![10-Knooppunt_Sign-nX-1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/10-Knooppunt_Sign-nX-1.jpg)
The numbered-node cycle network ( nl, fietsknooppuntennetwerk; german: Knotenpunktbezogene Wegweisung/Knotenpunktsystem für Radwanderern
ormal
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the history of Arda, also called the history of Middle-earth, began when the Ainur entered Arda, following the creation events in the Ainulindalë and long ages of labour throughout Eä, the fictional univ ...
and
bike-by-numbers", informalref name="Jerichow"/>) is a wayfinding system. It spans the
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
,
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
, parts of
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
and
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
, and parts of
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
, and is expanding rapidly, .
[ Each intersection or node is given a number, and the numbers are signposted, so the cyclist always knows which way to go to get to the next node.
Numbers are not unique, but nodes with the same number are placed far apart, so that they can't be confused. To find a route, the cyclist uses a list of node numbers (the sequence of intersections they will pass through). The list is generated with a website, or a downloaded, roadside or paper map. Intersection numbers need little translation.
Bike networks are, by nature, more distributed than car routes, with more junctions; they do not gather all cyclists onto arterial bike routes. The numbered-node network makes long-distance bike travel simpler (by making it harder to get lost), and faster (by making frequent stops to check a map needless). Areas on the numbered-node network cite substantial economic benefits, including revenues from increased bike tourism.
The numbered-node network is more flexible than previous signage systems, which only indicated long, pre-determined routes. The numbered-node network signage can be used to plan and follow any arbitrary route through the network. This makes for more flexible ]bicycle touring
Bicycle touring is the taking of self-contained cycling trips for pleasure, adventure or autonomy rather than sport, commuting or exercise. Bicycle touring can range from single-day trips to extended travels spanning weeks or months. Tours may be ...
, and is more usable for utility cycling
Utility cycling encompasses any cycling done simply as a means of transport rather than as a sport or leisure activity. It is the original and most common type of cycling in the world. Cycling mobility is one of the various types of private t ...
.
History
The system was designed by . Bollen worked as a mine engineer from 1971 to 1990, and then joined Regionaal Landschap Kempen en Maasland (RLKM). RLKM did not ask Bollen to design the scheme; he volunteered it. The idea of labelling each intersection was inspired by his annoyance at having to stop at each intersection to read the map, when out biking with his wife; he personally describes himself as more of a hiker than a biker. Rumours notwithstanding, the numbering was ''not'' inspired by a wayfinding system from the mines, nor by the London Underground
The London Underground (also known simply as the Underground or by its nickname the Tube) is a rapid transit system serving Greater London and some parts of the adjacent ceremonial counties of England, counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and He ...
. Bollen said in a 2017 interview that the choice was straight logic: he needed to label each intersection, and using town names would have caused chaos, and there weren't enough letters in the alphabet, so he used numbers. He wanted something short; he felt it was important that the signage not contain too much information.[
Initially Tourism Limburg did not have much faith in the scheme, saying that Limburgers didn't want to bike by numbers, but they came to support it. The first signage was installed in 1995, and the network has grown rapidly since.] RLKM estimates that the network brings 16.5 million euros of revenue to Kempen (Campine
The Campine ( French ) or De Kempen (Dutch ) is a natural region situated chiefly in north-eastern Belgium and parts of the south-eastern Netherlands which once consisted mainly of extensive moors, tracts of sandy heath, and wetlands. It encom ...
) in Maarsland annually. Bollen has said he was surprised by the system's success.[
The Flemish Prize for Merit in Sports was awarded to the system in 2009. The system won the Paul Mijksenaar Award for ]functional design
Functional Design is a paradigm used to simplify the design of hardware and software devices such as computer software and, increasingly, 3D models. A functional design assures that each modular part of a device has only one responsibility and perf ...
in 2013.
Areas
The system was first introduced in the Netherlands in 1999,[ and by 2014, the entire Netherlands was part to the network.] It was first introduced to Germany in 2001, and is being extended in multiple regions, including near the borders, in the Ruhrgebiet
The Ruhr ( ; german: Ruhrgebiet , also ''Ruhrpott'' ), also referred to as the Ruhr area, sometimes Ruhr district, Ruhr region, or Ruhr valley, is a polycentric urban area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population density of 2,800/km ...
