Ferry at closed Haarlem bridge for pedestrians only: no space for cyclists

The Waarderbrug over the Spaarne river in Haarlem-Noord has closed for extensive maintenance, scheduled to last until the end of April next year. A temporary ferry service has been established to transport pedestrians across the water between 6:00 and 18:00, Monday through Saturday. However, the service does not accommodate cyclists, who must now detour via the Schoterbrug or Prinsenbrug to bypass the construction site. This change adds approximately nine minutes to the commute for local cyclists, while pedestrians save around 30 minutes of walking time. The municipality stated that providing a bicycle-friendly ferry would require a two-person crew, which is considered too costly for this project. Cyclists have expressed frustration, though local authorities emphasize that the maintenance work on bridge components such as motors, locks, and stairs is essential. This bridge closure is part of a broader series of traffic disruptions in the Haarlem-Noord area due to various ongoing construction and infrastructure projects.