ork ry I. he iKe Co[umn By Danielle Janes Biketopia Often cited as the world's best bicycling city, Groningen (Holland) has made an investment in bicycle infrastructure of around $6 per resident per year since the 1970s. It's an investment that's paying off: more than half of the residents now use bicycles for transportation, and each car kept off the road saves the city around $100 in pollution, parking and health costs. Just 18 years ago, the city began dismantling multiple lane thru-ways, replacing them with the accouterments of an efficient, compact city. A key improvement was the division of the city into four sections (traffic cells) between which car traffic was restricted, but through which walkers, bicyclists and public transport could pass freely. The city was enriched with miles of bike lanes, special bike overpasses, thousands of bike parking spaces, bicycle stop lines ahead of car fumes, bikes on bus access, benches, and trees. Car parking lots and large traffic circles were converted into parks and daily farmers' markets. Zoning changes prohibited sprawling suburban development, such as distant shopping malls. Care was taken to combine transit with bike facilities, including at least 3,000 bike parking spaces at the railway station. Developers can no longer get away with ignoring bicyclists. Bicycle garages are now required at new developments. These bicycle, pedestrian, and transit reforms free at least half the city's population from the stop and start traffic, the congestion, and the pollution stifling residents of less carefully developed cities. Sources: Paving Moratorium Update & Auto-free Ottawa. Europeans Vote For Car Traffic Restrictions Ziirich, Switzerland has seen a tremendous increase in public transit use. The city encouraged this by requiring government officials to live where they work, by cutting 10,000 parking spaces, altering traffic lights to favor public transit, and adding 180 miles of bike lanes. In Bologna, Italy, city-wide traffic levels fell dramatically after car access to the city center was restricted and 'the price of public transit was reduced. Berlin, Germany now allows bicyclists in bus lanes. This provides bicyclists with some escape.from heavy car traffic congestion and has not caused many conflicts with buses. Early in 1994, 52% of Swiss voters voted to disallow construction on major roads if the construction is intended to increase vehicle capacity. LaRochelle, I:_rance is also among the innovators with free bicycles around town and fixed-fare, shared taxis. Norway is constructing bike and walking paths along their national highways. They now have over 1,243 miles of bike highway. The National Bicycling and Walking Case Study No. 16, Study of Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs in European Countries, by G. Wynne (1992) shows you what is possible. The Study is also called Federal Highway Administration Publication No. FHWA-PD-92-037 and can be ordered from the Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, D.C. 20590. Also see More Bikes: Policy into Best Practice, a survey of what constitutes Europe's best bicycle planning strategies. The price is £1() from the Cyclists' Touring Club, 69 Meadrow, Godalming, Surrey, England GU73HS. Sources: Network News, Transportation Alternatives, People Power Update & Auto-free Ottawa. Reminiscent of Amsterdam's free white bike program Copenhagen, Denmark has filled around 120 special bike stands with free bikes in its historic inner city. All you do is deposit a DK 20 coin ($3.50) to get the bike and when you return it you get your money back. The only requirement is that you only use the free bikes on public streets within the inner city. The program is funded by ads on the bicycles, and any missing bikes can be tracked down via small directional beepers inside each bike frame. To find out more, write for the English brochure available from the Bike Foundation of Copenhagen, 61 Nyhavn, DK 1051, Copenhagen, Denmark. On a smaller scale, the City of Utrecht, Holland is renting out work-tricycles that can carry large loads for a small charge from the neighborhood ecocenter. Local businesses are funding the program. Source: Public Irmovation Abroad. Lottery Promotes Biking In Bregenz, Austria if you've biked to work you could win 500 Austrian Schillings if you're picked in the weekly bike lotto. If you drove instead the prize goes into next week's cash prize. For info contact: Dr. Manfred Hellrigl, FAHR RAD Campaign, Vorarlberg Environmental Info Service, Montfortstrasse 4, A-690 1 Bregenz, Austria. mhellrig@ vrl.gv.at. RAIN Summer 1996 Volume XV, Number 1 Page 19
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