9 Spotlight Photo: Jorrit ‘t Hoen Avoiding traffic jams with the Noord/Zuid-line In 2018, 150 people who work in Zuidas and live north of Amsterdam were given a month’s free pass to try the Noord/Zuid metro line. This offer was an initiative of the GVB, Zuidasdok and Hello Zuidas. Participants could park free at the P+R station Amsterdam Noord and travel by metro to the Zuidas – a 15-minute trip. In most cases the travel time is less than when travelling by car. Ghulam Regain, NINE restaurant and cooking studio owner ‘The trial offer was a great success. I arrived at work quickly and avoided traffic jams while the connections were excellent. I live in Amsterdam Noord and this way of commuting is quicker than by car. When the trial finished, I bought a public transport card. Now I always take the metro.’ Marion Dijkman, secretary at Loyens & Loeff ‘The North/South-line surpassed my expectations. After the summer I faced the busy morning rush hour yet again with traffic jams on the A10 and on the exit roads to Purmerend and Volendam. During the trial, I took the bus from Purmerend to Ilpendam and switched to the metro in Noord. A breath of fresh air. No traffic jams, no stress. It only took slightly longer by car on a quiet day. This way of traveling allows me to get more exercise. Now that the trial has ended, I regularly leave the car at home to travel by public transport and relax.’ Clive Pritchard, managing director at Savills Investments ‘I rediscovered public transport thanks to this experiment. It reminded me of when I lived in London: travelling on the underground is fast. The Noord/ Zuid-line is the ideal connection between the North of Amsterdam and the South. It is wonderful to avoid sitting in traffic jams that often start before you even leave the parking lot! Having said that, the toilets at the Amsterdam Noord station could be better and using the OV bikes could be easier. The Park+Ride should also have license plate recognition. Despite these comments I am very pleasantly surprised!’ Text: Romy Lange Sustainability report Zuidas 2018
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