- Campus
- 14/05/2025
Dangerous bike intersection on TU/e campus to get footpath
TU/e and the municipality of Eindhoven will be working together to improve traffic safety for cyclists and pedestrians between Limbopad and the bike tunnel. Alumnus Rodrigo Cinelli Garrubbo filed a report after an incident in early May. Initially, the authorities pointed fingers at each other, but after an inspection on Tuesday, they decided to join forces.
It is 4 PM on Tuesday afternoon when Rodrigo Cinelli Garrubbo, TU/e site manager Thijs Mooren, and Sebastian Myszkiewicz and Tijn Loeffen from the municipality meet at the bike intersection near the Silly Walk tunnel (see image, yellow circle). The hedge marks the boundary between TU/e and municipal grounds. The bike path leading to the tunnel curves slightly to the right and descends steeply. Cyclists coming out of the tunnel pass the bike path from Dr. Dorgelolaan. Those coming from the right are supposed to stop, but they don’t always do so. This becomes apparent after the group has observed the situation for a few minutes.
Cyclists and moped riders move crisscross through each other, often at high speeds. Some have to brake, others ring their bells. Pedestrians approaching the intersection look around in the chaos for an opportunity to cross. The footpath leaving the tunnel turns right towards Dr. Dorgelolaan. Pedestrians who need to get to the campus are supposed to follow the footpath and enter the grounds via the rear of the built environment department (see green route) or via Kennispoort (see blue route).
Hospital
This doesn’t make sense, says Rodrigo Cinelli Garrubbo, who has been using Limbopad (which runs from Kennispoort to Vertigo) and the bike tunnel to get to the city center or the south of Eindhoven for many years. And he’s not the only one. “People take the shortest route, which in this case also happens to be the most scenic one,” says the alumnus. Since the Brazilian started studying at TU/e in 2016, he has heard about several accidents (and near accidents) between cyclists and between cyclists and pedestrians. Visibility in the tunnel is poor and the speed difference is significant. Two colleagues were involved in accidents at the intersection in front of the bike tunnel (see yellow circle) and were taken to hospital.
Dangerous bike intersection on TU/e campus
Cyclists, moped riders and pedestrians move crisscross through each other
At the beginning of May, he had had enough. “I was walking along the bike path towards the tunnel when I was 'grazed' by a cyclist.” Cinelli Garrubbo thinks it was intentional, because there was little traffic and the cyclist didn’t have to swerve. “If there had been a footpath, I would have walked there and nothing would have happened.” Immediately after this incident, he reported his findings to the municipality and TU/e. He believes it’s essential for the route from the bicycle tunnel to get a footpath between Limbopad and the tunnel (see red route). He also wants better signage – or a redesign – at the intersection between the bicycle paths just before the tunnel (yellow circle).
After the report, the authorities initially pointed fingers at each other. The municipality considered the situation to be the responsibility of the university, as it is on its grounds. The university claimed the opposite, as the bike path belongs to the municipality. Ultimately, they concluded that they were both right and decided to meet for an inspection.
This provided clarity right away and everyone agreed that something needed to be done. And actually, something is being done already. Tijn Loeffen and Sebastian Myszkiewicz indicate that the municipality has identified around 24 bicycle bottlenecks and is working on modifying the bicycle intersection. The plans, however, don’t include a footpath. “It’s better to do everything in one fell swoop,” says Loeffen.
Smooth collaboration
That is why the two will be sitting down with their colleagues this week to discuss modifications to the preliminary design. Piece of cake. Or is it? Site manager Mooren recalls a section of footpath that was supposed to be built near Nexus. “It took years before it was finally completed. And all that time, pedestrians were walking on the bike path.”
According to Myszkiewicz, smooth execution goes hand in hand with smooth collaboration. “Which exists,” says Mooren, “as the university is willing to help figure it out.” So when will things get underway? According to Myszkiewicz and Loeffen, it’s too early to say, but they do hope to know more later this week.
Discussion