, Lower Rhine region
The Lower Rhine region or Niederrhein is a region around the Lower Rhine section of the river Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany between approximately Oberhausen and Krefeld in the East and the Dutch border around Kleve in the West. As ...
, Sauerland
The Sauerland () is a rural, hilly area spreading across most of the south-eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, in parts heavily forested and, apart from the major valleys, sparsely inhabited.
The Sauerland is the largest tourist region in ...
and Siegerland ().
The system is displacing more traditional national cycling route network A national cycling route network is a nationwide network of designated long-distance cycling routes found in various countries around the world for the purposes of bicycle tourism. They are often created and maintained by the government of the cou ...
signage: long, named routes, each individually signposted. In 2017–2021, the Netherlands reduced its LF-route LF-Routes (''Landelijke Fietsroutes'', Dutch for ''countrywide cycling routes'') are long-distance cycling routes that form a network in the Netherlands and Belgium. The routes, criss-crossing both countries, are primarily intended for recreational ...
s, amalgamating some of them. The ways themselves remained part of the numbered-node network. Belgium also reduced its named routes in 2012.
Use
Paper numbered-node-network maps can be bought at tourist offices, and some hotels, and restaurants; paper-format maps are also available online. There are also many online route planners. OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a free, open geographic database updated and maintained by a community of volunteers via open collaboration. Contributors collect data from surveys, trace from aerial imagery and also import from other freely licensed g ...
, a Wikipedia-style map, has extensive information on the numbered-node network, available as downloadable maps and datasets under the Open Database License
The Open Database License (ODbL) is a copyleft license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use a database while maintaining this same freedom for others.
ODbL is published by Open Data Commons, which is part of Open K ...
.
Cyclists sometimes print the lists of node numbers and fasten them to their handlebars or front mudguard. They can thus refer to them and pick the right path without having to memorize numbers or stop.
Paper, downloaded or roadside maps simplify changing route when plans, weather, etc. change.
As with rest area
A rest area is a public facility located next to a large thoroughfare such as a motorway, expressway, or highway, at which drivers and passengers can rest, eat, or refuel without exiting onto secondary roads. Other names include motorway servi ...
s alongside car routes, bike numbered-node networks are designed and upgraded for access to roadside services, such as public toilets, accommodation, food and drink. This encourages tourism and is seen as a form of local economic development. These facilities are also mapped in some areas.
The routes are not entirely on dedicated cycleways; some parts are on quiet roads. The routes are selected for being pleasant to cycle, and thus may not always be the shortest and fastest routes. While there is no formal international standard which routes must meet, routes are tested before they are added to the network, and there's an expectation that they will be more-or-less to Dutch standards for cycle routes. Points with a lot of cycle accidents may be removed from the network.
Some points have official signpost stickers giving instructions for submitting comments or finding out more about the location. Some jurisdictions also advertise themed routes, or routes that parallel train routes, publishing a series of numbers that specify them.
Road signs
Numbering
In the Netherlands, one- and two-digit numbers are used. Nodes with the same number are placed far apart. Signs also name the network section and say which local authority maintains the network.
Belgium uses two- and three-digit numbers, and they are assigned by the local maintaining organization instead of a central network organization. It is thus very rarely the case that two nearby nodes will have the same number. Unlike the Netherlands', the Belgian numbered-node network excludes urban areas.
In Germany, there is a one- to two-digit system; as in the Netherlands, it is organized at the national level (by the FGSV), but signs are usually implemented by local tourist boards.
Sign types
Road signs vary depending on jurisdiction. At nodes, ''node sign''s give the direction of the adjacent nodes, and between nodes, the ''internode sign''s show cyclists heading for the next node which direction to go, reassuring them that they are on the right track (see images). Signs are bidirectional. Signage also includes maps at a variety of scales. Internode distances are given.
The Netherlands and Belgium have signs set at or below cyclist eye-level, with minimal, large, text (readable without slowing down). There is a principle in the Netherlands that cyclists should not be slowed or stopped; a constant speed is more comfortable and efficient, and makes for shorter travel times.
