World Transport Policy & Practice Volume 7, Number 3, 2001
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
World Transport Policy & Practice ISSN 1352-7614 Volume 7, Number 3, 2001 Mission Statement World Transport Policy & Practice is a quarterly journal which provides a high quality medium for original and creative work in world transport. WTPP has a philosophy based on the equal importance of academic rigour and a strong commitment to ideas, policies and practical initiatives that will bring about a reduction in global dependency on cars, lorries and aircraft. WTPP has a commitment to sustainable transport which embraces the urgent need to cut global emissions of carbon dioxide, to reduce the amount of new infrastructure of all kinds and to highlight the importance of future generations, the poor, those who live in degraded environments and those deprived of human rights by planning systems that put a higher importance on economic objectives than on the environment and social justice. WTPP embraces a different approach to science and through science to publishing. This view is based on an honest evaluation of the track record of transport planning, engineering and economics. All too often, these interrelated disciplines have embraced quantitative, elitist or mechanistic views of society, space and infrastructure and have eliminated people from the analysis. To help it to reach a wide readership, encompassing advocates and activists as well as academics and advisers, WTPP is available free of charge as PDF files on the internet at http://www.ecoplan.org/wtpp/ ‘GRAPHICS-FREE’ VERSION The complete version, with photographs, correct page numbering, etc., is available for free download at our website. This graphics-free version is available for those with slow internet connections. World Transport Policy & Practice ISSN 1352-7614 Volume 7, Number 3, 2001 Contents 3 Abstracts & Keywords 5 Editorial Philine Gaffron 7 Promoting cycling in the U.K. – Problems experienced by the practitioners Marcus Jones 13 Local Transport Plans, Planning Policy Guidance & Cycling policy: Issues & future challenges Hugh McClintock 20 Planning for more cycling: the York experience bucks the trend James Harrison 26 Guidelines for a safety audit of bikeway systems Cameron T. Matwie & John F. Morrall 34 Translating cycling policy into cycling practice Tim Ryley 40 Another look at Germany’s bicycle boom: implications for local transportation policy & planning strategy in the U.S.A. Heath Maddox 45 A Nicaraguan Street Clash Joe Grengs 48 Shanghai: The greatest cycling city in the world? Annemarie de Boom, Richard Walker & Rob Goldup 52 Notes for contributors ————————————————————————————————————————————————— © 2001 Eco-Logica Ltd ISSN 1352-7614 Editor John Whitelegg Professor of Environmental Studies, Liverpool John Moores University, Clarence Street, LIVERPOOL, L3 5UG, U.K. Editorial board Eric Britton Managing Director, EcoPlan International, The Centre for Technology & Systems Studies, 8/10 rue Joseph Bara, F- 75006 Paris, FRANCE. John Howe Professor of Transportation Engineering, International Institute for Infrastructural, Hydraulic & Environmental Engineering (I.H.E. Delft), P.O.Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, THE NETHERLANDS. Mikel Murga Leber Planificacion e Ingenieria, S.A., Apartado 79, 48930-Las Arenas, Bizkaia, SPAIN. Paul Tranter School of Geography and Oceanography, University College, University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra ACT 2600, AUSTRALIA Publisher Eco-Logica Ltd., 53, Derwent Road, LANCASTER, LA1 3ES, U.K. Telephone +44 1524 63175 Fax +44 1524 848340 E-mail: Editorial: <[email protected]> Business Manager: <[email protected]> Abstracts & Keywords 3 —————————————————————————————————————————————————— Promoting cycling in the U.K. – Problems experienced worthwhile to enhance the overall image of cycling. by the practitioners Relating cycling to health, in particular, has allowed Marcus Jones the City of York to move towards a very positive message which people can relate to their own lifestyle During the first half of 2001 a series of seminars were aspirations. held in eleven English local authorities as part of a project to promote the U.K. National Cycling Strategy. Keywords More than 700 delegates attended these seminars, York, cycle planning, growth in cycle use about half of which were local authority officers with Guidelines for a safety audit of bikeway systems some responsibility for cycling. Presentations at the Cameron T. Matwie & John F. Morrall seminars were chosen so that some focused on conveying the core messages of the National Cycling Strategy, It is noted at the outset that the bicycle is recognised while others described local case studies. as a legitimate transportation mode, especially in the Opportunities were