Attitudes to cycle helmets

The active promotion of helmet use by cyclists is a fiercely controversial and often emotional subject, with views put forward with great conviction both for helmets and sceptical of their value. Controversy is particularly acute with regard to mandatory helmet laws. But the heart of the matter is: Less cycling increases risk for those who do cycle: Safety comes in numbers! It is also logic to wear a helmet if you are a child or a speed cyclist. Helmets do not help when in collision with cars; the difference in speed between car and cyclist or pedestrian cannot be compensated by a helmet. Helmets can even suggest to car drivers that the cyclists are safe. Then they are better off without. Read more at the Bicycle Helmet Research Foundation

Greening of Transport in Paris

New Mobility has prepared a 130 pages Policy Brief on Planning and Implementing a City Bike System. It opens with an overview of the broader process that the city of Paris and the teams behind the Greening of Paris agenda have engaged, and from there moves on to provide in-depth background on the history and process of city bike developments at the leading edge. From there it looks in depth at the new and very large JCDecaux Vélib' system in Paris as a leading example, and then in its final chapters reaches much further back to consider how such a transformative project can fit into the larger new mobility and sustainability framework of your city.

China Car Free Day September 22, 2008

China, the entire country, will have a car free day on September 22, 2008. China plans to ban cars from streets in 108 cities in its first ``No Car Day'' on Sept. 22, part of an effort to promote environmental protection and ease congestion in the world's second-largest auto market. Streets in areas of Beijing, Shanghai and other cities will be open only to pedestrians, bicycles, taxis and buses from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to the Ministry of Construction. Sept. 22 is World Carfree Day, a United Nations-backed global campaign. About 4.37 million new vehicles began using China's roads in the first half as economic growth makes cars and trucks affordable to more people. Growth in traffic helped China surpass the U.S. as the world's largest carbon-dioxide emitter last year. ‘No Car Day' will cut 3,000 tons of emissions and save 33 million liters of gasoline.

Dubai Cycling Master Plan to be implemented

Velo Mondial is involved in creating a Cycling Master Plan for Dubai. The Roads and Transport Authority has carried out a study on the use of the bicycle as a means of transport and a fun sport in the Emirate. With Alta Planning of California and Balancia of The Netherlands Velo Mondial has been instrumental in setting up Bicycle Network Master Plan that will be implemented in stages from this year. Read the article in the Khaleej Times

Copenhagen the best city for cycles

Amsterdam is proclaiming to be Cycling Capital of the world. In 2015 Copenhagen promises to be justifiably famous as the capital city in the world with the best urban Environment. It will have become the Eco-Metropole of the world, thus demonstrating that environmental concern adds an extra dynamic to urban development. Copenhageners and visiting guests will be able to see and appreciate the improvements, while at the same time the city will be sharing active responsibility for global environmental development. Moreover Copenhagen will become the world’s best city for cycles. Not only will people be able to cycle quickly to their destination but above all safely. The heat is on!

At the Frontiers of Cycling: Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany

This article presents six detailed case studies of cycling in the Netherlands (Amsterdam and Groningen), Denmark (Copenhagen and Ideal intersection modifications in Muenster: Special bike access lane, advance stop line, and priority green light for cyclists. Cyclists well into intersection before cars can even start to move. Source: City of Muenster, Department of Transport Planning Odense), and Germany (Berlin and Muenster). Except for Berlin, they represent the very best in coordinated policies and programs to make cycling safe, convenient, and attractive. © 2007 Eco-Logica Ltd.
















Art: Nicholas Whitaker

Cycling in Bucharest, Bolzano and Bromley

Euronews has made a nice overview of the reasons why cities want to plan for cycling. They focus on Bucharest, Bolzano and Bromley. Have a look and be inspired. Be aware: this movie has a long download time.