Over recent years there has been an increasing level of acceptance of the importance of livability in our communities. The realisation that unnecessary car use can impact negatively on livability has enabled policy makers and planners to look at opportunities to limit unnecessary motor vehicle journeys. One such method is to increase the role of the bicycle in the transport system. Bicycle use has been shown to have positive impacts on livability – by creating quieter, safer streets as well as providing an active form of social interaction.
Australia
- Benefits of Cycling
Australian Bicycle Council
A great resource on economic, social, environmental and other benefits of cycling.
Visit Site
- Queensland Transport, 2007, Benefits, Queensland Government, Brisbane.
Visit Site
This site outlines the environmental, economic, transport and social benefits of cycling. - Social Research in Transport - information repository
Visit Site
The Social Research in Transport (SORT) Clearinghouse aims to increase awareness of social issues in transport by making it easier to access research in this area. The Clearinghouse is a repository of research reports, research abstracts and links to research findings. To access or contribute research use the buttons above. You can also subscribe to SORT to receive free newsletters including lists of new research, news and events.
International
- Wheels for Wellbeing
Cycling for All is for people who can benefit from the trikes and 4 wheelers (these are examples) that we have. So if you have a mobility impairment or balance difficulties this is the place for you. It’s also good for people who lack road safety awareness such as some people with learning difficulties, and for people who can’t deal with traffic by themselves, for example some people who have a visual impairment.
Visit Site - Cyclists Are Car-Owners, Too
Helen Pidd, 10 August 2010, The Guardian via Planetizen Visit Site
Much has been written about a war between cyclists and drivers, as if the two groups were such polar opposites that they could never cross in a Venn diagram. But according to new research, people who cycle the most are likely to own at least two cars.
Visit Site - Great Idea! Bike Riding For The Blind And Visually Impaired In Mexico City
Paula Alvarado, 28 July 2010, Argentina: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)
In a very interesting initiative that began last January, a group of three non governmental organizations from Mexico City are organizing bike rides for the blind and visually impaired. The rides are guided by volunteers on tandem bikes, and are offered on Sunday mornings, when a few streets in the historical center of the city are closed for pedestrians and human powered vehicles. What does this do for these people? More than you would think. Find out inside.
Visit Site - How a Free Car Made Me Love My Bike
by April Streeter, 9 July 2010, USA: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation
Since a car-crushing accident in 2006, our family went car-free first in Gothenburg, Sweden and now Portland, Ore., and I thought I'd never look back. But a gift horse -- free use of a car all summer long -- has turned into a definite bike-life challenge. It's summer, the sun is shining, riding is a pleasure -- and yet my family over the last few weeks of summer vacation has jumped into the car quite a bit more than I could imagine. Yikes! The Clif 2-Mile Challenge was exactly what we needed to put priority and a little motivation into our transportation choices.
Visit Site - Thousands Play in Oakland’s Streets at the First-Ever ‘Oaklavia’
John Hamilton, 7 July 2010, Street Flims via PLanetizen
On Sunday, June 27th, Downtown Oakland opened two miles of its streets to fun and activities—zumba dancing, circus arts, BMX bike competitions and performances from local musicians. Walk Oakland Bike Oakland (WOBO) partnered with the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, Oaklandish, Oakland YMCA, Cycles of Change, SPOKES, and other civic organizations to create the East Bay's first “Sunday Streets” style event. Preparations are in the works for another Oaklavia in the coming months.
Visit Site - The Welcome Return of the Bicycle
Lester Brown, 6 July 2010, Australia: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation
The bicycle has many attractions as a form of personal transportation. It alleviates congestion, lowers air pollution, reduces obesity, increases physical fitness, does not emit climate-disrupting carbon dioxide, and is priced within the reach of the billions of people who cannot afford a car. Bicycles increase mobility while reducing congestion and the area of land paved over. Six bicycles can typically fit into the road space used by one car. For parking, the advantage is even greater, with 20 bicycles occupying the space required to park a car.
Visit Site - The Most Impressive Hoard of Recycled Bikes Ever? (Video)
Sami Grover, 30 March 2010, USA: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)
From the ReCYCLEry in North Carolina to bike co-ops in LA, there are plenty of people out there giving old life to new bikes—whether those bikes have been bought, scavenged or donated. But the bike warehouse of one Mr Biggles, in an undisclosed location somewhere in the UK, might just be the most impressive hoard I have seen yet. And there is video to prove the existence of this treasure trove...
