This chart is from the Netherlands Interface for Cycling Expertise.
I have estimated the percentages from the chart and converted it to numbers showing percentage increase from the historic low to 1995.
For those who believe The Netherlands’ and Denmark’s high cycling numbers are due to facilities, you might consider that many of these places never dropped below 20% cycling mode share. Cycling has always been a prominent component to their traffic environment.
Take a look at what they themselves say about the effectiveness of bikeways to increase cycling:
“Since 1990, the total length of cycle paths has increased to almost 19,000 km, doubling the length in 1980.”
“Results: In 1994, the total distance cycled was 12.9 billion km, compared with 12.8 billion in 1990. The number of km traveled by car was 125 billion in 1990 and 129 billion in 1994.”
“Expansion and improvement of the infrastructure does not necessarily increase the use of bicycles.”
From “The Autumn of the Bicycle Master Plan”
1994, Dutch Ministry of Transport
And
From “The Economic Significance of Cycling”
The Netherlands Interface for Cycling Expertise
“Experiences in Amsterdam show that the increase in bicycle use in the city centre in the last 10 years is mainly due to increased parking rates.”
“The policy of reducing car traffic in city centres therefore often consists of reducing parking facilities, and this method is used to cut car use.”
“Many cities have started to reclaim space from the car in the last 10 to 20 years. … A good example of this is Copenhagen where, between 1962 and 1996, the number of parking spaces was reduced from 3,100 to 2,000…”
The existence of an extensive rail transit system is also a very important factor:
“In 1991, 44% of [transit users] went to the local train station by bicycle.”
From “The Autumn of the Bicycle Master Plan”
If you start with different ingredients for two recipes, then add the same new ingredient to both recipes, do you end up with the same results?
Posted in
Bikeways,
Transportation Cycling
“If you don’t stand up, you don’t stand a chance.”
– Genesis, Squonk
A woman walks into a marketing and public relations firm and sits down to talk with their lead strategist.
“Our organization has a fun, safe and healthy activity we wish to promote, but we’re struggling to figure out the right approach,” she says.
The strategist thinks for a moment, then responds, “I recommend the approach bicycle advocates have been using for the past 20 years; reinforce the public’s fears about your activity.”
The woman is taken aback, pauses for a moment, then says, “Oh! You had me going there for a moment!”
“What do you mean?” asks the strategist.
“Well, you were joking, right?…”
If only.
Read more »
Posted in
Politics
The common belief about European cities is that they have so many bicyclists because they have extensive (and “safe”) bikeway systems. This travelogue from 1937* shows Copenhagen streets filled with cyclists.
Granted, auto ownership in 1937 Copenhagen was rather tiny compared to present-day American cities (or for that matter present day Copenhagen). But watch how the motorists and cyclists interact. To us it looks like chaos. Traffic control appears minimal at best, yet the cyclists all seem blithley unconcerned.
It is certainly true that bike used plummeted in Denmark after World War II, and one can argue that the increase in auto use made it “necessary” to build segregated bikeways in order to increase bicycle use. My point is: look at how they all behave. Integration inspires cooperation — especially when the bicyclists are dressed just like everybody else.
Thanks to Copenhagenize for the find.
* YouTube shows this as from 1953, but info from IMBD and auto styles in the film indicate it’s 1937.
Posted in
Bikeways,
Traffic Law,
Traffic Skills,
Transportation Cycling
Are bicyclists required or expected to permit motorists to violate the law?
Passing within 3 feet is of course a violation now in Florida. As someone who spent 20 years hugging the white line, and the past 10 riding more assertively, and has been passed by probably a million motorists in his lifetime, it’s obvious to me that hugging the edge invites close passing while lane control does not.
Here’s another illustration to show the dangers of having a large group ride single-file along the edge. Thanks to Keri Caffrey for the truck & trailer illustration.
And if a cyclist is hit in such a scenario, count on the driver claiming the cyclist “swerved into me; there was nothing I could do,” and the officer going along with it.
Posted in
Cars,
Safety,
Traffic Law
And exercising regularly would of course reduce the potential for heart problems in the first place…
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Working up a sweat may be even better than angioplasty for some heart patients, experts say.
Studies have shown heart patients benefit from exercise, and some have even shown it works better than surgical procedures. At a meeting of the European Society of Cardiology on Sunday, several experts said doctors should focus more on persuading their patients to exercise rather than simply doing angioplasties.
Read more…
Posted in
Health,
Transportation Cycling
E-mails are flying and cycling forums are full of the story of the Town of Jupiter (FL) considering passage of a local code limiting the size of cycling groups. As often happens when reactionary minds get together, the proposed law goes too far, requiring nonsense such as bells and “safety” flags on bikes, and it seems to limit the ability for solo cyclists to drive as defensively as State law allows.
