After decades of trial and error, the ingredients for robust urban cycling cultures are becoming clear.by Gary Gardner Early this decade, Parisian city planners grappling with traffic congestion, air pollution, and other challenges ventured outside the box. They were well aware that traditional transportation remedies such as widened roads and expanded parking typically relieve congestion in the short term but seed even greater longterm crowding while worsening pollution and carbon emissions. So they decided to use bicycles—some 20,000 of them, scattered across the city at metro stops and other convenient locations—to extend the reach of the Paris public transport system and to provide inexpensive, healthy transportation for short trips. Not your father’s transit plan, to be sure, but Paris’s public bike initiative symbolizes the new respect bicycles are getting in a growing number of municipal governments worldwide. Worldwatch Institute – vision for a sustainable world
All posts by John Dawson
Cars to blame in most accidents involving cycles – Australia
NEARLY nine out of 10 accidents involving cyclists and cars in Australia are the fault of the motorist, new research has found.
The research also recommends introducing new road rules enforcing safe passing distances for cars.
Drivers were at fault in 87 per cent of incidents with cyclists and most did not realise they had behaved in a reckless or unsafe manner, according to the Monash University Accident Research Centre and The Amy Gillett Foundation. Full article – The Australian
Experts call for ban on HGVs in Britain’s cities to protect cyclists
Cycling Embassy of Denmark
Dublin bike scheme set for tenfold expansion
A TENFOLD expansion of the Dublin bike scheme from 500 to 5,000 bikes, which will be available to use from UCD to DCU, is planned by Dublin City Council.
The five-year expansion plan will see the number of bike stations across the city increased from just over 40 to about 300, bringing the service into the suburbs.
The expansion will take place in 14 phases radiating out from the current 41 locations. The area east of the current stations to the Docklands and west to Heuston Station will be the first areas of expansion, followed by the inner suburbs of Dolphin’s Barn, East Wall, Phibsboro, Cabra and Ranelagh. Full article – Irish Times
Sustainable transport through participatory design. Guatemala City Bicycle Masterplan
A proposal from Guatemala City on how road space may be organised for different categories of roads, to cater for all road users. A pictorial representation: Continue reading Sustainable transport through participatory design. Guatemala City Bicycle Masterplan
Pothole-spotting app could make it a busy winter for councils
Motorists fork out €360m for parking their cars
IRISH motorists spent €360m last year on car parking fees, with a large part of the money being paid to local authorities for on-street parking. Full article – Independent.ie
Cyclist.ie argue that the excessive reliance by councils on parking revenue creates an incentive to remove road space for cyclists – and that local councils should be properly funded – by local taxation
The race to stay visible at night
LEDs have revolutionised bike lights. But it’s time to unveil the latest technology – electroluminescence
Over the decades bicycles have undoubtedly become more sophisticated, but compared to some forms of transport – cars for example – the advance of technology has been less of a march, more a gentle amble.
But there’s one part of cycling technology where the pace of change reaches near computer-industry speeds: lights. Full article – Guardian.co.uk
Our kids are falling behind in the one race in life that really matters
LAST Monday I set out to demonstrate to my kids the adage that there is no such thing as bad weather which should dissuade physical activity, merely unsuitable clothing. Full article: Irish Examiner