Behaviour change programs offer an effective method of reducing unnecessary car use. Providing information and education on the benefits walking, cycling and public transport, through programs such as TravelSmart has brought measurable reductions in car use. By working in concert with infrastructural improvements, behaviour change programs offer an important addition to the transport planners toolkit.
Australia
- Current Cycling, Bicycle Path Use, and Willingness to Cycle More—Findings From a Community Survey of Cycling in Southwest Sydney, Australia
Chris Rissel, Dafna Merom, Adrian Bauman, Jan Garrard, Li Meng Wen, Carolyn New, March 2010, Journal of Physical Activity & Health, Vol. 7, Iss. 2
Background: Encouraging cycling could increase levels of physical activity and health in the community. A population survey of cycling and physical activity was conducted as part of the baseline evaluation of a new intervention research project (Cycling Connecting Communities). Methods: A telephone survey of adults (18+) living within 2 kilometers of selected major new bicycle paths in 3 local government areas in south western Sydney, Australia was conducted using a 2-stage sampling method. Multiple logistic regression analyses examined factors associated with riding in the last year, wanting to cycle more, and use of local bicycle paths. Results: With a 65% response rate, 1450 interviews were completed. Having ridden a bicycle in the past year was associated with younger age, being male, having access to a bicycle, and living close to destinations of interest. Two thirds of respondents (65%) wanted to ride more than they currently did. Factors associated with wanting to ride more were having children aged between 5–18 years, having used local bicycle paths, and perceptions of ease of cycling. Conclusions: The study found that there is a latent desire for more cycling among respondents, prompted to some extent by having children of an age (5–18 years) that like cycling, and having a reasonable opportunity to cycle due to local bicycle paths. Being relatively close to destinations of interest increases the likelihood of recent cycling.
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- The effectiveness of community-based cycling promotion: findings from the Cycling Connecting Communities project in Sydney, Australia
Chris E Rissel, Carolyn New, Li Ming Wen, Dafna Merom, Adrian E Bauman and Jan Garrard, 27 January 2010, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Volume 7
Encouraging cycling is an important way to increase physical activity in the community. The Cycling Connecting Communities (CCC) Project is a community-based cycling promotion program that included a range of community engagement and social marketing activities, such as organised bike rides and events, cycling skills courses, the distribution of cycling maps of the area and coverage in the local press. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of this program designed to encourage the use of newly completed off-road cycle paths through south west Sydney, Australia.
Visit Site - Library Bikes: Too Good An Idea to be Quiet About
Warren McLaren, 12 May 2009, Australia: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)
How have we missed this for so long? Three of our favourites; local communities, libraries and bicycles; all merged into the one enterprise, known as the Arcata Community Library Bike Project.
Volunteers repair an eclectic mix of bikes, then they offer them to the public for a six month loan, asking just for a $20 refundable deposit. Young folk get a chance to muck around with spanners, ball bearing and grease. Long-time cycle advocates have the opportunity to pass on their skills. The world's most efficient form of transport is saved the indignity of rusting in a garage or taking up space in a landfill. Citizens can travel about their local community for free. And that’s just for starters.
Visit Site - All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go?: A Qualitative Research Study of the Barriers and Enablers to Cycling in Inner Sydney
Daley, Michelle; Rissel, Chris; Lloyd, Beverley, Road & Transport Research: [A Journal of Australian and New Zealand Research and Practice] Volume 16 Issue 4 (Dec 2007)
There is considerable capacity to increase community levels of cycling in Sydney. This qualitative study aimed to explore factors that influence personal decisions to initiate and maintain cycling, or not to cycle, in inner Sydney, and to identify differences according to current cycling behaviour.
Full Text PDF (Buy Now - AU$33.00) (90kb)
Visit Site - TravelSmart Australia
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The primary information portal for the national TravelSmart program. Excellent source of information on how the TravelSmart program benefits governments, schools, businesses and communities. - Encouraging cycling through a pilot cycling proficiency training program among adults in central Sydney
Telfer, B., Rissel, C., Bindon, J., Bosch, T., 2006, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Vol. 9, p. 151 – 156
This paper evaluates the effectiveness of bicycle proficiency training on future rates of riding participation.
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- Commute Trip Reduction (CTR)
Programs that encourage employees to use efficient commute options - Victoria Transport Policy Institute
This chapter describes Commute Trip Reduction programs, which encourage more efficient commute travel. These programs provide encouragement, incentives and support for commuters to use of alternative modes (such as walking, cycling, ride-sharing, public transit and telework), alternative work hours, and other efficient transportation options.
Visit Site - ABC Radio National
- The Bicycle Family
Life Matters - podcast (3 June 2008): guest Kathy Richards, presenter Richard Aedy, producer Amanda Armstrong and researcher Tracey Trompf
Getting sick of paying through the nose for petrol? Well perhaps you can opt for the lifestyle of today's Meet the Listener guest, Kathy Richards.
Kathy called into a talk-back we had back in 2006 on the love of cars to tell us about her lack of car and love of bicycles. She was a family of three at that time now she's on her way to making it a family of four.
