[sustran] [sustran] Cycling in cities

[Brendan Finn]

[sustran] Cycling in citiesTo begin, 'well done' to Francis Papon for a
concise summarisation of the discussion so far.

In my opinion, the key point is that cycling offers possibilities for a
segment of the travel demand, and that this will vary very much from city to
city. As already said, it is part of the solution, but not all of it.

Still, if American cities can get excited about transit having a 3-5% share
of the total travel movements, then if we can get 1 trip in 20 made by bike
it should be seen as a big achievement. And it won't require so much
investment at public or personal level. The cost of one kilometre of urban
motorway or underground rail would buy an awful lot of cycle facilities,
which in turn would help to free up some existing roadspace.

I agree fully that the real knowledge to release the potential of cycling as
a mode lies with those who actually cycle (or have tried and given up) than
with the transport experts. From the existing cyclists - across the
different types of user - what things make it successful for them, and what
things make it painful even if they continue? For those who have given up,
what were the barriers, and what would give them the courage to try again ?

>From my personal experience of cycling to work in Dublin in 1987-1993, a
trip of about 10 km through traffic took 20 minutes, one third of the time
by bus and less than half that by car. There were no cycle facilities then,
but using a bit of common sense you learn to avoid the dangers. (I think
slower careful cyclists were treated with zero respect by motorists, and
became very discouraged). Since I had shower and locker facilities at my
workplace, I could arrive in ahead of my car-driving colleagues (the vast
majority - ironic,  given that I worked with the city's bus company), fresh
and wide-awake. I have to admit, in mid-winter I sometimes needed have a
little talk with myself to get onto the bike. Depending on circumstances, I
would take the bike or bus, but never the car. Since then, a substantial
cycle-path network has been developed, either on footpaths or kerbside
reservaton on the road, and cyclists are allowed use the greatly expanded
buslanes. Check the website of the Dublin Transportation Office
http://www.dto.ie

When I came to Singapore two years ago I thought I could save time by
cycling to the university, about 26 km., although clearly at the limit of a
daily cycle commute. It's a flat city and seems very suitable. However,
there is very high humidity and occasional torrential downpours. So even for
medium-length trips, a person needs to wear sports gear, bring a change of
clothes and absolutely must have shower and changing facilities at both trip
ends. When it rains heavily, conditions are treacherous and horrible for
cyclists. And the Singaporean drivers are, let us politely say, not
world-renowned for their respect for cyclists. I relate these experiences,
since many of the countries where cycling should play a major role have hot
climatic conditions, often with high humidity. On paper it looks great, but
on the road it's not so nice. Being realistic, I could not use the bike for
most trips (visiting friends, shopping, library, downtown) that I make since
it would always mean a change of clothes and a shower. Fortunately, there is
a good public transport system and cheap taxis.

Should we give up on cycling ?

Certainly not, but let's be realistic about which trips by which people can
be made comfortably by bicycle. As I say, if we can get an extra one in
twenty trips by bike, it changes the face of transport in a city for very
little cost.

Let us recognise that there is a vast toolbox of cycling possibilities, and
that each city needs to figure out the best mix, and promote it.

And let us also recognise that the number of cyclists is not a percentage of
the demographics. It is the collective of individual people facing the
opportunities, encouragement, barriers and dangers in their environment, and
making their personal choice.

With best wishes to all on the Sustrans forum,


Brendan Finn.
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----- Original Message -----
From: Francis Papon
To: sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org
Sent: 02 April 2002 17:33
Subject: [sustran] [sustran] Cycling in cities


Hello dear sustran list members,


I first want to thank Carlos Cordero V. for rising the issue of cycling in
cities:


À (At) 11:55 -0500 27/03/02, Carlos Cordero V. écrivait (wrote) :
For those of you who does not have the pleasure to talk in Spanish, the
information regarding Mexico D.F tells that there is no planned investment
for cycleways from 2000 till 2006. The governemnt excluded this possibility
even the environmental groups strongly opposed this kind of approach  to
urban transport. At the same time the budget goes to elevated highways in a
city with problems to breathe fresh air. Beyond the anecdote what we would
like to stress that every year is more difficult to find a place for cyclist
in cities since the investement pattern increase the phisical and social
segreation in the city.


This raised a number of interesting contributions.


À (At) 13:54 -0500 28/03/02, Paula Negron-Poblete écrivait (wrote) :
distances in Mexico are too important for being travelled by bike.


Then, all have agreed that bicycles alone were not the solution, but that
they were part of the solution.


À (At) 22:40 +0530 31/03/02, kisan mehta écrivait (wrote) :
no one alternative can be the only way out
for smooth movement of men and goods.


One of the reason is that bicycles are efficient and fast:


À (At) 21:23 +0800 31/03/02, Ramon écrivait (wrote) :
I cycle 15 km to work daily and it
takes me about an hour to do so.


Even, if not everybody like Ramon or myself travel long distances to work,
it is admitted by Dutch planners that trips up to 8 km can easily be managed
by bicycle.


Another reason is that bicycles are not expensive, which should be a
relevant point in developping countries. But on the other side of the the
coin, this can hinder the development of cycling, as it gives a poor image
of cycling. Only in the richest countries this problem has been overcome.


But the more serious issue about cycling is of course safety concerns:


À (At) 7:59 +0400 1/04/02, Alan Patrick Howes écrivait (wrote) :
Certain basic safety standards have to be enforced.


The debate about safety and cycle tracks has a long history. In some cases
facilities can be useful:
À (At) 23:11 +0530 1/04/02, Sujit Patwardhan écrivait (wrote) :
we are pressing for cycle tracks (for safety)


But often, separate facilities does not improve safety.
À (At) 10:38 +0800 2/04/02, Ramon écrivait (wrote) :
then the general
consensus is that they are not at all safe for transportation cycling


Often, experienced cyclists appear to know more about cyclists'safety than
so-called transport experts who never travel by bicycle: some key points are
developping road skills of cyclists, providing a smooth surface and a wide
curb lane, and enforcing parking restrictions. Often, separate facilities
appear to be a way of pushing cyclists off the way of motor vehicles.



--
Francis Papon, mailto:francis.papon at inrets.fr tel +33147407270
Ingénieur en Chef des Ponts et Chaussées, chargé de recherche à
INRETS/DEST/EEM,
2, av. du Général Malleret-Joinville, F-94114 Arcueil France
http://www.inrets.fr/