Selecting cycle measures for your city - Further considerations for applicability

The process of planning for cycling in cities, including the preparation of a cycling strategy, development of a cycle network and selecting cycle measures, is discussed at a high-level in http://ec.europa.eu/transport/node/6256{Planning for cycling in cities as Link}.

Each of the cycle measure factsheets contains a section on ‘considerations for applicability’, which are discussed in more detail below. When selecting cycle measures, practitioners should review these considerations within the context of their own cities.

Guidance is also provided below on potential measures that could be implemented within your city, depending on your city’s characteristics. Further details on each of the potential cycling measures can subsequently be found in the respective cycling measure factsheets.

[collapsed title=Level of cycling and cycling development]

The cycling conditions and the number of people who cycle determine the level of cycling development of a city. Typically, the cycling rate (modal share) increases as cycling conditions improve. Three types of city cycling development levels, based on modal share, are widely recognised and have been used in this study:

• Starter (0-5% bicycle modal share)
• Climber (5-20%)
• Champion (20%+)

A city’s level of cycling development is likely to influence the actions that can be taken and the cycle measures that are considered for potential implementation. PRESTO (2010) PRESTO - Cycling Policy Guide Infrastructure provides a comprehensive overview of considerations for starter, climber and champion cities. A summary of the characteristics of cities at each level of cycling development and the recommended actions and potential cycle measures* are outlined below:

* These are indicative measures deemed, in general, the most relevant for a given category of city. However, nothing prevents local authorities from considering the application of more ambitious actions and measures.

CASE STUDY HIGHLIGHTS

• Brussels, Belgium (starter city) has taken steps to improve cycling in the city by commissioning a profiling study to identify the needs of local communities in the city with the aim to facilitate cycling and encourage people to cycle. The city has also started to introduce dedicated facilities for cyclists and pedestrians on the inner-city ring road (including parking and infrastructure). This has been at the expense of car traffic space and the development of car parking facilities, specifically at the city’s main train and metro stations.
• Seville, Spain (climber city) has focussed on improving cohesion through developing a network of fully segregated bicycle paths, which connect the city's main trip attractors and residential areas within the city.
• Malmö, Sweden (champion city), continues to improve cycling infrastructure and facilities in the city. For example, there has been a focus on improving the comfort and attractiveness of the cycling network through the provision of cycling priority passages (Cykelöverfart) that safeguard the right of way for cyclists and other bicycle lane users where bicycle lanes cross roads. Streets adapted for cycling using the principles of cycle streets have also been implemented to increase directness of cycle journeys and offer priority for cyclists.

The EU project CHAMP (Cycling Heroes Advancing sustainable Mobility Practice) has also identified a set of ‘quick wins’ (see page 18) for cities on their journey to becoming a champion cycling city, learning from case study experiences.

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[collapsed title=Urban layout / topography]

The physical features of a city, including the urban layout and topography, can act as barriers for cycling and influence which measures are suitable for implementation. Historic city centres often have narrow, one-way streets with restrictions in place for some transport modes. In these situations, less space intensive cycle infrastructure such as a cycle lane may be more suitable than a cycle track, which requires more space. Physical features such as rivers may also obstruct access and disrupt the directness and coherence of a cycling network. Except for some of electric bicycle users, people who cycle must provide the energy required to propel the bicycle forward. Therefore, hilly terrain that is tiring and slow to cycle across is likely to act as a barrier to cycling.

Urban layout/topography considerations for applicability and suggested cycle measures are outlined below:

CASE STUDY HIGHLIGHTS

• Agueda (Portugal) implemented the BeAgueda electric bike-sharing scheme, which helped to address issues relating to hilly terrain in the city.
• Bregenz (Austria) installed two grade separated crossings to address physical obstructions in the cycle network. The first was a cycling bridge across a river, and the second was the repurposing of a disused railway tunnel for cycling, in order to avoid a steep climb and increase directness between two city districts.

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[collapsed title=Population]

Understanding the local population and its needs is important in identifying any problems or challenges that require addressing and that may influence the applicability of cycle measures. Considerations include whether a city has seasonal population fluctuations due to tourism; whether there is a large population share of students; and a consideration of the city demographics, including children, working population, elderly and level of deprivation and affluence. Population considerations for applicability and suggested cycle measures are outlined below:

CASE STUDY HIGHLIGHTS

• Bregenz (Austria) A cycling track was implemented at Lake Constance, Austria, partially in relation to its high tourist population.
• Malmö (Sweden) A range of promotional and educational measures aimed at different population demographics were implemented in Malmö, including ‘Bicycling without age’ (aimed at the elderly) and cycle training for adults.
• Budapest (Hungary) The Mol Bubi bike-sharing scheme was implemented in Budapest, where approximately 10% of its users are tourists.
• Brighton (UK) The Old Shoreham Road cycle track in Brighton provides a safe route for young people to travel to school on foot or by bike.

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[collapsed title=Finance, time and human resources]

Identifying and securing finance and dedicating time and human resources (which also incur a cost) to plan, design, implement and maintain cycling measures can be a significant factor in the decision-making process for cities. Compared to other transport infrastructure such as major highways and public transport projects, cycling is relatively inexpensive. However, depending on the scale of infrastructure required or the scope of the measure being implemented, it can still incur substantial costs. Therefore, when considering the applicability of cycling measures the finance, time and human resources involved should also be considered. Both capital funding, for the implementation of infrastructure/measures and revenue funding, for the ongoing running/maintenance of measures, are required. Sometimes there are methods of capitalising revenue costs, such as staff time, although these methods differ across Europe.

The cycle measure factsheets give an indication of the finance and time and human resources required for implementation and ongoing maintenance of the measures, although this is likely to vary significantly depending on city context and scale of the project.

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[collapsed title=Key guidance, further reading and references]

PRESTO (2010) PRESTO - Cycling Policy Guide General Framework

(see Chapter 3)

Deffner, Jutta; Hefter, Tomas; Rudolph, Christian; Ziel, Torben Eds. (2012): Handbook on cycling inclusive planning and promotion. Capacity development material for the multiplier training within the mobile2020 project.

(also available in BG, CZ, EE, HR, LV, HU, PL, RO, SI, SK)

PRESTO (2010) PRESTO - Cycling Policy Guide Infrastructure

CIVITAS MIMOSA (2013) Enabling Cycling Cities: Ingredients for success

KonSULT Decision Makers Guidebook

KonSULT Measure Option Generator

FLOW Project (2016) The role of walking and cycling in reducing congestion: A portfolio of measures

Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) guidelines

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