1200 reactions regarding the traffic and transportation project in Zeewolde | Keypoint Consultancy
Since July 2020, Keypoint Consultancy has been working on behalf of the municipality of Zeewolde to develop a new municipal traffic and transportation plan (GVVP). This plan outlines mobility policies for the next 10 years based on four themes: accessibility, traffic safety, livability, and sustainability. Ronnie Poorterman, Senior Mobility Advisor at Keypoint and project leader for the Zeewolde GVVP, says: "Because input from the people of Zeewolde is crucial, we have used two participation tools: an online survey and the MapTalk application. Both have been very well utilized. Via MapTalk, we received no less than 1200 reactions, indicating the significant involvement of the population."
What are the concerns among the people of Zeewolde?
"The municipality prefers to develop policies together with the people who live and work in Zeewolde," begins Ronnie. "To do this together, we need to know what concerns them. We want to know how people experience the aforementioned themes of livability, accessibility, traffic safety, and sustainability. Their opinions are decisive for the policy plan developed by the municipality."
No less than 1200(!) reactions via MapTalk
Ronnie: "We have used two participation tools. We started with a survey conducted by the market research firm KiekendiefPerspectief, which highlighted commonly mentioned issues: logic in route formation, safety at bike crossings, high-speed car traffic, and parking. Via the MapTalk app, we delved further into these points. Everyone could pinpoint the exact location of bottlenecks on the map of Zeewolde and suggest solutions to the problem. In total, we received about 1200 reactions, showing that people in Zeewolde are very engaged."
“Using the input from MapTalk you get extremely detailed information.”
MapTalk provides a comprehensive package
Ronnie is pleased with the use of MapTalk: "Working with MapTalk was very pleasant. It's an accessible, user-friendly tool, and therefore, valuable information was collected in a short time. If we had organized something physical, we would have received far fewer reactions. With MapTalk, you clearly gather more information because it's easy for people to fill out. However, there is a downside. For example, if you organize a physical open evening, you can engage in conversation with people and delve deeper into questions. So, we see MapTalk as part of the overall participation process. Together with the mentioned survey and supplemented with interviews with interest groups, we provide a comprehensive package to our clients."
MapTalk provides detailed information
The municipal traffic and transportation plan are developed for the next 10 years and therefore describe the main lines of mobility policy. With the input from MapTalk, you get really detailed information. If the municipality proceeds with the further development of measures after the plan is adopted, this information is again very valuable.
Collaboration with MapGear
"I have experienced the collaboration as good," concludes Ronnie. "They thought along well about how to set up the tool according to the specific question of the municipality of Zeewolde. We had a few small hiccups, but those issues were immediately addressed and resolved."