The two decisions made by the Zuid City District were published on 16 March 2021. Here you will find the decision announcing the general municipal by-law and the related traffic order can be found here (both in Dutch). You can respond formally to these decisions. The decisions were prompted by multiple complaints about nuisance parking of bikes and scooters, especially on Mahlerplein Zuid – the little square next to Symphony Towers – and in Mahlerlaan. Vehicles were left there for long periods and often parked irresponsibly, causing dangerous situations in which pedestrians were forced, for example, to use the cycle path in order to pass by.
No lack of space
A lack of space is definitely not the reason for the poorly-parked bikes: there is a gigantic bicycle park located under Mahlerplein. Starting soon, bikes and scooters will only be permitted to park there and in the designated spaces (for a maximum period of two weeks). If you fail to do this, you are risking a fine (scooter users) or your bike will be taken to the depot in Sloterdijk. The new boundaries of the enforcement zone will be: Prinses Irenestraat (north of the A10) – Beethovenstraat – Parnassusweg – Mahlerlaan – Mahlerplein Zuid. Click on the images to enlarge.
Important change
There has been an important change since the previous report, in which we explained the expansion of the enforcement zone. Initially, enforcement was also to apply to the streets between Mahlerlaan and De Boelelaan. Zuid City District is no longer including these streets (mainly housing) as part of Mahlerlaan because it does not wish to impose restrictive rules on the people living there.
Transition period
As things stand, the new rules will apply from the start of May. However, in early May, enforcement will not apply to scooters or bikes left outside the designated spaces or bicycle racks. This is to give people time to become accustomed to the change. The new roles will be signposted, and ‘bike coaches’ will be on hand during the transition period to draw people’s attention to the new rules.
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