Can she keep this bicycle lifestyle going when number two child arrives?
Kathy and partner Matt are well equipped with all kinds of gadgets including a bike trailer that converts to a pram.
Visit Site - Talkback: City Cycle
Life Matters - podcast (13 June 2008): guests Ben Wilson; Manager, Bicycle Queensland, Dr Matthew Burke; Urban Research Program, Griffith University, Coral Taylor; Director NRMA, Belinda Keir; Cyclist and John Hack; Manager, Cycle2City, presenter Richard Aedy, producer Amanda Armstrong and researcher Lindy Raine
In European cities bicycles rival cars as a major form of transport, and cycling is greenhouse friendly.
Although we're building more bike paths, it's usual for cyclists to share the road, which is risky for them and annoying for drivers.
So can cycling really be an alternative in Australian cities?
Visit Site - You look sweet, upon a seat... of an e-bike
National Interest - podcast (18 July 2008): guest: Associate Professor Geoffrey Rose, Head, Institute of Transport Studies, Monash University, presenter Peter Mares, producer James Panichi
If you're serious about reducing your carbon emissions and your fuel bill, look no further than the e-bike. It combines pedal-power with a small, efficient electric motor and a battery that can be recharged at the end of the day. They're a must for people who would be unable to undertake long trips on a run-of-the-mill bicycle. The problem is that our legislators can't work how electric bikes should be classified. And so if you use one on the road you risk getting slapped with a traffic fine for riding an unregistered motor vehicle.
Visit Site - Other links: The Science Show -
The Electric Bicycle - Visit Site and the institute of Transport Studies Visit Site
- The Bicycle Family
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Cycling Safety Tips Videos
The Cycling Promotion Fund, the Amy Gillett Foundation and Digicast have produced four great video clips with tips on how to avoid common risks when cycling in traffic.
Dealing with Intersections (3.32 mins video)
Heavy Vehicles & Cyclists (3.48 mins video)
Dealing with car doors (3.02 mins video)
Cyclist Visibility (3.29 mins video)
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Australian Capital Territory
- TravelSmart Australian Capital Territory
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This is the central access point for information on the Australian Capital Territory’s TravelSmart program.
New South Wales
- Bowles, H.R., Rissel, C., Bauman, A., 2006, Mass community cycling events: who participates and is their behaviour influenced by participation?, The International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, Vol. 2, Issue 39.
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This research paper investigates the type of people participating in mass cycling events and the subsequent effect on cycling behaviour. - New South Wales Health Department, Physical Activity and Nutrition
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It's never too late to start being active and some activity is better than none at all - starting to do some form of activity can help you on the road to good health. - The Australian Bicycling Achievement Awards 2007
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The winner of the Local Government Award for initiative to encourage and promote cycling was won by Fairfield City Council Visit Site for the provision of 100 km of infrastructure that links to other LGA's, transport hubs and a scenic areas, a cycling loan scheme and a dedicated facility for local cycling user groups to promote cycling. For more information the Fairfield City Council - Cycling and Walking webpage Visit Site
The winner of the 2007 award for Contribution towards Cycling by a Politician was won by Clover Moore MP, state member for Sydney and Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney. Ms Moore is a long time advocate of cycling within both state and local government and has set a target of increasing cycling to 10% of all trips made. For more information on cycling within the City of Sydney - Cycling webpage Visit Site
Northern Territory
- TravelSmart Northern Territory
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This is the central access point for information on THE Northern Territory’s TravelSmart program.
Queensland
- TravelSmart Queensland
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This is the central access point for information on Queensland’s TravelSmart program.
South Australia
- Adelaide Free City Bike Program is promoted by the South Australian Government Visit Site and Bicycle South Australia. The free city bike program provides 2 hours free bicycle hire in Adelaide’s CBD. Run by Adelaide City Council and Bicycle South Australia.
- TravelSmart South Australia
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This is the central access point for information on South Australia’s TravelSmart program.
Tasmania
- TravelSmart University of Tasmania
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TravelSmart pilot project focused on students at the University of Tasmania.
Victoria
- Bikes and travel behaviour change – a transport engineers perspective
Rose, G., 2003, Institute of Transport Studies, Monash University, Melbourne. Presentation at Connecting Cycling, Canberra, 20 - 21 November.
This presentation explores the balance between travel behaviour change programs such as TravelSmart, with other methods of encouragement, such as bicycle infrastructure improvements.
View PDF - Using a ride to work day event to promote travel behaviour change
Rose, G., Marfurt, H., Harbutt, P., 2003, Presented at the 26th Australasian Transport Research Forum, Wellington, New Zealand, October 1 -3
This research paper investigates the effect of the Ride to Work initiatives on sustained cycling participation.
View PDF - TravelSmart Victoria
The homepage for the Victorian TravelSmart program. This is an excellent place to start to find out about the range of TravelSmart initiatives available, in the education, communities, workplaces and local government sectors.- Research
A large bank of research on TravelSmart and other behaviour change initiatives focused on reducing car use.
