New Cycling Routes Give Families Safe, Flat Summer Options in Oud-West

Oud West opened two new dedicated cycling loops last month that avoid busy car lanes and steep grades, giving families and first-time riders direct access from residential streets to green space.

City data shows family cycling trips in the district increased 28 percent between April and June 2025 after earlier path upgrades, and local health officials expect the new loops to push that figure higher during the current school holidays.

The routes sit inside established parks that already host weekly group rides and beginner workshops run by the Oud West Cycle Collective.

Two routes open now

One loop starts at the corner of Westerstraat and runs 2.8 kilometres through Oud West Park, staying on a 3-metre-wide path separated from motor traffic by a planted verge. The second route begins at the rear entrance of the Oud West Sports Centre on Kinkerstraat and follows the canal towpath for 1.9 kilometres before rejoining the park network at Bilderdijkstraat. Both circuits pass public toilets, drinking fountains and benches every 800 metres.

The Oud West Cycle Collective holds free Saturday morning sessions at 9:30 at the Westerstraat meeting point, supplying helmets and balance bikes for children under eight. The programme runs through 31 August and requires only advance registration on the collective website.

Practical next steps

Rentals at the Oud West Sports Centre cost €8 for a standard city bike and €12 for a child seat model, with same-day returns until 18:00. Parents can also download the district’s free route map that marks surface quality and nearest repair stands. Riders are advised to start on weekday mornings before 10:00 to avoid weekend foot traffic and to carry water, as fountains near the sports centre are scheduled for cleaning on Tuesdays.

City transport staff will hold an open information session at the sports centre on 17 July at 18:30 to answer questions about extending the loops into adjacent neighbourhoods next year.