South American Jewel: Curitiba, Brazil!

Curitiba is perhaps the most well-planned city in the world, and bicycle integration is at its core. The city has been pushing cycling as the go-to mode of transportation for more than 40 years and the result has been the ubiquity of bike lanes. Brazilians have made a commitment to alternative fuels and eco-friendly transportation methods. In addition to the infrastructure, a vibrant bike-oriented activist community exists to promote bicycle riding as an alternative to auto congestion.

With the creation of planned new bike lanes to be integrated into the current network of 120 kilometers, which is already the second largest in the country, Curitiba’s cycling paths will reach 400 kilometers. The expansion of bike lanes on city roads comes under the Cicloviário Master Plan, which was prepared by IPPUC (Curitiba Institute for Urban Research and Planning).

“We want to encourage the use of bicycles not only as leisure or sports activities, but as an alternative means of transport. This is a priority for the City of Curitiba in our Mobility and Accessibility Program. The projects have already been defined and some new extensions have already been built in town,” said the president of IPPUC, Clever Almeida.

One of these new connections is path along Av. Marechal Floriano Peixoto, which already has eight kilometers (4 miles in each direction) from the viaduct of the Green Line to the border with Pinhais. Another piece, a connection to the edge of town with Pinhais, will be done in partnership with the state government with funding from the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) Cup.

In total, Curitiba has 22.5 km of cycling infrastructure in progress. The upgrading project of Eduardo Pinto da Rocha, with completion scheduled for later this year, will reflect the implementation of bicycle paths along traffic lanes for 5 km. Also, south of Curitiba, the Axis Road Integration CIC / Tatuquara will have 1.8 km of bike paths.

The largest bike path is currently under construction on Av. Fredolin Wolf. The road project was begun by the City this month. At the end of the work, there will be a 7.6 km extension to form alternative access among the neighborhoods Santa Felicidade, São João, and Pilarzinho promoting integration with Tanguá and Tingui parks and the Wire Opera House, some of Curitiba’s finest tourist attractions. The work on Fredolin Wolf will form, along with Toaldo Tully Street (already operating), a cycling route of 13.1 kilometers along the main West/North road, enabling a connection from the BR-277 with the option of entering Centro Cívico or Barreirinha.

Following Fredolin Wolf on the bike path, a cyclist can follow the St. Lawrence neighborhood and reach the waterfall, or the City Centre, Tarumã, and even Xaxim. Heading west, by Toaldo Tullius, bicycle paths will connect the neighborhoods Santo Inácio, Bigorrilho, Campina do Siqueira, Portão, Fazendinha, CIC and Capão Raso. Barigui Park will also have a new path of about 10 kilometers, linking the neighborhood CIC to Santo Inácio.

The design of the Green Line North foresees the implementation of shared service in its 8 km length, continuing the already deployed 10 km south on the Green Line. The first section of paths on the Green Line North, extending 1.8 kilometers, links the Botanical Garden to Tarumã. Eventually it will cross the city from north to south for almost 20 kilometers, south to Atuba.

IPPUC is still designing the deployment of 10km of cycling infrastructure in Comendador Franco (Avenida das Torres). The projects comprise the upgrading of the Corredor Aeroporto/Rodoferroviária, funded by the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) of the 2014 World Cup.

Provided for in the Master Plan, the project provides for the implementation of cycling infrastructure on both sides of Avenida das Torres, in opposite directions, totaling 20 km in the stretch to the border with Pinhais.

The map of cycling infrastructure guidelines on the Master Plan includes the extension of Guarapuava Avenue Viscount, Viscount Nacar and Saldanha Marinho, fostering links with the existing network. The project to revitalize the Viscount Guarapuava median with a bike lane will be done by the Municipality in partnership with the government of the State.

“With the help of the state government, we will remove the poles and complete the path to the city as an exclusive channel for cyclists to move safely while improving the urban landscape with the elimination of overhead wires,” said the president of the IPPUC, Clever Almeida.

