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
- Australian Bicycle Council, website, Benefits of cycling,
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A great resource on economic, social, environmental and other benefits of cycling. - Queensland Transport, 2007, Benefits, Queensland Government, Brisbane.
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This site outlines the environmental, economic, transport and social benefits of cycling. - Social Research in Transport - information repository
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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
- 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.
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- 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.
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Reducing Urban Congestion
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US Environmnetal Protection Agency, (1997) "Environmnetal Fact Sheet - Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs As a Transportation Control Measure", EPA420-F-97-032, December 1997
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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.
