Learning from Dutch Event Mobility Pros
Last month, ACT's TDM for Events Community of Practice came together for a special round table featuring Roy Hirs of Hirs Advies. The conversation explored the ins and outs of some standout event mobility strategies from the Netherlands. From the Women's Tour de France to Amsterdam's 750th Anniversary celebration and other key large-scale events, there were many insights shared. Here are a few highlights worth knowing!
Sustainable Event Management in the Netherlands
When it comes to managing transportation for large-scale events, the Netherlands sets the bar high. For Amsterdam's 750th anniversary, city leaders set an ambitious goal of reducing car traffic by 40%. Thanks to smart road closures and clear communications, they not only met the goal but surpassed it!
Even the Dutch Grand Prix, an event featuring cars, proved that sustainable mobility can take the lead. An astounding 99% of visitors arrived via sustainable modes like biking (28%) and train (48%).
Strategic Collaboration for Event Planning Success
These truly impressive results would not be possible without careful coordination. Roy explained how coordinating efforts with 17 municipalities, regional authorities, and police departments was essential. They created what he calls a "house for collaboration" with different levels of meetings to keep everyone informed.
Separate gatherings were held for emergency services and local officials, and one-on-one meetings addressed specific challenges before bringing solutions back to the larger group.
Capacity Considerations and Event Transportation Logistics
Participants then learned about the STOMP principle, a communication tool for organizing transportation. During the Dutch Grand Prix, the Netherlands increased train frequency from four to 12 trains per hour and extended bus services, resulting in a 10,000-person increase in bus ridership. Interestingly, they learned that the train's stated capacity of 1,000 people was actually limited to 80-kilogram individuals, so passengers weighing more than the limit caused technical challenges that they had to solve on the fly.
Looking at the full customer journey instead of just the last mile was another important takeaway. This includes exploring options like park-and-ride facilities and bike rentals.
Formula 1 as a Model of Sustainable Transportation
Speaking of bikes, the Netherlands' bike culture shone through for the Dutch Grand Prix. Organizers set up 45,000 temporary bicycle sheds to accommodate the huge number of cyclists attending the event.
As the only two Formula 1 races not funded by the government, the Dutch Grand Prix and Silverstone are two events that brought another layer of complexity. This made their goals of becoming the most sustainable races on the calendar even more ambitious!
Two plans, an initial 80% sustainable transportation plan, and a 99% sustainable mobility plan, required careful collaboration between stakeholder organizations. While Formula 1 targets a net-zero carbon footprint by 2030, the reality is that parking for teams is still necessary. This disconnect provides a great example of how real-world logistics must be balanced with sustainability goals.
Sustainable Transportation Mode Shift Strategies
When it comes to shifting people away from driving, the key is to offer convenient, appealing, and cost-effective options. Creating a smooth customer experience, involving influencers to set examples, and making their first sustainable transportation strategy easy and positive are all part of the recipe for success.
These strategies, proven in the Netherlands, serve as a role model for events in North America. Thank you to Roy Hirs of HirsAdvies for joining this discussion and sharing such incredible insights!
What's next for the Community of Practice?
This group is slated to meet each month, and all members are welcome and encouraged to attend. While you missed yesterday's meeting, you can visit the page here to sign up for the next one. We hope to see you there!