Groningen, Netherlands
Groningen is a medium sized university town north-east of Amsterdam. The center square here used to be a large parking lot. The parking lot was moved underground in the 1970's and closed to cars, except for taxis and busses. It is impossible to drive directly through the center because of this, as a result, cars are redirected to the outer ring roads, making the center very pleasant for cyclists and pedestrians.
I spent 3 months here studying the bike infrastructure while at the university. I conducted a survey of cyclists and most of them commented that it is fastest to get around by bicycle as opposed to car or bus. This was an intentional effort by the government. 50% of all trips in Groningen are by bicycle, making it the most bike friendly city among the more developed countries.
Typical red seperated bike lane. These are everywhere, making it safe, comfortable and convenient to get around.
This is a very successful intersection. I rode on this path to school and cars always stopped for me. The large bright yellow signs help no doubt.
Only the Dutch. This yellow sign is temporarily installed for about three months then removed. It indicates that cross traffic has the right of way. When it is removed, cross traffic must yield. My German friend there on the left, explained this is to keep motorists from going into auto-drive mode, to keep them always aware of their surroundings, because you never know when the signs will change on you!