Visit Site - Racing a Bike Through LA's Deserted Streets
David DeFranza, 2 April 2010, Canada: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)
Every year, a 26.2 mile course through the streets of LA is blocked off for the marathon—and every year a group of cyclists race their bikes through the city's deserted streets the night before.
Visit Site - Brompton Folding Bike Championships Come to the USA
Sami Grover, Carrboro, 13 February 2010, USA: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)
If this video of the 3rd annual Brompton World Championships got US folding bike enthusiasts excited, then they'll be delighted that for the first time ever, a national US Brompton championship is to be held in March in Philadelphia. And what's not to like about a bike race where the competitors first have to unfold their steed, and where all participants are required to wear business attire, no sports attire may be visible! (I never did like looking at lycra anyway.) The prizes are pretty awesome too—though they are unlikely to do much for your carbon footprint.
Visit Site - The Social Costs of Car-Free Living in Small Cities
Sarah Goodyear, 24 August 2009, StreetsBlog.org
What kind of a statement does car-free living make in a small city? Today on the Streetsblog Network, Aaron Renn at The Urbanophile poses that question in a provocative post. Sure, it's about walking the walk of sustainable transportation, he says, but it also represents a withdrawal from the community structure in places such as Columbus and Cincinnati:
Visit Site - Reclaiming City Streets For People: Chaos Or Quality Of Life?
European Commission Directorate-General For The Environment (2009)
This guidebook describes why and how to reallocate urban road space to improve walking and cycling conditions, and create more livable communities. It includes recommendations for implementation, and several case studies.
View PDF
- Chattanooga Community Kitchen Aids Homeless With Bicycles
Daniel Kessler, 13 July 2009USA: TreeHugger - Take Action
The bicycle is an amazing technological innovation, and creative people never seem to run out of amazing ways to use it. While the riders in the Tour de France are now using their bikes to descend mountain passes at speeds in excess of 60 mph, others are using bikes for more practical and charitable purposes. Case in point: The Chattanooga Community Kitchen and Outdoor Chattanooga have joined to give the homeless some pedal power.
Visit Site - Encouraging Bicycling and Walking - The State Legislative Role
Shinkle, D. & Teigen, A. (2008) National Conference of State Legislatures: The Forum for America's Ideas, Washington USA
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.
Visit Site to purchase the PDF - Active Transportation for America - The Case for Increased Federal Investment in Bicycling and Walking
Gotschi, Dr T. & Mills, K.J.D. (2008) Rails-to -Trails Conservancy, USA
To learn more about Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and its role in making trails, walking and biking a part of the national transportation solution, visit Visit Site.
View PDF - Quantifying the benefits of non-motorized transportation for achieving mobility management objectives
Litman, T., 2004, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Victoria, Canada.
This paper outlines the numerous benefits associated with active transport modes such as cycling. It discusses the methods available to quantify the social, economic, environmental and transport benefits of cycling.
View PDF - Win-win transportation solutions: Smart transportation strategies can achieve emission reduction targets and provide other important economic, social and environmental benefits
Litman, T., 2007, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Victoria, Canada.
This paper introduces a range of market-based policy reforms aimed at increasing transport efficiency, improving health and reducing emissions.
View PDF - The economic significance of cycling: A study to illustrate the costs and benefits of cycling policy
Spreekmeester, R., Wittink, R., Van Den Berg, J., 2000, VNG Uitgeverij, The Hague.
An important, unique contribution, this document assesses the various costs and benefits of cycling. Their wide ranging analysis covers the costs of traffic and infrastructure, economic considerations and the health and environmental benefits of cycling, to name just a few.
View PDF - The Australian Bicycle Council brought Dr Enrique Penãlosa, the ex-Mayor of Bogota, an avid advocate for bicycle and pedestrian centric cities to Australia in February 2008.
This presentation was delivered in Western Australia. Dr Penãlosa believes that the positive impact that designing cities with people and their needs in mind, rather than the demands of individual motorised transport, has a huge positive social and environmental impact on communities.
Visit Site
Reducing Urban Congestion
-
US Environmnetal Protection Agency, (1997) "Environmnetal Fact Sheet - Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs As a Transportation Control Measure", EPA420-F-97-032, December 1997
View PDF
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working with governmental and non-governmental groups that share the objective of promoting bicycling and pedestrian programs as environmentally sound, viable transportation options.