provided through discussion context of sustainable transportation systems. sessions to exchange information amongst the delegates However, bicycle facilities need to provide the and to seek their opinions on the main barriers to cyclists using them with a high level of safety. increasing the use of cycling in the U.K. Amongst many Unexpected, abrupt changes in horizontal and vertical issues raised was the continued poor quality of cycling geometry and cross-section are hazardous to cyclists. infrastructure, which was linked, inter alia, to both a Such hazards can be minimised though a safety audit lack of suitably trained professionals and a low or at the initial design phase by following good design priority given to cycling by local politicians and senior practice. officers. A safety audit of the existing bicycle facilities in Keywords Calgary, Alberta was undertaken as a case study to determine the relative safety of different bicycle U.K. National Cycling Strategy; local practitioners; facilities. With the many km of bicycle facilities in implementation barriers the City of Calgary there are many examples of safe Local Transport Plans, Planning Policy Guidance & and unsafe situations, and locations where mitigation Cycling policy: Issues & future challenges measures have improved safety. Hugh McClintock Lateral and vertical clearance, sight distance, grades, This article assesses current policies for the promotion pathway/street furniture, lighting, directional of cycling, especially in urban areas and with signage, pathway/roadway width, and ride quality particular reference to implementation of the latest were reviewed as part of the audit. These design official advice from the UK Government in its elements formed the basis of the field investigation Guidance on Full Local Transport Plans and its revised that was undertaken as part of the safety audit. Each guidance on planning and land use policy, Planning of these design elements has the potential to either Policy Guidance Note 13. increase or decrease the safety to a cyclist depending Keywords on the situation. Cycling, Local Transport Plans, Land use planning and The principles and guidelines of what constitutes a transport, PPG 13 comprehensive safety audit for bikeway systems are outlined. Examples of good practice and unsafe Planning for more cycling: the York experience bucks situations along with potential applications of the the trend safety audit process for bikeway systems are also James Harrison discussed. Experience in York has shown that it is possible to Keywords promote cycle use whilst also improving cyclists’ Bikeway systems & facilities, Calgary, safety audit safety. Key lessons which have been learnt are that Translating cycling policy into cycling practice isolated cycle facilities will not affect people’s modal choice on their own. However, sustained investment at Tim Ryley a realistic level can bring about significant changes in Further insights are offered into how UK cycling people’s travel habits. The cycle network needs to be policy, as promoted in the National Cycling Strategy, based on strategic planning to ensure that coherent, can be translated into cycling practice, for example continuous routes are created. Security has also been through encouraging a modal shift from the motor car shown to be important – both in terms of personal to cycling. The extent of UK motor car dependency, the security and safe parking facilities. viability of cycling as an alternative transport mode, Finally, ‘soft’ measures to promote cycling can and possible measures to achieve a modal shift are complement the physical infrastructure. Partnerships discussed. Segments of the population who cycle or with other organisations have proved very who might be encouraged to cycle are considered, World Transport Policy & Practice, Volume 7, Number 3, (2001) [graphics-free version] Abstracts & Keywords 4 —————————————————————————————————————————————————— incorporating Scottish Household Survey data for government in the face of rapid urbanisation and a Edinburgh. shrinking public budget. Some citizens have responded Keywords by turning to the bicycle to meet their transportation Cycling, Edinburgh, modal shift, market segmentation, needs. But the city government promotes automobile- policy dependent urban development whilst penalising bicyclists with a tax and license requirement. City Another look at Germany’s bicycle boom: implications officials have failed to meet their purpose of for local transportation policy & planning strategy in eliminating dangerous traffic congestion, in part the U.S.A. because of misguided policies and plans, and in part Heath Maddox because bicyclists have resisted government authority. There are conflicting views regarding the substantial Keywords growth in cycling in Germany since the early