[sustran] Motorcycle discussion

[Riley Geary]

J.H. Crawford writes:

>> 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. 
>
> This sort of problem is one of the reasons why the reference design
> for carfree cities which we are developing does not require the
> use of bicycles. In many areas, they can't be used year-round due
> to weather extremes.

Try telling that to the Chinese!  Let's not forget that at least as many
people rely on the bicycle for their primary means of transportation in
the PRC alone as those who rely on the private automobile globally.  And
despite 40 C summers and -30 C winters, half a billion Chinese somehow
manage to keep commuting by bicycle--even in the rain and snow.  As far as
image goes, in China riding a bike is considered a perfectly respectable
way of getting around, and probably enjoys a higher social status than
either walking or taking one of the perpetually crowded public busses.

>> 1. What can be done to increase the image of bicycles?
>
> In 40 degree heat, maybe nothing. I've seen in Bali that
> people would buy and use bikes, but as soon as they had
> enough money, they bought a 70cc motorcycle...

Fortunately, this does not seem to be the case in China, at least not yet,
though government regulation of motorcycles may have a lot to do with it.
And while overcrowded public busses may offer some practical advantages
over bikes in the dead of winter, in 40 C summers it's a different story
entirely.

Riley R. Geary -- League of American Bicyclists
Arlington, VA
geary at cmr.gov