Sentences of the Administrative Law department of the Dutch Council of State have unsettled various new plans for road widening, new local roads, residential areas and industrial parks, as these plans will be contributing to deterioration of the air quality. This is no longer permitted by European rules, translated into the Air Quality Resolution. At the local level motor vehicles are a major source of this deterioration. The question is whether these implications of the Air Quality Resolution may prove to be an incentive for local cycling policy.

Bottlenecks usually occur along busy roads and highways, but also in narrow through roads with flats on either side (street canyons) and local through roads with large amounts of accelerating and stopped traffic and a high percentage of lorries. The best approach to solving this problem is tackling the source of pollution: the vehicle. Other solutions are directed at the transfer of air pollution. In those cases boards or increasing the distance to the road may provide a solution. A third, more theoretical option would be changing the zoning of locations along the road (for instance from school to distribution centre) or relocation. Measures to tackle the source include cleaner vehicles and fuels, less transport mileage and more often choosing other transport modalities (InfoMil, 2004). A major contribution could also be provided by promoting cycling. Lower speeds, optimising traffic lights and measures aimed at improving circulation will all positively affect air quality. Displacing major routes or diverting lorry traffic, sparing vulnerable destinations, may contribute as well.