Visit Site - Case Studies
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- Research
Western Australia
- Greig, R., 2005, Cycling promotion in Western Australia, Premier’s Physical Activity Taskforce, Presentation given at Planning for Healthy Communities Conference, Brisbane, October.
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This presentation gauges the view from cyclists and non-cyclists regarding the factors that encourage and discourage cycling amongst the public. - TravelSmart Western Australia
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This is the central access point for information on Western Australia’s TravelSmart program. - City of Melville, WA - SMARTi Program
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SMARTi stands for ‘Smarter Mobility Achieving Reduced Traffic Initiative’. SMARTi seeks to reduce traffic congestion by decreasing the amount of journeys taken by motor vehicles; specifically single occupant vehicle trips. SMARTi provides information and incentives for you to consider the most suitable transport mode. SMARTi is funded by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts and the City of Melville. The SMARTi travel log Visit Site is available here. The SMARTi program is being offered to businesses within the Canning Bridge Precinct to encourage staff to use active transport modes to and from work.
International
- From “Hey, You #*%!!” To “Dear Driver”
Mary Beth Kelly, 5 March 2010, StreetsBlog
It‘s hard to be nice when you’re angry. Once your sympathetic nervous system kicks in -- the fight or flight response -- it is such a challenge to regulate your affect. I know. I struggle with it almost every time I get on my bike in New York City.
Visit Site - More Haste, Less Speed
Already two out of five local journeys in the UK are made by foot, bike and public transport. If we made the changes necessary to enable more people to choose smarter travel choices, we'd have clearer roads, cleaner air, and better places and spaces to move through and live in.
Upping the pace to achieve a cost-effective transition to sustainable local travel by 2020. We are calling on national, regional and local governments to act with much more haste to enable us all, whatever our age or ability, to get about more by foot, bike and public transport.
Download More Haste, Less Speed English - View PDF
Download Evidence and Benefits English - View PDF - Will San Francisco Put an End to Critical Mass?
David DeFranza, 2 March 2010, TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation
Critical mass began in San Francisco in 1992 as a means of increasing awareness of cyclists rights. Since then, the movement has spread across the country and the world. Now, the city that gave birth to critical mass is thinking about shutting it down.
Visit Site - A Canadian Journalist on Riding His Bike All Winter
Lloyd Alter, 3 March 2010, Canada: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)
The Globe and Mail's new City Hall columnist Marcus Gee may not know anything about architectural preservation, but he rides his bike all winter in Toronto and appears to know what he writes about on that subject. After two winters of cycling, he has concluded that "it's far safer and more comfortable than you might imagine and a lot more fun."
Visit Site - Let's Follow Seattle's Mayor on his Bike Ride to Work
Michael Graham Richard, 16 February 2010, Canada: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)
TreeHugger friend and ally Clarence Ekerson just sent me his latest video, and it's a great one. He went to Seattle and biked with the Mayor, Mike McGinn, on his morning commute. Mr. McGinn seems to be determined to make Seattle greener, and he puts his money where his mouth is. He even has his assistant schedule his appointments so that he can bike as often as possible, and so that he goes downhill in the morning and then makes his way back up as the day progresses. If more mayors were like that, we'd certainly have much more walkable and bike-friendly streets (and less urban air and noise pollution, as well as fewer accidents). If you're reading this Mr. McGinn, kudos!
Visit Site - More Conversation About Not-So-Invisible Bicyclists
Sarah Goodyear, 2 February 2010, StreetsBlog - New York
The other day, we wrote a post in hopes of starting a conversation about the way certain groups of people who ride bicycles -- notably, immigrants who ride to work and for work -- tend to get overlooked by bicycle advocacy groups and planners. The post (which grew out of an item by Streetsblog Network member Honking in Traffic) got a lot of responses, including a few from people who thought we were stating the obvious or being patronizing. (On Twitter, @feedmeshow put it this way: "Wealthy white person notices that some ride of necessity, as opp. lifestyle choice." Ouch.)Visit Site - Prance Armstrong and Sydney's two-wheeled tribes
Matt Buchanan, 2 January 2010, The Sydney Morning Herald
As cycling surges in popularity, a cursory look reveals the throng on two wheels is made up of several distinct tribes, writes Matt Buchanan.
Visit Site - Cycling at All Ages
By Amy Walker Photography: David Niddrie, Hugh Rodman, and Momentum Readers
If you look at most mainstream cycling publications, you'd think that the only people riding bikes in North America are youthful, fit people from 20 to 45. It's rare to see the rest of us: cycling kids, teens, grandmas and grandpas, represented in the media. But biking is not just for thrill-seeking adrenaline junkies. We are not all messengers and triathletes. People at all ages and abilities, and at all phases of life choose cycling for everyday transport - because they enjoy it and because it makes so much sense. But when the media only shows the hipsters on fixies and the sporty-looking young athletes, the rest of the population gets a skewed image of what cycling is all about. Learning from the experiences of cycling families, and elder bikers, and making our roads and cycling culture more inclusive will help us create cities and neighbourhoods that invite everyone to ride.