The Cultural Corridor is a project of IPPUC, in partnership with the Universidade Federal do Paraná. The corridor provides a connection with bike paths from the rectory to the historical building Santos Andrade of the University and from there to Teixeira Soares in João Negrão. The cultural corridor is an axis that will physically integrate the existing cultural facilities of the City, such as the Reitoria (which has a chapel and an auditorium); Teatro Guaíra, the Capela of Santa Maria, the Teatro da Caixa, and the cultural centers of the historic buildings of UFPR and the post office.

The first stretch of the Blue Line subway of Curitiba, between CIC-South and City Centre, will also open space for bicycles. Some of the Pinheirinho/Santa Candida route will be transformed into bicycle paths.

Along the route of the Curitiba subway, where buses are circulating today, there will be a large promenade, called Via Park that will include cycling infrastructure. The first stage will be 14.2 kilometers long. The final stage of the subway, from CIC-South to Santa Candida, will be 22.4 km long with 13 stations for entering and exiting the subway, with parking for bicycles.

Sources:

http://curitibainenglish.com.br/government/urban-mobility/curitiba-to-have-400km-of-bike-lanes/
http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/cities-of-exuberance/curitiba-story-of-a-city
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/travel/top-10-bicycle-friendly-cities_4.html
http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/transportation/photos/10-bike-friendly-cities-around-the-globe/curitiba-brazil

COPENHAGEN: BICYCLE CULTURE

With around 52 percent of all Copenhageners commuting by bike on a daily basis and the busiest cycle lane in the world, it’s no wonder that cities around the world are talking about Copenhagenizing when they try to increase usage of this CO2 friendly means of transportation.
Every day Copenhageners in total travel 660.000 kilometers by metro but cycle 1.2 million kilometres - almost double the amount. Maybe that’s why biking lanes in Melbourne, Australia are called Copenhagen lanes.



Copenhagen has more than 300 kilometers of biking lanes and an additional 50 kilometers are on the way. With more than one third of the population in Copenhagen commuting daily by bike, 1.1 million kilometers are ridden on bicycle in Copenhagen - every day.
The International Cycling Union, UCI, appointed Copenhagen to be the first official Bike City in the world from 2008-2011.


Though cycling is the cheapest mean of transportation next to walking Copenhageners love their bikes no matter their financial income. Many middle class families with kids in Copenhagen don't even own a car. They use their bikes to commute to work, bringing the kids to kindergarten etc. In fact 25 percent of all families with two kids in Copenhagen have a cargo bike.
Even top politicians ride their bike every day to parliament. A majority (63 percent) of the members of the Danish parliament, located at Christiansborg Castle in the middle of Copenhagen, commute by bike.
As a first time visitor in Copenhagen the amount of bicycles on the streets can be overwhelming. But you will soon realize, that life in Copenhagen is based on bicycles as a very important means of transportation.
With 390 kilometers of biking lanes and traffic lights especially for bikes, the city's infrastructure is build on the fact that a bicycle is not only the cheapest, healthiest and fastest way to get around the city, it is also a very important factor in reducing carbon emission. Therefore bicycle culture is a vital part of the city administrations ambition to become the first carbon neutral capital in the world by 2025.



With more than one third of the population in Copenhagen commuting daily by bike, cities around the world are being inspired by Copenhagen to increase usage of bicycles as a means of transportation. Biking is mutually beneficial. Bikers save money, get exercise and spare the environment for co2 emission. Reasons to promote cycling are various.
Copenhagens ambitious goal for 2015 is that 50% of all who work in Copenhagen will commute by bike according to the City of Copenhagen's environmental plan, ECO-METROPOLE OUR VISION 2015, which together with other green initiatives, works towards making Copenhagen the world's best biking city.
Around the world Copenhagenizing has now become a phenomenon in the process of getting more people to leave the car and take a bike.


There are only a few places in the world, where you will find traffic lights specifically for cyclists. But in Copenhagen, you'll see the miniature traffic lights many places, especially at heavily trafficked crossroads. The clearly marked blue bike lanes also increase traffic safety for the cyclist.
To get a more safe and smooth traffic for the massive amount of cyclists and their fellow road-users the Danish government has from January 1st introduced more expensive fines for violating the traffic law which means that cyclists now will be fined 1000 DDK for crossing a red light and 700 DKK for driving on the pavement or without any lamp, as well as many other fines for other traffic offences.