Responses from local cycling groups has also been disappointing. The more vocal folks seem to believe the solution is for everyone to ride single file and hug the edge of the road. For years now I have been arguing that the problem with groups rides in Florida is primarily group size. But few if any of the clubs and groups seem willing to try reducing group size.
Keeping the same size groups and going single file along the edge will not solve the problem, and it may make things worse.
Cyclists ride two abreast because humans are naturally social animals. The desire to ride side-by-side and talk to somebody will create constant tension between those attempting to keep everyone single-file and those who just want to enjoy the ride.
Long, single-file pacelines are inherently squirrelly at the end, and dropping back after a pull takes quite a while with a big group, so there will often be at least one rider outside the line.
Hugging the edge invites motorists to pass when it’s not safe to do so. They will squeeze by within the lane (many rural roads have lanes of 10 or 11 feet wide), and in many cases pass closer than three feet.
The problem isn’t cyclists “riding in the middle of the lane;” it’s cyclists making it difficult for motorists to pass by choosing to travel in large packs. Larger groups leads to other problems, too.
Read more »
Posted in
Cars,
Safety,
Traffic Law
I’m not quite sure where people get those all-or-nothing attitudes when it comes to cycling. I’m continually amazed at how many people immediately start up with “Americans aren’t going to give up their cars” when bicycle transportation is brought up.
Similarly, many cyclists (and motorists who seem to revel in hanging out in cycling-related comment boards) seem to think lane control (aka “Taking the Lane,” aka “Commanding the Lane,” aka “Riding in the Middle of the Road,” aka “Impeding Traffic,” aka “Getting in the Way of the Important People in Cars”) is an all-or-nothing proposition. As though lane control proponents do nothing but ride in the middle of every lane.
Of course that’s not the case. We control the lane when it’s prudent; when keeping right will invite motorists to squeeze by dangerously close, when intersection conflicts are an issue, when pavement is bad, when we’re going as fast as other traffic, and in a variety of other situations.
I and others describe a lane that is too narrow to share as less than 14 feet wide. (By the way, it’s not just us arrogant lane control advocates who say this; FDOT does, too. See Florida Green Book, page 211.) But there are situations in which a narrower lane might be shareable; particularly when motorist speeds are low. One of the many benefits of lane control is that it slows motorists down so that they can pass safely. While many cyclists like to tout Florida’s 3-foot law (motorists are required to give at least three feet of space when passing a bicyclist), many of us are comfortable with closer passes when motorists are going only a few miles per hour faster than we are (but want more than 3 feet when speeds are high!). I’m happy with 2 feet when cars are doing 20 mph and the pavement is good.
Read more »
Posted in
Advanced Skills,
Cars,
Safety,
Traffic Law,
Traffic Skills,
Transportation Cycling
Last week I had an encounter with a woman who seemed to believe her horn was an effective tool for expressing her displeasure at being “stuck” behind a bicyclist (me).
After over 30 years of suffering the full variety of beeps, honks and blasts, I’ve gotten beyond the knee-jerk rage many cyclists use to respond. And I believe the key in many circumstances is pity. Really. If somebody gives you a short honk give them the benefit of doubt that they’re either giving a quick “I’m coming by” or they honked at someone else. If it’s a real blast definitely aimed at you, just feel sorry that they’re so miserable that they can’t bear to wait a few extra seconds behind a bicyclist. Trying to cheer them up will not work of course, but you can at least entertain yourself with your response.
The same motorists will likely give no thought to using their horns to express frustration with all the delay they experience sitting at red lights, behind stopped transit buses, behind cars waiting to turn left, etc. But being behind a bicyclist? That must just be a downright humiliating experience. To be so important and to have all that horsepower and yet be stuck going 15 miles per hour behind a lowly bicyclist…
Posted in
Fun
Sometimes I just have to shake my head. And take a picture.
This bike lane on US 17/92 in Seminole County, just north of the Orange County line, is correctly placed between the right-most through lane and the long merge lane.
(This Google Map shot was taken before the road was rebuilt, so you won’t see the bike lane there, but shows the wider context; it runs from the Maitland Blvd. interchange to the Spartan Drive intersection; about 900 feet).
But the traffic engineers seem to think motorists should only merge during this very short dashed line section.
Not to worry. The motorists seem to be smarter than that and pass/merge where it makes sense for them.
Posted in
Bikeways,
Safety
Now this is how we really promote cycling:
From Contract Magazine:
VOA Completes Oviedo, Florida Public Works, Administration and Engineering Facility
July 8, 2009
The Orlando office of VOA Associates has completed the 5,500-sq.-ft. Public Works, Administration and Engineering Facility for the city of Oviedo, Fla., public works department, a project which has been submitted for LEED Gold certification. …
To achieve LEED Gold, the team incorporated a number of environmentally sustainable elements, such as highly reflective roofing materials, a changing room, showers and bicycle storage for 5 percent of the occupants …
Posted in
Green Business,
Transportation Cycling
