With a bike ride along the Maas near Hedel, the fast bicycle route F2 was officially opened on Thursday afternoon. The 15-kilometer long bicycle route offers a fast, safe, and comfortable alternative to the busy A2. With the addition of a bridge near s-Hertogenbosch and a tunnel near Zaltbommel, the route will become even better in the future.
At the opening, deputies Stijn Smeulders (North Brabant) and Klaas Ruitenberg (Gelderland) cycled over the Princess Irene Brigade Bridge. A symbolic place, as not only the Maas is crossed there, but also the provincial border. The two officials also unveiled an artwork depicting the route between the stations of s-Hertogenbosch and Zaltbommel.
“In Brabant, we are working on a large network of fast bicycle routes,” said deputy Smeulders. “Because cycling is fun, healthy, and in many cases just the fastest way to get from A to B. Especially at a time when traffic jams are increasing and a solution to that problem is not yet in sight. Fifteen kilometers is certainly doable with an electric bike, which is why we are really offering a new travel option for people in the Bommelerwaard and Den Bosch with the F2. I am sure that countless commuters, students, and other cyclists will enjoy it immensely.”
Enticing for the bike
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 provide smart alternatives. The F2 plays an important role in enticing travelers to take the bike instead of the car.
“Accessibility does not stop at a municipal or provincial border,” says deputy Ruitenberg. “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 bicycle route offers a nice alternative to the car. This way, the connection is faster and better, and it is wonderful that we have been able to work on this with 5 authorities.”
A lot of beauty in store
For the realization of the F2, much of the existing infrastructure has been improved. For example, by widening bike paths and providing them with the recognizable red asphalt. But it does not stop there. In s-Hertogenbosch, a crossing will be made over the Zandzuigerstraat, followed by a connection to the bridge of the Nelson Mandelalaan. This significantly shortens the travel time to and from the station. In Zaltbommel, the F2 will soon pass under the provincial road N322. The province of Gelderland will start construction of this in October this year. Both structures are expected to be completed in 2027. The total costs for the F2 amount to around €20 million. The province of Gelderland bears a slightly larger share of the costs than the province of North Brabant, as the largest part of the route lies in that province.
This is the 2nd time that the two provinces have joined forces for a fast bicycle route. Previously, this also happened with the F73 between Cuijk and Nijmegen. Research shows that as many as 29 percent of users of the F73 previously took the car for the same route. This makes it one of the most successful fast bicycle routes in the country. For the F2, the municipalities of Zaltbommel, Maasdriel, and s-Hertogenbosch are also involved, as well as the Cyclists Union and the government. To further encourage the use of the F2, a connection is being sought with the national campaign “Short trip? Thats so cycled” and employers in the region are being encouraged to promote the route.