Visit Site - 'Beauty and the Bike' - Stylish Teenage Cycling in the UK (Video)
Emma Grady, 22 December 2009, USA: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes) Bike Beauty Visit Site , Via Cyclelicios Visit Site
A group of Darlington girls in the United Kingdom are set on making cycling stylish and are doing so through a documentary film, a book, a cycling club, and a campaign for bike lanes in their hometown. Bike Beauty explores the cultural and political reasons why women in Britain rarely use bicycles compared to teenagers in other European countries. View the eight minute film preview after the jump:
Visit Site - Who is the typical bicyclist?
Birgitta Gatersleben & Hebba Haddad, (2009) Transportation Research Part F, Vol.13, Issue 1 (2010) 41–48
Promoting bicycling is important for individual health, environmental sustainability and transport demand management. However, very few people use a bicycle on a regular basis. This paper explores what views bicyclists and non-bicyclists in England may hold about the typical bicyclist and how such views are related to bicycling behaviour and intentions. A survey was conducted among 244 bicyclists and non-bicyclists. On the basis of a range of statements on behaviour, motivation and characteristics of the typical bicyclist, four different stereotypes could be distinguished: responsible, lifestyle, commuter and hippy-golucky. These views differed between bicyclists and non-bicyclists. Moreover, independent of past bicycling behaviour, reported intentions to use a bicycle in the future were positively related to perceptions of the typical bicyclist as a commuter or hippy-go-lucky bicyclist. These findings have implications for encouraging bicycling, which may benefit from promoting bicycling as a common day-to-day activity rather than something that is only relevant for a few.
Visit Site - How to Reach Gen Y and Younger
Sarah Goodyear, 28 October 2009, StreetsBlog
The future of transportation in this country is currently under debate by a bunch of old folks in Washington. But what about those who will live in that future, people now in their 20s and younger?
Visit Site - Paris Grants Euro 400 Subsidy on e-Bike
Jan-Willem van Schaik, 13 October 2009, Bike Europe
PARIS, France - The Paris Council has voted to extend the existing subsidy on the purchase of e-Scooters by including e-Bikes. This decision complies with the city’s strategy on improvement of mobility, public health, and the fight against air pollution and noise.
Visit Site - Bicycles for Humanity: Donate Bikes, Change Lives
Jennifer Hattam, 3 October 2009, Turkey: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)
An inexpensive, environmentally friendly form of transportation anywhere, bicycles are a true lifeline in Africa, where they allow health-care workers to visit three to four times as many patients as they could on foot, help struggling entrepreneurs expand their markets and keep more of their profits, and encourage children to go to school. In fact, according to Bicycles for Humanity Colorado (B4H), African girls are 70 percent more likely to attend school if their family owns a bike. But even a cheap set of wheels is a big expense for someone living on $1 a day. That's where groups like B4H come in.
Visit Site - Car Free Sunday Debuts in Buenos Aires
Andrés Fingeret, 09 Aug 2009, ITDP Argentina - Planning & Advocacy for Cycling & Walking
Imagine one of the largest and iconic avenues in Latin America entirely closed to motorized vehicles with children playing happily. On a recent Sunday morning in Buenos Aires on Avenida 9 de Julio and other major streets, where thousands of porteños—as the city residents are called—could be seen exercising, rollerblading, cycling and strolling down streets that are normally clogged with smelly, noisy and dangerous cars and trucks. Following other cities such as Bogotá, Santiago and more recently New York City, the Argentine capital closed major thoroughfares to motor vehicles so residents could enjoy the first-ever Car Free Sunday.
Visit Site - Copenhagen Cycle Ambassador Says Bikes Are Hot
Sarah Goodyear 30 September 2009
If you've been following bicycle blogs for any amount of time at all, you've probably stumbled upon Mikael Colville-Andersen, who runs the blogs Copenhagenize and Copenhagen Cycle Chic. (We often feature his posts on the Streetsblog Network.) On Tuesday afternoon, he brought his inimitable style of bike advocacy (pretty spiffy, though low-key) to Columbia University.
Visit Site - In Denver, They Get It: Bikes Are Good for Business
Sarah Goodyear 23 September 2009, StreetsBlog - New York
People see bicycles and bicycle infrastructure in a lot of different ways. In New York, for instance, some politicians and business owners seem to view bike lanes and the people who ride in them as somehow dangerous for small businesses.
Visit Site - The Cup of Coffee Cycling Incentive
Tim Halbur, 21 September 2009, Planetizen
"That 25 percent discount pretty much takes away our profit," he says. "It really represents an investment in the mission of the business and forwarding the reputation of the business."
Visit Site - As City Grows More Bike-Friendly, Restaurants Consider the Benefits
Heike Mayer, Paul L. Knox., The Village Voice, 20 September 2009
Visit Site - How to Get More Bicyclists on the Road
Linda Baker, 21 September 2009, Scientific American
Getting people out of cars and onto bicycles, a much more sustainable form of transportation, has long vexed environmentally conscious city planners. Although bike lanes painted on streets and automobile-free “greenways” have increased ridership over the past few years, the share of people relying on bikes for transportation is still less than 2 percent, based on various studies. An emerging body of research suggests that a superior strategy to increase pedal pushing could be had by asking the perennial question: What do women want?
