Workshop TR 3.1, Tuesday 20 June,16.00 - 17.30

Getting Started

Louis de Waal, Councillor, Pedal Power Foundation of South Africa The Bicycle in Southern Africa In Southern Africa the bicycle mode of travel plays various roles in the 16 countries south of the equator.  This paper discusses these roles and makes recommendations to authorities, and encourages certain present trends, to make the bicycle a much more significant transportation mode in both rural and urban areas. Southern African countries can all be described as developing nations - rich in its own cultures and greatly influenced by the global growth of modern technology.  Motor vehicles, aircraft, satellite television, cellular telephones etc, are found everywhere, yet there are still millions of citizens who cannot afford these luxuries and with respect to transport are considered either "stranded" or "captive". The bicycle - especially the mountain bike - can contribute greatly to the mobility for many and job creation in several areas.  Afribike is a recently established association to encourage utility cycling.  Afribike headquarters are in Johannesburg and is presently expanding its activities through Africa.  Already over 1000 Africans have benefitted from this program in Johannesburg and authorities are beginning to realised how the humble but efficient bicycle can contribute to better health, environment, mobility and improve the quality of life for many people. Recommendations for better bicycle use in Southern Africa are made.

Shunichi Uchimura, President, Japan Bicycle Promotion Institute Government finally starts to tackle with bicycles For many years the bicycle-concerned parties of Japan lobbied to incorporate bicycles into city traffic systems as authorized traffic vehicles. The central government is now finally taking first steps, because of its commitment to the reduction of global warming. In this paper, we refer to only three ministries' examples. The Ministry of Construction announced a public tender for Model Cities to promote the construction of bike paths. Ten billion yen were available for five ambitious local cities for three years (starting 2000). More cities than they expected applied for it. Therefore, the offering ended up being added 10 model cities by project competition bid. Ministry of Transport: A report from the Council for Transport Technology, released on June of 1999, urges the necessity to prepare traffic space for both pedestrians and bicycles in urban transport system. Furthermore, the report requires a full-scale study of the prestigious Council for Transport Policy, which is responsible for scheming a comprehensive transport policy in the beginning of the twenty-first century. And, among this study, a bicycle as one mean of transport shall be officially included, to think of establishing transport systems which result in lesser environmental burdens. Up until a couple of years ago, it is almost impossible to find even a single word of bicycle or cyclist in the white paper of the Ministry. What a marvellous change! Ministry of International Trade and Industry and eleven ministries: Against the `urban decline` phenomena in the center of many major cities, the government plans to pour several hundred billion yen, up to one trillion yen, to revitalize urban center (including many bicycle projects) and to promote commercial activities. Positive use of bicycle will be promoted in these projects, such as providing bike paths, bicycle use inside zone/transit mall, parking facilities, rent-a-cycle, etc. We are waiting to see how these encouraging policies for bicycles' future will develop.

David Garfield, UK “Getting Started” Position paper