Why an Area-based Approach?

Residents, entrepreneurs and businesses, public institutions, interest groups, and authorities want their city or neighbourhood to be a great place to live, spend time, work, and do business. How can we do this intelligently and efficiently and make sure all stakeholders are considered? An Area-based Approach combined with a common goal accelerates sustainability and going green, and helps to create an accessible, liveable, clean, and welcoming city or neighbourhood.

What is an Area-based Approach?

An Area-based Approach means creating and maintaining a network and adopting an integrated approach to solving complex and sensitive mobility challenges in a given area. Residents, entrepreneurs and businesses, public institutions, interest groups, and authorities work together to identify challenges and solutions and turn them into targeted actions with visible results. The idea is that an area, regardless of who the user is, represents a common interest in terms of the liveability, environment, and economic vitality of that area.

Case study: Maastricht Bereikbaar’s urban programme

Maastricht Bereikbaar’s urban programme (Stadsaanpak) is an Area-based Approach by the Zuid-Limburg Bereikbaar programme office and the hallmark of Zuid-Limburg Bereikbaar’s working method, uniting various other approaches (educational approach, employer approach, transport user approach, logistics approach). Maastricht Bereikbaar’s urban programme brings together all users of Maastricht city centre in a joint mission to develop sustainable and efficient mobility solutions. This helps us take a decisive, coordinated approach to creating a future-proof and economically dynamic inner city that offers an even better experience for all.

How does it work?

The project leader for the Area-based Approach will talk to you – the entrepreneur or business, the entrepreneurs’ association, the public institution, the representative of residents’ or visitors’ interests – and explore all the options. We will look for a match between smart, sustainable solutions and the specific needs of a city district, neighbourhood, or street. We will call on the help of specialists if necessary, and we will investigate where the budgets of the parties involved can reinforce each other.

#Posifiets campagneteam in actie in Maastricht - poseren met drie wielrenners

Bicycle campaign #posifiets

Maastricht is working hard to make cycling more fun, easier, and safer. That’s great news, because cycling is good for you and it’s a great way to see the best side of the city. What’s more, if you cycle, then you’re helping to make Maastricht a better place. Happy faces, clean air, and a city centre that’s easily accessible: you can contribute to all this and more by cycling! That’s what we mean when we say #posifiets

Startschot ZES op Markt Maastricht met elektrische vrachtwagen Meulenberg

Sustainable urban logistics

Many inner cities are taking action to clean the air, reduce noise, and improve accessibility. Maastricht is aiming to achieve Zero Emission City Logistics (ZES) by 2025, supported by projects that are making a tangible contribution. These include:

joining supply and last green mile in combination with city hubs
electric cooling of goods during delivery to venues serving food and drink (Stop&Drop)
collective waste collection.

Stop&Drop

Installing an underground power supply means fresh products can be delivered from refrigerated lorries without the nuisance of a roaring engine. In Maastricht, use of these ‘Stop&Drop’ facilities began in spring 2020. Enjoying a latte with fresh whipped cream on the terrace, without all the exhaust fumes: that’s a smart use of the scarce space in the city centre.

Akte van Ambitie ondernemers Koestraat Maastricht

Smart and sustainable urban logistics: pilot project on Koestraat

We’d all rather hear the sound of birds chirping instead of engines blaring, and we’d all prefer to have an inner city that’s always a great place to live, spend time, and do business. That’s why various businesses along Koestraat have joined forces with the Maastricht and Heuvelland branch of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland, the largest organization representing hospitality businesses in the Netherlands, to reduce delivery traffic in the street.

E-cargo bike: an excellent alternative

At the end of 2017, we launched a trial with electric cargo (e-cargo) bikes. It has since become clear that e-cargo bikes are a great alternative to traditional delivery vehicles. Teaming up with Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, we’re looking at the added value of using e-cargo bikes for deliveries.

Act of Ambition

Ambitious commitments are at the heart of a joint approach to creating a welcoming city. That’s why several entrepreneurs and businesses have signed an Act of Ambition that aims to bring parties together and take targeted steps towards creating an attractive and healthy city centre.

For more information, please contact Jelle