[sustran] Bicycles - Improving the image

[Gerry Hawkes]

I think the best way to improve the image of bicycles is to first
improve travel surface conditions for cyclists and to reduce or
eliminate conflicts with motorized vehicles, pedestrians and
animals.  Obviously this can not be done over a widespread area
by governments that are short on cash, but high quality, limited
access, bicycle only, transportation corridors could be
established for "cross town" bicycle traffic.  These
transportation corridors would most likely need to be
lightweight, low cost, elevated structures to avoid space
constraints and conflict at intersections.

Once such bicycle transportation corridors were established, the
next logical step would be to provide free electric power for
electric bicycles.  This power could come from conductor wires
and/or solar panels above the system and be picked up by electric
bicycles in much the same way electric street cars have for
almost a century.  The flexible electric pick-up "antennas" on
the back of bicycles could also double as safety flags that make
bicycles more visible when they merge with conventional traffic.
The advantage here is that the electric bicycles would also serve
as viable means of personal transportation off the main
transportation corridors, utilizing pedal power and battery
assist.

Cost to the government for providing free electricity would be
small compared to the public health costs of pollution.  The
image of clean, quiet, bicycles traveling above the chaos in the
streets below, protected from the sun and rain by canopies and
without any expense for fuel should be quite appealing.

NOTE:  I will be out of the US and out of e-mail contact from 18
April - 30 April, so I will not be able to respond to questions
and comments during that time.

Gerry Hawkes
Bike Track, Inc.
Woodstock, Vermont USA

www.biketrack.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Niklas Sieber <ifrtd at gn.apc.org>
To: sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org
<sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org>
Date: Thursday, April 16, 1998 5:35 AM
Subject: [sustran] Motorcycle discussion


Dear Sustran Discussants

I found the debate about environmental impacts of motorcycles
very
interesting. The actual question was raised by Barbara, quoting
GTZ
that the bicycles are often replaced by motorcycles if income
increases. A research from Ouagadougou corroborates this thesis.
Bicycles are regarded as transport for the poor, while French
mobylettes are preferred by the middle class. This is not only an
image problem but also a physical one, especially when the
temperature rises above 40 Celsius in the summer time.

My questions are now:

1. What can be done to increase the image of bicycles?

2. Which technical improvements reduce environmental
damages of motorcycles? Regarding the low purchasing
power it is essential that these improvements have low costs.

3. In case that there is no low cost solution, would it be
desirable
that Development Cooperation subsidises the technical
improvements?

_____________
Niklas Sieber
International Forum for Rural Transport and Development
150 Southampton Row
London WC1 B5AL, UK
Tel.: +44 171/ 278 3682, Fax: +44 171/ 278 6880
e-mail: ifrtd at gn.apc.org
Webpage: http://www.gn.apc.org/ifrtd