The Hovenring, Netherlands' Suspended Bike Roundabout, Is A Cyclist's Dream (PHOTOS)
The Huffington Post Canada | Posted: 10/28/2013 5:48 pm EDT | Updated: 10/29/2013 12:33 pm EDT
When it comes to countries perfect for biking, you can always count on the Netherlands to lead the pack. And really, between accessibility and dominant cyclist culture, it's not hard to see why.
Now, factor in the country's newly-celebrated architectural project, The Hovenring, and the Netherlands' cycling scene just hit a winning trifecta for bike-happy locals and tourists alike.
But a triangle is probably the last word you'd use to describe the Hovenring. It's actually more of a roundabout, but just for bikes.
See, cars go underneath the Hovenring while cyclists bike around the 72-metre diameter bridge which connects the cities of Eindhoven and Veldhoven while protecting cyclists from traffic on the Heerbaan/Meerenakkerweg intersection below.
In the centre of the structure stands a 70-metre high pylon with 24 steel cables connecting everything together to create "flying saucer" like effect. The Hovenring's been around since 2012 but was nominated recently for a Dutch Design Award.
However, as Gizmodo points out, the separation of cars and bikes might make things move faster for everyone, but it also keeps both groups isolated. More isolation means less experience each group has with each other and less experience means a greater chance of a messier accident when their worlds collide.
Still, while the question of how beneficial the Hovenring is for locals remains, one thing is certain: it looks gorgeous at night.
[More photos]
