{"id":166051,"date":"2024-04-04T13:11:15","date_gmt":"2024-04-04T11:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=166051"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:16","slug":"traffic-around-university-leaving-home-at-615-in-the-morning-to-avoid-traffic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2024\/04\/04\/traffic-around-university-leaving-home-at-615-in-the-morning-to-avoid-traffic\/","title":{"rendered":"Traffic around university: leaving home at 6:15 in the morning to avoid traffic"},"content":{"rendered":"

EM<\/em> presents a topic each week and asks: join the conversation? Last week, EM asked about traffic congestion around the Woudestein campus. “I really don’t feel like spending three hours a day in traffic.”<\/p>\n

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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 \u2018F.\u2019 has to cross the Van Brienenoord Bridge every day. \u201cNo matter how I travel, by car or bus, I always end up stuck in traffic on the A16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018It 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\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Starting earlier and going home earlier<\/h2>

Staff member Mari\u00ebtte finds the ever-increasing crowds \u2018really irritating\u2019. \u201cWhen 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\u201d, she says.<\/p>\n

Mari\u00ebtte therefore tries to go home earlier, usually around 16:00. \u201cBut if I think that it will be a particularly busy rush hour, I\u2019ll even leave as early as 15:00 and continue working at home for a few more hours\u201d, she says.<\/p>\n

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. \u201cThat way, I can usually avoid delays from traffic jams\u201d, he says.<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018This means I leave home as early as 6:15 in the morning and drive home again at 18:45 in the evening\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Working late<\/h2>

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. \u201cBut when there are traffic jams, it often takes me about an hour and a half.\u201d Therefore, she travels before and after rush hour as much as possible. \u201cThis means I leave home as early as 6:15 in the morning and drive home again at 18:45 in the evening\u201d, she says. \u201cI would rather work late than sit still in traffic.\u201d She works on campus two days a week, and works from home the rest of the time.<\/p>\n

Poor layout<\/h2>

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. \u201cToo 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\u201d, he says.<\/p>\n

He realises there\u2019s not much the university can do about that. \u201cBut 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 \u2018climb\u2019 towards Thomas Morelaan is steep, especially for many cyclists, and far too narrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018Public transport is packed or stuck in traffic even outside rush hours\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Air quality and mental health<\/h2>

\u201cIt\u2019s weird that the university does not think it is a problem to be next to such a busy road\u201d, says one staff member. \u201cEvery 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The congestion on and around campus also affect mental health and study results, says a student. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still working on location<\/h2>

One employee deliberately chooses to work on campus only on Wednesdays and Fridays due to traffic congestion. \u201cCongestion has gotten worse in the last 15 years. I really don\u2019t feel like spending three hours a day in traffic.\u201d Judith agrees. \u201cSuch long days also put extra pressure on your private life.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Mari\u00ebtte, traffic is no reason to work from home more often. \u201cI still prefer working on location. But sometimes it\u2019s tough, all those traffic jams. Fortunately, the busiest months, November to March, are behind us again and the somewhat quieter months are coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

Solution<\/h2>

\u201cThe only solution is fewer cars\u201d, argues one employee. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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