The World's First Bike Roundabout

The Dutch never fail to impress when it comes to the beauty of their country, and their latest innovative development doesn’t either.

Ahead of countries still trying to implement bike programs on their roads, the Netherlands has introduced the world’s first bicycle path roundabout, the ‘Hovenring’.

‘Hovenring’ stands for ‘Ring of the Hovens’, Hovens referring to the localities that surround the roundabout, namely, Eindhoven, Veldhoven, and Meerhoven.

Designed by Ipy Delft, the amazing feat of architecture and engineering comprises a 230 feet tall central pylon, a thousand ton steel circular bridge deck, and 24 steel cables. For lighting, the Hovenring has aluminium lamellas, translucent sheeting, and tube lighting, which give the roundabout a beautiful ring of light at night. LED lighting also illuminates the bridge deck, as well as the intersection underneath.

The structure was finished back in December 2011, but due to unexpected vibrations caused by the wind, they had to close it down. After solving the cable vibration issues, it reopened in June 2012.

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