Cycling

NGOs are pushing for a greener transport solution for Budapest Focus is on noisy, unpleasant thoroughfares Greening would involve: more bike lanes wider sidewalks more frequent bus runs, more bus lanes Kossuth Lajos utca

Focus is on noisy, unpleasant thoroughfares

Greening would involve:

more bike lanes

wider sidewalks

more frequent bus runs, more bus lanes

Last week, City Hall proposed one-month trial for green transport Pitched as experiment with “artificial traffic jams” Lanes on big arteries would be closed to cars and opened to … cyclists and pedestrians and in some cases … Parked cars??

Pitched as experiment with “artificial traffic jams”

Lanes on big arteries would be closed to cars and opened to …

cyclists and pedestrians and in some cases …

Parked cars??

Surprise result: nobody wanted traffic jams MDF gave Mayor Demszky “dork award” ( birka d íj ) Public transport NGO said it was poorly planned This week: City Cabinet voted it down Imre Ikvai-Szabó

MDF gave Mayor Demszky “dork award” ( birka d íj )

Public transport NGO said it was poorly planned

This week: City Cabinet voted it down

Q: Can Budapest grow cycling without infringing on cars? “ There are very few areas where you won’t have conflicts: either with car traffic, parked cars, pedestrians or green spaces. So you have to decide.” Q: Not really. -- Bal ázs Tôkés, Budapest Cycling Affairs Officer

“ There are very few areas where you won’t have conflicts: either with car traffic, parked cars, pedestrians or green spaces. So you have to decide.”

Q: Do we WANT to grow cycling without infringing on cars? Air pollution from cars — NO X Source: Orsz á gos L égszennyezettségi Merôhalozat < http://www.kvvm.hu/olm/results.php?id=4>

Air pollution from cars — NO X

And Worst Is Yet to Come … Car traffic increased 30.4% 1990-2001 Upward trend foreseeable future

Car traffic increased 30.4% 1990-2001

Upward trend foreseeable future

Serious pedestrian accidents in last 30 days http://www.police.hu/mapdisplay/orsz.html

Q:How can Budapest grow cycling? A: By taking a cue from Paris Paris has a similar cycling background Little historic tradition of everyday cycling Horrible traffic, high incidence of pollution alerts Dense population

Paris has a similar cycling background

Little historic tradition of everyday cycling

Horrible traffic, high incidence of pollution alerts

Dense population

In 1995, Paris started building cycling from the ground up By 2007, the city had built 399.3 km cycling lanes and paths , half of which are separated from both foot and vehicle traffic Metro park-and-ride shelter Street parking racks Bike lane with car parking on opposite curb

By 2007, the city had built 399.3 km cycling lanes and paths , half of which are separated from both foot and vehicle traffic

Paris’s second cycling mayor openly confronted car culture “ I will fight, with all the means at my disposal, against the harmful, ever-increasing and unacceptable hegemony of the automobile.” Mayor Betrand Delanoë

“ I will fight, with all the means at my disposal, against the harmful, ever-increasing and unacceptable hegemony of the automobile.”

Pro-cycling, anti-car measures Opening streets to cyclists and pedestrians on weekends Already succeeded on Margit h íd, Lanchíd and Pesti rakpart THE PLAGE -- For roads along the Seine PARIS BREATHES -- Selected streets throughout the city

Opening streets to cyclists and pedestrians on weekends

Already succeeded on Margit h íd, Lanchíd and Pesti rakpart

Pro-cycling, anti-car measures GREEN ZONES: 30 kph speed limit, restricted through traffic, cyclists free to occupy carriageway

Pro-cycling, anti-car measures Taking away lanes from motorists and giving them to cyclists and/or public transport

Taking away lanes from motorists and giving them to cyclists and/or public transport

After nine years of cycling investment: Bike trips up ...

In 2007, Velib bike-sharing system launched World’s largest free city bike rental scheme. Introduced in 2007, with plans for approx. 1,500 stations and 20,000+ bicycles

World’s largest free city bike rental scheme.

Introduced in 2007, with plans for approx. 1,500 stations and 20,000+ bicycles

Result of Velib: Bike trips grow another…

Budapest to get bike sharing by 2011 800-1,200 bikes (5% as big as Velib) Would cover only downtown at first However, systems have failed where infrastructure is lacking …

800-1,200 bikes (5% as big as Velib)

Would cover only downtown at first

However, systems have failed where infrastructure is lacking …

Conclusions Bike use will increase if city makes right investments In tight urban spaces, you can’t build proper cycling infrastructure without taking space from cars

Bike use will increase if city makes right investments

In tight urban spaces, you can’t build proper cycling infrastructure without taking space from cars

ELTIS: European Local Transport Information Service Case Studies on: Utility bicycling Integrating cycling and public transport Other innovative approaches to environmentally friendly local transport www.eltis.org

Case Studies on:

Utility bicycling

Integrating cycling and public transport

Other innovative approaches to environmentally friendly local transport