THE BICYCLE RING in AARHUS, DENMARK: a Case Study of Maintaining People Friendly Environments While Managing Cycling Growth
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THE BICYCLE RING IN AARHUS, DENMARK: a case study of maintaining people friendly environments while managing cycling growth Urban Planning & Management | Master Thesis | Aalborg University | June 2017 Estella Johanna Hollander & Matilda Kristina Porsö Title: The Bicycle Ring in Aarhus, Denmark: a case study of maintaining people friendly environments while managing cycling growth Study: M.Sc. in UrBan Planning and Management, School of Architecture, Design and Planning, AalBorg University Project period: FeBruary to June 2017 Authors: Estella Johanna Hollander and Matilda Kristina Porsö Supervisor: Gunvor RiBer Larsen Pages: 111 pages Appendices: 29 pages (A-E) i Abstract This research project seeks to analyze the relationship Between cycling and people friendly environments, specifically focusing on the growth in cycling numbers and the associated challenges. To exemplify this relationship, this research project uses a case study of the Bicycle Ring (Cykelringen) in Aarhus, Denmark. Four corners around the Bicycle Ring, with different characteristics in the Built environment, are explored further. In cities with a growing population, such as Aarhus, moBility is an important focus because the amount of travel will increase, putting a higher pressure on the existing infrastructure. In Aarhus, cycling is used as a tool to facilitate the future demand of travel and to overcome the negative externalities associated with car travel. The outcome of improved mobility and accessibility is seen as complementary to a good city life in puBlic spaces. Therefore, it is argued that cycling is a tool to facilitate people friendly environments. Recently, the City of Aarhus has implemented cycle streets around the Bicycle Ring as a solution to improve the conditions around the ring. Cycle streets can contriBute to a people friendly environment because it encourages a slow and considerate behavior from cars. However, a big issue observed around the ring is a certain Bicycle mentality, which can hinder the Benefits of cycling in the city. It is concluded that there needs to Be a level of management for Both infrastructural and behavioral aspects in bicycle planning to manage the challenges associated with growing cycling numbers. ii Preface This research project is a master’s thesis conducted as a part of the program Urban Planning and Management, at the School of Architecture, Design, and Planning at AalBorg University. The suBject matter was inspired By the researcher’s respective internships at the Center for Urban Development and MoBility at the City of Aarhus and the Dutch Cycling EmBassy. The research and writing was carried out from FeBruary to June 2017. References in this research project are cited according to the Harvard style. A full reference list with the corresponding sources are found at the end of this report. Transcripts of the interviews and observations conducted are found in the appendix. Images without a source are adapted By the authors and all of the photographs are taken by the authors as well. Lastly, we would like to thank our supervisor Assistant Professor, Ph.D., at AalBorg University, Gunvor RiBer Larsen for her insightful guidance and encouragement throughout the project. We would also like to send a Big thank you to the City of Aarhus, especially to Smart MoBility for answering all of our questions and providing us with helpful information. iii iv Table of contents 1 Introduction 7 1.1 Research questions 8 1.2 Project structure 9 2 Literature Review 11 2.1 Planning for people 11 2.1.1 Rise of the car 11 2.1.2 Shift in urBan planning 13 2.1.3 The human dimension in planning 13 2.2 The built environment 16 2.2.1 Definition 16 2.2.2 Dense cities and mode choice 17 2.2.3 Mode division 18 2.2.4 Traffic calming 19 2.3 Mobility 20 2.3.1 Definition 20 2.3.2 MoBilities turn 21 2.3.3 MoBilities design 21 2.3.4 Behavior change in mobility 24 2.4 Active transportation 25 2.4.1 Definition 26 2.4.2 Benefits of cycling 26 2.4.3 Challenges of cycling 29 2.5 Applying the theoretical framework 32 3 Background 33 3.1 Denmark 33 3.1.1 Copenhagen as a livaBle city 33 3.1.2 Cycling in Denmark 34 3.2 The City of Aarhus 36 3.2.1 Managing growth in a livaBle manner 37 3.2.2 The Municipal Plan 2017 39 3.2.3 MoBility in Aarhus 40 3.2.4 Case study focus: The Bicycle Ring 42 4 Methodology 44 4.1 Pragmatism 44 4.2 Case study as a research method 45 4.3 Research design 45 4.3.1 Research questions 46 4.4 Case study design 47 4.4.1 Validity and reliaBility 47 4.4.2 