Visit Site - David Byrne on Changing Road Behavior: "There's No Poop On the Streets"
Alex Pasternack, 23 September 2009, USA: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)
Can't We All Just Get Along?
In his new tour of the world by folding bicycle, Bicycle Diaries, David Byrne acknowledges that few cities have blazed a bicycle path quite like his hometown of New York. At a Barnes and Noble event last night, someone asked how the city might fix New Yorkers' aggressive attitudes towards bikers - particularly those of surly delivery truck drivers. Other talking heads present, Bicycle advocate Paul Steely White of Transportation Alternatives and the city's bold transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, had been describing how a continued increase in bike lanes and bikers would help shift the culture.
Visit Site - Europe Celebrates Green Ways of Getting Around
Jennifer Hattam, 2 September 2009, Turkey: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation
From Almada, Portugal, where residents will be able to swap recyclable materials for free rides on public transportation, to Budapest, Hungary, where a major boulevard will be closed to all motorized traffic -- except for public transit vehicles and hybrid cars -- and turned into a "living street" with green grass that hosts sports and theater events for three days, cities and towns all over Europe are celebrating European Mobility Week.
Visit Site - Whose Bike Are You Wearing?
ALEX WILLIAMS, 9 September 2009, The New York Times Fashion and Style
NEARLY every morning, Renaud Dutreil, the chairman of the North American unit of the luxury and fashion conglomerate LVMH rides to his Midtown office on a black Gazelle, a stylish Dutch commuter bicycle.
Visit Site - Boston Tries to Shed Longtime Reputation as Cyclists’ Minefield
KATIE ZEZIMA, 8 August 2009, The New York Times
BOSTON — In a city known for its aggressive drivers, flummoxing street layout, confusing rotaries and overall rudeness on the road, what is a cyclist to do?
Visit Site - Brooklyn cyclists would love Amsterdam — a truly bike-friendly city
Ben Muessig, 14 July 2009, The Brooklyn Paper via Planetizen - Visit Site
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On the city’s narrow alleyways and scenic canal-side streets, cyclists dominate the roadways, halting drivers and scattering pedestrians with just the ring of a bell. - "Shower in a Bottle: Another Cycling Excuse Gone",
Sami Grover, Carrboro, 13 July 2009, USA: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)
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So there goes another excuse for all those would-be bike commuters - and it may offer an explanation if you start finding naked colleagues in the cubicles at the work place. - "6 Ways To Defuse Anti-Cyclist Road Rage",
April Streeter, 13 July 2009, Sweden: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)
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Anti-cycling road rage is just a big drag, perpetuating the "us" versus "them" mentality between drivers and cyclists, and sometimes endangering lives. Some states have tried to legally protect cyclists from car drivers' abuse. But there are a number of things that a cyclist can and should do to promote street peace and the best, safest ride possible. Read on, and add your tips. - Ride the City, New York USA
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An on-line trip mapping website for cyclists, Chicago USA - Southland Footprints, Active Transportation Alliance
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We will teach you how to make fewer car trips by using cheaper, more environmentally friendly modes of transportation. We give you your own Footprints coach – like a personal trainer for travel who will help you cut your commuting cost, time and carbon footprint. -
Can Long Beach’s newly appointed mobility coordinator Charlie Gandy patch up the city’s busted bike infrastructure?
Jennifer Stockdal, 10 June 2009, District Weekly (USA) FLAT TIRED
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“My job has just started, and it’s a work in progress,” he says, pausing. “But defining a bike-friendly Long Beach means that it will be as eclectic as Austin, Texas, as bold and dynamic as Boulder, Colo., as practical and professional and Portland, Ore., and as financially successful as Seattle. If we can do that, we’ll have created something to be proud of.” -
Vancouver's bikeways are expanding to meet demand
This network of safe routes are fast becoming an integral part of our transportation system. Learn about new road markings such as sharrows and bike boxes and how they help cyclists and motorists by encouraging predictable, clear positioning on the road.-
City of Vancouver's Cycling Page - Visit Site
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Cycling: a matter of habital behaviour ?
