ProRail is now reconsidering its earlier decision to remove bike gutters (sloped channels adjacent to staircases used to walk bikes up or down) at Groningen’s new Central Station. The reconsideration follows growing complaints and evidence that the station’s current design is complicating travel for cyclists.
Policy vs. Practice
Under a recent ProRail policy, Groningen’s station was deliberately built without bike gutters, with officials citing that bikes should instead be transported using elevators rather than stairs or escalators.However, many users ignore the guidance. Wheeled tire tracks observed on stair slopes and reports of cyclists using escalators have prompted reconsideration.
Mirjam de Witte, a ProRail spokesperson, acknowledged on Radio Noord that the policy isn’t universal in practice and said, “We have to do something about this now that we see people still using the slopes for their bikes”.
Evidence of Regular Misuse
Despite clear instructions, station users continue to carry bikes up staircases or even escalate with them. De Witte pointed out that people attempt to use escalators, which is unsafe, and that relying solely on the elevator is unreliable, especially when it is out of service.In contrast, other large Dutch stations, like Amsterdam Amstel and Ede-Wageningen, do feature bike gutters, and travellers in Groningen expected similar infrastructure.
Next Steps: Installation Under Review
ProRail is considering installing steel bike gutters similar to those in Amsterdam Amstel, seen as easier to retrofit, and is currently reviewing whether the policy should be revised.As part of that process, a feasibility assessment is underway, but no firm timeline has been shared.
Why This Matters
Cyclists’ convenience and safety: Groningen is a bicycle-heavy city, and expecting users to rely only on elevators—or risk unsafe escalator access—creates frustration and hazards.
Consistency with other stations: While stations like Ede-Wageningen and Amstel allow bike gutters, Groningen’s omission stands out and has drawn criticism.
Practical design oversight: Elevated pedestrian and bike traffic combined with elevator limitations highlight the gap between policy and everyday behavior.
Broader Infrastructure Challenges
ProRail’s approach reflects a broader trend of infrastructure planning that struggles to keep pace with commuter practices. National guidelines require one organisational body per station area to manage bike parking and facilities in an integrated manner, yet policy changes—like removing gutter systems—are not always accompanied by adequate user adaptation strategies.
Planning for bike parking normally takes years—often 4 to 8 per station—and involves inter-agency coordination, permits, and public consultation. Yet Groningen’s gutter omission seems to have been a rapid policy shift lacking in user testing.
What Happens Now?
ProRail is reviewing feedback and usage patterns to decide whether to install gutters or otherwise adjust station infrastructure.
In the interim, users are advised to continue using elevators with bicycles where possible and to avoid escalators.
A final decision and implementation timeline have not been announced.