Generalization 48 4.4.3 Pragmatic validity 49 4.4.4 Single case study 50 4.4.5 Descriptive and explanatory case study 50 4.4.6 Unit of analysis 51 4.4.7 Justifications for the four corners 51 4.5 Data collection 52 4.5.1 Documents 53 v 4.5.2 Interviews 53 4.5.3 Observations 55 4.6 Analyzing data 57 5 Findings 58 5.1 T-intersection Grønnegade/Klostergade 59 5.1.1 Area description 59 5.1.2 Observations 60 5.2 T-intersection Mejlgade/Graven 61 5.2.1 Area description 61 5.2.2 Observations 62 5.3 T-intersection Mindebrogade/Skolegade 64 5.3.1 Area description 64 5.3.2 Observations 65 5.4 Intersection J.M. Mørks Gade/Frederiksgade/Østergade 67 5.4.1 Area description 68 5.4.2 Observations 68 6 Analysis 70 6.1 What is a people friendly environment and what role does mobility play when applying the definition to the context of Aarhus? 71 6.1.1 Defining a people friendly environment 71 6.1.2 A people friendly environment in Aarhus 73 6.1.3 Conclusion 75 6.2 How does the built environment influence people’s mobility behavior around the Bicycle Ring? 76 6.2.1 Bicycle mentality in Aarhus 77 6.2.2 Shared space 78 6.2.3 Design scripts 82 6.2.4 Atmosphere 86 6.2.5 Conclusion 91 6.3 With growing cycling numbers on the Bicycle Ring, how can this growth be managed to facilitate a people friendly environment in the city center of Aarhus? 92 6.3.1 Managing growth in cycling numBers 93 6.3.2 Growing cycling numBers in Aarhus 94 6.3.3 Managing growth in cycling numBers in Aarhus 95 6.3.4 Conclusion 98 7 Discussion 99 7.1 Methods discussion 100 8 Conclusion 102 References 103 Appendix 112 vi 1. Introduction With more than half of the world’s population living in cities, and with numBers continuing to grow, the positive and negative externalities of urBanization is greatly affecting today’s industrialized cities. Cities can Be a place where consumption of resources, such as land and fuel, can be saved through compact development (Warren, 2014). However, the growth in cities is also putting a higher pressure on the existing traffic infrastructure, while at the same time, there is an increase in demand for moBility (Lennert & Schönduwe, 2017). After World War II, the car was perceived as the ‘mode of the future’ in many European countries, and urBan planners and engineers planned for a car-centric future. In Both Copenhagen and Amsterdam, neighBorhoods were destroyed to widen streets, and puBlic spaces were turned into car parks or multi-lane Boulevards for cars (Van der Zee, 2015; RuBy, n.d.). However, as more cars are flooding city streets, this type of moBility is Becoming compromised due to congestion, a decrease in noise and air quality, and a reduction of people out on the streets (Warren, 2014; Jacobs, 1961). In the 1960s, a discontent aBout the car-centric development was expressed By pioneers within the field, such as Jane JacoBs and Jan Gehl, arguing that the rise of the car changed the nature of cities (Jacobs, 1961; Gehl, 2010). The city was neglected as a meeting place for people By giving less priority to puBlic space, walking, and cycling. The necessary planning dimension of planning for people was missing (Gehl, 2010). Many of the cities today, do not encourage human interaction (The Human Scale, n.d.). By planning for people friendly environments By inviting people to reside, cycle, and walk, there are many Benefits to a city. For example, cities can Become more lively and safe, when people are out on the streets, travel at a slower pace, and interact. Cities can also Become more sustainaBle due to less carBon emissions from cars and a more efficient use of space. Further, active transportation facilitates daily physical activity leading to improved physical and mental health (Gehl, 2010). Therefore, cycling is promoted as a solution to many of the issues facing cities. For example the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, is focusing on the human dimension in their planning, such as using the bicycle as a tool to facilitate more people friendly environments. Copenhagen is promoting the Bicycle and investing in improving the conditions, leading to a steady increase in cyclists (City of Copenhagen, 2011). However, in recent years, the city is facing challenges with the growing numBers of cyclists, such as a lack of parking spaces and congested Bicycle lanes during peak hours, causing the city to Bring attention to these challenges (DamBeck, 2013; City of Copenhagen, 2011). This phenomenon of managing growing cycling numbers to maintain the quality of the mode and its effect 7 on the city is not just happening in the Bigger cycling capitals, But it is also challenging smaller cities with growing cycling numBers.