Traffic around the university is becoming increasingly congested. The slip road to the A16 and the Westzeedijk next to Erasmus MC have been famous traffic jam spots for years. Since the closure of the Prins Alexander slip road on the A16, traffic jams have often extended deep into Kralingen. Student ‘F.’ has to cross the Van Brienenoord Bridge every day. “No matter how I travel, by car or bus, I always end up stuck in traffic on the A16.”
Starting earlier and going home earlier
Staff member Mariëtte finds the ever-increasing crowds ‘really irritating’. “When you leave the car park from the Kralingse Zoom side, you immediately hit a traffic jam! It sometimes takes as much as three-quarters of an hour instead of the normal five minutes to get from the university to the Feijenoord exit on the A16”, she says.
Mariëtte therefore tries to go home earlier, usually around 16:00. “But if I think that it will be a particularly busy rush hour, I’ll even leave as early as 15:00 and continue working at home for a few more hours”, she says.
Employee Alwin does the same. He starts his working day on campus at 7:00 and heads home around 15:00 to work from home for the last hour. “That way, I can usually avoid delays from traffic jams”, he says.
Working late
Staff member Judith does not live nearby and public transport is not an option due to the lack of a train connection. It is normally a 40-minute drive from door to door. “But when there are traffic jams, it often takes me about an hour and a half.” Therefore, she travels before and after rush hour as much as possible. “This means I leave home as early as 6:15 in the morning and drive home again at 18:45 in the evening”, she says. “I would rather work late than sit still in traffic.” She works on campus two days a week, and works from home the rest of the time.
Poor layout
The layout around the university leaves much to be desired, says employee Peter. Both the junction at Burgemeester Oudlaan and the connection from Kralingse Zoom to Abram van Rijckevorselweg are terrible, in his view. “Too much traffic, not enough space. The traffic lights slow down the flow of traffic a lot. It is often faster to drive towards De Esch, turn around there and enter Abram van Rijckevorselweg from the other direction”, he says.
He realises there’s not much the university can do about that. “But what might be possible is a change to the connection to Burgemeester Oudlaan. The turns into the Plaza car park are tight and the difference in height makes it confusing for drivers. The ‘climb’ towards Thomas Morelaan is steep, especially for many cyclists, and far too narrow.”
Air quality and mental health
“It’s weird that the university does not think it is a problem to be next to such a busy road”, says one staff member. “Every day I see students crossing the four-lane road, running straight through traffic to catch the tram or taking risks at traffic lights. Not to mention the impact this location has on air quality.”
The congestion on and around campus also affect mental health and study results, says a student. “I have a particular disability that means I get overstimulated easily. This is the first year that I am taking physical classes and the switch from online to physical has turned out to be jarring. Public transport is packed or stuck in traffic even outside rush hours. In addition, the campus is incredibly crowded and cluttered.”
Still working on location
One employee deliberately chooses to work on campus only on Wednesdays and Fridays due to traffic congestion. “Congestion has gotten worse in the last 15 years. I really don’t feel like spending three hours a day in traffic.” Judith agrees. “Such long days also put extra pressure on your private life.”
For Mariëtte, traffic is no reason to work from home more often. “I still prefer working on location. But sometimes it’s tough, all those traffic jams. Fortunately, the busiest months, November to March, are behind us again and the somewhat quieter months are coming.”
Solution
“The only solution is fewer cars”, argues one employee. “The university should discourage people from coming by car. Furthermore, EUR should lobby the municipality for a slower, safer road around Woudestein. It is scientifically proven that fewer roads lead to less traffic, so we should apply this if we want to reduce traffic.”
