[bikeqld] Fwd: [NewMobilityCafe] [World Streets] How do you get the population riding bikes for daily transpor...

[Michael Yeates]

FYI ...

MY..................

Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:50:00 -0700 (PDT)
>Subject: [NewMobilityCafe] [World Streets] How 
>do you get the population riding bikes for daily transpor...
>
>[http://www.bakfiets-en-meer.nl/2008/12/04/fresh-cycling-statistics-from-the-netherlands/] 
>
>How do you get the population riding bikes for daily transportation?
>
>- Henry Cutler, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
>
>There is more to it than just wheels and 
>concrete. It is a systemic challenge, and here for example is one small part.
>
>In the Netherlands there's a tax rule that 
>allows one to purchase a bicycle each three 
>years with pre-tax salary. You can buy any 
>bicycle with a maximum tax-free price of €749 
>plus €249249 of extras, but the great majority 
>of bikes here are utility models. Given that 
>both Dutch taxes and use of bikes as 
>transportation are very high this rule is widely 
>used. This tax benefit enables more new and 
>better bikes to be sold but it's unclear how 
>much it actually increases cycling usage. The 
>Dutch cycle because it's the most practical, 
>safe, cheap and enjoyable option ...and do so 
>whether they're on new bikes or ancient, 
>single-speed granny bikes. Nationwide the Dutch 
>cycle an average of 2.48 km per day.
>
>That cycling is so often the most practical, 
>safe, cheap and enjoyable means of 
>transportation in the Netherlands isn't just 
>cultural; it's a function of cycling being a key 
>element in the nationwide transportation 
>infrastructure. It is widely recognized that 
>bicycles are the most flexible, economical and 
>space-efficient way for people to get around the 
>densely populated cities. Private cars are the least.
>
>Practically every point in the entire country is 
>outfitted with bicycle roads, signals and 
>storage facilities... and drivers who also 
>cycle. Scary intersections and high-speed roads 
>without separated bicycle paths are 
>extraordinarily rare. To the contrary bicycle 
>roads are often much more direct and convenient 
>than those for automobiles. These traffic routes 
>are planned out and implemented city wide.
>
>A good example is the northern city of 
>Groningen, which apparently has world's highest 
>cycling modal share atàÀ!/àÿÿÿÿ­ô/ 57% of trips. 
>Until the 1970's there were no restrictions on 
>driving cars through the city and bike paths 
>were being removed. In 1972 the government 
>designated the city center "living space" and 
>integrated transport policy with town planning . 
>Over the following four decades auto access was 
>restricted, cycling infrastructure improved and 
>new neighborhoods developed to encourage 
>cycling. Some notable statistics: There are 0.4 
>cars and 1.7 bikes per person and the average 
>speed of cycling within the city is 50% faster than driving.
>
>How do you get the population riding bikes for 
>daily transportation? Build your cities to make 
>it safe, practical and fast so that cycling 
>becomes something everyone will do instead of 
>just a few hardy, bike commuter "warriors". 
>Children must be able to cycle to school and 
>elderly people to the grocery store. Tax 
>benefits for bike purchases might help but not 
>if the basic infrastructure isn't in place.
>
>References:
>    * 
> <http://www.bakfiets-en-meer.nl/2008/12/04/fresh-cycling-statistics-from-the-netherlands/>http://www.bakfiets-en-meer.nl/2008/12/04/fresh-cycling-statistics-from-the-netherlands/ 
>
>    * 
> http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-groningen-grew-to-be-worlds-number.html 
>
>    * 
> <http://www.bakfiets-en-meer.nl/2008/10/16/bicycle-death-statistics-in-amsterdam-and-the-netherlands/>http://www.bakfiets-en-meer.nl/2008/10/16/bicycle-death-statistics-in-amsterdam-and-the-netherlands/ 
>
>
>Henry Cutler, henry at workcycles.com
>WorkCycles B.V., http://www.workcycles.com
>Amsterdam, the Netherlands
>
>--
>Posted By The Editor to 
><http://newmobilityagenda.blogspot.com/2009/04/how-do-you-get-population-riding-bikes.html>World 
>Streets at 4/27/2009 08:46:00 AM

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.bikeqld.org.au/pipermail/bikeqld/attachments/20090429/9e54d935/attachment.htm