Festive Opening
At the opening, provincial deputies Stijn Smeulders (North Brabant) and Klaas Ruitenberg (Gelderland) cycled over the Princess Irene Brigade Bridge, among other things. A symbolic place, as not only the Maas is crossed there, but also the provincial border. The two officials also unveiled a work of art depicting the route between the stations of s-Hertogenbosch and Zaltbommel.
Nice Alternative for the Car
Accessibility does not stop at a municipal or provincial border. We all want to visit friends or family, go to work or school. Zaltbommel and Maasdriel are Gelderland municipalities, but you see that many residents are focused on the nearest large city: the Brabant Den Bosch. No one likes to be stuck in traffic, and this high-quality bike route offers a nice alternative to the car. This way, the connection is faster and better. And it is nice that we have been able to work on this with 5 authorities.
Deputy of Gelderland Province
Bicycle Route Alternative for A2
The F2 route is one of the measures from the MIRT A2 Deil–Vught program, which focuses on improving accessibility and livability in the area around the A2. Since the highway will not be widened for the time being, it is important to offer smart alternatives. The F2 plays an important role in encouraging travelers to take the bike instead of the car.
Infrastructure Improvements
For the realization of the F2, existing infrastructure has mostly been improved. For example, by widening bike paths and providing them with recognizable red asphalt. But it does not stop there. In s-Hertogenbosch, a crossing is made over Zandzuigerstraat, followed by a connection to the bridge of Nelson Mandelalaan. At Zaltbommel, the F2 will soon pass under the provincial road N322. Gelderland Province will start the construction of the bicycle tunnel in October this year. Both structures are expected to be completed in 2027.
Cooperation
The F2 is a collaboration of Gelderland Province, North Brabant, the municipalities of Zaltbommel, Maasdriel, and s-Hertogenbosch, as well as the Cyclists Union and the State.
This is the second time that the two provinces have joined forces for a bicycle route. This was previously done with the F73 between Cuijk and Nijmegen. Research shows that as many as 29% of users of the F73 previously took the car for the same route. Thus, it is one of the most successful fast bicycle routes in the country.
Bike App
To further stimulate the use of the F2, a connection is being sought with the national campaign “Short ride? Thats so cycled” and employers in the region are encouraged to promote the route.