Sources: http://bit.ly/15AHZco

Electric Bicycles: Environmental Benefits

Gas-powered cars are the primary source of air pollution in the United States. In addition to their effect on our health, exhaust gases and particles from cars do extensive damage to crops, vegetation, and wildlife. In particular, motor vehicles are a significant source of water pollution. Oil, antifreeze, and small tire particles accumulate on roads and highways; during the rainy season, they are washed into our streams and waterways, causing damage to aquatic life. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the leading sources of metallic pollution in the bay is copper from auto brake pads. Finally, noise pollution from automotive traffic additionally stresses our lives.

Even after counting emissions from power plants, electric bicycles are factor 10 less polluting than gas vehicles. For every 500 miles an electric bike is used in place of a car, an average of 25 gallons of fuel is saved - and this much pollution is prevented:

• 3.42 pounds of hydrocarbons
• 25.28 pounds of carbon monoxide
• 1.77 pounds of nitrogen oxides

[Calculating emissions is an inherently tricky business. There are so many variables that there are no exact numbers in this game. The numbers here were calculated by David Swain, an engineer at the US EPA's Ann Arbor Mobile Emissions Laboratory. An alternative emission factor, listed as the "EPA Mobile 4.1 Model," that cites Carbon Monoxide levels emitted by the average car as 65.3 grams per mile. Using this number the CO savings after 500 miles would be approximately 70 pounds!]

Or you could go pollution free by fueling your Light Electric Vehicle (LEV) with electricity purchased from a "green" power company. Some electric companies supply most or all of their power from wind, sun, or falling water ("green" power). Starting April 1, 1998, Californians can choose their electric utility. You and I can "vote with our dollars" for green power. Here are two websites that review green power companies: http://www.ceert.org/links.html and http://www.nrdc.org/worldview/fwguid.html [The editor chosewww.greenmountain.com.]

Your investment in an electric bike can pay dividends beyond U. S. borders. Your purchase supports the growth of an industry that could make a big difference in developing countries. For example, as its economy prospers, China is in the unique position to skip the polluting gas moped and scooter phase altogether and leapfrog directly from human-powered bikes to clean electric vehicles. The pollution savings are staggering, far beyond what the U.S. could alone.

Scientific opinion is clear and close to unanimous that global warming is already happening. CO2 is the main culprit. For every mile a car travels, approximately one pound of CO2 enters the atmosphere. For background info on global warming and the process scientists used to conclude its truth, checkhttp://www.law.pace.edu/env/energy/debateintro.html.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988, to assess scientific information about climate change relevant for international and national policy formulation. More information on the IPCC structure and process is available from the IPCC web site (http://www.ipcc.ch) and the Working Group II web site (http://www.usgcrp.gov/ipcc/).

The Federal government's EPA site focuses on the science and impacts of global warming or climate change, and on actions by governments, corporations, and individuals that help address global warming issues. The site also features climate change related news, events, publications, reports, presentations, and links to other sites.http://www.onlineuniversity.net/earth-science/global-warming/

**** Building one car uses as much material as it takes to make 100 bicycles. (CA Bicycle Coalition)****

Short trips account for most of the cars on the road and most of our air pollution. So, for the health of the planet, leave your car at home and ride your electric bike. "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem."Information on other sustainable businesses:

The Sustainable Business Network (SBN) is a focal point for the sustainable business community on the Internet. It includes The SBN Journal, Library, Sustainable Business Opportunities and, Green Dream Jobs. http://www.envirolink.org/sbn

Source: http://www.electric-bikes.com/envbenefits.html

Bicycles are saving lives in Africa

In the African nation of Uganda, where many areas are difficult to access and have limited resources, bicycles are saving lives. Bicycle ambulances, modified to pull a covered stretcher in back, allow an individual experiencing a medical emergency — and even pregnant women — to be transported to medical facilities quickly. This alternative has already saved many lives in a community that previously had no access to any type of transportation. The bicycle has become essential, both in bringing patients to the hospital and in transporting health professionals and medicine to the community.

The impact of the bike has not gone unnoticed by organizations and institutions worldwide, that have come onboard to support the cause. These include: Bike4Care, linked to Cycling out of Poverty; theMake a Move campaign, and the First African Bicycle Information Organization (FABIO).