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Thomas Stokell (2009) ‘Cycling a matter of habital behaviour‘ Getting more people cycling – How do we achieve behaviour change?, European Platform on Mobility Management Conference in Donostia-San Sebastián
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Active travel for a healthier lifestyle
Sam Margolis (2009), Tower Hamlets Active Travel, European Platform on Mobility Management Conference in Donostia-San Sebastián
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Bike to Work, Pocket 20 Bucks
Josh Peterson,(2009) USA: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation, 24 May 2009The Bicycle Commuter Act
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The Bicycle Commuter Act: The unnoticed tax credit was called the Bicycle Commuter Act. It was penned by Oregonian Congressman Earl Blumenauer. The aim of the bill was to give bicycle commuters a tax break similar to the ones that other commuters are eligible for. -
“Biking Rules” Campaign Takes the High Route,
Brad Aaron, 20 May 2009, TA’s StreetsBlog
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Biking Rules Visit Site
Transportation Alternatives yesterday launched an ambitious new campaign to change how cyclists are perceived -- and how they perceive themselves -- in New York City. -
European Cities Commit to Cycling
Jack Oortwijn, 19 May 2009, Bike Europe
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BRUSSELS, Belgium - Last Friday, at the final day of the international conference on cycling policy, Velo-city 2009, 27 cities signed the “Charter of Brussels” View PDF in the European Parliament. With this Charter the cities commit themselves to achieve at least a 15% share of all trips made in urban areas to be done by bicycle. Today, this share stands at about 5 % in Europe. -
Awesome! Abandoned Railroad Gets Converted in Biking and Walking Path in Detroit
Michael Graham Richard, 15 May 2009, Canada: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)
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A Detroit railroad line that has been abandoned since the 1980s has now been turned into a 1.2 mile biking and walking path, and Detroit officials assure us that this is only the beginning, part of a grander vision. "The Dequindre Cut is the latest in a growing network of greenways -- nonmotorized community links -- that eventually could encompass 100 miles of such trails throughout Detroit." The Cut was open to the public with festive ceremonies yesterday (just in time for Bike to Work Day). Check out the video below. -
Yuba Mundo cargo bike
April Streeter, 12 May 2009, Sweden: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation via Visit Site via Visit Site
Could you move a washer and dryer on a Yuba Mundo cargo bike? Strap a couch to a bike with bungie cords? Feed a hungry troupe of cyclists that helped move your car-free family lock, stock, and barrel only on bicycles (outfitted with trailers, and including some cargo bikes and Xtracycles)? That's what the Stout family of Longmont, Colorado decided to do after viewing other video clips of successful bike moves in Portland, Oregon. In doing so, they made the front page of their hometown paper. Visit Site Portland bike move via Street Films (7 mins) & The Stout Family Bike Move from Happy Thursday on Vimeo (2.37 mins) -
"Safety In Numbers: Halving the risks of cycling"
Cyclists' Touring Club (CTC) (2009) Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2 9JX / Visit Site / 0844 736 8450
CTC WEbsite: Visit Site
‘Safety in Numbers’ document: View PDFhttp://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/Campaigns/CTC_Safety_in_Numbers.pdf (4 Mb)
Countries in Europe with high levels of cycle use tend to be less risky for cyclists. In Denmark, people cycle over 900 kilometres a year and it is a far safer country to cycle in than Portugal, where barely 30 km is covered by each person by bike annually. - The Boone Bicycle Initiative: A Community Based Project to Promote Bicycles as an Alternative Mode of Transportation
Raichle, Brian W. , et al (2008) Appalachian State University
The Boone Bicycle Initiative (BBI) has established a loan program, lending bicycles (along with a helmet and a lock) on one of two refundable deposit systems. These include both refurbished bikes donated from members of the community, as well as a fleet of new bicycles purchased for the program. Potential clients apply for a bicycle, allowing us to determine their motivation for joining the program, as well as their potential contribution to its overall success. In this process we can target our resources to first accommodate those who will most benefit the town and BBI.
Visit Site - Connecting Bike Riders with Bike Friendly Employers
Bike riders make great employees, and companies that recognise this are great places to work. Domestique is dedicated to connecting cyclists of all kinds with employment opportunities. Our passion for sustainable transport is as much a key issue for us as is the sheer enjoyment you get from riding.
Visit Site - A Walking and Cycling Action Plan for Wales 2009 - 2013
Welsh Assembly Government (2009),
This Action Plan brings together all the key initiatives which the Welsh Assembly Government and its key partners are undertaking or planning to undertake in support of walking and cycling in Wales. A key aim of the Plan is to help secure a change in behaviour - so that more people, young and old, walk and cycle more often. As the statistics at the end of the Plan reveal, current participation rates are low; and the Action Plan aims to change that.
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National Conference of State Legislatures, USA (2008) Encouraging Bicycling and Walking: The State Legislative Role, Visit Site
The report first provides an overview of recent trends in bicycling and walking and the related transportation, economic, public and environmental health benefits. A snapshot of the current state of bicycling and walking in the United States follows. Subsequent chapters examine state legislative activity in three key areas: funding, planning and safety. - "Bicycle Mania"
CBS, (2008) USA, See the video (10.20 mins)
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Americans are soon coming to realize that bicycles are fun and a great green alternative to automobiles. Serena Altschul examines the longstanding appeal, and recent renewed interest, of the bicycle. July 27, 2008 - Cycling England
- Cycling City, Cycling Towns
multiple resources available on this webpage.
Visit Site - Cycling England - Encouraging cycling
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There are many ways in which cycling can be encouraged which complement engineering and planning initiatives. Several pdf documents are available to download, e.g. Smart Measures Portfolio
- Cycling City, Cycling Towns
- The Bike-sharing Blog
A blog / website site that has gathered information on all the major bike sharing business programs around the world.
Visit Site - Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Centre -Case Studies
- How can our community promote walking and bicycling to people who are concerned about high gasoline prices?
