Rainbow bike path

The rainbow bike path starts at Padualaan 97. This is at the coloured building of the University of Applied Sciences Utrecht that you encounter first when you cycle from the Weg tot de Wetenschap to the Utrecht Science Park. The bicycle path runs until the intersection of Heidelberglaan and Bolognalaan (the intersection near the UMC Utrecht).

A safe working or study environment is not always and everywhere evident. To improve this within Utrecht University, we are working on policy changes on the one hand and on visibility and awareness on the other.  A visible manifestation such as the rainbow bike path contributes to this. It is also the reason why we raise the rainbow flag every year on Coming Out Day and why we join national campaigns as Purple Friday (the Dutch Spirit Day). From (part of) our UU community, we hear that people feel supported by these kinds of actions. Te rainbow bike path also led to conversations with students, employees and people outside the university. These kinds of conversations give us an even better idea of what is going on, and what actions our own students and staff think would contribute to diversity and inclusion.

The EDI programme identifies, advises the Executive Board, and organizes activities for the university community. The programme, chaired by the Diversity Dean, is an important player in boosting change. Several projects are currently up and running to make Utrecht University more inclusive. Read more about the EDI programme and the strategy and action plan here.

The different rainbow flags are of course a symbol of and for the LGBTIQ+ community. However, we hope that by giving a visible signal in this way, people outside the LGBTIQ+ community also feel welcome. And will see it as a signal that Utrecht University takes diversity and inclusion seriously and is accountable for it.

At the end of January, the Utrecht University and the University of Applied Sciences Utrecht were approached by student Elias van Mourik with the idea for the rainbow bike path. In May it became clear that the Municipality of Utrecht would grant a permit for the initiative. It was then decided to realize the rainbow bike path rather quickly; on the one hand because of Pride Month in June and on the other hand because such work is more difficult to carry out in the autumn. It was not feasible to set up a full programme of activities in the same short period of time. Especially since we want to launch activities that will have an impact on our students and staff. Therefore, we are talking to several people about the content of the activity programme, and we are also carefully reading all the reactions on social media in response to the rainbow bike path. This also gives us insight into what's needed. 

No. The construction of the rainbow bike path was funded from another budget within Utrecht University. This means that the construction of the rainbow bike path has not been at the expense of the budget for activities in the field of diversity and inclusion. Students and employees who are inspired by the initiative can still apply to the EDI-programme. The EDI programme makes 25,000 euros available annually for ideas from the university community. Students and staff with ideas can apply there.

The rainbow bike path begins with the so-called Progress Pride flag and then continues in the Philadelphia Pride flag. 

Classic rainbow flag 

The first rainbow flag with the six colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple was created in 1978 by Gilbert Baker. Each color has its own meaning: life (red), healing power (orange), sunlight (yellow), nature (green), serenity (blue), character (purple). The flag was a gift from the LGBTIQ+ community of the time to the later generation(s). 

Philadelphia Pride flag  

In 2017, as part of the More Pride More Color campaign in Philadelphia, a new version of the rainbow flag was developed at the initiative of Amber Hikes. The colours brown and black were added to represent people of colour within the LGBTIQ+ community. In addition, the black stripe also represents the fallen of HIV/AIDS and those who still live with it. 

The Progress Pride flag 

In 2018, Daniel Quasar, added a herringbone to the classic rainbow flag. The triangle had the colours brown, black, light blue, pink and white to place a greater emphasis on inclusion and progression. The colours light blue, pink and white are taken from the transgender flag and represent the trans community. The meaning of the classic flag has remained unchanged since the 1970s and represents identity, shared history and solidarity within the LGBTIQ+ community.

Utrecht University has a code of conduct and a complaints procedure for Inappropriate behaviour, such as (sexual) intimidation, aggression, violence and discrimination. Employees and students who experience undesirable behaviour in the study or working environment can report to the confidential advisor or Committee for Inappropriate Behaviour. If a student or staff member submits an official complaint, it will be investigated by the Committee for Inappropriate Behaviour. It will advise the Executive Board, which will then decide on any measures to be taken.

At the moment, student advisors and confidants receive no training on diversity and inclusion. Next academic year, however, a bias training will be given to all student advisors. Students who report to their student advisors and/or confidants with identity issues are referred to specialist help if necessary. This is because such problems fall outside the work area of the student advisor and confidential advisor. 
 

Utrecht University's HR department is investigating the possibility of offering transgender people transition leave. Our ambition is to realise transition leave in the coming years. 

Each UU building will have at least one all-gender toilet group (where technically and financially feasible). There are no plans to make all toilets gender-neutral. This is because a pilot showed that some students and employees would rather use a male or female toilet. So by having male, female and all-gender toilets in our buildings, we hope that everyone feels welcome. 
 

Currently, it is only possible to register someone as male or female in our systems. The EDI programme is investigating whether and how it is possible to change this. Within this exploration, pronouns are also looked at. Our ambition is to ensure that students and staff have a choice in this matter. 
 

One of our students pointed this out to us. In the next update of our public address message (this is an automatic message and is not recorded live), we will change it to 'Dear visitor'.   
 

It is not mandatory for all employees to follow this training. Since September 2020, however, it has been compulsory for at least two people on every application committee for a new professor to have taken the Unconscious Bias training course. At the time of writing (June 2021) 330 employees have joined an Unconscious Bias training. 
 

If you have an idea on how we could improve our policy, please send an email to edi.office@uu.nl. If you have an idea for an activity for which you would like financial support, you can contact the stimulation fund. You can find all the information you need on this page.
 

In the construction of the rainbow bike path, all safety and skid resistance requirements were taken into account. Before the bike path was put into operation on 11 June, we tested whether the bike path was actually rough enough.

The rainbow bike path has all the markings required for safety, for example the white stripe in the middle of the bike path has been kept free. This makes it clear that this is a two-way cycle path. In addition, at both ends of the path there will be signs clearly indicating that it is a bicycle path.

The municipality of Utrecht takes care of the maintenance of the rainbow bike path. Any repair work in case of damage will be done by Utrecht University, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht and UMC Utrecht.