In emergency cases, a motorized ambulance is the best option in terms of speed and access to medical care. But at this time, the bike is the most economically viable solution for people in villages like Katakwi, Uganda, and it is proving its worth, saving lives and raising life expectancy.

What would happen if alternative were implemented in other areas of globe, where people have poor access to health care? What you think?

Source: Bike Storming

Originally posted on TheCityFix Brasil

Bogotá's Bike Paths Network

Bogotá is the Colombian city with the most extensive and comprehensive network of bike paths. Bogotá’s bike paths network or Ciclorutas de Bogotá in Spanish, designed and built during the administration of Mayor Enrique Peñalosa, is also one of the most extensive in the world.


“A citizen on a $30 bicycle is equally important to one in a $30,000 car”,declares Enrique Penalosa, former mayor of Bogota.
When Mr. Penalosa became mayor in 1998, plans for a new $15 billion highway system were given to him. He discarded them and spent money on pedestrianised streets, buses and parks. And lots and lots and lots of cycle paths – 300 km worth – which people started to use.
Here are 3 steps they took that I think helped them build a bicycling culture:

1. Build Bicycle Paths:

A great bicycle path network makes it easy and safe for anyone to use, young or old. Cycle paths can come in all shapes and sizes – what kind is best? I guess it depends, but I like this useful guide from Enrique Penalosa, “A bicycle way that is not safe for an 8-year old is not a bicycle way”.

2. Build other Bicycling Infrastructure

It’s not just about kilometers and miles of cycle roads.  Who will use them? How will they be used? Can they be used?
A cycle path that goes from nowhere to nowhere probably won’t be used as much as a well connected, integrated system.
In Bogota, a special emphasis was put on connecting the cycle paths to their bus rapid transit system, Transmilenio. For example they installed free, convenient and secure cycle storage facilities near major bus terminals:
The design of the network was made taking into consideration the morphology and topography of the city. This is, from north to south the city has a flat topography and from east to west the city has varying degrees of inclination.
A mesh concept was applied for the theoretical plan of the network because it presented greater versatility and adaptation given that the road network was designed as a grid plan with streets going from south to north and from east to west.

3. Inspire – Make it Fun!

Ciclovia happens once a week in Bogota, every Sunday between 7am and 2pm. 120km of roads are shut to cars and opened up to cyclists, walkers and people to enjoy. It’s fun, with around 30% of locals, or 2 million people, taking part. Take a look at this short video from Streetfilms to if you want a flavour of people enjoying themselves on the streets of Bogota.

13 reasons to start using an electric bicycle for transportation

We're continuing our look at smart ways to start saddling up and using electric bicycles for real transportation.

 

We've always taken the greenness of bike transport as a given. But if you're just getting started — or perhaps trying to convince an employer that bicycle commuting is a good thing — we've rounded up a dozen reasons to leave that car in the driveway and start covering pavement on two wheels. Let's ride!

1) It's easier to use an ebike! You use fraction of your body power compared to conventional bikes and you get to your destination in half the time.

2)It's easier to finance a new electric bicycle than a new car. Thanks to the recession, auto loans are hard to find these days — even if you have good credit. But for the price of a single car payment, you can buy a well-made electric bicycle that should outlast most cars. Add a few hundred dollars more for rain gear, lights and accessories, and you have all-weather, anytime transportation.

 

3) An electric bicycle has a tiny manufacturing footprint when compared to a car. All manufactured goods have environmental impact, but electric bicycles can be produced for a fraction of the materials, energy and shipping costs of a car.

 

4) Electric bicycles produce no meaningful pollution when in operation. Electric bikes don't have tailpipes belching poisonous fumes into the atmosphere. They also eliminate the oil, fuel and hydraulic fluids dripped by automobiles onto the road surface — which means less toxic runoff into local waterways.

 

5) Ebikes save taxpayers money by reducing road wear. A 30-pound bicycle is a lot less rough on the pavement than a two-ton sedan. Every bicycle on the road amounts to money saved patching potholes and resurfacing city streets.

