Bicycle Transportation Research Articles

Climate protection, health and other motives for active transport – results of a cross-sectional survey in Germany

BackgroundActive transport– for example walking and bicycling to travel from place to place– may improve physical fitness and health and mitigate climate change if it replaces motorised transport. The aim of this study is to analyse the active transport behaviour of adults living in Germany, to investigate differences among population groups and to determine whether climate protection is a frequent motive for this behaviour.MethodsThis study uses self-reported data of 4,971 adults who participated in a national health survey (German Health Update 2021), which was conducted as a telephone survey from July to December 2021. Associations between active transport behaviour and corresponding motives with sociodemographic and health-related variables were analysed using logistic regression models.ResultsOf the adult population, 83% use active transport at least once a week. The frequency and duration of walking per week are significantly higher than those for bicycling (walking 214 min/week; bicycling 57 min/week). Those with a lower education level are less likely to practise active transport than those with a higher education level. Furthermore, women are less likely to use a bicycle for transport than men. Among those practising active transport, the most frequently mentioned motive is “is good for health” (84%) followed by “to be physically active” (74%) and “is good for the climate/environment” (68%). Women and frequent bicyclists (at least 4 days/week) mention climate protection as a motive more often than men and those bicycling occasionally.ConclusionsThe improvement of active transport, especially among people with lower education and women (for bicycling), may benefit from better insights into motives and barriers. Climate protection is an important motivator for practising active transport within the adult population living in Germany and should therefore have greater emphasis in behavioural change programmes.

A study on the improvement of bicycle transportation in Sivas city using hybrid multi-criteria model based network analysis

AbstractThe bicycle stands out as a sustainability-friendly vehicle due to its benefits for health, the environment, and the economy. However, the deficiencies and inadequacies in the cycling infrastructure prevent a safe and comfortable riding environment, in addition to indirectly preventing the widespread use of bicycles. This study aims to integrate a few disconnected bicycle routes in a city and create a bicycle road network that will allow the efficient use of bicycles in the urban area by using a Hybrid Multi-Criteria Model-Based Network Analysis. In the study, considering the physical, social, and visual criteria that should be used when determining bicycle paths, the suitability weight of each road line for bicycle transportation was determined. In this step, the bicycle path network was created using the weighted roads between the important points of the city in terms of tourism, trade, education, health, culture, transportation, and recreation areas. The most suitable bicycle routes were generated by network analysis considering the weighted roads that were determined by a model hybridized with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and analytic network process (ANP) methods and minimum distances. When the eligibility checks of the obtained routes were made, it was determined that while 99.7% of the roads passed through moderately suitable, suitable, and very suitable roads, only 0.3% of the new routes passed through unsuitable roads. The findings revealed that both efficient and less costly bicycle lines can be created using the proposed method.

The Effect of the Development of Bicycle Transport from the Point of View of the Inhabitants of the City of Bratislava

Abstract As part of a change in the division of transport work, bicycle transport has made the most progress in recent years. As the largest city in Slovakia Bratislava, is trying to keep up with foreign cities. In recent years, it has developed projects that have made it possible to increase the development of cycling in the city. The last major cycling survey was conducted in 2011 by Cyklokoalicia. This survey aims at determining the momentum of bicycle traffic by identifying its greatest shortcomings or, conversely, the most positives. The data from the analysis given will also be used to develop a concept for the development of bicycle transport in the city of Bratislava.

Evaluation of Bicycle Transportation Experiences and Bicycle Planning in Turkey, Land Use – Praxis Based Model Proposal

Evaluation of Bicycle Transportation Experiences and Bicycle Planning in Turkey, Land Use – Praxis Based Model Proposal

Why the riverside is an attractive urban corridor for bicycle transport and recreation

The extension of the cycling network is a challenge in view of the dense development of modern cities. Therefore, green-blue corridors are increasingly being used for this type of linear infrastructure. Particularly visible in recent years is the trend of developing urban riverbanks and transforming them into high-class cycle highways. The aim of the paper is to verify which of the features attributed to riverside cycle paths are of greatest importance for their users. The survey conducted for the study [N = 866] used the example of the ‘Nacyna Riverside Route’ in Rybnik, Poland, which, once completed, is expected to become a long traffic-free pedestrian and cycle route connecting the city centre with residential, industrial, and recreational districts. The results were analysed using statistical description in terms of gender, age, and purpose of route use. The article provides information on the natural, locational, and constructional factors that have the strongest impact on the success of a route. It has been shown that the route's location away from traffic and the natural character of its surroundings are of greatest importance. This study expands the existing knowledge base concerning routes most frequently chosen by cyclists as it identifies the factors which determine their popularity.

