There will be 300 additional bicycle parking spaces on the edges of the Asser city center. They must put an end to haphazardly parked bicycles criss-crossing in the shopping area. The Assen Cyclists’ Union has also been complaining for some time about a shortage of good parking spaces.
The cycling chaos on the Koopmansplein, which has been redesigned for millions, is a particular source of annoyance. This summer, the political parties 50PLUS and City Party PLOP asked whether the parking spaces could be removed from the square. They want to move everything to behind the Hema. There is enough space there, the parties believe, and this way ‘the living room of Assen’ can be rid of the mess of bicycles.
But for the time being, the Municipal Executive is thinking of other solutions elsewhere in the city. Because there are now twenty parking spaces behind the Hema. “And according to counts, they are not or hardly used,” the council says. A redevelopment plan for the location behind the Hema is also in the making, including residential apartments. As a result, bicycle parking there is only possible temporarily.
The council has therefore opted for more permanent bicycle parking spaces at locations where, according to censuses, there is also the greatest demand. These are the Kop van de Vaart, the Minervalaan, the Apollopad, the Nieuwe Huizen and the Groningerstraat. Sketch designs have now been made for the parking areas. The municipality is currently discussing this with property owners and entrepreneurs.
It is expected that the additional bicycle parking spaces will be available from the spring. The municipality also wants to make the covered bicycle shed in De Nieuwe Kolk more visible. If it is used more, it will also relieve the Koopmansplein somewhat more, the council expects.
After the reopening of Koopmansplein in 2021, there were immediate grumblings about a veritable ‘bicycle tsunami’ on the beautified square with benches, playground and fountain. Bicycles were parked outside the designated areas. And that caused nuisance and unsafe situations.
Inner city organization Vaart in Assen has wanted to combat this with a bicycle parking campaign and a pop-up bicycle shed. The arrival of the additional parking spaces is a follow-up to this.