Every cyclist's dream: a round of cycling without delays, traffic lights and intersections. Without traffic, without pedestrians, without others on the road. Come to think of it. In the Netherlands, you have to deal with many other road users and despite the fact that some cyclists feel like the king of the road, you do have to share the road. Then it helps if you can find a route that is almost entirely without traffic lights. If you go cycling in Utrecht, the province then, there are some opportunities to drive a route without traffic lights from the city itself. We drove one to the west, via beautiful Harmelen to Woerden, there towards Linschoten, Oudewater and via the shortcut from Montfoort to our starting point. The number of traffic lights from the city border? well, one! Will you ride with us?
From the heart of Utrecht
You can actually take this route anywhere from the city start, but they almost all have a common denominator. They ride a nice stretch on Leidseweg out of town. From Jaarbeurs, you then have a beautiful wide cycle path. Here you have to pay attention at first because you do have some trouble with traffic and city cyclists. Once past the intersection with Pijperlaan and Joseph Haydnlaan, the enjoyment begins. We ride out of town onto the Meernbrug, over the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal. Here you turn right down the hill, past the Pedal and so under the A2 towards de Meern. You now have the Leidsche Rijn on your right and after a kilometre you cross it and follow the dirt road.
Beautiful road surface
This road was made for cycling. Nice and wide, good tarmac and you basically have the right of way everywhere. You may ride through the built-up area, but because of the water and the spaciousness, you still feel like you are in the countryside. So the Zandweg, as it is called, is anything but sandy and runs basically uninterrupted to Harmelen. Past the centre of De Meern, where you still have to pay attention, the landscape opens up before you. To the right you see meadows and a single greenhouse, to the left more meadows, behind the water. After more than 10 kilometres you reach Harmelen and turn across the square by the church into Kalverstraat, and immediately turn right again into Uitweg. Here you ride sheltered from all traffic on a lovely cycle path.
Woerden
Just before the railway track, we turn towards Woerden. You follow the track here and now enter the training grounds of world champion Ellen van Dijk. You have plenty of space here too, except for the occasional dog walker. Let's get going on this piece of billiard cloth. You enter Woerden, but after a few hundred metres you turn left onto Cattenbroekerdijk. Many will recognise this stretch, especially if you sometimes drive across the A12 motorway by car. There is a viaduct that bears this name and this is where you drive over it. The road towards it has a small climb. You can also train well here if you want to. After all, across the viaduct you have a sharp turn to the right. Good to test your cornering technique before going on a cycling holiday.
Linschoten along the water
It now heads towards Linschoten. Here it is already a lot more wide and here we also encounter the only traffic light. Although. We could have avoided this too, but a mistake in the route means we have a traffic light. This is because we have to cross the N-road, which we cannot do without delay. They drive rather fast here. Then we turn towards Linschoten and near the village we turn right towards the water, the Lange Linschoten. This stretch is gorgeous. You drive past Linschoten estate, there are some farms and the water meanders very nicely towards Oudewater. It is better to ride on the right side of the water, as it can still be busy here with creeping and farm traffic. On an early Saturday or Sunday, you don't notice much of that.
(old)Water
That I, Sander, am a fan of water, some will know. For me, there is nothing more beautiful than the Kop van Zuid, Hotel New York and then watching it. There is something magical about water. The water of the Lange Linschoten ripples a bit. It is irreverently said to be a big ditch. But one that meanders delightfully and that's what makes it so beautiful. I don't know what it is, but this really gives you peace and quiet. In summer it is especially beautiful, with the pollard willows along the side. With end point Oudewater, you also have a natural stop for coffee or to stop the legs for a moment. You have to, because riding through the town requires some route knowledge and also caution.
Variation on a theme
This route we ride back towards Montfoort via the inner route, but from Oudewater you can choose a multitude of route variations. Often we still head towards Polsbroek and then you have the choice of going back via the inner route or via the Lekdijk. If you continue towards Haastrecht, you can follow the Vlist and end up in Zilverstad. Schoonhoven. Should you choose that route, then Ruben still have you in tow. You can also go back up via Haastrecht, take in Woerden and return via the water or Nieuwkoop for a big lap.
Waardsedijk
After a rolling continuation through the city centre, we headed up the Waardsedijk via the city office and the cemetery. Again, you have the world to yourself for kilometres. Wide road, some traffic, but no big trucks or idiots on the road. You can do some nice block training here or get out with a group. Sometimes there is a traffic bump, but that's all. Eventually, near Montfoort, you come across the N204, which you have to cross via a roundabout. Even after that, you still follow the Hollandsche IJssel and at Achthoven you do have to stop to cross. The traffic light counter still stands at one (1). You now ride towards De Meern again, but it is recommended to add the Heycop round. This is a favourite training lap of the Utrecht cycling club CS030 and it is also nice and quiet here.
Back along the Leidse Rijn
After exiting the Heycop, you dive under the A12 and here you encounter traffic light two. Inevitably rush, but yes. You now drive briefly through the industrial estate and there is also traffic light three because of the bus lane, but it is on green 95% of the time. Then you drive against the Leidse Rijn again and with a turn to the right you can already see the Meernbrug again. After a good 50km, you're back at the start. This route is really recommended for anyone who wants to cycle leisurely. You can extend the route with loops, with an extra round Heycop, with a variation at Linschoten and more. Therefore, the ideal route to cycle in Utrecht, almost without traffic lights from the heart of the city centre!
Route
This is the route we drove. For more routes and inspiration, check out the other articles and our account on Komoot. There you can download, edit and save multiple routes.
