Wout van Aert “almost killed” after receiving “harrowing” punishment pass from horn-blaring lorry driver

I think you're correct.  They did build a mountain for cycling up though... Also it is possible to get up to a fair lick (60kmh+) in places.  And they're building genuine fast cycle routes - not "cycle superhypeways".

I'm not sure exactly what the design speed is but I think the idea is that people will do a reasonable speed on the cycle path.  That's the opposite of the UK where "because pedestrians!"* the goal always seems to be "slow down those dangerous scortchers".

* Conflict which we've made worse by cheaping out and building "shared use" stuff - or rather just putting up a blue bike sign.

I recall seeing Mark Beaumont being stopped by the Dutch police for riding on the road for his round the world ride in the documentary. I've accidentally ended up on the road once or twice when riding in unfamiliar places here, and missing the entrance to a cycle lane. 

I think 48m only counts as a mountain in NL.

Even Norfolk is twice as tall.

When 26% of the place is below sea level it's all up!  Apparently the average is 30 m ASL and the highest point is 322 meters.

They say the headwinds are fierce though.

Yes, it is illegal to ride when there is a bikepath aside in some bike paths https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bikeway_and_legislation

But a fast moving bulk of a truck can be really dangerous aerodynamically to "suck" you inside, so punishment pass can be super dangerous, not just a statement. I believe all vehicle drivers should ride for a certain distance as a part of their driving license examination and be overtaken by a heavy vehicle.

Similarly there should be road safety static truck demos, that cyclists could see how invisible they can get at blind spots of trucks.

It's clearly signed if cyclists (tractors and mopeds) are banned from the road:

https://earth.app.goo.gl/K1Zzsq

The reason for it is these roads are either dual-carriageway or double white lines, with a single lane in each direction. Overtaking is banned to improve safety, so slower vehicles are moved onto a different route. 

You can cycle on the road, even if there's a bike path, where there are no signs banning it. As this chap is doing here. This could have been the section, it's about half-way on their route.

According to the detailed notes here and also notes here this may also depend on the type of cycle path (sign) and a few other things.

Quote:

You are required to cycle on the separate dedicated bicycle path when one is available. It is typically marked by a blue circular sign with bicycle icon. ... When a dedicated bicycle path is not available, cycling is allowed on the road. If there is a mandatory cycling lane, the cyclist must use it. ... A path marked with a blue rectangular sign with the word ‘Fietspad’ indicates an optional bicycle path ... Cyclist are not allowed on certain roads or pedestrian-only streets. ... You are not allowed to cycle on paths designated for pedestrians in parks, forests, woods or recreation areas.

On the other hand it also says you're not allowed to cycle under the influence of alcohol which I suspect isn't always strictly policed... Plus they've banned using phones and they do fine people - I guess it's more obvious than the phone in lap in a car but I wonder how well this is adhered to?

Note the round blue mandatory cycle path sign just to the left of the more distant cyclist.  No cycling on the road going in the opposite direction.

There's a blue sign going in the other direction too, so that is a mandatory cycle lane - should this cyclist not be on the road then, most likely.

https://goo.gl/maps/W9QBGY89ueTaEECy9

I hadn't appreciated it was still mandatory, even without the red circle sign.

From their Strava ?

For me the thing is surely Van Aert and his group of ride buddies have been riding in the Netherlands long enough to know the rules and pick routes where this won't be a problem for them, they are pro cyclists after all.

Equally let's just say they were breaking the rules, why is the penalty for that a near death experience?

yep, from the strava route, if that was the right route linked in the article. Just before the cafe stop - which after an experience like that, I'd be looking for a cafe stop pronto!

I'm not sure quite how stringently the mandatory cycle sign is followed - the roadie in this streetview clearly isn't bothered about it. No excuse for a dangerous close pass whatever the rules say.

https://goo.gl/maps/W9QBGY89ueTaEECy9

The only possible excuses for a close pass are I messed up or I'm a dick, neither of which are legitimate.

However i am also sure that if someone breaks the law they should be dealt with by authorities and not by some idiot behind a wheel of a lorry that thinks its ok to kill someone by being judge, jury and executioner without a proper hearing, for a minor road traffic impingement.

lesterama wrote:

In the Netherlands, I believe that cycling on the road is not permitted where there is a cycle path next to it.

That depends on whether it is a "mandatory" or "discretionary" cycle-path. In dutch a "verplicht" or "onverplicht" fietspad.

A mandatory fietspad is indicated with a /round/ blue sign with a /symbol/ of a bicycle on it. It is a legal requirement to cycle on these rather than the carriageway, when the cycle-path is indicated this way. The carriageway will also have a "cycling prohibited" sign, with the standard round sign with a red roundel and white background, with symbols showing a bicycle (and other vehicles) that are prohibited.

A discretionary ("onverplicht") cylce-path is indicated with a /rectangular/ blue sign with "fiestpad" /written/ on it (no bike symbol). With such a cyclepath, it is still permitted to cycle on the carriageway.