In Germany, standard signage is set high on poles. German nodes are usually marked by a large red "Node-point-hat" ("Knotenpunkthut") sign on top of the pole, visible from a distance; just below, the directions of adjacent nodes are indicated in the wordier format of traditional pedestrian arrow signage (see images below). German node signage is usually white-on-red. Most nodes in Germany have wayside-map signs at eye level. The system has been described as ideal for those with no sense of direction.
File:Fietsknooppuntennetwerk Haaglanden (2).JPG, alt=White sign with, in green, a circle containing the number "73", and an arrow, An ''internode sign''. Haaglanden
:''Parts of this article have been translated from the Dutch version of this page''
Haaglanden (, literally ''Haguelands'') was a conurbation surrounding The Hague in the Netherlands from 1992 until 2015. The city's position as the country's se ...
, the Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
File:Knooppunt 4 cycling route sign, Oude Pekela (2019) 01.jpg, alt=On a dark green background, a white circle containing the number "4"; below, on three stacked white rectangles as backgrounds, arrows (ahead, left, and right) next to circles containing the numbers 86, 21, and 22 , A ''node sign'' at node four, with the directions to three other nodes. Oude Pekela
Oude Pekela ( Gronings: ''Olle Pekel''; ) is a town in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Pekela, about 5 km southwest of Winschoten. It was established to exploit the peat in the area. During the 19th ce ...
, the Netherlands
File:Fietsknooppunt kempen.jpg, A sign saying "You are approaching node 20" (left) and an internode sign (right) in the Antwerpish Campine, Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
. See the locator map at this node above.
File:Groningen provincial bicycle routes cross point (2017).jpg, A node sign at node 95 gives the direction of nodes 72, 74, 13, and 94. Groningen
Groningen (; gos, Grunn or ) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen province in the Netherlands. The ''capital of the north'', Groningen is the largest place as well as the economic and cultural centre of the northern part of t ...
, the Netherlands
File:Knotenpunkt 79 LDS.jpg, A node sign at node 79 points to nodes 71, 72, and 78. Dahme-Spreewald
Dahme-Spreewald ( dsb, Wokrejs Damna-Błota) is a district in Brandenburg, Germany. It is bounded by (from the east and clockwise) the districts of Oder-Spree, Spree-Neiße, Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Elbe-Elster and Teltow-Fläming, and by the city ...
in Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
.
File:Knotenpunktwegweisung Lübben.jpg, At the same node 79, a German roadside map shows Lübben.
File:Voorschoten25.JPG, An internode sign alongside a padstool sign that gives local names and distances. The two are used together in the Netherlands.
File:RuruferwegMap.jpg, A German sign showing Dutch nodes in green (top left) and German nodes in red. The network is international.
File:Groenehart rcn sign.jpg, Brand-new internode sign, missing a number for a neighbouring node that hasn't been numbered yet. Groene Hart
The Groene Hart (; English: Green Heart) is a relatively thinly populated area of the Netherlands covering much of the middle portion of the Randstad megalopolis. The major Dutch cities of Rotterdam, The Hague, Leiden, Haarlem, Amsterdam and Utr ...
, the Netherlands.
See also
*Cycling infrastructure
Cycling infrastructure is all infrastructure cyclists are allowed to use. Bikeways include bike paths, bike lanes, cycle tracks, rail trails and, where permitted, sidewalks. Roads used by motorists are also cycling infrastructure, except whe ...
*Utility cycling
Utility cycling encompasses any cycling done simply as a means of transport rather than as a sport or leisure activity. It is the original and most common type of cycling in the world. Cycling mobility is one of the various types of private t ...
*National cycling route network A national cycling route network is a nationwide network of designated long-distance cycling routes found in various countries around the world for the purposes of bicycle tourism. They are often created and maintained by the government of the cou ...
, contrasting non-modular systems of long-distance named routes.
References
External links
*
* (video)
*
*
*{{cite web , first1=Hans , title=Ottawa Cycling Maps: plot your own route , url=https://hansonthebike.com/ottawa-cycling-maps/ , website=Hans on the Bike - Cycling in Ottawa anada
Anada (russian: Анада; av, АнгӀада) is a rural locality (a selo) in Khidibsky Selsoviet, Tlyaratinsky District, Republic of Dagestan, Russia. The population was 49 as of 2010.
Geography
Anada is located 19 km north of Tlyarata ...
, access-date=26 July 2021 , language=en-CA
Cycling infrastructure
Signage