 

6) Bicycles are an effective alternative to a second car. Perhaps you're not in a position to adopt a bicycle as primary transportation. But bikes make great second vehicles. You can literally save thousands of dollars a year using a bicycle for workday commuting and weekend errands in households which might otherwise be forced to maintain two cars.

 

7) Using an ebike for transportation can help you lose weight and improve your overall health. The health benefits of regular aerobic exercise are well-known. Depending on your riding style and local road conditions, you could easily burn 600 calories an hour through brisk cycling. Most ebike commuters report losing 7 to 15 pounds during their first year in the saddle without changing their eating habits.

 

8) You can store a dozen electric bicycles in a single automobile-sized parking place.Parking lots have enormous environmental and financial impact, particularly in urbanized areas. The more ebikes you can get on the road, the fewer parking spaces you need to build.

 

9) Electric bicycles don't burn gasoline. Fuel is cheap compared to last year, and the economic downturn is likely to keep a lid on petroleum demand for a while. But we're not producing any more oil today than we were when it was more than $100 a barrel. A healthy bike culture will help ease pressure on supply once demand returns.

 

10) Electric bicycling may be faster and more efficient than taking a car. We're not talking about the crazy — and illegal — antics of New York bicycle messengers. But ebikes are often faster than cars in urban areas, especially when city designers have set aside proper bike lanes. There's nothing more satisfying as a bicycle commuter than breezing past a long line of gridlocked traffic.

 

11) Ebikes cost much less to maintain and operate than automobiles. You'll never throw a rod on an electric bicycle, and dropping a transmission on an ebike usually means replacing a bent derailleur hanger or worn-out chain. Electric bicycles do require service, but you can learn to perform most of it yourself. Even if you have a shop do things for you, costs will be trivial compared to a car.

 

12) Electric bicycles provide mobility for those who may not qualify or afford to drive. Not everyone can get a driver's license (or wants one), and the cost of purchasing, insuring and maintaining a car is out of reach for a lot of people. Almost everyone can afford some sort of ebike. Other than walking, electric bicycles are the most cost-effective transportation on the planet.

 

13) Studies show that electric bicycle commuters are healthier, more productive, and require less time off at work. This is why most enlightened employers are eager to accommodate commuting cyclists. Healthy workers are better workers — and that's good for the bottom line. Ebikes are smart business.

London City Council notes: E-bikes and crossing guards

When is an e-bike an e-bike?

That question was central to discussions around the introduction of a proposed bylaw amendment that could lead to the exclusion of power-assisted bicycles from the city’s multi-use pathways.

During the Community and Protective Services Committee meeting on Monday (June 17), the members referred back to staff the recommendation of staff that also included lowering the speed limit on pathways from 30 kph to 20 kph. That reduction would allow the Upper Thames Conservation Authority’s ability to act as bylaw enforcement officers within the city’s environmentally significant areas.

In 2009 the province amended the Highway Traffic Act and excluded power-assisted” bicycles — or e-bikes — from the definition of motor vehicle.

Ward 5 Councillor Joni Baechler, Ward 13 Councillor Judy Bryant and Mayor Joe Fontana all agreed that e-bikes should be allowed in the pathways. However, Ward 12 Councillor Harold Usher took the opposite point, raising several issues, including safety of those using the pathways.

Usher’s question, however, raised the point of whether the bylaw was designed to deal with scooter-style e-bikes or more of the power-assisted bicycles. Bill Coxhead, managing director of parks and recreation, said the exclusion was planned for the scooter-style bikes, but that it would welcome the referral to come back with a clearly laid out report.

Crossing guard rules

Also during the meeting, the committee voted to move forward with a single-source arrangement for school crossing guards.

The decision came as the committee discussed the London Police Service plan to stop administering the School Crossing Guard Program. With that decision, the London Police Services Board moved to save the approximately $1 million cost of the program.

The mayor said the safety of kids is “absolutely important” and so the city needs a seamless transition from the police administration to that of the city. To achieve that goal, John Braam, managing director of environmental and engineering services, said the city would work with the existing contractor for a one-year period ending on Aug. 31, 2014.

Committee chair and Ward 11 Councillor Denise Brown reaffirmed the city will undertake the sole source arrangement only for 2013/14 school year before undertaking a review of the program and moving forward with requests for proposal in time for the 2014/15.