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High gasoline prices alone will inspire a few people to leave their cars at home and walk or bike. Communities that have already invested in sidewalks and/or a user-friendly bicycling system have a head start because these facilities will encourage novice walkers and bicyclists who might otherwise feel intimidated or overwhelmed
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Centre, Case Studies - What is the best way to encourage work trips by bicycle?
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Recruiting commuter cyclists depends on effective hardware and attractive software. - Creating Active Rural Communities, Haliburton County, Ontario
Contact: Sue Shikaze, Health Promoter, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, Box 570, 191 Highland St, Unit 301, Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0, susans@haliburton.hkpr.on.ca
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There are many challenges unique to creating active communities in rural places, and yet there is very little literature or research to guide a community that pursues this goal. Some of the obstacles a rural community faces include large distances between destinations (20 km/12 miles or more); a prevalent "car culture"; an extensive road network and a small tax base, so that the focus on transportation is to maintain existing roads for cars, rather than to create or improve walking or cycling infrastructure; and limited capacity or expertise within municipal governments (staff and elected representatives) to make planning for active communities a priority. - Inter-modal Transportation Planning and Development: A closer look at linking transit to bicycling and walking Tucson, Arizona
Contact: Tom Fisher, Project Manager, Transit Services Division, City of Tucson, 149 N. Stone, 2nd Floor, Tucson, AZ 85726, (520)791-5883, tom.fisher@tucsonaz.gov
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Can communities reduce the length or number of car trips by making better intermodal connections? An intermodal trip involves more than one type of transportation, such as walking and transit, bicycling and transit, or driving and transit. Communities interested in offering commuters more transportation choices in an age of rising gas prices and concern about climate change can learn from the plans, policies and programs implemented by the City of Tucson.
- How can our community promote walking and bicycling to people who are concerned about high gasoline prices?
- Road Directorate, Best practice to promote cycling and walking
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The ADONIS project was commissioned by the European Commission to a Consortium comprising 7 partners as part of the Fourth Framework Programme. Original title of the project is: Analysis and Development Of New In-sight into Substitution of short car trips by cycling and walking - ADONIS.
The ADONIS project was partly funded by the EU - DG VII Transport RTD Programme, Urban Sector and was co-financed by Danish Transport Council, Danish Ministry of Transport, Municipality of Barcelona, Catalan In-stitute of Road safety, SAINCO TRAFICO S.A., Swedish Transport & Communications Research Board and Belgian Institute for Traffic Safety.
The entire PDF View PDF (45Mb), smaller PDF sections of the document are available on the website. - Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN) Namibia
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2008 is shaping up to be an exciting year for BEN Namibia. Since we began in May 2005 we have grown from a small NGO that distributed three bicycles in its first month, into a dynamic and rapidly expanding organisation that has implemented 5 community based bicycle shops (with 3 more on the way), developed a bicycle ambulance for emergency medical transport and delivered 50 throughout the country, conducted research into the impact of transport on access to treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS, trained over 100 people in bicycle mechanics, directly created jobs for 30 people and helped over 4,000 disadvantaged Namibians, many of them HIV/AIDS home based care volunteers, to gain access to affordable transport in the form of bicycles. - Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
- Case Study - New National Network Promotes Cycling in Mexico
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The Urban and Tourist Cycling Network, a national effort to promote cycling in Mexico, was founded during the first Urban Cycling Congress. Twenty organizations from over ten cities attended, agreeing that one of the first objectives of the network will be to propose and advocate for legal and institutional reforms to include cycling as a priority in the national transport policy agenda. (Visit Site), - NEWS - Rallyists pedal through Lutyens’ Delhi to promote a safer, pollution-free Capital
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Around 35 participants rode through Lutyens’ Delhi to promote the bicycle as an alternate zero-pollution, healthy, low-cost and sustainable mode of transportation. (Visit Site),
- Case Study - New National Network Promotes Cycling in Mexico
International Videos
- Elizabeth Press, (24 July 2009) "Streetfilms: Make Your Own Bike Etiquette PSA", StreetsBlog.org (0.37 mins video)
Biking Rules, the new campaign organized by Transportation Alternatives, is sponsoring a video and photo PSA competition. Submissions are now being accepted for two categories in the competition: "Why Biking Rules!" and "The Biking Rules Street Code."
