Texel cannot, of course, be compared to busy tourist attractions such as the Zaanse Schans or the Amsterdam city centre, but the island can still learn something from it, says traffic expert Daniël van Motman. He works for the Transport Region and the Metropolitan Region and advises on crowd management. In other words: how do you spread the crowds?
You notice it right away when the TESO ferry docks: the cars pour in and drive in goose pace on the only road on the island. Once the tourists have spread out, the crowds are relatively small, but many Texel residents still feel that it is busy. And sometimes it is. Daniël van Motman specializes in crowd management. His motto is spread and avoid.
“Of course it is not constantly busy, but there are peak moments. And you have to focus on that. It is important to spread both time and locations. A tip is to inform people when the busy moments are. is practical and transparent. Then they can choose whether they want to be there at those busy times, or whether they come earlier or later. And also: offer alternatives. “These locations are busy now, but you can also come here or there don’t forget: busyness is also a choice. Only you offer people to make a choice.”
Lessons learned
Van Motman has experience with this within his position when it comes to major events in the region. “People were given tips before, during and after. So how best to get there, and at what time. But also once they were there and how to get home. Where to park the car, what the routes were.” This was not done via an app, but via social media and tips were given on travel websites. Van Motman: “I’m not always in favor of launching apps for everything. That’s not always necessary.”
When the corona pandemic was at its peak, there is on Texel launched an app which showed where on the island it is busy. Van Motman would welcome using that app again. “After corona, a lot was let go, but such an app also provides insight. And with that, how you can avoid crowds. Why shouldn’t you use it anymore?”
Joint assignment
Van Motman is also in favor of involving the municipality of Den Helder in the discussion. Especially when it comes to reducing the number of cars on Texel. “It is a joint task, so you also have to think of a joint approach. Think of alternatives and logical transfer times. There is already a parking arrangement on the island, but – and it has been discussed more often – in Den Helder, for example, a car park so that people can continue by bicycle or public transport. How can you find the balance between the car and other alternatives?”
And calls not to come to Texel anymore? “No, I don’t think that’s an option. I always like to see how you can keep the system going. You shouldn’t shut things down. That’s a last step. But say: ‘don’t come to Texel’, then we have Don’t do it. I think that providing sustainable alternatives and spreading them out will give a lot of air.”
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