Bicycle Transport Infrastructure and the Challenge of Decarbonizing Road Transport in Polish Urban Centers

Bicycle Transport Infrastructure and the Challenge of Decarbonizing Road Transport in Polish Urban Centers

S10-2 U.S. CDC’s Active People Health Nation: Michigan’s Story for Promoting Physical Activity in Local Communities

Abstract Purpose Being physically active is one of the most important ways people of all ages and abilities can improve their health. Survey data show that 76 percent of Asian Americans in Michigan USA do not meet the federal physical activity minimum guidelines. Guided by Active People, Healthy Nation (APHN), a national initiative to help 27 million Americans become more physically active, the Eastern Michigan University (EMU) Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) initiative promotes physical activity through local partnerships in geographic areas where the priority population (Asian Americans) lives. Methods Working with the state department of transportation, local municipalities, public schools, faith-based organizations, local businesses, and community health partners, EMU REACH used the following strategies to increase physical activity: 1) implement policies and activities to connect pedestrian, bicycle, or transit transportation networks (i.e., activity-friendly routes) to everyday destinations. 2) launch safe routes to school programs to increase walking and bicycling to and from school and 3) promote equitable park programs and policies that make it safe and easy for residents to be physically active. The team adopted the action planning guide and assessment modules in the Active Communities Tool (ACT) to facilitate cross-sector collaborations in developing an action plan to improve the community built environments that promote physical activity. Results The EMU CHDIS has successfully reached 24,510 people impacted by new/improved policies and plans in 2018-22. In the process, our environment scan showed that people living in underserved areas and from racial and ethnic minority groups are less likely to have access to these places due to historical land use, housing, and transportation policies. Based on the results from project implementation, it is recommended that creating or modifying streets, parks, and trails to connect activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations and offer access to safe places for physical activity for people of all ages and abilities can promote active lifestyles and provide physical-active environment. Conclusion While celebrating wins through the APHN initiative in Michigan, we advocate for new supportive policies and engage with more community members to raise awareness about the new resources to maintain the active momentum.

Intelligent Shared Bicycle Transportation Planning System Under the Concept of Green Transportation and Smart Cities

Intelligent Shared Bicycle Transportation Planning System Under the Concept of Green Transportation and Smart Cities

Fuel Consumption, Emissions of Air Pollutants and Opportunities for Reducing CO2 Emissions from Linear Sources in the Model Rural Municipality

The study estimates the amount of emissions resulting from linear sources. There were calculations for a model rural municipality, composed of national, provincial, country, and municipal roads that run through the area. In this study, the following categories of vehicles were assumed to travel along this route: motorcycles, passenger cars, light trucks (vans), heavy trucks without trailers, trucks with trailers, and buses. The analysis used data on the average volume of traffic (SDR) on selected roads on the territory of the sample municipality, based on the frequency of participation in traffic by each mode of transportation on selected road sections. To estimate the emission rates of each pollutant, for each vehicle category separately, the calculations were made based on the emission factor rates for each type of fuel. According to the adopted methodology and based on the adopted assumptions scenarios, pollutants’ emissions were estimated. The implementation of the scenarios offered for reducing CO2 emissions has been proposed, and it is estimated that, depending on the variant adopted, the reductions will be between 13 and 21% in variant I, between 3 and 8% in variant II, and between 18 and 34% in combining these variants. The variant with a reduction in private car transportation in favor of bicycle transportation in combination with public transportation showed the most favorable effects on the environment.

Promoting Sustainable Transport in Developing Countries: A Case Study of University Students in Tehran

One of the ways to address the modern traffic-related problems is to encourage people to use sustainable travel modes more regularly. Transportation planners need to find the factors that affect people’s opinions toward using these modes. In this study, we investigated these factors using a case study of a developing country by distributing an online survey among the students of four universities in Tehran. The number of complete responses received was 134 from SUT, 63 for UT, 31 from AUT, and 204 from IUST, summing up to 432 responses. A binomial logistic regression model was used to find the paramount factors affecting the selection of cycling and public transportation. Our model found five and four statistically significant factors affecting preferences toward using bicycle and public transport, respectively. Several novel outcomes resulted from our study. First, expressing prestige to others resulted in the reduction of the preference of students toward cycling by 80%. Second, while a high number of the respondents are not currently using bikes to commute, a noticeable number of them are amongst the ones that will cycle in their daily commutes in an ideal condition. Third, in Iran, a religious approach is present in the society, which results in lower rates of public transport usage among females. Finally, while long commuting distance is the main barrier to cycling, travel time plays a bigger role in the preferences toward using public transportation. In the end, some practical solutions are suggested to encourage the usage of these modes. They include providing safe bicycle lanes and more space in the public transportation systems.

