Cities around the world are coming to the same conclusion: theyâd be better off with far fewer cars. So whatâs behind this seismic shift in our urban lifestyles? Stephen Moss goes on an epic (car-free) journey to find out. Read article
Category Archives: International Posts
Outside EU / UK / US
Social vs Individual (Travel) Mode Costs
âAlthough these costs are easy to overlook, that doesnât make them any less real,â says George Poulos, a transportation engineer and planner who analyzed the data behind the Cost of Commute Calculator. âSometimes we pay them upfront, other times indirectly. But, at the end of the day, we still pay them, so we should consider them in our calculus when making big decisions.â
The Business Case for Converting Street Parking Into Bike Lanes
… here’s the thing about the “studies on possible economic impacts” requested by retailers, or really wherever bike-lane plans emerge: they’ve been done. And done. And done again. And they all reach a similar conclusion: replacing on-street parking with a bike lane has little to no impact on local business, and in some cases might even increase business. While cyclists tend to spend less per shopping trip than drivers, they also tend to make more trips, pumping more total money into the local economy over time … Read Article
Self-righteous road use causes accidents
As a cyclist, I was concerned when I heard of a Perth incident in which a young bike rider was run down after a car allegedly crossed to the wrong side of the road with the express intention of hitting him (pictured).
I was also worried about the reported angry and destructive actions of that cyclist towards the driver moments earlier.Â
Letâs talk seriously about why cyclists break traffic laws
A view from the US (Washington Post)
In full disclosure, I have scoffed the law while cycling. In my neighborhood at night, when there’s no one around, I have rolled through a stop sign. I have paused at an intersection, “no turn on red,” and then done exactly that on a bike. I do these things … occasionally.
“I do, too,” says Wesley Marshall, now that we’re confessing. “If Iâm sitting at a red light next to a bunch of cars, and there are no cars crossing, Iâll go through the red light to establish myself in the street in the next block, because I feel like Iâm safer doing that.”
ECF Factsheet on Fast Cycling Routes
FAST CYCLING ROUTES, WHAT ARE THEY?
Fast cycling routes are âhigh standard bicycle paths reserved for cyclists for fast and direct commuting over long distances.â
The 5 widely agreed criteria for high-quality cycling infrastructure can be applied to fast cycle routes. These are: 1. Safety, 2. Coherence, 3. Directness, 4. Comfort, 5. Attractiveness.
Beyond that, additional commonly agreed criteria and characteristics do not exist yet as the concept of fast cycling routes is relatively new.
Paris plans to ban cars from its city center
Paris is surging toward the front of the peloton of European cities racing for more bike- and pedestrian-friendly streets. Mayor Anne Hidalgo recently announced an ambitious plan to transform the historic city center into a âsemi-pedestrianizedâ zone, where walking and biking will be encouraged, and automobile access will be limited to emergency vehicles, residentsâ cars, and delivery trucks. Read article
ECF stresses economic benefits of cycling
Europe: The European Cyclistsâ Federation (ECF) has put out a growth plan detailing how the cycling community can contribute to economic growth in Europe.
The ECFâs Kevin Mayne said: âWe can create more jobs for Europeans through investment in cycling, not only because it has a proven record for creation of green and sustainable jobs, but because of the huge contributions it makes to the EUâs wider objectives. Our partners, our businesses and policy makers are ready to build on cyclingâs current 650,000 jobs and âŹ217bn per year contribution to the EU economy.â
There are three main focus points for the ECF: great investment in cycling through provision of EU subsidies; integration of cycling into growth plans; and provision of fiscal benefits for cyclists.
The report stresses that 650,000 full time jobs are linked to cycling in Europe today. It argues that this figure could increase to up to one million by 2020, should cyclingâs modal share double.
According to the ECF, over âŹ2bn can be utilised from the EU up to 2020 to invest into cycling resources.
The cycling organisation argues that its plan fits into the European Commissionâs pushing of a âŹ300bn investment strategy, saying that cycling can play an important role in the future of Europe and should receive adequate investment.
