Dordrecht

Why does it fit the city? Dordrecht is a city on an island, measuring about 100 square kilometres, of which a large part is in the countryside. Dordrecht’s historic city centre is car-free, and attractive cycling routes run from the city to the countryside. Centuries-old dykes are ideal connections between the city and National Park de Biesbosch. The various districts of Dordrecht also devote a lot of attention to good cycle paths, making many trips faster by bike than by any other means of transport.

Dordtenaren
Why with the people? Dordrechters love to cycle. Both in daily traffic to school, work, or for shopping, and in sporting and recreational terms. With DRC De Mol, Dordrecht has one of the oldest cycling clubs in the Netherlands (founded in 1933!), and with DTC De Mol it also has a very active touring cycling club. Both clubs have their classics, such as the Ronde van Dordrecht and the Zwijndrecht-Zwijndrecht tour (220 kilometres). And in addition, we see that more and more people are sportily active on bicycles outside the club context, individually or in groups.

Sustainability
Why at ambitions? Dordrecht municipality encourages cycling. Firstly, in the name of sustainable mobility. Dordrecht wants to be climate-neutral by 2040, and bicycle use contributes to this. Increased bicycle use has a positive effect on the economic functioning of the town centre, shopping centres and facilities. Increased bicycle use may also reduce pressure on parking facilities. In addition, a good cycling climate contributes positively to improving air quality, reducing noise pollution and increasing social safety.

Health
But above all, cycling also promotes health, including a healthy weight. Dordrecht municipality wants to be a vital city, where health is a top priority. Cycling contributes to health in many ways: it strengthens muscles, is good for the heart and blood vessels, boosts your resistance and even keeps your brain healthy.

Sport
Sport is not only good for health. Sport is the social cement in our society. It creates connections, prevents loneliness, promotes encounters, disciplines, ensures that you can grow old vitally. Dordrecht has the ambition to be in the Top 10 sportiest cities in the Netherlands. Events such as the Tour de France Femmes contribute to this. Precisely by connecting with the city and its residents, stimulating cycling. And just as Dordrecht has both a cycling club and a touring cycling club with De Mol, Dordrecht focuses on cycling and touring cycling around the Tour de France Femmes.

www.indordrecht.nl

The focus of Dordt

Cycling/race bikes
We have a focus in programming on youth and young people. We organise four “fat tyre races” across the city. We offer schools a clinic at De Mol cycling track. Young people can participate in the Rotterdam Cycling on Tour from House of Esports. We also hold a special Lucinda Brand Online Challenge four times. In this way, we make cycling visible in the city and also bring cycling from the city and school to the beautiful cycling track in Dordrecht.

Sportief fietsen/toerfietsen
Here, we have a focus in programming on (young) adults and extra on women. We use the NTFU’s existing Start2Bike concept, but expand it. For example, we will also hold a Lucinda Brand Challenge 4 times for this target group, and there will be various tour rides. On Sunday 11 August, two tour rides will ride through Dordrecht.

Register at www.toerversierotterdam.nl.

Ambassador Lucinda Brand
A special role is reserved for Lucinda Brand, the multiple cyclo-cross champion from Dordrecht. With this ambassadorship, Lucinda wants to inspire Dordrecht residents to take up sports and exercise. Using beautiful routes through nature and the city centre, she shows that cycling is beautiful for everyone and at every level.

“Encouraging an active lifestyle is very important to me. Cycling is an ideal, easy means to get your exercise despite a busy life. In the run-up to the start of the Tour de France Femmes in our city, I hope to inspire Dordrechters to take their bikes more often.”

Holidays
Tuesday 13 August is obviously the day for Dordrecht, but there are also plenty of activities in the city centre the weekend before to get into the French atmosphere already. The city will be coloured yellow in all sorts of ways