DESIGNING A FOSS4G-BASED WALKABLE LIVING AREA PLANNING SUPPORT MODULE TO ASSISTS THE KOREAN 15-MINUTE CITY

Abstract. In Korea, there have been conversations about promoting the planning of walkable communities based on Chrono-Urbanism, a concept that is the foundation of the 15-minute city, in which residents can get services necessary for their daily life in the same place where they live. Chrono-Urbanism-based planning support assesses the walkability of services for various age groups based on the distance to reach physical activity centers such as walking and bicycling from small living area units, and places essential living infrastructure or urban amenities. Using Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial (FOSS4G), we create a tool that supports the evaluation of walkability and the distribution of urban amenities while taking age groups, walking, bicycle, and public transportation accessibility into account. In conclusion, this tool can measure and distribute urban amenities based on walkability providing a way to create healthier, more equitable living areas. Implementing the tool to produce a range of alternatives will help planners to learn about desirable walkable urban amenity options from the alternatives.

Socio‐ecological interactions promote outbreaks of a harmful invasive plant in an urban landscape

Abstract Urban landscapes often harbour organisms that harm people and threaten native biodiversity. These landscapes are characterized by differences in socioeconomic context, habitat suitability and patch connectedness. Identifying which spatial differences enable outbreaks of pests, pathogens and invasive species will improve targeted control efforts. We tested hypotheses to explain the distribution and demography of puncturevine Tribulus terrestris, a human‐dispersed invasive plant in Boise, a city in the western United States. We hypothesized an increase in puncturevine infestations near low‐valued properties with a high proportion of bare ground, the species' preferred microhabitat, that are well connected on the urban road network. To test these hypotheses, we collected data on the abundance, emergence and persistence of reproductive plants in transects spanning >100 km of our study city. We then used hierarchical Bayesian models to evaluate the impacts of spatial covariates on puncturevine distribution and demography. Bare ground cover consistently increased abundance, emergence and persistence of puncturevine, indicating the overarching importance of suitable establishment sites for this invasive species. Property value had the strongest impact on puncturevine abundance and was the most important main effect in the model for puncturevine emergence. In both models, lower‐valued properties had a higher risk of puncturevine occurrence. The effects of road network connectivity depended on bare ground cover, with the highest predicted abundance and emergence of puncturevine in patches with low connectivity on the road network and high bare ground cover. Understanding these relationships will require data that can disentangle seed dispersal from establishment limitations. Identifying characteristics of urban patches that promote outbreaks of harmful species will improve the effectiveness and equity of control efforts. The prevalence of puncturevine in lower‐valued properties is cause for concern as the plant impedes bicycle transportation, with the potential for disproportionate impacts on marginalized groups that lack resources to repair punctured tires. Our results add to a growing recognition that low‐connectivity street networks have undesirable outcomes for environmental sustainability. As urban land cover continues to grow worldwide, accounting for interactions between human, natural and built systems will play a crucial role in managing invasive species.

Cyclist mortality in the municipality of São Paulo, Brazil: recent demographic characteristics and trends

Bicycles are a low cost and healthy means of transport, however accidents represent the negative downside. This study sought to describe the characteristics of cyclist deaths, their recent evolution, and the status of the cycle path structure in the city of São Paulo. It involved a descriptive study using information from the Mortality Information System (SIM-DATASUS) between 2000 and 2017. The relationship between the cyclist mortality rate and the cycling path network was evaluated using Pearson's correlation test. A comparison was made with bicycle journeys in the same period. The sociodemographic profile of deaths was compared with that of the general population. The mortality rate peaked at 7.91/million inhabitants in 2006 and decreased to 1.8/million in 2017; in this period, there was an increase in cycling journeys and in the cycle path structure. A negative correlation was observed between the mortality rate and the cycle path structure. The analysis of deaths indicates a predominantly male, white, young profile, with ≤7 years of schooling; 65% died in collisions with vehicles. There was a decrease in cyclist deaths in the city of São Paulo correlated with the increase in the bicycle path grid from 2008 onwards, in a scenario of increased demand for bicycle transport.

E-bike with photovoltaic panels for battery charging

The experience in many cities shows that bicycles are one of the best vehicles of transportation in cities. They are ecological, require a small space, are not noisy, and contribute to the mental and physical health of the residents. The aim of the paper is to combine the idea of bicycle transport in cities, the potential of e-bikes, and innovative photovoltaic panels as a source of energy. In the created prototype, electric bicycle charging was tested using lightweight and flexible photovoltaic panels located on the bicycle frame. According to calculations and test results, this solution is sufficient for the normal operation of an e-bike under urban conditions. The results show that the e-bike with photovoltaic panels is a vehicle of transportation that uses only a renewable resource and is sufficient to move the normally required distances.

What is the market potential for on-demand services as a train station access mode?

