Workshop TR 8.2, Thursday 22 June, 14.00 - 15.30

Measures to promote cycling

Hirotaka Koike, Akinori Morimoto, Kaoru Itoh Department of Civil Engineering, Utsunomiya University, Japan  A Study on Measures to Promote Bicycle Usage in Japan The bicycle plays an important role to achieve a sustainable city toward the next century. However, it is not clear yet about how people come to use bicycle or what factors prevent people from using it. This study tries to find out the characteristics and people's perception of bicycle transport so that one can systematically trace the process of bicycle usage and to seek comprehensive measures to promote its usage. The study begins with the international comparison of bicycle usage based on the survey done in several cities in Europe and Japan. The major difference between Europe and Japan was found in the people's attitude toward bicycle. Another aspect of bicycle usage characteristics was obtained from the person trip survey and a questionnaire survey in Utsunomiya city. Two groups of bicycle users were identified, namely primary users and occasional users, with the difference in their frequency and trip length distribution of bicycle usage. Then the study tries to explore various measures to promote bicycle usage. It concludes that the improvement of people's attitude toward bicycle is essential to increase its usage as well as bicycle-related facility improvements and a legitimate status of bicycle in the urban transportation spectrum. This is already done in many European countries, but not yet in Japan where automobile still plays predominant role over bicycle in the urban transportation system. The same observation may be applicable to some developing countries where motorization takes over the non-motorised mode such as bicycle.

Søren Underlien Jensen, Project Manager, Road Directorate, Denmark Collection of Cycle Concepts; Up and Ride Safe on Bike The third and last part of the Danish Cycle Masterplan is a Collection of Cycle Concepts. This handbook consists of advice, ideas, examples and about 400 photos concerning planning, design and implementation of infrastructure, campaigns etc. to promote cycling and make it safer. An overall insight of the content of the handbook is given in the paper. The planning process for more and safer cyclists in local communities is one part of the paper. How visions, targets and strategies can be reached is shown from a civil servant point of view. The other part of the paper is about more detailed matters with lots of ideas and examples. Examples of guiding principles for setting speed limit, degree of separation and junction design are given. Studies show that the pavement standard affects cyclists' level of service. Also examples of how to start the process towards better maintenance quality are presented. Campaigns and education are important measures for the promotion of cycling. An idea could be cycle contests among school children. 1,200 children participated in a cycle contest as part of a Danish project. The children were enthusiastic and got many parents to escort them to school in spite of small prizes. A central target group is citizens who cycle occasionally. They can be reached through e.g. companies and institutions. Danish projects show that employees have a very positive attitude towards company and employee bikes. These bikes have transferred 4-9% car traffic to cycling among employees.

Atsushi Suto, President ECOSURF Co., Ltd. Hirotaka Koike, Utsunomiya university Community Cycle City 21 PLAN Position Paper Bicycle traffic can contribute to making people feel more involved with their cities and can play a role in inner-city renewal to create a new communication among people. Bicycles provide options that cars cannot; flexibility of speed, lightness, and physical fitness. Plus, they are non-polluting. These characteristics make bicycles closer to people. “Community Cycle City 21” is a city based on the concept of the aggressive use of bicycles to enhance humanity. "Community Cycle City Plan 21" is a master plan to realize these concept, which two cities are going to make in Japan.