You'll find them in various places across the Netherlands: the Dutch cycle street (fietsstraat) where cars are guests. These are special streets where cyclists have plenty of space, but where motor vehicles are also permitted to drive. These streets are characterised by the pink colour of the paving stones or asphalt, making them appear like a large, road-spanning cycle path. This blog will delve deeper into this traffic phenomenon.
car as a guest
A Dutch cycle street looks like a grown-up cycle path with its characteristic pink paving. Cycle streets run through residential areas and shopping streets. Their design discourages cars from driving on them, allowing slow-moving traffic such as cyclists and pedestrians to travel through these streets calmly. These roads often form part of a commuter or cycling route. This does not mean that cars are not allowed to drive here, but they must do so at adjusted speeds. So if you have just a car hired and you suddenly find yourself on a cycle street? Don't worry: this won't result in a fine.
Is there a "car as a guest" sign in the cycle street?
In the Netherlands, there isn't necessarily a "car is a guest" sign on a cycle street. This is also not legally required. Some signs are used on certain cycle streets where the distinctive colour cannot indicate that it is a cycle street. For example, these signs provide extra information, such as a speed limit or a prohibition on overtaking. In Belgium, you will find a sign on a cycle street indicating the start of the cycle zone. This is because in Belgium, cyclists may also use the entire carriageway to cycle, and extra markings are therefore more important.
In a Dutch 'fietsstraat' (cycle street), cyclists have priority. Cars are only allowed to enter if they are going to a destination within the street and must drive at a speed no faster than a cyclist. The maximum speed limit is 30 km/h, and overtaking by cars is forbidden.
The cycle street aims to create a safe connection for cyclists between point A and B, partly to encourage more people to use their bikes instead of cars. Read more here about ways to drive more environmentally consciously. There are a number of rules when using a fietsstraat:
- The cycle street must be part of a cycle route.
- The cycle street must be made recognisable by pink paving stones or asphalt.
- Any signage indicates that it is a cycle street.
- Cyclists should ride on the right as much as possible.
- Cyclists may ride two abreast, provided they do not obstruct other road users.
- The speed of motor vehicles has been adjusted.
The normal traffic rules also apply on this special street. For example, using your phone for texting and calling while cycling has been forbidden since 2019. Read more about this rule here. This is a general traffic rule in the Netherlands and it also applies to special cycle streets.
Bicycle street maximum speed
Motor vehicles may encounter additional speed restrictions on a cycle street, such as a maximum speed limit. Generally, a maximum speed of 30 kilometres per hour already applies on a cycle street.
Is it permissible to overtake a car as a guest in a cycle street?
The design of the cycle street clearly shows that car drivers are guests. Therefore, they must also take cyclists into account. This also means that cars may only overtake a cyclist when it is safe to do so. Otherwise, the car driver must neatly follow behind the cyclist. However, there may also be a prohibition on overtaking in a cycle street, but this is indicated by special traffic signs.