On-demand mobility services (FLEX) are often proposed as a solution for the first/last mile problem. We study the potential of using FLEX to improve train station access by means of a three-step sequential stated preference survey. We compare FLEX with the bicycle, car and public transport for accessing two alternative train stations. We estimate a joint access mode and train station choice model. Estimating a latent class choice model with different nesting structures, we uncover four distinct segments in the population. Two segments (∼50%) with a lower Willingness-to-Pay seem to be more likely to take-up FLEX. Ex-urban car drivers seem to be the most likely segment to adopt FLEX, showing great, since members of this segment are currently frequent users of the private car. Our case study also shows that while FLEX competes primarily with public transport when accessing local stations, it competes primarily with car for reaching distant stations.

Napper cycling typology: Identifying and understanding different bicycle trip purposes

What is a bicycle trip? Our own experiences, observation and reading tells a story – that there is no single or all encompassing “cycling” activity. Although trip purposes are used as examples to illustrate findings or explain ideas, they are often limited to a binary of “transport or recreation”. This oversimplification makes it easy to dismiss and mischaracterise cycling, particularly in countries with low or emerging cycling volumes. This research addressed this gap in knowledge with the development of a typology of bicycle trips. Based on six types of trips, the typology represents how they relate to, and mix with, one another. The typology represents a departure from a tendency of classifying people, to classifying the things they may do.The six journey types are: recreation, commute, tasks and errands, passenger, work, and sport. The implications of trip purposes are discussed, with opportunities arising such as a better understanding of what might be needed to encourage a modal shift from recreational to commuter riding, or a better understanding of user needs in different trips. The practical implications of trip purposes, for example riding with shopping and making short multi-stop journeys carrying goods and children raise implications for the bicycle transport system. This typology provides an addition to the transport lexicon to recognise the many utility functions, and benefits of cycling.

Why the Riverside is an Attractive Corridor for Bicycle Transport

Why the Riverside is an Attractive Corridor for Bicycle Transport

Evaluation of Walking as Sustainable Transport and Energy Generator - Case Study: Barranquilla, Colombia

Pedestrian traffic in public space is associated with a level of service (LOS) that qualitatively describes the operating conditions according to the spaces available in square meters per pedestrian. Daily, people need to travel to their workplaces, schools, and universities, or to carry out any other activity using means of transportation such as walking, bicycle, car, or public transport, among others. In many cases, at least one walkable path is required regardless of the type of transport means selected to make a trip according to its accessibility. This article presents the analysis of piezoelectric power generation on the main street in the city of Barranquilla, Atlántico (Colombia), considering the pedestrian volume and the level of service of the sidewalks, according to the geometry of the road an energy consumption is estimated, then this data is compared with pedestrian accessibility indices (walkability index) of the city, with the aim of defining the functionality and applicability of the measure for the generation of energy from innovative and environmentally friendly sources. The results show that the city requires substantial modifications to make it more walkable, promoting active transportation and the inclusion of piezoelectric power generation strategies is an option to make a public space potentially sustainable.

Políticas públicas e mobilidade urbana sustentável: análise comparativa entre Groningen e Campinas

Abstract The National Urban Mobility Policy encourages Brazilian cities to develop a series of actions in favor of public and non-motorized transport, but successful cases of promotion of sustainable urban transport are still scarce in Brazil. This article analyzes the experience of Campinas concerning promotion of bicycle transportation, comparing it with a successful international case, namely, the city of Groningen (the Netherlands). The analyses are based on interviews with public managers and specialists in the two assessed cities. The results show fundamental institutional factors for the success or failure of the cycling policy. It is particularly noteworthy that actions to discourage the use of private vehicles are as important as those to promote the use of bicycles.

Efforts to Develop Bicycle Transportation in Supporting the Internal Transportation System

The Unhas Tamalanrea Campus has green open space which is one of the best urban forest areas in Makassar. This is supported by the implementation of Non-Motorized-Transport by re-developing bicycle transportation management. Campus Green Open Space is an attraction for the community to cycle, for this reason, attention to bicycle transportation facilities and connectivity with other transportation is needed so that vehicle access continues to run safely and comfortably, at the Unhas Tamalanrea Campus. This study aims to find out how the services of bicycle transportation facilities, the suitability of bicycle lanes, and development concepts can be applied at the Unhas Tamalanrea Campus. The analysis methods used are Importance Performance Analysis (IPA), Scoring Analysis, and Map interpretation. Data collection was carried out through observation, interviews, and questionnaires. The respondents taken were cyclists at the Unhas Tamalanrea Campus using accidental sampling techniques. The results showed that the condition of bicycle transportation facilities at the Unhas Tamalanrea Campus was quite good but still needed to be improved by the guidelines and concept of campus bicycle transportation.