Reading signs
What do the numbers on cycle signs mean?
The large number on a cycle signpost is the number of a node — a numbered junction in the cycle network. Smaller arrow signs below show the numbers of the next nodes and the distance to them. So you ride not by street names but from number to number: 12 → 36 → 83.
What is on a sign like this?
At the very top, the number panel with the number of the node where you stand. Below it, one or more intermediate signposts: arrow, destination number and usually the distance in kilometres. That is all you need — the number tells you where you are, the arrows show the way.
Large number panel or small intermediate signpost?
The large panel says “you are here”. The small arrow signs say “this way on”. Mix them up and you look for your own position among the destination numbers — remember: large = location, small = direction.
What colours and shapes do the signs have in NRW?
In North Rhine-Westphalia the signposts are red and white and carry the bicycle pictogram. The node number sits in a field of its own. Shape and colour follow the statewide cycle signposting, so signs read the same everywhere.
How do I ride from number to number?
- Read the current number. Read the large number on the panel — that is the node where you are standing.
- Choose the next number. Find the number of the node you want on the intermediate signposts.
- Follow the arrow. Follow the arrow to the next node and repeat from the start.
A sign is missing or twisted — what now?
Ride back to the last node you were sure of and get your bearings again. The next complete sign leads you back into the system. If you planned the sequence of numbers beforehand — on a map or in an app — a missing number is easy to bridge.
Do the numbers also apply in the Netherlands and Belgium?
Yes. The system (“fietsknooppunten”) comes from there and is built the same way across borders. The number ranges are regional, though — the same number turns up again elsewhere. So across national borders you plan section by section.
Why aren’t the numbers consecutive?
The numbers only have to be unique locally, not consecutive nationwide. That keeps them low and easy to remember, and new nodes can be added without renumbering everything.
Key terms explained
- Node
- A numbered junction in the cycle network. The number is unique in its surroundings.
- Number panel
- The large sign with the number of the node where you are standing.
- Intermediate signpost
- Smaller arrow sign showing direction, number and distance of the next node.
Plan a loop from here
Standing at a sign and want to set off? Radrunde takes your location and the distance you want and builds a loop over the nodes.
Frequently asked questions
What does the large number on the sign mean?
It is the number of the node where you stand — this junction’s unique identifier in the network. From here you plan and call out the next number.
What are the smaller arrow signs below it for?
These are the intermediate signposts. They show the direction to neighbouring nodes and their numbers, often with the distance in kilometres. You follow them to the next node.
What do I do if a sign is missing or twisted?
Ride back to the last node you were sure of and get your bearings again; the next complete sign leads you back into the system. A map or app with your planned numbers helps bridge the gap.