Source: Bloomberg City Lab

Date Published: 7.15.2025

Link: The Dutch Intersection Is Coming to Save Your Life

Cities across North America are increasingly adopting Dutch-style protected intersections—originally pioneered in the Netherlands—to enhance bike and pedestrian safety, reduce vehicle collisions, and support a broader transition toward decarbonized urban systems. These designs separate cyclists and pedestrians from vehicle paths at intersections, reducing crash risks, and thereby making cycling a safer commuting option. This increase in safety makes cycling a viable commuting option, lowering car dependency and emissions, improving the air quality and the overall health of the community. As cities like Fremont, Austin, Charlotte, Portland, and Toronto integrate these intersection retrofits into their wider cycling networks, they are building the infrastructure necessary to achieve net-zero carbon goals by shifting travel patterns toward cleaner, active transportation.