project subsidies at the provincial, national, and European levels will be utilised.