Present A Tie Voor Jama 20-10-2008

Cycling policy and experience in the Netherlands - what can you gain? -

Fietsberaad international

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For starters – new website

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Treasure trove for bicycle info • Look at www.fietsberaad.nl

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Why promote cycling? • Bicycle is the most sustainable transport mode (140x more sustainable than cars) • Bicycling is clean (no air pollution) • Bicycling is efficient (space, energy) • Bicycling is the fastest transport mode in urban areas (if there is good bike infrastructure provided) • Bicycling is healthy (less work absenteeism) • Bicycling is a strong instrument against poorness in physical exercise • Bicycling is cheap (0,5 % of investments in car facilities provides for 27% of the trips) • Bicycling contributes to more liveable towns General presentation on bicycle policy

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Importance to society of cycling • • • • •

Sustainability Health Liveability of urban areas Traffic flow in urban areas Economy

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Emotion linked with modes of transport

joy

fear car

anger bike

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sadness

aversion

Public transport

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The bicycle and the car (1) • What do we need in towns? Vehicles that are: – Space efficient (esp. parking space) – Clean – No noise – Safe

• Conclusion: the bicycle is far better for town traffic than the car General presentation on bicycle policy

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The bicycle and the car (2) • Cars congest the towns • Asks for radical change in urban networks – – – – –

More space for cyclists High quality urban PT Cars/PT for interurban relationships Park and Bike Urban infrastructure for bikes, public transport, goods

• Make car use much more efficient and effective General presentation on bicycle policy

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What can be learned from the Netherlands (and other countries) • • • • • • •

General facts Cycling policy Infrastructure Safety (including the helmet discussion) Measures to promote cycling The image of cycling Combination cycle – public transport

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Facts – bicycle share 30% 27%

25%

20%

19%

15%

10%

10%

9%

9% 8% 7% 5%

5%

5%

2%

0% the Netherlands

Denmark

Germany

Austria

Switzerland

Belgium

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Sweden

Italy

France

Great Britain

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General presentation on bicycle policy Total

Other

Touring/hiking

Social recreational

30%

Visit/stay

Education

Shopping

Services/personal care

Business trips

Commuter travel

Facts – motives for cycling 100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50% Car

Byclicle

40%

B

20%

10%

0%

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Cycling in daily life

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Facts - Bicycle ownership Number of cycles per inhabitant 1,2

The Netherlands is the only European country with more cycles than people

1,11

1

0,83 0,8

0,77 0,67 0,63

0,6

Number of cycles per inhabitant 0,50 0,45 0,40

0,4

0,40 0,34

0,18

0,2

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nd En gl a

ly Ita

um Be lg i

d an Fi nl

en Sw ed

y m an G er

ar k en m D

th e

N et he r

la n

ds

0

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Investment in cycling per inhabitant per year € 30,00

€ 26,95

€ 25,00

€ 24,41

€ 20,00 € 15,66

€ 13,98

€ 15,00

€ 12,62

€ 12,60

€ 11,09

€ 10,00

€ 9,95

€ 5,00

€ 3,29

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H

er to ge nb os ch

G ro ni ng en

e

s

s

G ra ve nh ag

lb ur g Ti

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€ 0,00

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Bicycle policy: present situation • Highly decentralized policy • Municipality at the core • Provinces and cityregions : decentralised directors (distribution of subsidies) • State: Support for decentral policy • • • •

Framework for decentralised authorities Issues only to be arranged at a national level Funding Support with research, knowledge and dissemination

• Fietsberaad: Supports decentralised authorities with knowledge, experience and, exchange and research and co-ordinates separate actions General presentation on bicycle policy

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Relation bicycle associations – car associations • Co-operation is OK, though from a different angle • The car association (RAI) has also a bicycle department • The ANWB that represents most car drivers is originally a cyclist federation and still has strong bicycle interest General presentation on bicycle policy

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Cycle infrastructure in ‘cycle developing countries’: the chicken and egg problem • No investment in cycling because hardly anyone cycles • Not much growth in cycling because of lack in infrastructure • Difference in actual safety and experienced safety • Can be tackled both ways: Invest in cycle infra (Kielce, Poland) is best way when you want to undertake governmental action. General presentation on bicycle policy

