Workshop SP 6, Thursday 22 June, 9.00 - 10.30

Historical factors in bicycle use

Adri Albert de la Bruheze, Assistant Professor, School of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Centre for Studies of Science, Technology and Society, University of Twente., The Netherlands Bicycle use in twentieth century Western Europe; The comparison of nine cities. Promotion of bicycle use is a policy goal of the Dutch Government. Within this policy the construction and improvement of the bicycle infrastructure was emphasized for a long time. It was expected that with the construction of bicycle paths the bicycle use would follow suit. Bicycle use did indeed increase but not as much as was expected. The question then emerged what effect government policies do have. Historical policy studies might provide answers. These studies can detect long-term factors that determine different local effects of implemented national policies. By focusing on long term development historical policy studies can thus show what policies are likely to be more or less successful. In this paper the bicycle use in nine West European cities is compared and explained historically by focusing on long term traffic policy, collective bicycle images and spatial planning.

Nathalie Noël, Research Student, Laval University, Centre de Recherche en Aménagement et Développement (CRAD), Canada Martin E.H. Lee-Gosselin, Professor and researcher, Laval University, Centre de Recherche en Aménagement et Développement (CRAD), Canada Urban forms, road network design and bicycle use; The case of Quebec City's metropolitan area In planning policies that favor the reduction of car travel in urban areas. Transport plans may have a demand management component to increase (among others)non-motorised modes. However, traditional transport surveys are not well adapted for the study of bicycle use. Arguably, better knowledge about cyclists' travel behaviour, about perceived constraints on the use of bicycles, and about the effects of different urban forms on bicycle travel should lead to more balanced transport planning. This research aims to identify the urban form and roadway attributes that influence bicycle use and travel behavior. To establish these interactions, our preferred method is the use of activity and travel diaries. These diaries allow us to describe an individual's activity set, to reveal the constraints that s/he is facing and to link these data to the characteristics of urban form and the road network. The diaries reveal sufficient detail about each cyclist's travel to make it possible to analyze how the urban form factors are linked to their travel behavior. Travel is considered not to be an end in itself but as a part of a strategy conditioned by different factors : activity type, time available for travel and for the activity, activity location, route choices available, and household and individual constraints. In this broad approach it is possible to identify which factors are linked to the urban form. The presentation will discuss the methodology adopted and the primary results of the survey undertaken during the Summer of 1998. Almost 200 cyclists were selected in the Quebec City's metropolitan area.