Hovenring, a Unique Floating Bicycle Roundabout in Holland

The Hovenring is a suspended bicycle roundabout located close to Eindhoven, Netherlands. It was designed to enhance traffic flow and safety for cyclists. Aiming to replace a conventional intersection, the project manages to provide a more efficient and secure route for cyclists, who do not have now to stop at traffic lights to cross a heavy trafficked road.

Here are some interesting details about the project.

Contents

1 How it started
2 How this suspended bicycle roundabout was made
3 Impact on cycling culture
4 A highly functional lighting
5 More cycling tips

How it started

The Hovenring was created to make traffic smoother and safer for people on bikes and those walking. It took the place of a regular intersection, giving a better and safer path for people on bikes.

It was first conceived of in 2008, when increased traffic in the main road between Eindhoven and Veldhoven was starting to overwhelm the existing roundabout.

The planning and design of the Hovenring were undertaken by the IPV Delft design agency. The name was selected through a competition involving the residents of Eindhoven and Veldhoven. In a literal sense, the name signifies the “ring of the Hovens,” encompassing Eindhoven, Veldhoven, and Meerhoven (the residential area in Eindhoven where the Hovenring is located).

How this suspended bicycle roundabout was made

The circular structure, a marvel of engineering, hangs from a towering 70-meter pylon using 24 steel cables. This unique design allows cyclists to traverse both above and below the structure, offering a seamless and innovative transportation experience.

Making the Hovenring cost about €6.3 million, with funding likely sourced from a combination of local, regional, and national channels.

Impact on cycling culture

The Hovenring has gained immense popularity as a symbol of innovative urban planning and cycling infrastructure.

It has received international acclaim for its unique design and functionality and won several awards for its contribution to urban planning and cycling infrastructure.

People really like the Hovenring because it’s not just a way to go from one place to another. The impact of the Hovenring extends to the cultural realm: this suspended roundabout is helping people see bikes as a good way to move around the city. Approximately 5,000 people use the Hovenring each day and the number is growing every year.

view from above of this floating bicycle roundabout — Hovenring: a more unique than rare project, which demonstrates how the only limit is actually imagination…

For this reason, its success has spurred interest in similar infrastructure projects worldwide.

A highly functional lighting

But it doesn’t end here. Since Eindhoven is also nicknamed the ‘City of Light‘ (this Dutch city is home to the headquarters of the historic electronics multinational Philips), the company IPV Delft designed Hovenring to be very well lit.

Thus, the structure is made of aluminum slats, translucent sheet metal and the column illuminated by LED lights.

this unique bicycle roundabout is well lit at nigtht! — This unique bicycle roundabout is well lit at nigtht!

All of this becomes a clearly visible ring at night. In fact, it also becomes a spectacular tourist attraction to watch from afar. Functional lighting is integrated into the parapet, where LED lighting illuminates the bridge platform, ensuring cyclists are clearly visible at the same time.