NEU Netherlands Dialogue

CIVE 4566 – Design for Sustainable Urban Transportation: European Perspectives : Examines how the design of Dutch transportation infrastructure promotes travel by foot, bicycle, and public transportation as opposed to private automobile, and how it promotes urban livability and traffic safety. Topics include bicycling infrastructure planning and design; “Vision Zero” traffic safety principles and design treatments for safe roads, intersections, and crossings; and high quality transit service planning and design. Through design projects, offers students an opportunity to apply lessons learned to the U.S. context. Taught in a study-abroad format in the Netherlands.

CIVE 4567 – Planning and Policy for Sustainable Transportation: European Perspectives : Taught in study-abroad format in the Netherlands or other European nation with exemplary bicycling and transit infrastructure. Examines how urban transportation planning in support of safe and sustainable transportation is practiced in the host country. Topics include route and network design for high quality transit operations, transit-oriented development including planning for large scale urban expansion, and developing car-free areas . Also examines policy regarding systematically safe road networks, including street and bikeway types and their role in enhancing livability and systematic safety.

Live in a Dutch city for 5 weeks on a bike! Beyond just touring some great transportation infrastructure; see – as hardly any American has – what it’s like to live in a place where it’s safe and pleasant to go everywhere on a bike – to school, shopping, to the beach, everywhere. Until you’ve seen it, it’s almost impossible to imagine that bicycling could be a safe and pleasant way of getting around in cities, or that transit could be fast, reliable, and attractive. Once you’ve seen it, you’ll be changed forever. Cities across America are trying to become more bike, pedestrian, and transit friendly, and are eager to hire alumni of this program because they know that Netherlands is the international model. Meet leaders who will explain how Dutch cities including Amsterdam, the Hague, Haarlem, Utrecht, and Delft have made themselves so vibrant and ideal for “car-lite” living – and then you’ll walk and ride a bike in those same spaces to see it for yourself. You’ll be expected to ride a bike daily. The rides aren’t strenuous, but some trips involve riding for several hours.