How do you use the Groene Loper, John?

My first encounter

John knew the Groene Loper when it was still a green wave. ‘I remember that if you stuck to 50 km per hour, you could drive through all six traffic lights.’ When work started on the A2, he thought, ‘I'd like to live there.’ ‘We would have preferred a house in the city centre, but from the Groene Loper you can also get to the centre in no time.’ They bought a property on Oranjeplein. ‘I expected us to be living next to a park. The reality was more challenging.’

My choices

John is the initiator of the Groene Loper Interest Group. ‘Our vision is: cars as guests, space for recreation and sports, and a place to relax. Partly thanks to our efforts, the 30 km zone has been introduced.’ At the same time, he thinks the difference in speed between cars that do not (yet) adhere to the maximum speed of 30 km per hour and cyclists is too great. ‘As far as I'm concerned, those 30 km/h signs could be even more prominent and the road could become a bicycle street.’ John also sees things almost going wrong on the central path sometimes. ‘When we walk the dog, we choose the pavement. It feels a bit safer.’

What strikes me

The Belangengroep Groene Loper interest group is following the new developments in the new construction, the school community, the core childcare centre and the court. ‘We believe it will become increasingly busy and we must ensure that road safety is not compromised.’ John is therefore pleased that the Flaneercampagne and the physical traffic measures this autumn reinforce each other. The physical measures consist of raised intersections, zebra crossings and red asphalt to guide fast (electric) cyclists towards the carriageway. ‘The Interest Group would prefer the carriageway to become a bicycle street.’

My tip

When John drives home from the north, he always used to choose the Groene Loper. ‘I had to drive all the way past my house and could only turn off at Vista College and drive back to get home. Then I timed it once and it turned out to be faster if I drove through the tunnel. So my tip is: see if you can't get there faster via the tunnel. After all, you can drive 80 km/h there. And that means less traffic on the Groene Loper.’

My favourite moment?

Several days a week, John walks across the Groene Loper to his work at the MUMC+. ‘The other days I work at home, at the kitchen table with a view of the Groene Loper and the Scharnerweg roundabout.’ At the front of the house, you can still see the family coats of arms in stained glass. John regularly slides up the middle window. Across the street, the terrace of MAMA's is already quite full. ‘Beautiful, isn't it? What more could you want?’