Long wait for safer lorries made longer
A disgraceful and retrograde decision was made yesterday in Brussels regarding modification to HGV cab design to make these dangerous vehicles safer for cyclists and pedestrians in urban areas.
Last nightâs negotiations between the Council, Parliament and Commission concluded that safety and environmental design changes to the front of the lorry cab will not be possible before 2022.
Cyclist.ie has been calling for major changes to cab design for decades so as to eliminate the extensive blind-zones around the driverâs field of view from the cab . These are not âblind-spotsâ as they are euphemistically called by those who should know better. Our colleagues in the European Cyclistsâ Federation (ECF) did their best in Brussels to compel truck manufacturers to begin making the necessary cab visibility modifications with no more prevarication.
The box/brick like shape that we currently see at the moment with a driver perched high on top of an engine is the result of the current regulations that restricts the size of the lorry, this gives around 2.35m to the cabs. The restriction of space means that engine, cooling system, driver living space, and safety considerations have all been competing for limited space. ECF has argued that driver direct vision, and a more forgiving impact shape have lost out in these competing areas, meaning that lorries are the most dangerous vehicles on the roads, particularly in urban areas[1].
The European Transport Safety Council[2] estimate that around 4,200 deaths each year are as a result of collisions with lorries, and that almost a quarter of cycling fatalities are as a result of collision with larger freight vehicles; this despite only constituting around 3% of the EU vehicle fleet. ECF Road safety policy officer Ceri Woolsgrove said that âThis was an excellent opportunity for the industry to show commitment to improving their product safety record in urban areas. An immediate change in lorry design could prevent around 900 deaths per year; unfortunately the delay in safer lorry design will cost lives.â
Knowing that these rigs are the main maimers and killers of cyclists we call on local authorities in Ireland to introduce HGV movement control by means of permits just like Dublin City has been operating for years. These recalcitrant local authorities need to reflect on the Road Act, 1993 and the requirement that road authorities consider the needs of ALL road users. Cyclists and pedestrians are vulnerable road users who need this protection.
The HSA needs to do more to compel operators and drivers of these vehicles to undertake the mandatory risk assessments required under safety legislation when these vehicles are being driven for work.
The RSAâs CPC system for drivers of these rigs needs to ensure that there is a mandatory module dealing with vulnerable road user interaction as part of what ADIs are teaching these drivers.
Cyclist.ie in Brussels for the âCycling for Growthâ Roundtable
Cyclist.ie â the member for Ireland of the European Cyclistsâ Federation (ECF) attended the âCycling for Growthâ round-table seminar in Brussels yesterday (Invitation here) . Damien Ă Tuama, National Cycling Coordinator made the trip over on behalf of Irish cyclists. The event was organised by ECF to mark the publication of three new studies demonstrating how cycling is good for the economy and job creation.
The studies recommended three main points:
- We need more investment in cycling, stimulated by EU subsidies for cycling measures
- We need to integrate cycling into growth plans
- We need to improve fiscal benefits for cyclists.
On this last point, we learned the astonishing statistic that, on an EU basis, tax subsidies for company cars lead to direct government revenue losses of âŹ54 billion according to a paper published by the European Commission. ECF and Cyclist.ie strongly recommend that we need a level playing field for all modes of transport throughout Europe, including those that have a positive impact on public health and the environment.
According to the ECF report âJobs and job creation in the European cycling sectorâ, there are more than 650,000 full-time jobs linked to cycling today in Europe. This number is estimated to increase up to 1 million jobs by 2020 if cycling modal share doubles, as ECF vision supports.
More details on the studies can be found on the ECF website
Finally, while Brussels itself â and the âEU quarterâ in particular – is still a long way off what you might call bicycle friendly, it is great to know that the European Cyclistsâ Federation is lobbying at the highest levels so as to centre the bicycle in transport policy … just as Cyclist.ie is doing in an Irish context.
