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Back in April, I had the amazing opportunity to embark on a week-long infrastructure tour in the Netherlands with the ITE Georgia section. If you missed my initial takeaways and Houten review pieces, be sure to check them out!
Rotterdam provides a glimpse of what we can aspire to build toward in our Atlanta (and other sunbelt cities’) streets and neighborhoods:
- Cohesive bike network
- Safe infrastructure
- Frequent and ample transit
- The density to support it
- Reasonably supportive of car movements
Rotterdam Central is a bit different than other Dutch cities due to the bombing during World War II that destroyed much of the core. The central city was rebuilt with longer blocks and wider right-of-ways giving it a modern / more US feel. This led to a higher rate of car dependency in the mid to late 20th century. However, an amazing amount of retrofitting and investment in the past couple of decades has elevated the multimodal experience.
The core itself features it’s share of modern towers, busy tram lines (plus underground Metro lines), tree-lined streets and of course, scores of bikes in between. There were even (GASP), grass-tracked trams that operate within feet of biking and walking trails safely and efficiently. At the center sits the incredible Rotterdam Centraal Station which was rebuilt in the late 2000s.
While there are larger streets and more interaction with cars, the integration of bike infrastructure was top notch and allowed for a low-stress group ride through the core.
Rotterdam definitely felt like the most international City that we visited and offered the most applicable lessons to apply to my day-to-day work.
Still to come, I’ll be taking a closer look at Utrecht, Amsterdam, as well as rural riding and water infrastructure. Special thanks to the Dutch Cycling Embassy and ITE Georgia Section for hosting and organizing.
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Phil Veasley, PE, CNU-A, The Urban Connector, is a Professional Engineer with Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates focused on creating safer, more vibrant cities through strategic multimodal infrastructure design. With expertise spanning traffic analysis, hand sketching, conceptual design, and full construction documentation, he thrives on transforming roads into great streets where people of all ages and abilities can flourish. Based in Atlanta, Phil is a passionate advocate for walkable, dense, and equitable neighborhoods. Outside of work, his passion is exploring urban life through sketching infill ideas and navigating cities primarily by bike or foot. His on-the-ground perspective informs his professional work, helping him design transportation systems that are not only functional but also people-centered and inspiring. Phil brings both technical depth and a city lover’s enthusiasm to every project, drawing on the belief that infrastructure and urban form must go hand in hand to support vibrant, inclusive communities where everyone has access to opportunity and quality of life.
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Phil Veasley 