Eindhoven (Netherlands)
Eindhoven is a city of 212,000 inhabitants, located in the province of Noord-Brabant in the south of the Netherlands. It lies 87 km east of Rotterdam and is well known for its football club, PSV Eindhoven. The public transport of Eindhoven consists of almost 25 city bus lines, which also serve neighbouring cities.
According to the city’s Annual Mobility Survey, Eindhoven demonstrates a modal split of 68 percent private vehicles, 24 percent cyclists, and 8 percent public transport. (There are no data for pedestrians.)
The city’s strategic approach to transport management is currently defined by its Roadbook for Public Transport up to 2020, which was adopted by the City Council in February 2009. The main goals are the improvement of air quality, liveability and safety; guaranteed accessibility; increased use of public transport; and the following modal split by 2020: a reduction in the share of private vehicles to 62 percent, an increase in the share of cyclists to 26 percent, and an increase in the share of public transport use to 12 percent.
Good progress has been made in relation to decisions on cycling and public transport measures, although insufficient priority is given by the City Council to providing financial support to secure implementation. Achievements to date include innovative measures and infrastructure development, such as the redesign of the city center ring road; the development of the Rapid Bus Transit line (Phileas) between the city center and the airport; free public transport for children below the age of 13 and the elderly (over 65 years of age); free bicycle parking; and the introduction of the Mobility Fund (2010) through which car parking fees will be channeled into investments on bicycle facilities and public transport.
Special emphasis on clean vehicles and alternative fuels has been demonstrated through the creation of the Low Emission Zone around the city center in 2007 (which only “clean” lorries with at least Euro 4 standard engines are permitted to enter); the opening of a multi-fuel gas station in 2009; and the introduction of pilot NONOX buses in the public transport system in 2009.
Future plans include the design and implementation of car-related measures (the reduction of car use in the inner city by 30 percent; a car accessibility plan; etc.).
Eindhoven works on the implementation of sustainable urban transport measures in cooperation with the Eindhoven Regional Authority (SRE), the provincial and national government, the public transport company, the Cycling Association, traffic safety organizations, economic stakeholders, the university etc.
Finalized: February 2010