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Engineering

Road categorization: (limited number) roads for traffic flow; connectors and vast majority of access roads Coherent network of cycling routes of high quality, independent of traffic flow by cars Traffic circulation to avoid through-traffic by cars and to make cycling faster

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Education

Primary schools: Terms on traffic to fulfill; freedom of methods Campaigns for safer school environment: route, crossings, free entrance School parents coordinate involvement Concern for independent mobility National play-street day

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Safety

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60

500

50

400

40

300

30

200

20

100

10

0

Number of fatalities/billion km

600

Number of cycle fatalities Number of fatalaties/billion km

0

19 50 19 55 19 60 19 65 19 70 19 75 19 80 19 85 19 90 19 95 20 00 20 05

Number of fatalities

Safety

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How did we realize these figures? • Duurzaam veilig (sustainably safe): • Functionality • Homogeneity • Forgiving for mistakes

• Lots of separate cycle paths and measures at intersections (fly-overs, special right-of-waymeasures, traffic lights, shared space • Where cars and cycles come together: carspeed max 30 km/h; speed ramps etc. • Special feature: Fietsstraat = Cycle street, designed for cycles, where cars are guests General presentation on bicycle policy

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Example fietsstraat

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Fietsstraat • The ideal solution for bikes in narrow carriageway – Cyclists are the primary users – Car drivers are the guests (have to stay behind the cyclists – Works well in practice

• Fietsstraat is a very good solution for creating an urban bicycle network – Use the small streets as main bicycle routes (fietsstraat), when it is not possible to create separate bicycle tracks – Special solutions when the bicycle network meets the car network

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Bicycle lanes vs. separate bicycle tracks • Objective safety in countries with few bikes: lanes are better, because cyclists are seen by the car drivers • Subjective safety: People feel far more safe on a separate track

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Discussion cycle helmets • Pro – Less damage when an accident happens

• Contra – Facts • Only for unilateral accidents (helmets ar hardly of use when a collison with a car takes place) • Thus: only with high speed (so racers should wear helmets) • More accidents happen with cyclists wearing helmets

– Counterproductive to cycle use • Less casual cycle use • Uncomfortable • Diminishing feeling of freedom General presentation on bicycle policy

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Safety campaigns • Bicycle has a central role in traffic; enough awareness • Special education at schools and for immigrants • Actions for blind angle mirrors for truck drivers

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Enforcement Traffic enforcement focus on speed, alcohol and safety devices Speed: police interacts with engineers to let road design do most of enforcement Law states that drivers are >50% liable for accidents with pedestrians and cyclists General presentation on bicycle policy

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Enforcement (1) General philosophy: Car drivers should take the responsibility of conducting vehicles that could kill Should be aware of the capricious nature of cyclists (esp. children) Always liable when an accident happens General presentation on bicycle policy

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Promoting commuter cycling • Tax advantage (via employer) for buying a bicycle • Compensation of commuter cycling (€0,15/km) • Mobility budget • Showers and cycle facilities at work place • Free OV-fiets pass General presentation on bicycle policy

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Image of cycling • In many countries you’re a loser when you cycle • In the Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia it shows you have a sportive, healthy, conscious livestyle • Everyone is also a cyclist in the Netherlands General presentation on bicycle policy

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Cycling-Public Transport combination • Faster, more comfortable, more reliable, cheaper, healthier and a lot more sustainable than car use • Basics: a good cycle network • Lots of cycle storage facilities at public transport hubs • Fast Public Transport connections • Transport from hub to work (OV-Fiets) General presentation on bicycle policy

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The OV-fiets at a Fast Ferry terminal

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Excellent cycle storage in Zutphen

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What can be done in your country • Make more space in the towns for cycles - everywhere; • Make consistent cycle networks • Tackle the problem of bad air quality for cyclists (by using the small roads (fietsstraat) as cycle network • Think at all intersections about cyclists • Communication on the advantages of cycling • Promote commuter cycling • Invest on the bike-public transport hub • Introduce cycle lending or hiring systems • Make doctors aware on the advantages of cycling • Start at school General presentation on bicycle policy

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Some points to consider • No Change of habits overnight • Cycle policy needs stamina and endurance

• Raise awareness of car drivers • Reduce the status of a car

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More facts and figures • www.fietsberaad.nl (Contains a lot of English-language information) • Hans Voerknecht +31102825818 [email protected]

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