According to Irina, the placed sign that cyclists points out to pay close attention. “On a video of the accident you can see that Natacha paid attention and braked. She thought the truck had seen her.”
The mother wants more drastic measures. “I come here almost every day, because I feel my daughter close by. Then I often see it going wrong on that crossing.” Turning traffic often does not give cyclists and pedestrians priority, also sees reporter Celine Sulsters when she is standing next to the roundabout with Irina.
According to the traffic report that prepared research agency Goudappel, motorists must take into account too many traffic flows, because cyclists are approaching the roundabout from three sides.
School is worried
The Alkwin Kollege – where Natacha went to school – is also worried. Many students from that school cycle across the roundabout. “1600 students go to school every day and that must be safe,” says director Fieke Otto. “If a report shows that something else has to be done about road safety, then I also think that it should happen.”
The municipality of Uithoorn announces NH to work on a new design for the roundabout. “Designing and adjusting a roundabout takes a lot of time. This is due to the necessary investigations, traffic measurements, permits and tendering procedures. The municipality will do everything to make these processes run as quickly as possible.”
The next measure will be taken in March: then the entire cycle path will receive red coating.
‘Memorial too dangerous’
In addition to measures, Irina and the school near the roundabout want a memorial for Natacha. “That seems nice for her friends who cycle past it,” says Irina. Otto also wants to use the monument in lessons about the importance of road safety.
The municipality of Uithoorn does not want to allow the monument. “A memorial at this location can affect road safety. This is one of the reasons why the municipality’s policy is not to allow memorials throughout the municipality. In this specific case, the memorial will deduce the view of bicycle traffic.”