Pilot ‘Olifantenpaadje’: faster route to Utrecht Science Park
During rush hour the cycle paths in the city centre heading towards Utrecht Science Park are very busy. From September, Utrecht municipality is testing a quieter route between Utrecht Central Station and Utrecht Science Park with the ‘Olifantenpaadje’ (desire line). The aim is to improve the distribution of cyclists and reduce crowds around popular routes.
The project is an initiative of two lecturers from the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Floor Bouwmeister and Friso van Booij, who won the bicycle spreading challenge of platform U-Forward with their idea ‘Utrechtse Olifantenpaadjes’. Together with Utrecht municipality, they designed signs equipped with a real-time pressure meter and advise on a quieter route, designated as ‘elephant path’. This alternative path bypasses busy points such as Tivoli and directs cyclists via the Ledig Erf, for example, a route that is just as fast and more comfortable despite the extra kilometre during rush hour. Congestion is indicated by colours: green (quiet), orange (normal) and red (busy).
With the pilot, which runs until the end of November 2024, the municipality wants to investigate whether cyclists find the signs useful and are willing to choose an alternative route. The alternative routes offer fewer intersections and traffic lights and pass through greener parts of the city. In this way, the municipality hopes to better regulate bicycle flows in Utrecht.
Free Bicycle Light Repairs Mark Launch of National Cycling Visibility Campaign in Utrecht
The national bicycle lighting campaign ‘AAN in het donker’ (Lights On in the Dark) will be launched on 29 October on Leuvenlaan at Utrecht Science Park. Between 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., cyclists can have their lights checked and repaired free of charge. André van Schie, Member of the Provincial Executive, will be there to talk to Utrecht residents about the importance of proper bicycle lighting.
Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht awarded with twelve NWO Vidi-grants
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded Vidi grants to 109 researchers. Twelve leading researchers at Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht will each receive a Vidi grant of up to €850,000. NWO awards Vidi grants annually, enabling recipients to develop an innovative line of research over the next five years and further expand their research teams.
Ureka Mega Challenge winner 2026: ReVoice restores one’s own voice after voice loss
People who lose their voice, for example after surgery for head and neck cancer, want to be able to speak again with a voice that sounds like their own. ReVoice aims to provide this, with the help of AI. With this innovation, head and neck surgeon Weibel Braunius, innovation manager Mart Schoondermark, and patient Boudewijn Faber won the Ureka Mega Challenge 2026 from UMC Utrecht.
Looking back at Utrecht Science Week: research, education, and entrepreneurship in the spotlight
Utrecht Science Week 2026 has come to a close. For over a week, visitors enjoyed workshops, lectures, group discussions, and tours focused on science and innovation at Utrecht Science Park. With more than thirty program activities across over 25 locations, there were ample opportunities to experience science up close. We look back on a fantastic week that once again highlighted the essential role of collaboration, and the combination of research, education, and entrepreneurship, in addressing the societal challenges of our time.