Visit Site - Brad Aaron, (23 February 2009) Streetfilms: Enrique Peñalosa in Boston by Robin Urban Smith (4.30 mins video)
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When Boston livable streets advocates invited Enrique Peñalosa to town recently, Streetfilms' Robin Urban Smith made the trip north to hear what the Colombian urbanist had to say to residents of "The Walking City." Watch here as Peñalosa speaks to a packed house at the Boston Public Library, and see what Bostonians think of their town's past, present and future transportation systems. - Fried, B. (23 June 2008) StreetFilms.org - "Car-Free Vancouver Day" (1.32 min video)
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Streetfilms' guest correspondent Frank Lopez leads this tour of Vancouver's Car-Free Day, which opens up streets in four neighborhoods for community festivals. Dancing on the pavement, lunching on the street, and mid-block lucha libre wrestling matches ensue. - Eckerson, C. Jr., StreetFilms.org (USA) - "Bike Boxes" (2008) (1.45 min video)
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The NYC DOT has been quietly rolling out dozens of bike boxes all over Gotham. It’s really quite remarkable. But since the majority of riders seem not to know what they are or how to use them just yet, StreetFilms thought this would be a fun way to educate cyclists to love and cherish the Bike Box. - StreetFilms.org (USA) - "The Case for Separated Bike Lanes in NYC" (2006) (8.30 min video)
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Advocates from Transporation Alternatives, The Project for Public Spaces, and The Open Planning Project join "Gridlock Sam" Schwartz and Enrique Penalosa to call for New York City to consider experimenting with some physically separated bike lanes in the near future. - Bike hire / sharing system in Paris - "Vélo Liberté" or Freedom Bike.
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An overview of the new bike sharing system being rolled out in Paris. - Transport for London website - provides an encouragement program for their employees to cycle to work
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The site provides information on bike parking, bike pooling, travel plans to work and tax exemptions - cycle to work schemes. - Clark Jones, c. (2007) "A Bicycle Story" (3.00 min video)
Visit Site - "Green Bike Program" (2007) (1.37 min video)
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Rescues, restores and redistributes bike left on campus at Pitzer College, USA. -
"Portland Considered Most Bicycle-Friendly City in America" (2008) (8.30 min video)Visit Site
produced by Democracy Now (USA). - I-Ce & PPQ (2007) "Cycling Friendly Cities" (15 min low resolution video)
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scripted by Enrique Penalosa the film shows cycle friendly cities in Denmark, Paris and Columbia. - Eckerson, C. Jr. (2007) "Ciclovia: Bogotá, Colombia" (9:41 min video) - StreetFilms.org
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Recently, I had the opportunity to travel with comrades Karla Quintero and Aaron Naparstek to Bogotá, Colombia to document some of the amazing advances going on in the livable streets movement there. On Sunday we spent the entire day - from 5 AM ’til nearly 5 PM - riding bicycles around the city courtesy of the Ciclovia, a weekly event in which over 70 miles of city streets are closed to traffic where residents come out to walk, bike, run, skate, recreate, picnic, and talk with family, neighbors & strangers…it is simply one of the most moving experiences I have had in my entire life. -
Eckerson, C. Jr. (2007) "Tour de Brooklyn" (3.25 min video) - StreetFilms.org
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This year’s 3rd annual Tour de Brooklyn was a special treat as New York City DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan rode the entire event with over 2,000 enthusiastic cyclists. The excursion covered 18 miles and started in Grand Army Plaza, headed down 4th Avenue to Bay Ridge, then stopped in Dyker Heights for a respite before returning back to Prospect Park. As always with the TdB, the emphasis is on friends, family, and fun.
- Eckerson Jr., C. (2007) "Interview with Enrique Peñalosa" - (12.07 min video) NYC Street Renaissance, StreetFilms.org
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Dr Peñalosa, Ex Mayor of Bogota and bicycle advocate. Dr Peñalosa changed the way Bogota treated its non-driving citizens by restricting automobile use and instituting a bus rapid transit system which now carries a 1/2 million residents daily. Among other improvements: he widened and rebuilt sidewalks, created grand public spaces, and implemented over one hundred miles of bicycle paths.
TOPP Executive Director Mark Gorton discusses with Penalosa some of these transportation achievements and asks what the future could hold for NYC if similar improvements were made here. - Eckerson Jr., C. (2008) "Lessons from Bogota" - (9.58 min video) NYC Street Renaissance, StreetFilms.org
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In the final chapter of our September NYCSR visit to Colombia, where the indefatigable Gil Peñalosa was our tour guide, you’ll find lots of tasty video morsels including: riding the comfortable ciclorutas and cycle paths, a visit to a thriving pedestrian-only street where they said it couldn’t be done, a “bollard farm,” mucho footage of the city’s parks and public spaces and comments from the city’s residents. And we couldn’t resist - just a wee bit more dance mania at the Recreovia. - Recycle-a-bicycle program in the US
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Recycle-a-Bicycleis an innovative, fun youth training and environmental education initiative that has taken root in New York City public schools and respected after-school youth programs. Recycle-A-Bicycle promotes everyday bicycle use, and it is a great place to learn bicycle mechanics, interact with positive, forward-thinking NYC youth. Our retail shops are the place to find that city bike you need. - Press, E. (2008) "RAB Ladies Repair" (3:30 min video) NYC Street Renaissance, StreetFilms.org
Continuing with our NYC bike month coverage, last week I had the chance to shoot at Recycle-A-Bicycle in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Recycle-A-Bicycle takes donated bicycles, repairs them and reintroduces them to the community through earn-a-bike programs in schools and sales from their non-profit retail locations. Although their work mainly focuses on environmental education and job training programs for New York City youth, they also host repair classes for people of all ages. Every Tuesday evening after the shop closes, Susan Lindell teaches bike mechanics 101 to women. Check out this video on Ladies Repair Night.
